At a time when Kathy Torrez never comes home after work, her family fears the most terrible thing; a serious manhunt closes after her car and body are found in the storage shed; it takes a long time to get to the truth. Cathy Torres sustained at least several fatal injuries to her wrist and neck. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. The front seat of the car, along with the bumper, was reportedly covered in blood and her body was found int he car trunk with at least 74 stab bounds. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Select this result to view Kathy M Torres's phone number, address, and more. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? . In 1997, authorities were eventually able to charge Sam's cousin, Xavier Lopez, with murder. Huge bear captured on video casually roaming Arcadia neighborhood, Lakers, LeBron James to play Warriors, Steph Curry in NBA showdown, Permanent supporting housing project opens in South LA. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Sam Lopez and his cousin Xavier allegedly met Cathy Torrez in the parking lot of a Baskin Robbins on February 12, 1994. An autopsy later revealed that she was stabbed in the face, head, and torso, with fatal slashes on her wrists and neck. The show, however, was different from his previous national TV appearances on Dateline NBC and other crime tabloids episodes that detailed homicide cases on which he was the lead detective. Twenty years after Fullerton coed Cathy Torrez was repeatedly stabbed and left to die in the trunk of her car in Placentia, her ex-boyfriend was sentenced Friday to 26 years to life in state prison Cathy Torres sustained at least several fatal injuries to her wrist and neck. Join Facebook to connect with Cathy Torres and others you may know. Sean Emery is a crime and public safety reporter for the Register who covers state and federal courts and criminal justice issues. Produced by Clare Friedland, Anthony Venditti and Gail Abbott Zimmerman. Annet Schlosser opened up to "Dateline" about her sister who was found . Dateline NBC. Cathy Torres Cathy Torres, 48, of Bella Vista, Ark., is serving a life sentence for first-degree murder and battery in the 2015 death of her son, Mauricio "Isaiah" Torres. When this got combined with Sams stoic expressions upon being notified of his girlfriends demise, their doubts furthered. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered - What happened to Cathy Torrez. In This Dateline Classic, Cathy Torrez Was A Beautiful, Smart And Responsible 20-Year-Old Student. The brother of a man who killed his ex-girlfriend by stabbing her dozens of times admitted Friday he helped his sibling cover up the crime 23 years ago in Placentia and was immediately sentenced to a year of informal probation. He pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and was sentenced to a year on probation. Following her death, an after-school tutoring center was named in her honor. 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 This entry in the franchise takes a second look at some of the most mysterious cases of recent history. Anyway, things ruined themselves before long when the 20-year-old neglected to return as expected on February 12, 1994, after her Sav-On day. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered. Your login session has expired. Attorney Mark Rosenblum, who represented Lopez, told the judge his client will not appeal the verdict. BENTON COUNTY, Ark. Catherine Torres-Stahl is a judge of the Texas 175th District Court. Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Armando Lopez pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and was immediately sentenced to a year of informal probation. Her ex-boyfriend later confessed. The victim and Samuel Lopez were in her car while Xavier Lopez was in Samuels pickup truck, Murphy said. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Sam Lopez didnt look at Torrezs family or friends during the sentencing, averting his eyes as he entered the courtroom and staring straight ahead, rather than turning around when they spoke. 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. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. 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. Sara was only three years old at the time of Cathy's tragic death. Moreover, Sams brother, Armando Lopez was also involved with the cover-up. Cathy Torrez, a 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton student, was murdered in 1994. Its way too little and way too late, Wyatt said. . Required fields are marked *. 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. Cathy Torrez's murder case was explored at length in Dateline: Secrets Uncovered's latest episode, titled The Promise, which aired on January 3. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? But as DNA technology improved over the years, there was finally evidence to link Xavier Lopez to the scene of the crime. A licensed attorney, Cathy is a former President of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, New York's largest, oldest ethnic bar association. According to producers, Dateline NBC will also include Saturday nights beginning this fall. He then put her in the car trunk with his cousin's assistance while she was still alive and sliced her neck and wrists. When Cathy Torrez never comes home after work, her family fears the worst; an intense search ends after her car is found with her body in the trunk; it takes years for the truth to come out.. by Eleanor Klibanoff April 13, 2022 10 AM Central. It brought so much pain to hear him say what he did to my sister, said Tina Mora, Torrezs older sister. Cathy Torrez's family members wept in the . Prior to receiving his sentence in May 2015, he admitted to murdering her and apologized to the Torrez family. 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. The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying at California State University Fullerton. The family says they hope their legal fight encourages others like them to never give up seeking justice. 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. