Several years later, Detective Daron Wyatt revived the investigation. if(fbPixelFired) { "It's been a difficult journey, but we were constantly supported by prayers and faith," said Torrez's sister, Tina Mora. . Sarika Luthra Bio : Sarika Luthra is a brief video maker, model and online entertainment powerhouse. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Several friends and co-workers testified that she had planned to meet Lopez after work. The verdict was reached Tuesday, as family members of Cathy Torrez got emotional in the back of the courtroom. Cathy Torrez was a 20-year-old honors student at Cal State Fullerton and a part-time worker at a Sav-On drugstore in Placentia, California. The police noticed that Cathy was still alive when she was pushed into the storage room, evident from the visible impression seen inside. Sam's brother Armando was married to Cathy's elder sister Tina at the time. An accomplished runner, Cathy completed the 2009 and 2010 NYC ING . The episode, titled The Promise, re-airs on Oxygen this Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 pm ET. The upcoming episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered will revisit the haunting disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez, who was stabbed at least 74 times. Who killed Debbie Gama and what happened to him? Advancements in DNA comparison techniques led to the discovery of DNA from Sam Lopezs cousin Xavier Lopez on Torrezs clothes, as well as bloody fingerprints on the car. The couple, along with Sams cousin, often spent time together at Cathys place of work, a local drug store called Sav-On. They believed that he was lying about his whereabouts on the night of the incident, especially as several of Cathys friends and co-workers had already told them that she had planned to meet with Sam after work. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? ET. The Promise Kept. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). Police determined that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was pushed into the trunk, according to a visible handprint found inside. cathy torrez had been murdered and stuffed in the trunk of her car. Meanwhile, Xavier Lopez was sentenced to four years and eight months after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. 2. He pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and was sentenced to a year on probation. On Tuesday, Phoenix police said the two women were found dead in their home Monday night in an apparent murder-suicide, and Augustine, 32, daughter of murdered Nevada politician Kathy Augustine . The best result we found for your search is Cathy Lynn Torres age 50s in Bella Vista, AR. Originally Aired On NBC On April 24, 2015. S5 - E4. Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015 and ensured he had cleared it all out. Dateline NBC. Medical examiners determined the cause of death as exsanguination (drained of blood) due to all the stab wounds. She will forever be young, and she will live on in our memories.. New York State Police announced on Thursday, April 20, that a 42-year-old man named Edward Holley has been arrested for second-degree murder in . It is believed that her story will be covered on an episode of Fatal Attraction. Xavier Lopez also told investigators that he saw his cousin essentially finish the job of the killing when he opened the trunk and slashed away at the victim again, Murphy said. Prior to Sam Lopezs confession, as they presented their victim impact statements at Fridays sentencing, Torrezs family members struggled through tears while urging him to admit to killing Torrez. Cathy was found slain in her bed with an ax lodged in her head in Brighton in upstate New York on Feb. 19, 1982. . He admitted that everything the prosecutors said was true, from the state of his bond with Cathy to how he attacked her when she tried to run away after their fight. She kept two sources of income while she went to class, and lived with her mother, Mary, stepfather, and three relatives. At his sentencing, Samuel Lopez took the unusual step of admitting his guilt and apologizing to the Torrez family. Lopezs brother, Samuel Agustin Lopez, 45, was sentenced in May 2015 to 26 years to life in prison for the stabbing death of ex-girlfriend Cathy Torrez. There are two particular "Dateline" episodes that parallel each other. NBC's 'Dateline' has been a staple of the true-crime genre ever since its premiere in 1992. Cathys missing person case soon turned into a murder case. Both were arrested and charged in connection with the murder case. Another of the victims sisters tearfully told the judge that she didnt have the words to explain the impact her siblings death had on the family. After the hearing, Mora told City News Service that she wished her ex- husband had received a tougher punishment. Xavier reportedly testified that he was in his truck when the couple got into an argument during which Sam attacked Cathy. