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. They have also lived in Jonesboro, AR and Paragould, AR. "Even though people say no, there's nothing that they can do anymore, you have to keep trying. . The episode, titled The Promise, re-airs . DATELINE FRIDAY SNEAK PEEK: Along Came Sarah 01:53. She was going to Cal State Fullerton for a social science major, and needed to satisfy her fantasies about becoming a social worker. Who killed Debbie Gama and what happened to him? Everything that Mr. (Deputy District Attorney Matt) Murphy said is true. The autopsy revealed that she had lacerations to the face, head and chest area with fatal wounds to her wrist and neck. 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 In the end, Sam Lopez was convicted and sentenced for first-degree murder. This entry in the franchise takes a second look at some of the most mysterious cases of recent history. Kathy is related to Michelle L Torres and Oscar C Torres as well as 2 additional people. . In This Dateline Classic, Cathy Torrez Was A Beautiful, Smart And Responsible 20-Year-Old Student. The hit television crime series normally focuses on cases that have happened in the African-American community. They have also lived in Ann Arbor, MI and Appleton, WI. A few days later, on February 19, Cathys missing car, a red 1990 Toyota Corolla, was discovered by a patrol officer in a hospital parking lot. Armando Lopez also admitted to helping his brother and cousin commit the crime. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. 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. Photos courtesy of flickr, flickr, and Cathy Torres. Her ex-boyfriend later confessed. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? His cousin Xavier Lopez was also sentenced to prison for helping him commit the crime. The family also continues to honor Cathy's life by supporting the Cathy Torrez Learning Center in Placentia. It brought so much pain to hear him say what he did to my sister, said Tina Mora, Torrezs older sister. Police determined that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was pushed into the trunk, according to a visible handprint found inside. Please logout and login again. Moreover, Sams brother, Armando Lopez was also involved with the cover-up. In 1993, Kathy reconnects with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. Authorities believed Cathy was still alive when she was put in the trunk, based on the visible handprint discovered within. 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 The couple, along with Cousin Sam, hung out frequently at Cathys work environment, a nearby pharmacy called Save-On. 10: Bombshells. Kathy Torres lived her childhood in Placentia, California. The then-29-year-old lived in Brighton, a suburb of Rochester, New York, with her husband, James Krauseneck. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? Be the first one to comment on this story. Meanwhile, Xavier Lpez was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison after confessing to compulsory killing. Torrez was killed Feb. 12, 1994 after leaving her job at a local Sav-On store. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered - What happened to Cathy Torrez. They reconnected in September 1993 at Cathy's . Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of a brutal murder and stabbing, which may trigger some readers. Cathy was known for being a marvelous person with a bright future ahead of her. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? Dateline: Secrets revealed will air on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Well send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon. She and James share one daughter together, Sara, who is now in her mid-40s. An autopsy later revealed that she was stabbed in the face, head, and torso, with fatal slashes on her wrists and neck. Your login session has expired. ET with the case of Cathy Torrez. Its like shes here. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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. police were considering what role her new boyfriend, albert, and his attempted suicide may have played. Police noted that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was shoved into the trunk, apparent from a visible handprint found inside. Xavier Lopez, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, is set to go to trial sometime in March. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Tell him why you chased her and stabbed her in the back. by Eleanor Klibanoff April 13, 2022 10 AM Central. Cathy's the missing person's case was soon turned into a homicide. 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. Sources stated that the 20-year-old was attending California State Fullerton University while working two jobs at the time, one of them being at the local drug store, Sav-On. At 20-years-old, Cathy Torrez was described by her friends and family as a smart, beautiful, and . Season 2, Mom vs. Murderer, has a launch date. Select this result to view Kathy M Torres's phone number, address, and more. 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 episode titled The promise will re-air this Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Catherine Torres-Stahl is a judge of the Texas 175th District Court. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. The best result we found for your search is Kathy M Torres age 60s in Aurora, IL in the Pigeon Hill neighborhood. The narrative unraveled slowly, and it was eventually revealed that Lopez attacked Torrez during an argument and stabbed her 74 times. Torrez was last seen leaving work and driving toward a Placentia ice cream shop. Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Cathy Torrez was still alive when she was forced into the trunk of her car, where her body was found a week later. Josh Mankiewicz Reports. He then helped Sam dispose of the body. Josh Mankiewicz reports. The charges were nonetheless dismissed due to a lack of physical evidence connecting him to the murder. Cathy Torrez and Sam Lopez used to be high school sweethearts. April 25, 2015 SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The brother of a man convicted in the 1994 stabbing death of a Cal State Fullerton . Your email address will not be published. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. by Cathy Torres | September 24, 2020. During his hearing, Xavier testified that he was sitting in his truck when he saw the argument between Cathy and Sam break out. Her purse was missing and the driver's seat was completely reclined, which was unusual as Cathy wasn't very tall. In 1993, Cathy reconnected with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. The killing occurred in an apartment complex in Placentia, Murphy said. Sams brother Armando had been linked to Kathys older sister Tina at that point. She signed a plea deal for life in prison without parole for the capital murder charge and 20 years for battery. Sams brother Armando was married to Cathys older sister Tina at the time. 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. 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. The prosecution and defense moved into the sentencing phase following the jury's verdict. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. 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. Several friends and co-workers testified that she had planned to meet Lopez after work. fbq('init', '952063904834769'); "We never gave up. n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; 9: Surprise: Four Arrests. The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying Maurice Isaiah Torres died March 30, 2015, at a Bella Vista hospital. The two faces of Todd Winkler. Maryland high school coach pulls team, goes on rant about officiating, Who Is Xana Kernodles Mom? Samuel Lopez, last year when it aired on Dateline NBC . In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. In February 1994, California State Fullerton University student Cathy Torrez was only 20 years old when she was viciously stabbed to death. Debbie Torrez noted how Armando Lopez appeared to help in the search for her sister before the victims body was found. 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. Cathys missing person case soon turned into a murder case. Several years later, Detective Daron Wyatt revived the investigation. However, things soon fell apart when the 20-year-old failed to return home as usual on February 12, 1994, after her shift at Sav-On. CATHY LYNN TORRES, 48: She was born in Hayti, Missouri, in eastern Pemiscot County, on July 4, 1971. It rocks you to the core.. At the age of four, she and her family moved to Jonesboro. Discretion is advised. Sam Lopez was ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. A sentencing date for Sam Lopez was set for May 1. He is the brother of Sam Lopez, who was sentenced in 2015 to the killing of his ex-girlfriend Cathy Torrez in 1994. 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. Even before finding Torrezs body, detectives suspected that Lopez wasnt being truthful, a belief that was strengthened when he showed little emotion or curiosity after learning about Torrezs death. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Months into their on-and-off relationship, the 20-year-old went missing. Cathy . Our latest episode of Crime Beat, Season 2: Mom vs. Murderer is available today. My family has suffered for 21 years not knowing whether there would be justice for Cathy. MALICIOUS DAMAGE. December 12, 2015 / 11:08 PM / CBS News. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Sam Lopez received a 26-year prison term for the murder of Cathy Torrez in 1994, after being found guilty of one felony count of murder with the use of a deadly weapon as a sentencing enhancement. Sam took to the stand himself during his sentencing hearing and confessed to his girlfriends brutal killing. if(fbPixelFired) { She was going to Cal State Fullerton for a social science major, and needed to satisfy her fantasies about becoming a social worker. 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. document.addEventListener("scroll", function() { loadFBPixel() }); Required fields are marked *. Samuel Lopez used a newspaper and plastic bag to lift the . Cathy Torrez and Lynsie Ekelund both . Although detectives found her body in the trunk of her car within a week, it took them nearly two decades to finally catch her killer - her on-again-off-again boyfriend Sam Lopez. 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. Investigators suspected Cathy Torrezs ex-boyfriend, Sam Lopez, was behind her disappearance even before her body was discovered. Sam and his cousin Xavier were both arrested and charged with murder, with the former being tried first. That is why he has lived his life with no remorse for the horrific things he did to my sister, Mora said. I had just reached the top of the pay scale at . Police say they suspected Lopez was the murder suspect from the very beginning. Its way too little and way too late, Wyatt said. An intensive search ended after her car was found . In February 1994, California State Fullerton College student Kathy Torres was just 20 years old when she was violently mauled to death. Shortly after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy began a tumultuous relationship. } Orange County Superior Court Judge David Hoffer told Lopez that if he violated the terms of his probation, he could face up to a year in jail. Cathy Torrez was a bright 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton honors student who vanished one night in 1994. ET on Oxygen. Prosecutors allege . Sign up here for our free newsletters. Thirteen people were randomly shot across Washington D.C. in just three weeks back in October 2002. We continued with hope that one day this day would come.". Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015 and claimed that he "took everything away from her." Therefore, on February 12, 1994, when she didnt return home after her shift at a local drug store like she was supposed to, her loved ones reported her missing. After court, Torrez's mother, Mary Bennett, told Eyewitness News that she never lost faith in the system. jackson city dump hours; chicago bears rumors trade; clothing similar to wornstar; bbc scotland sports reporters; In 2015, more than 21 years after her murder, Sam Lopez was found guilty of first-degree murder. When Cathy Torrez never came home after work, her family feared the worst. It takes years to get to the truth. Cathy Torrez was found stabbed multiple times in the trunk of her car just days after she was first reported missing in February 1994. In 1993, Cathy reconnected with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. On the other hand, Xavier pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received a four-year, eight-month prison sentence. They reconnected in September 1993 at Cathy's sister Tina's wedding to Sam's older brother, Armando Lopez. Lopez remained stoic as the sentence was handed down, showing little emotion. q ANZAC Parade 2022 marching down First Avenue in Sawtell. She kept two sources of income while she went to class, and lived with her mother, Mary, stepfather, and three relatives. The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying at California State University Fullerton. Cathy Torrez, a 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton student, was murdered in 1994. BENTONVILLE Cathy Lynn Torres will spend the rest of her life in prison for her role in the death of her 6-year-old son. Cathy Krauseneck was a young wife and mother. From the start, detectives suspected Cathy Torrezs casual boyfriend Sam Lopez, who had a false alibi claiming he was dating his cousin Xavier. Before being sentenced to 26 years to life in prison, Sam Lopez confessed to the murder and apologized in court to Cathys family. Xavier Lopez was also charged with murder as he helped put Cathys body into the car while she was still alive. 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. With no physical evidence, the case remained cold for almost 21 years and was only reopened several years later when Xavier was linked to DNA found on the victims clothing. 5 chilling details about Cathy Torrez's murder. He was convicted of first-degree murder and was given a sentence of 26 years to life in prison. After 12 years in the air, Cathy Torres is contemplating life on the ground. He then disposed of the body with his cousin's help. She should be here today I like to think she was.. 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. 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. 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. Tina Mora, the victims sister and ex-wife of Armando Lopez, told Hoffer that the defendant, for 23 years, continued to avoid the truth with his brother and cousin., She added, Armando, you harmed Cathy by your words and your actions to cover up for your brother Your culpability in Cathys murder is recognized today.. Armando was shocked and saddened and he and the rest of the family felt very badly about what happened.. Former high school sweethearts, Torrez and Lopez had renewed their relationship in the weeks leading up to her February 1994 death. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Soon after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy began a tumultuous relationship. Coroners determined the cause of death was exsanguination (blood deprivation) from all the stab wounds. FROM Page 1. has been met with feelings of sadness and frustration by Jetty Dunecare members. One week after her disappearance, Cathys body was found in the trunk of a car. Her purse was missing and the drivers seat was reclined completely, which was unusual as Cathy wasnt very tall. Facebook gives people the power to. Who would commit such a savage crime? Cathy Torrez, a 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton student, was murdered in 1994. 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. "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. S2, Ep. When everything was over, Xavier said he helped Sam dispose of Cathys body. Clinical analysts determined that the cause of death was hemorrhaging from all the wound infections. Sam and Xavier Lopez were arrested in 2007. Whoops! Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check for a confirmation email, and then you're all set with MyNewsLA.com! Cathy Torrez grew up in Placentia, California. But with no physical evidence tying Lopez to the car or to Torrezs body, the case went cold. 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. fbPixelFired = true; Xavier Lopez calmed his cousin and then they carried the victim to the trunk of the car and put her in, Murphy said. The Cathy Torrez, Placentia, California, murder case is set to air tonight on Dateline NBC.