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered airs with Cathy Torrez's case on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 pm ET. Thirteen people were randomly shot across Washington D.C. in just three weeks back in October 2002. dateline the promise, part 4. san diego noise ordinance times; About Us. She studied sociology at California State Fullerton and wanted to fulfill her dream of becoming a social worker. He then helped Sam dispose of the body. >> cathy had so much to live for and was a very happy person, a people's person . The Dateline Saturday Night Mystery episode The Promise investigates the 1994 disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez. Cathy Torrez was still alive when she was forced into the trunk of her car, where her body was found a week later. Cathy Torres testified Tuesday morning and blamed Isaiah's abuse on her husband. 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. When the forensics team examined Cathy Torrez's car after making the horrific discovery, they detected fingerprints that did not belong to the victim and showed no matches at the time. Kathy Torres lived her childhood in Placentia, California. Cathy Torrez, 20, is shown in an undated file image. He also said: Everything they said about Cathy was the truth she was a wonderful person. 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. In the end, Sam Lopez was convicted and sentenced for first-degree murder. Cathy Torrez and Sam Lopez used to be high school sweethearts. Tell him why you chased her and stabbed her in the back. 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. Police determined that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was pushed into the trunk, according to a visible handprint found inside. In February 1994, California State Fullerton College student Kathy Torres was just 20 years old when she was violently mauled to death. 10: Bombshells. The Promise: With Craig Melvin, Kate Snow. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy told jurors at Samuel Lopezs trial that he killed his on-again, off-again girlfriend on Feb. 12, 1994, after the 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton student rejected his proposal to elope. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 26 years to life in state prison. q ANZAC Parade 2022 marching down First Avenue in Sawtell. Police noted that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was shoved into the trunk, apparent from a visible handprint found inside. Our latest episode of Crime Beat, Season 2: Mom vs. Murderer is available today. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. A car drove by at that point and the two, nervous they had been spotted, drove the victimto a nearby hospital parking lot that would have 24-hour activity so a car parked there for a long time could go unnoticed, the prosecutor said. Murphy said Lopez got into Torrezs car and he drove her to an unknown area, where an argument broke out. A jury sentenced her . Meanwhile, Xavier Lopez has been sentenced to four years and eight months after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. }, Your email address will not be published. She worked two jobs while attending school, and lived with her mother Mary, stepfather, and three siblings. Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015 and claimed that he "took everything away from her." Xavier Lopez calmed his cousin and then they carried the victim to the trunk of the car and put her in, Murphy said. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. 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. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Sam and Xavier Lopez were arrested in 2007. Josh Mankiewicz Reports. However, with no physical evidence tying Sam to Cathys remains or her car, the case went cold. Juan Gustafo Barroso also was charged as an accessory after the fact, but charges against him were dismissed in September 2008. Sam and his cousin Xavier were both arrested and charged with murder, with the former being tried first. The narrative unraveled slowly, and it was eventually revealed that Lopez attacked Torrez during an argument and stabbed her 74 times. 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. Please logout and login again. [This story was first . An intensive search ended after her car was found . Sam implied that he made the final three slashes after he and Xavier had already placed her in the trunk of her car. Xavier Lopez was also charged with murder as he helped put Cathys body into the car while she was still alive. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. Despite the fact that investigators found her body in the storage compartment of her car in no less than seven days, it took nearly twenty years to finally catch her tormentorhit or miss beau Sam Lopez. Cathy Krauseneck was a young wife and mother. Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of a brutal murder and stabbing that some readers may find triggering. Cathy was known to be a wonderful person with a bright future ahead of her. In 1993, Cathy reconnected with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. 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. We continued with hope that one day this day would come.". The 6-year-old died of a . The then-29-year-old lived in Brighton, a suburb of Rochester, New York, with her husband, James Krauseneck. Megan Thee Stallion & Yung Miami Gets Saucy On New Caresha Please Episode, Max Balegde Height, Weight, Net Worth, Age, Birthday, Wikipedia, Who, Instagram, Biography, Limehouse Golem Ending Explained | TG Time. Now, officials have made an arrest in the case. Wyatt, who has spent 17 years as the lead investigator on the case, said he hoped Sam Lopezs courtroom confession wasnt just a ploy to eventually position himself for parole. The Dateline Saturday Night Mystery episode 'The Promise' investigates the 1994 disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez. In February 1994, California State Fullerton University student Cathy Torrez was only 20 years old when she was brutally stabbed to death. 