Very lengthy.
interactives.dallasnews.com
By Julie Fancher and Tasha Tsiaperas | Feb. 5, 2016
''What made Lawrence Wheat an enigma in life is what has made his murder so difficult to solve.
Wheat, 42, was brusque and opinionated. But he was close with his cousins and doted on his niece and nephew.
He was a talented pianist and had a beautiful singing voice. He was a member of the Dallas planning commission and was addicted to his architecture work.
But he often seemed unhappy.
He was known to bring strangers to his Cedars apartment, where he was found beaten in June 2004. He died en route to the hospital.
Few people knew who he spent time with, and no one could say whether anything was taken from his apartment.
“Nobody knew him,” Loboda said. “Nobody knew what he had. Nobody knew who was coming and going.”
''One of Wheat’s neighbors did see his suspected killer but didn’t know it at the time. The suspect was seen trying to leave the apartment complex but didn’t know he needed a code to open the gate. The neighbor opened the gate for him.
Police released a sketch but never got any tips.
“That horrible sketch,” said Wheat’s sister, Elise Kail. “And when I say horrible, I mean it haunted me for years.”
His family says they wish they knew more about Wheat’s personal life and where he spent his time. Maybe if they did, they’d be able to find the killer.
But maybe it wouldn’t matter.
Frances Wheat says she doesn’t believe the man who brutally beat her son knew him well. He didn’t know his way in or out of the apartment. And he likely left town the next day.
More than 10 years after her son’s death, she still regularly calls a Dallas police homicide sergeant to check on the case, but knows the killer may never be found.
So she holds onto the happier memories of her son: his playing the piano, his creativity, the way he played with his niece and nephew.''
dpdbeat.com
Jul30 2024
On June 5, 2004, Mr. Wheat was found dead inside his home located in the 2500 block of S. Harwood Street. The investigation determined Mr. Wheat died from blunt force head trauma. An unknown suspect, described as a White or Hispanic male in his mid-20’s, about 6’0, and 170 pounds was seen leaving Mr. Wheat’s home.
If anyone has any information regarding the death Mr. Wheat, please contact Sergeant Otha Hampton at 214-671-3654 or by email at coldcase.dpd@dallaspolice.gov and refer to case number 421399-N.''
Unsolved killings still haunt gay community, Dallas cold-case detectives
The fear in Oak Lawn is palpable — and all too familiar. Gay men have been assaulted. Talk of serial attackers abounds. In some ways, the string of assaults and robberies in Oak Lawn in 2015 parallel the fear of a spate of unsolved killings in the Dallas area that reached its zenith in 2005.
By Julie Fancher and Tasha Tsiaperas | Feb. 5, 2016
''What made Lawrence Wheat an enigma in life is what has made his murder so difficult to solve.
Wheat, 42, was brusque and opinionated. But he was close with his cousins and doted on his niece and nephew.
He was a talented pianist and had a beautiful singing voice. He was a member of the Dallas planning commission and was addicted to his architecture work.
But he often seemed unhappy.
He was known to bring strangers to his Cedars apartment, where he was found beaten in June 2004. He died en route to the hospital.
Few people knew who he spent time with, and no one could say whether anything was taken from his apartment.
“Nobody knew him,” Loboda said. “Nobody knew what he had. Nobody knew who was coming and going.”
''One of Wheat’s neighbors did see his suspected killer but didn’t know it at the time. The suspect was seen trying to leave the apartment complex but didn’t know he needed a code to open the gate. The neighbor opened the gate for him.
Police released a sketch but never got any tips.
“That horrible sketch,” said Wheat’s sister, Elise Kail. “And when I say horrible, I mean it haunted me for years.”
His family says they wish they knew more about Wheat’s personal life and where he spent his time. Maybe if they did, they’d be able to find the killer.
But maybe it wouldn’t matter.
Frances Wheat says she doesn’t believe the man who brutally beat her son knew him well. He didn’t know his way in or out of the apartment. And he likely left town the next day.
More than 10 years after her son’s death, she still regularly calls a Dallas police homicide sergeant to check on the case, but knows the killer may never be found.
So she holds onto the happier memories of her son: his playing the piano, his creativity, the way he played with his niece and nephew.''
Cold Case Tuesday – Lawrence Wheat
The Dallas Department continues to investigate the 2004 murder of 42-year-old Lawrence Wheat. On June 5, 2004, Mr. Wheat was found dead inside his home located in the 2500 block of S. Harwood Stree…
dpdbeat.com
Jul30 2024
''Cold Case Tuesday – Lawrence Wheat
The Dallas Department continues to investigate the 2004 murder of 42-year-old Lawrence Wheat.On June 5, 2004, Mr. Wheat was found dead inside his home located in the 2500 block of S. Harwood Street. The investigation determined Mr. Wheat died from blunt force head trauma. An unknown suspect, described as a White or Hispanic male in his mid-20’s, about 6’0, and 170 pounds was seen leaving Mr. Wheat’s home.
If anyone has any information regarding the death Mr. Wheat, please contact Sergeant Otha Hampton at 214-671-3654 or by email at coldcase.dpd@dallaspolice.gov and refer to case number 421399-N.''