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. An intensive search ended after her car was found, with her body in the trunk. Season 2, Mom vs. Murderer, has a launch date. Confess how you picked up her bloody body, how she cried and told you to stop.. DATELINE FRIDAY SNEAK PEEK: Along Came Sarah 01:53. "There was never a question in our mind who did this, who's responsible for it and the way he did it, it just took time for technology to catch up to the case somewhat," said Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy. The cars front seat was reportedly covered in blood along with the bumper, and her body was found in the trunk with at least 74 stab wounds. In 1997, authorities were eventually able to charge Sam's cousin, Xavier Lopez, with murder. During her life, Torrez tutored children in the Placentia area. It was all my fault: Ex-boyfriend gets 26, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), It was all my fault: Ex-boyfriend gets 26 years to life after admitting to 1994 Placentia murder of Cathy Torrez, Fire at Barnes & Noble in Orange disrupts book-signing event, Cold, drizzly week ahead for Southern California, OC Marine who volunteered in Ukraine, survived rocket attack: I would do it again, Masseur arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at Riverside acupuncture clinic, Sam Lopez confessed Friday to the brutal slaying, Man who helped his brother cover up 1994 Placentia murder of Cathy Torrez sentenced to probation, Crime Beat podcast: Letters between Cathy Torrez and the man her mother believed killed her, Prosecutor: Jealousy fueled ex-boyfriend in 94 Placentia stabbing death; defense says cousin killed her, Placentia investigators: Defendant in Cathy Torrezs stabbing death was suspect from the beginning, 1994 Placentia stabbing trial: No way Cathy Torrez was stabbed to death over a hickey, defense claims, Orange County restaurants shut down by health inspectors (April 20-27), The DMV says permission to drive is based on ability, but older drivers are scrutinized more, Then and Now: Photos of Casa Romantica show damage caused by landside, More land sliding at Casa Romantica; residents evacuated, trains halted through San Clemente, Repeat drunk driver gets 15 years to life for Orange crash that killed 19-year-old Starbucks worker, Here are Orange Countys top 6 educators this year, Joe Bidens re-election bid is off to a bad start, Land beneath Casa Romantica drops 10 feet, halts railroad service through San Clemente, Orange County Artist of the Year winners announced, A look at Orange Countys baseball teams and the CIF-SS playoffs, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Sign up here for our free newsletters. After court, Torrez's mother, Mary Bennett, told Eyewitness News that she never lost faith in the system. Torrez was last seen leaving work and driving toward a Placentia ice cream shop. The Dateline Saturday Night Mystery episode The Promise investigates the 1994 disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez. Torrez tried to run, the prosecutor said, but Lopez chased her down and stabbed her dozens of times before shoving her into the trunk of her car and making three final cuts to her wrists and neck that ended Torrezs life. Police say the 20-year-old Fullerton student was stabbed 70 times and forced into the trunk of a car, where her body was found a week later. The two faces of Todd Winkler. His cousin, Xavier Lopez, was also sentenced to prison for helping him commit the crime. Cathy, who went missing on February 12, 1994, was found dead a few days later, on February 19, inside the trunk of her abandoned car, a red 1990 Toyota Corolla, which was spotted in a hospital parking lot by a patrolling officer. With this, in 2007, both Sam and Xavier were charged and arrested for murder. The autopsy revealed that she had lacerations to the face, head and chest area with fatal wounds to her wrist and neck. The brutal murder of Cathy Krauseneck is the focus of Friday's episode of Dateline at 9 p.m. on Rochester's NBC affiliate (Channel 10). SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The ex-boyfriend of a Cal State Fullerton student killed in 1994 was found guilty of first-degree murder after more than two days of deliberations by an Orange County Superior Court jury. Armando Lopez also admitted to helping his brother and cousin commit the crime. but for now, they were left with unanswered questions and a town shaken by her murder. Her campaign was absent and the drivers seat was reclined completely backwards, which was odd because Kathy wasnt very tall. Shortly after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy begin a wild relationship. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. We meet Cathy Torrez, Mary Bennett and the people in their neighborhood. The trio then drove to a different location from there. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered airs with Cathy Torrez's case on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 pm ET. "We never gave up. Sam took to the stand himself during his sentencing hearing and confessed to his girlfriends brutal killing. Sam implied that he made the final three slashes after he and Xavier had already placed her in the trunk of her car. Lopez, however, had an ironclad alibi from his cousin, Xavier Lopez, accounting for his movements the night prosecutors said Torrez was killed. Soon after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy began a tumultuous relationship. Cathy Torrez's family members wept in the . She had been stabbed about 70 times. SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The brother of a man convicted in the 1994 stabbing death of a Cal State Fullerton . Cathy Torrez, a 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton student, was murdered in 1994. As part of the plea deal with prosecutors, a felony charge of being an accessory after the fact was dropped. Following her death, an after-school tutoring center was named in her honor. She was going to Cal State Fullerton for a social science major, and needed to satisfy her fantasies about becoming a social worker. Be the first one to comment on this story. She signed a plea deal for life in prison without parole for the capital murder charge and 20 years for battery. Murphy said Lopez got into Torrezs car and he drove her to an unknown area, where an argument broke out. Cathy Torrez was a 20-year-old Latina who was found dead in her car trunk over 20 years ago. Co-defendant Xavier Francisco Lopez, a cousin of the