TX TX - Cheryl Henry, 22, & Andy Atkinson, 21, Houston, 21 Aug 1990

[Rocky1]

Was the $20 dollar bill left as a meassage to Cheryl, here is payment for sex - basically calling her a call girl? Does that mean that she knew the killer and she had spurned his advances? Often times, men that are turned down when a girl likes someone else - they call the girl a “who**”

My guess is either sex, or a connection somehow to a dance/lap dance.
Cheryl had worked as a waitress at a strip joint previous to the murders. She wasn't working there at the time of the murders, but I believe there's a strip joint connection between her and the rape victim who was a dancer at a different strip joint.
I have nothing to base this on, but I believe the killer threw the 20 dollar bill at Cheryl before he killed her and not after.
All speculation.

 

[mocity]

My opinion is that the strip club angle doesn't play into it at all. Cheryl only worked there a couple of weeks or so over a year before the murders. That means this person happened to see her there and then happened to see her at Bayou Mama's (not a strip bar) on the night they were killed and followed them. She was away at college between those time so I highly doubt this person kept tabs on her.

I also believe the balloons just happened to be in those trees. We see it all the time... balloons people let go have to fall somewhere and given they were partially deflated makes it seem more plausible.

Also, with regards to the $20, who knows but obviously there was a lot going on and the $20 could have fallen out of a pocket. Cheryl could have had it in a pocket or even in her bra if she wanted to have money but didn't want to take her purse in the bar. In my opinion they established money wasn't a motive as valuables and cash were left behind.

 

[Snoods]

Regarding the article you linked, Rocky.

I agree if blood was found on the golf club it could have been on the handle. I also agree the balloons don’t appear to have any connection at all to the murders.

The article also says neither one of them had any defensive wounds nor was there any sign of a struggle, but we know that’s not true.

Edit: I don’t know about defensive wounds, but we know Cheryl put up a struggle.

 

[Snoods]

An age enhanced photo from the Cheryl and Andy Facebook page.

Help Cheryl and Andy

 

[Rocky1]

My opinion is that the strip club angle doesn't play into it at all. Cheryl only worked there a couple of weeks or so over a year before the murders. That means this person happened to see her there and then happened to see her at Bayou Mama's (not a strip bar) on the night they were killed and followed them. She was away at college between those time so I highly doubt this person kept tabs on her.

I also believe the balloons just happened to be in those trees. We see it all the time... balloons people let go have to fall somewhere and given they were partially deflated makes it seem more plausible.

Also, with regards to the $20, who knows but obviously there was a lot going on and the $20 could have fallen out of a pocket. Cheryl could have had it in a pocket or even in her bra if she wanted to have money but didn't want to take her purse in the bar. In my opinion they established money wasn't a motive as valuables and cash were left behind.

Good point in regards to the $20.
I'm not sure if the dress had pockets, but I agree, she may have had it in her bra.

 

[Snoods]

Good point in regards to the $20.
I'm not sure if the dress had pockets, but I agree, she may have had it in her bra.

Especially since he DID rob the earlier rape victim.

I don’t know if it was intentional or not, but why would he rob one victim (who did at the time of her rape work at a strip club) but throw money on Cheryl, who worked an office job and was a college student? This never made sense to me.

 

[Mouth]

This case ive posted was solved using a phenotype. Why cant they do this in cases involving dna. This murder was solved within a yr. The phenotype pressured the murder into a confession. He had gone unnoticed as a potential suspect until he confessed.

DNA Snapshot a Near Perfect Portrait of Confessed Murder Suspect

 

[Snoods]

This case ive posted was solved using a phenotype. Why cant they do this in cases involving dna. This murder was solved within a yr. The phenotype pressured the murder into a confession. He had gone unnoticed as a potential suspect until he confessed.

DNA Snapshot a Near Perfect Portrait of Confessed Murder Suspect

@mocity. Check this out.

So the DNA snapshot be of him would be his age at the time of the murders? Then they could age enhance the snapshot. Amazing what they can do now.

This murder was also in Texas.

 

[Mouth]

@mocity. Check this out.

So the DNA snapshot be of him would be his age at the time of the murders? Then they could age enhance the snapshot. Amazing what they can do now.

