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. Dateline NBC to feature Brighton ax murder case: What to know Now, officials have made an arrest in the case. Cathy Torres pleaded guilty to capital murder and battery. . Man pleads guilty in coverup of 1994 murder of Fullerton student Who would commit such a savage crime? n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying at California State University Fullerton. Pin on 2paragraphs Buzz! - Pinterest A jury sentenced her . Detectives re-examined Cathy's case a few years later and in 2007, utilizing modern DNA testing, established that Xavier Lopez's DNA was found on the victim's clothes. She was soon reported missing. 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.". Sign up here for our free newsletters. Dateline NBC: The Promise Kept on Apple Podcasts BENTONVILLE, Ark. 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. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. It take years to get to the truth. But as DNA technology improved over the years, there was finally evidence to link Xavier Lopez to the scene of the crime. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dateline: Secrets Uncovered What happened to Cathy Torrez? Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015 and claimed that he "took everything away from her." 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. She and James share one daughter together, Sara, who is now in her mid-40s. They reconnected in September 1993 at Cathy's . When this got combined with Sams stoic expressions upon being notified of his girlfriends demise, their doubts furthered. var fbPixelFired = false; At the age of four, she and her family moved to Jonesboro. Photos courtesy of flickr, flickr, and Cathy Torres. Lopez, however, had an ironclad alibi from his cousin, Xavier Lopez, accounting for his movements the night prosecutors said Torrez was killed. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? . S2, Ep.8: Cold as Ice. Torrez was killed Feb. 12, 1994 after leaving her job at a local Sav-On store. 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. Sam Lopez was ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. DATELINE SATURDAY SNEAK PEEK: The Promise - NBC News Catherine Torres-Stahl is a judge of the Texas 175th District Court. Curious to know more? He then helped Sam in disposing of the body. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. It was all my fault, Lopez said. When Cathy Torrez never came home after work, her family feared the worst. dateline the promise, part 4 - 3wge.com Sam took to the stand himself during his sentencing hearing and confessed to his girlfriends brutal killing. } 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. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Dateline NBC - The Promise Kept on Stitcher }, Your email address will not be published. The Promise. The couple, along with Sam's cousin, would often spend time together at Cathy's workplace, a local drug store called Sav-On. q ANZAC Parade 2022 marching down First Avenue in Sawtell. Firefighters Discover Man's Body While Battling Apartment Fire in South L.A. Police Investigate No-Hit Shooting in Long Beach, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. DATELINE FRIDAY PREVIEW: Along Came Sarah 00:45. Daron Wyatt at the conclusion of a press conference announcing arrests in the 13-year-old case in . Her current term ends on December 31, 2024. Select this result to view Cathy Lynn Torres's phone number, address, and more. Josh Mankiewicz reports. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? In 1993, Cathy reconnected with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. Maryland high school coach pulls team, goes on rant about officiating, Who Is Xana Kernodles Mom? A few days later, on Febaruary 19, Cathy's missing car, a red 1990 Toyota Corolla, was spotted in a hospital parking lot by a patroling officer. Cathy Krauseneck's family recalls ax murder, justice being served Torrez was killed Feb. 12, 1994 after leaving her job at a local Sav-On store. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. Cathy's the missing person's case was soon turned into a homicide.
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