brothers, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in October 2015 and was sentenced to time already served behind bars. January 18, 2012, 7:51 AM. They also claimed that this came after the couples on-and-off relationship had become volatile and that their argument that night made Sam snap. On the other hand, Xavier pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received a four-year, eight-month prison sentence. }, Your email address will not be published. Your email address will not be published. An autopsy later revealed that she was stabbed in the face, head, and torso, with fatal slashes on her wrists and neck. Until Sam admitted that he committed the crime at sentencing, (the defendant and his family) all still believed that he was innocent because he had told them he didnt do it and, as family members do, they believed him, Swanson told City News Service. As each new victim was gunned down, the FBI and local detectives struggled to track down a killer until a tip helped them piece together the murder mystery. Sam Lopez, 43, faced a murder charge in the stabbing death of Cathy Torrez, a Cal State Fullerton student who disappeared in 1994 after leaving work. Xavier Lopez still faces trial. From the start, detectives suspected Cathy Torrezs casual boyfriend Sam Lopez, who had a false alibi claiming he was dating his cousin Xavier. Cathy is related to Karen Faye Thompson and Gary Dewayne Vickers as well as 3 additional people. She had a beautiful, promising future, full of life, and I took everything away from her. Xavier Lopez pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received a four-year, eight-month prison sentence. Torres-Stahl (Democratic Party) ran for re-election for judge of the Texas 175th District Court.She won in the general election on November 3, 2020.. Torres-Stahl was the district judge for the 144th District in Bexar County, Texas. The episode titled The promise will re-air this Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Several years later, investigations into this slaying were revived, which led to the use of advanced techniques and the discovery of DNA belonging to Sams cousin, Xavier Lopez, on Cathys clothes. Annet Schlosser opened up to "Dateline" about her sister who was found . Sams brother Armando was married to Cathys older sister Tina at the time. Before being sentenced to 26 years to life in prison, Sam Lopez confessed to the murder and apologized in court to Cathys family. (KNWA/ KFTA) - In a KNWA / Fox 24 News Special Report, Anchor Tavares Jones takes a closer look at the case of Mauricio Torres, the . Daron Wyatt at the conclusion of a press conference announcing arrests in the 13-year-old case in . Given the passion Samuel Lopez had for his ex-girlfriend, Hoffer said he still finds it perplexing that he killed her in such a vicious way. A licensed attorney, Cathy is a former President of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, New York's largest, oldest ethnic bar association. Dateline frequently airs repeat episodes on Thursday nights. Tell him why you chased her and stabbed her in the back. According to producers, Dateline NBC will also include Saturday nights beginning this fall. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. Your email address will not be published. She and James share one daughter together, Sara, who is now in her mid-40s. He revealed he ran to the couple and tried to pull his cousin off of Cathy, but it didnt work. It takes years to get to the truth. While attending school, she worked two jobs and lived with her mother, Mary, stepfather, and three siblings. I had just reached the top of the pay scale at . The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying Her amazing dressing sense, Delightful looks and Honest Grin makes her not the same as others. He also said: Everything they said about Cathy was the truth she was a wonderful person. VC Andrews Ruby Says Real-Life Twin Sister Steals the Show as Giselle on Lifetime, The Banno sisters in 'Ruby' (Lifetime photo), 2012-2023, 2paragraphs Productions, LLC. Listen to the details of a night a week before Cathy Torrez was murdered that hinted at the danger she was facing. Authorities believed Cathy was still alive when she was put in the trunk, based on the visible handprint discovered within. The couple, along with Cousin Sam, hung out frequently at Cathys work environment, a nearby pharmacy called Save-On. A judge granted a request for a complete mistrial after a stepson of Mauricio Torres jumped out of the witness stand and attempted to attack him in court while testifying . An autopsy revealed she was stabbed in the face, head and torso with fatal lacerations to her wrists and neck. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Although the boyfriend was a prime suspect in the case, due to a lack of solid physical evidence, the case went cold until 2007, when DNA found on the victim connected Sam's cousin Xavier Lopez to the murder. However, with no physical evidence tying Sam to Cathys remains or her car, the case went cold. But as DNA technology improved over the years, there was finally evidence to link Xavier Lopez to the scene of the crime. He then helped Sam in disposing of the body. I do hope and pray this brings at least a small amount of relief from the pain I have caused them. The Promise: With Craig Melvin, Kate Snow. This was a horrible act that never should have happened, Lopez, 43, added. We continued with hope that one day this day would come.". Now, officials have made an arrest in the case. Months into their on-and-off relationship, the 20-year-old went missing. His cousin Xavier Lopez was also sentenced to prison for helping him commit the crime. Twenty years after Cathy Torrez was repeatedly stabbed and left to die in the trunk of her car in Placentia, her ex-boyfriend was found guilty Tuesday in her. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. Twenty years after Cathy Torrez was repeatedly stabbed and left to die in the trunk of her car in Placentia, her ex-boyfriend was found guilty Tuesday in her murder.Twenty years after Cathy Torrez was repeatedly stabbed and left to die in the trunk of her car in Placentia, her ex-boyfriend was found guilty Tuesday in her \r\rDateline 2017 New Show March 3 2017 (3/3/2017)\r\rTeenage boy ended the rampage of his psychopathic grandfather by murdering him in his sleep. It brought so much pain to hear him say what he did to my sister, said Tina Mora, Torrezs older sister. The confession came as a shock to his brother, according to Armando Lopezs attorney, David Swanson. Kathy is related to Michelle L Torres and Oscar C Torres as well as 2 additional people. Trigger Warning: This article contains descriptions of a violent crime, which may be disturbing to some readers. Whoops! Former high school sweethearts, Torrez and Lopez had renewed their relationship in the weeks leading up to her February 1994 death. Kathy Torres lived her childhood in Placentia, California. Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015 and claimed that he "took everything away from her." Her term expired in 2010. dateline the promise, part 4. san diego noise ordinance times; About Us. The charges were nonetheless dismissed due to a lack of physical evidence connecting him to the murder. Last year, a time in history I want to mark as 2019 BCthat is, Before COVIDI was at the height of my flight attendant career. Jan. 18, 2012 -- The husband of a pregnant woman who was found beaten to death five years ago was back in a North Carolina courtroom Tuesday as jury selection began for . SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The brother of a man convicted in the 1994 stabbing death of a Cal State Fullerton student pleaded guilty to helping cover up the crime and was sentenced, as the victim's sisters delivered emotional statements in court. This entry in the franchise takes a second look at some of the most mysterious cases of recent history. I still believe he has no remorse for what he did, said Mary Bennett, Torrezs mother. It take years to get to the truth. Cathy Torres testified Tuesday morning and blamed Isaiah's abuse on her husband. When Sam stood trial for the same, the prosecutors alleged that he stabbed Cathy 74 times before he and his cousin combined forces to dispose of her body. A Postcard from . Everything that Mr. (Deputy District Attorney Matt) Murphy said is true. An intensive search ended after her car was found, with her body in the trunk. Xavier Lopez told investigators he saw the ex-couple arguing and then heard screaming from the car, so he ran over and pulled his cousin off the victim because he thought she was being punched and was sliced accidentally with the knife, Murphy said. Her mutilated body was found a week later, still in her car, in the parking lot of Placentia-Linda Hospital. Armando Lopez pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and was immediately sentenced to a year of informal probation. Who would commit such a savage crime? Riverside County Firefighters Stop Forward Progress of Brush Fire in Thermal, Walk to End Genocide Held Sunday In Fairfax District, Asian Couple in Bel Air Terrorized in Home Invasion Robbery, Police Arrest 24 During DUI Checkpoint in Riverside, Riverside Police Arrest 24 People During DUI Checkpoint, Coroner IDs Man Who Jumped or Fell From Freeway Overpass. Police noted that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was shoved into the trunk, apparent from a visible handprint found inside. He remains under investigation, however. Share with God how you ignored her cries. Dateline: Secrets revealed will air on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. KABC. But prosecutors said Lopez suffered from fits of jealousy and became enraged when he discovered a hickey another man had given Torrez a week before her disappearance. They have also lived in Ann Arbor, MI and Appleton, WI. Lopez remained stoic as the sentence was handed down, showing little emotion. 5 chilling details about Cathy Torrez's murder. The episode, titled The Promise, re-airs . S2, Ep.8: Cold as Ice. Xavier Lopez, their cousin, also pleaded guilty to a role in her death and investigators still hope to prosecute another man they also believe was involved. Its like shes here. According to reports, the front seat and bumper of the car were soaked in blood, and her body was discovered in the trunk with at least 74 stab wounds. About Season 2: On Feb. 12, 1994, Cal State Fullerton honor student Cathy Torrez didn't come home after working the evening shift in the photo department at S !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? . Our latest episode of Crime Beat, Season 2: Mom vs. Murderer is available today. Maryland high school coach pulls team, goes on rant about officiating, Who Is Xana Kernodles Mom? Crime Beat, Cathy was known to be a wonderful person with a bright future ahead of her. Cathy Torrez, a 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton student, was murdered in 1994. Discretion is advised. Cathy Torrez was a bright 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton honors student who vanished one night in 1994. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. It rocks you to the core.. S2, Ep. The killing occurred in an apartment complex in Placentia, Murphy said. He then disposed of the body with his cousin's help. He then put her in the car trunk with his cousin's assistance while she was still alive and sliced her neck and wrists.
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