20-year-old Cathy Torrez went missing on February 12, 1994 (Image via NBC Dateline) Cathy Torrez and Sam Lopez used to be high school sweethearts. CATHY LYNN TORRES, 48: She was born in Hayti, Missouri, in eastern Pemiscot County, on July 4, 1971. NBC's 'Dateline: The Promise' profiles the disappearance and murder of 20-year-old Cathy Torrez, who was last seen alive leaving her job at a local drug store on February 12, 1994.With more than 70 stab wounds, her nearly mutilated body was discovered a week later, packed in the trunk of her abandoned vehicle in a nearby hospital's parking lot. 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. Torrez was killed Feb. 12, 1994 after leaving her job at a local Sav-On store. From the start, detectives suspected Cathy Torrez's on-and-off boyfriend Sam Lopez, who had a fake alibi and claimed that he was with his cousin Xavier. By Richard Schlesinger. The charges were nonetheless dismissed due to a lack of physical evidence connecting him to the murder. With no actual evidence, the case went cold for about 21 years and may have been brought back as long as another time when Xavier had DNA traced to the casualtys clothing. Prosecutors think Xavier Lopez helped in the killing, possibly driving Sam Lopez to meet Torrez and helping to lift her body into the trunk of her car. She and James share one daughter together, Sara, who is now in her mid-40s. S2, Ep. Both were arrested and charged in connection with the murder case. She signed a plea deal for life in prison without parole for the capital murder charge and 20 years for battery. "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. As part of the plea deal with prosecutors, a felony charge of being an accessory after the fact was dropped. if(fbPixelFired) { 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. Torrez' family was present in court and spoke directly to Lopez: "Armando, you hurt Cathy, by your words and your actions to cover up the evil," said Tina Mora, Cathy's sister. The killing occurred in an apartment complex . She told co-workers that she . Your login session has expired. Toni Fratto & Kody Patten were both 17 when they took Micaela Costanzo out to a grave in the Nevada desert & beat her up, hit her over the head with a shovel. They have also lived in Ann Arbor, MI and Appleton, WI. During her life, Torrez tutored children in the Placentia area. her Krystal Anderson, has been arrested and charged with her kidnapping. Cathy, before leaving work, even informed all her co-workers that she was going to meet Sam after her shift. Medical examiners determined the cause of death as exsanguination (drained of blood) due to all the stab wounds. Be the first one to comment on this story. n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; On February 19, following a community-wide search, Cathys 1990 Toyota Corolla was found abandoned in the Placentia Linda Hospital parking lot. After court, Torrez's mother, Mary Bennett, told Eyewitness News that she never lost faith in the system. The verdict was reached Tuesday, as family members of Cathy Torrez got emotional in the back of the courtroom. The two faces of Todd Winkler. Both suspects were subsequently arrested in 2007. fbq('track', 'ViewContent'); Cathy just jumps right out of that picture, Hoffer said. Weve got the details for you. . January 18, 2012, 7:51 AM. The killing occurred in an apartment complex in Placentia, Murphy said. She admitted to spanking Isaiah, but denied she was responsible for any of the bruises or wounds covering the boy's . 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 . Twenty years after stabbing his ex-girlfriend to death and leaving her body in the trunk of a car, Sam Lopez confessed Friday to the brutal slaying. Before being sentenced to 26 years to life in prison, Sam Lopez confessed to the murder and apologized in court to Cathys family. When Cathy Torrez never came home after work, her family feared the worst. They have also lived in Jonesboro, AR and Paragould, AR. The passenger seat in the car, along with the guard, was supposedly splattered with blood and her body was found in the trunk with no fewer than 74 gashes. He revealed he ran to the couple and tried to pull his cousin off of Cathy, but it didnt work. The upcoming episode of Dateline: Secrets revealed will chronicle the haunting disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez, who was stabbed at least 74 times. His cousin, Xavier Lopez, was also sentenced to prison for helping him commit the crime. That's the one thing that kept me going, kept us going," she said. 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. . All the while, detectives believed Cathy Torrez was here and there beau Sam Lopez, who had a false justification and guarantee that he was with his cousin, Xavier. 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. Mary Bennett, center, mother of murder victim Cathy Torrez, photo at left, hugs Placentia Sgt. SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The brother of a man convicted in the 1994 stabbing death of a Cal State Fullerton . An intensive search ends after her car is found, with her body in the trunk. Cathy was found slain in her bed with an ax lodged in her head in Brighton in upstate New York on Feb. 19, 1982. . Soon after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy began a tumultuous relationship. I do hope and pray this brings at least a small amount of relief from the pain I have caused them. The police noticed that Cathy was still alive when she was pushed into the storage room, evident from the visible impression seen inside. Cathy has a reputation for being a bright individual with a bright future ahead of her. 0:00. The episode, titled The Promise, re-airs . document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); 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. Torrez was killed Feb. 12, 1994 after leaving her job at a local Sav-On store. S2, Ep. Shortly after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy begin a wild relationship. While attending school, she worked two jobs and lived with her mother, Mary, stepfather, and three siblings. Confess how you picked up her bloody body, how she cried and told you to stop.. Cathy Torrez was a 20-year-old Latina who was found dead in her car trunk over 20 years ago. The trio then drove to a different location from there. When everything was over, Xavier said he helped Sam dispose of Cathys body. 