This murder was also in Texas.

The case i posted about was in central Texas. Not a huge city either. Just a small town with normal resources. Why they were able to access this technology when it seems almost unheard of, i have no idea. But it paid off. @mocity you should really try pushing for it...or look into how to get it funded maybe. It being relatively new, they may have apprehensions about it. But with an older case tht has hit a wall, it might be the lead tht yall have needed. I can give u info to contact the authorities tht worked this case if you wanna start there...

 

[Snoods]

The case i posted about was in central Texas. Not a huge city either. Just a small town with normal resources. Why they were able to access this technology when it seems almost unheard of, i have no idea. But it paid off. @mocity you should really try pushing for it...or look into how to get it funded maybe. It being relatively new, they may have apprehensions about it. But with an older case tht has hit a wall, it might be the lead tht yall have needed. I can give u info to contact the authorities tht worked this case if you wanna start there...

It just takes one determined detective to get the ball rolling again. Detective Billy Belk was one of the good ones. He is retired now.

That was one of the few cases over my career that I didn't solve that I really wanted to solve really bad," said Belk, 50. "I've gone all over the country chasing down leads on the case, every one of them ending in a dead end."

There is an article posted here from several years ago in which the latest detective was talking about using familial DNA to help solve this case. What happened with that, detective?

 

[Snoods]

• 

Photo: Houston Police Department
"Years later, in August 2001, a DNA profile from a sexual assault matched the DNA evidence from the Lover’s Lane Case. The victim of the 2001 sexual assault provided detectives with a sketch of the possible suspect. Anyone with information about this murder is urged to contact the HPD Cold Case Squad at 713-308-3618 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477)."
Aug 21 2019 rbbm.
Can you help solve some of Houston's most infamous cold cases?
"In an age where internet sleuthing can yield results in murder cases, Chron.com compiled a list of some of Houston's infamous cold cases.

Dating back to the 1980s, these murder cases include the "Lovers Lane Case" where a young couple was found brutally murdered, a veteran killed in an apparent robbery, and a young mother gunned down in front of her 6-year-old daughter. All of these cases have at least one thing in common: No one knows who the killer is.

Created in 2004, the Houston Police Department Homicide Division's Cold Case Squad combs through hundreds of unsolved murders and other types of cases to try and reinvigorate the investigation. Cases are considered cold when the initial investigation hits a dead-end, often times constrained by technology at the time.

Detectives on the Cold Case Squad use several techniques, including new technology, to try and find suspects or at least new leads. Part of that process is reaching out for the public's input."

After this long, I wish the police would tell the public everything they know about this guy and his crimes, every last detail. What do they have to lose at this point? Are they still pretending they are running down leads?

I am so pro-police. Don’t keep letting this family down. This maniac is still out there.

 

[Snoods]

From the 2017 article:

Detective Shorten is trying something relatively unusual, explaining, “Familial DNA is something new.”

Suppose investigators have a potential suspect, but not enough evidence to compel a DNA sample; they do however, have a relative of that suspect who will share his DNA with police.”

If lab tests show enough genetic markers match to indicate a relationship, police can use that.

Shorten sums it up saying, “That individual profile can be used as probable cause to go and get a DNA sample from the actual targeted person. “

I just contacted Shern Min Chow, who wrote this article, asking her to do a follow up article with Detective Shorten.

Missing Pieces: Police using new technology to help solve 'Lovers Lane murders'

 

[mocity]

The case i posted about was in central Texas. Not a huge city either. Just a small town with normal resources. Why they were able to access this technology when it seems almost unheard of, i have no idea. But it paid off. @mocity you should really try pushing for it...or look into how to get it funded maybe. It being relatively new, they may have apprehensions about it. But with an older case tht has hit a wall, it might be the lead that yall have needed. I can give u info to contact the authorities tht worked this case if you wanna start there...

We have been pushing and pushing for Phenotype, GED Match , etc. We get nowhere and are told the investigation is in process. It's ridiculous I know. All I know is to ask that others push too if they can.

 

[dotr]

Judging by the sketch of the perp, what is his likely ethnicity?
Could it be that tracking down the identity via dna has been complicated due to inbreeding in the perp's family?
speculation, imo.
Help Cheryl and Andy

 

[mocity]

The police said it was a white male.