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. Meanwhile, Xavier Lopez was sentenced to four years and eight months after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. 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 . She was going to Cal State Fullerton for a social science major, and needed to satisfy her fantasies about becoming a social worker. It take years to get to the truth. It was the first time that Lopez admitted to being involved in the murder that shocked a tight-knit Placentia community. Cathy . He was convicted of first-degree murder and was given a sentence of 26 years to life in prison. Originally Aired On NBC On April 24, 2015. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. That is why he has lived his life with no remorse for the horrific things he did to my sister, Mora said. Given how long this series has been on the air, it has an extensive archive of some of the most baffling cases to have transpired in America. Her current term ends on December 31, 2024. document.addEventListener("mousemove", function() { loadFBPixel() }); In February 1994, California State Fullerton University student Cathy Torrez was only 20 years old when she was viciously stabbed to death. Samuel Lopez, last year when it aired on Dateline NBC . Sam Lopez's attorney, Lew Rosenblum, did not speak on camera following the verdict, but told Eyewitness News that while he respects the jury's decision, he says there was very little hard evidence connecting Sam Lopez to the crime, only a "creative story.". Xavier allegedly confirmed that he was in his van when the pair got into an argument during which Sam went after Kathy. At his sentencing, Samuel Lopez took the unusual step of admitting his guilt and apologizing to the Torrez family. (NBC) Friday on "Dateline," nearly 40 years after young wife and mother Cathy Krauseneck is found murdered with an axe in her upstate New York home, a new team of investigators joins the . She had a passion for life and a bright future ahead of her, said Debbie Torrez, Cathys younger sister. Everyone who spoke during the court hearing, including Sam Lopez, remembered Torrez as a vibrant, beautiful woman with a contagious smile and laugh who dreamed of becoming a social worker. Dateline NBC Today at 3:10 PM On September 28, Tony Berry, boyfriend of missing South Carolina mot . She was soon reported missing. According to her autopsy report, she was stabbed dozens of times, with puncture wounds all over her head, face, and upper body. Torrez was last seen leaving work and driving toward a Placentia ice cream shop. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? And in the trunk of her vehicle was her cold, bloodied, and decomposing body. Both are about missing girls from Placentia, a suburb just outside of Orange County. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The family also continues to honor Cathy's life by supporting the Cathy Torrez Learning Center in Placentia. The two would often frequently hang out at Cathy's workplace, Sav-On, along with Sam's cousin Xavier Lopez. Lopez, who admitted to the crime during sentencing, is serving 26-years-to-life in prison. NBC's 'Dateline' has been a staple of the true-crime genre ever since its premiere in 1992. Samuel Lopez attacked Cathy Torrez with a knife, and after she attempted to flee from the vehicle, Samuel Lopez chased after her and stabbed Torrez repeatedly in the face, head and torso. In the episode, titled "The Bad Man . 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check for a confirmation email, and then you're all set with MyNewsLA.com! Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. . !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? Given how long this series has been on the air, it has an extensive archive of some of the most baffling cases to have transpired in America. police were considering what role her new boyfriend, albert, and his attempted suicide may have played. 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 . Several years later, Detective Daron Wyatt revived the investigation. Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015, claiming he took everything from her. Photos courtesy of flickr, flickr, and Cathy Torres. Xavier Lopez still faces trial. Torres' wife, Cathy, is scheduled to go to trial on the same charges in May 2017. Updated: May 17, 2021 / 03:40 PM CDT. She was soon reported missing. Her disappearance was announced long before. Well send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. Cathy Torrez, a 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton student, was murdered in 1994. Without any physical evidence, the case went cold for nearly 21 years and was only reopened several years later when Xavier was linked to the DNA found on the victim's clothes. Two days after the fact, on February 19, Kathys missing car, a red 1990 Toyota Corolla, was seen in an emergency clinic waiting area by the patrol officer. Cathy Torres pleaded guilty to capital murder and battery. Cathy Torrez grew up in Placentia, California. Deadly Twist: With Lester Holt, Keith Morrison, Katelynn White, Rachel Winkler. They reconnected in September 1993 at Cathy's sister Tina's wedding to Sam's older brother, Armando Lopez. Then help Sam get rid of the body. Season 2, Mom vs. Murderer, has a launch date. In 2011, Cathy was recognized by El Diario/La Prensa, the nation's oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper, as a "Woman of Distinction.". She should be here today I like to think she was.. Who would commit such a savage crime? KABC. The investigation into her death reopens a troubling mystery surrounding the untimely death of another woman Catherine Winkler who died on a desolate mountain trail in Georgia. There are two particular "Dateline" episodes that parallel each other. fbq('track', "PageView");
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