 

[kemo]

From the 2017 article:





I just contacted Shern Min Chow, who wrote this article, asking her to do a follow up article with Detective Shorten.

Missing Pieces: Police using new technology to help solve 'Lovers Lane murders'

This article was written two years ago and forensic genetics has made incredible progress since then. The Gold Standard is Forensic Genealogy that can lead directly to the previously unknown perp. For this to work you need a good sample of biological material from the perpetrator; which they have, one or more relative of the perp must have submitted their DNA to a data base and that data base must be willing to make its information available LawEnforcement. The latter has become problematic due to legal and privacy issues. It is not certain if and when the resource that allowed the EAR/ Golden State killer and other high profile cases will become available.

One resource that is still available it the identification of a relative through a Law Enforcement data base (CODIS)and proceed with Forensic genealogy. The way those genetic records are kept may be less useful an it is suspected that Americans are more likely to have relative in the genealogical data bases than the LE ones but they may still be useful.

Using genealogy to get a phenotype: essentially a genetic composite drawing, may prove useful but they are little more that educated guesses that often prove wrong. Sometimes ethnicity can be ascertained pretty accurately but that is a limited tool.

Ultimately, if this case is ever solved, the resolution will probably involve forensic genealogy in some form.

 

[Snoods]

We have been pushing and pushing for Phenotype, GED Match , etc. We get nowhere and are told the investigation is in process. It's ridiculous I know. All I know is to ask that others push too if they can.

So frustrating! This may be a dumb question, but how do we, the public, push? Do we contact our senators or congressmen? The police/detective directly? I know many of us here would be happy to help.

How were y’all able to get the age enhanced sketch done, @mocity?

 

[Snoods]

This article was written two years ago and forensic genetics has made incredible progress since then. The Gold Standard is Forensic Genealogy that can lead directly to the previously unknown perp. For this to work you need a good sample of biological material from the perpetrator; which they have, one or more relative of the perp must have submitted their DNA to a data base and that data base must be willing to make its information available LawEnforcement. The latter has become problematic due to legal and privacy issues. It is not certain if and when the resource that allowed the EAR/ Golden State killer and other high profile cases will become available.

One resource that is still available it the identification of a relative through a Law Enforcement data base (CODIS)and proceed with Forensic genealogy. The way those genetic records are kept may be less useful an it is suspected that Americans are more likely to have relative in the genealogical data bases than the LE ones but they may still be useful.

Using genealogy to get a phenotype: essentially a genetic composite drawing, may prove useful but they are little more that educated guesses that often prove wrong. Sometimes ethnicity can be ascertained pretty accurately but that is a limited tool.

Ultimately, if this case is ever solved, the resolution will probably involve forensic genealogy in some form.

BBM They could run it today. GEDMatch (which was used to identify the EAR/Golden State Killer) discloses that profiles could be used to investigate violent crimes, and FamilyTreeDNA cooperates with police. FamilyTreeDNA is $80 and GEDMatch is free.

The murderer’s DNA is already in CODIS (that’s how they matched the rape victim with the murders).

Sooner or Later Your Cousin’s DNA Is Going to Solve a Murder

We will find you: DNA search used to nab Golden State Killer can home in on about 60% of white Americans

 

[margarita25]

Came across this link in the DNA thread ( DNA Solves Cold Cases/Parabon Nanolabs & GED/Match. ), not sure if this organization can be of any help?

https://www.institutefordnajustice.org/

Also I was serious about contacting/ tweeting Shern-Min Chow and asking about a follow up. She ran the story with the original detective that all this was in the works in 2017, iirc.

 

[Snoods]

Came across this link in the DNA thread ( DNA Solves Cold Cases/Parabon Nanolabs & GED/Match. ), not sure if this organization can be of any help?

https://www.institutefordnajustice.org/

Also I was serious about contacting/ tweeting Shern Min Chow and asking about a follow up. She ran the story with the original detective that all this was in the works in 2017, iirc.

I just contacted her a few days ago about a follow up story, one more person asking her would help.

Her email is in this link.
Shern-Min Chow

I know @mocity has been asking, asking, asking the detective about parabon, familial dna, etc.