All rights reserved. } 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. Cathy Torrez, a 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton student, was murdered in 1994. Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015 and claimed that he "took everything away from her." Ex-Boyfriend Convicted of Murdering Cal State Fullerton Student Cathy The couple, along with Sams cousin, often spent time together at Cathys place of work, a local drug store called Sav-On. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? 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. From the start, detectives suspected Cathy Torrezs casual boyfriend Sam Lopez, who had a false alibi claiming he was dating his cousin Xavier. 10: Bombshells. 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. This Episode is Currently Unavailable. FULL EPISODE: The Promise - NBC News When Cathy Torrez never came home after work, her family feared the worst. She was going to Cal State Fullerton for a social science major, and needed to satisfy her fantasies about becoming a social worker. Share with God how you ignored her cries. Josh Mankiewicz Reports. Lopez, who admitted to the crime during sentencing, is serving 26-years-to-life in prison. . Trigger Warning: This article contains descriptions of a violent crime, which may be disturbing to some readers. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered - What happened to Cathy Torrez. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; Please reload the page and try again. An autopsy revealed that she was stabbed in the face, head and upper body with fatal slits to her wrists and neck. 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. January 18, 2012, 7:51 AM. At his sentencing, Samuel Lopez took the unusual step of admitting his guilt and apologizing to the Torrez family. Finally, Sam Lopez was found guilty of legitimate wrongdoing in first degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life. 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.. NBCs Dateline has been a staple of the true-crime genre ever since its premiere in 1992. 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. (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 . 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. The Promise: With Craig Melvin, Kate Snow. DATELINE SATURDAY SNEAK PEEK: The Promise - NBC News 9: Surprise: Four Arrests. Select this result to view Kathy M Torres's phone number, address, and more. Kathy Torres lived her childhood in Placentia, California. MALICIOUS DAMAGE. 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. "We never gave up. CATHY LYNN TORRES, 48: She was born in Hayti, Missouri, in eastern Pemiscot County, on July 4, 1971. Cathys missing case turned out to be a murder before long. The best result we found for your search is Cathy Lynn Torres age 50s in Bella Vista, AR. 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. However, it was the three slashes made on her wrists and neck that ended her life. 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. 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. 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. Killer's brother pleads guilty to helping sibling cover up crime He remains under investigation, however. When this got combined with Sams stoic expressions upon being notified of his girlfriends demise, their doubts furthered. Cathy Torrez was still alive when she was forced into the trunk of her car, where her body was found a week later. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 26 years to life in state prison. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered: All Episodes - Trakt Police say they suspected Lopez was the murder suspect from the very beginning. The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying at California State University Fullerton. Police report that her ex-boyfriend Samuel Augustine Lopez was a suspect but he had an alibi from his cousin, Xavier Javier Lopez. 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. Michelle Young's Murder: Retrial for Husband Charged With Killing Her Required fields are marked *. Sams brother Armando was married to Cathys older sister Tina at the time. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Tell him why you chased her and stabbed her in the back. 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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 Samuel Lopez, last year when it aired on Dateline NBC . Armando Lopez pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime. The Promise Kept - audacy.com The autopsy revealed that she had lacerations to the face, head and chest area with fatal wounds to her wrist and neck. Mar 21, 2021 - The Dateline Saturday Night Mystery episode 'The Promise' investigates the 1994 disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez. The police noticed that Cathy was still alive when she was pushed into the storage room, evident from the visible impression seen inside. Who would commit such a savage crime? An accomplished runner, Cathy completed the 2009 and 2010 NYC ING . The confession came as a shock to his brother, according to Armando Lopezs attorney, David Swanson. Dateline : MSNBCW : July 7, 2019 10:00pm-12:00am PDT - Archive Kathy Torres - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages The couple, along with Cousin Sam, hung out frequently at Cathys work environment, a nearby pharmacy called Save-On. NBC's 'Dateline' has been a staple of the true-crime genre ever since its premiere in 1992. But with no physical evidence tying Lopez to the car or to Torrezs body, the case went cold. 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. Updated: May 17, 2021 / 03:40 PM CDT. her Krystal Anderson, has been arrested and charged with her kidnapping. Both were arrested and charged in connection with the murder case. Cathy Torres Profiles | Facebook 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. It take years to get to the truth. She admitted to spanking Isaiah, but denied she was responsible for any of the bruises or wounds covering the boy's . 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. Catherine Torres-Stahl - Ballotpedia It brought so much pain to hear him say what he did to my sister, said Tina Mora, Torrezs older sister. DATELINE FRIDAY PREVIEW: Along Came Sarah 00:45. Crime Beat, Lopez remained stoic as the sentence was handed down, showing little emotion. 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. The family says they hope their legal fight encourages others like them to never give up seeking justice. Dateline NBC will investigate Cathy Torrez's . Dateline NBC - The Promise Kept on Stitcher Josh Mankiewicz reports. Arkansas woman gets life sentence in death of her 6-year-old son Sean Emery is a crime and public safety reporter for the Register who covers state and federal courts and criminal justice issues. Torrez, a 20-year-old honors student at Cal State Fullerton, disappeared on the evening of Feb. 12, 1994 after leaving her job at a Sav-On drugstore in Placentia. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered - What happened to Cathy Torrez? - Sportskeeda liverpool hospital outpatients; ohio high school colors and mascots; tjx warehouse jobs memphis, tn; Services. Her purse was missing and the drivers seat was reclined completely, which was unusual as Cathy wasnt very tall. There are two particular "Dateline" episodes that parallel each other. . In 1997, authorities were eventually able to charge Sam's cousin, Xavier Lopez, with murder. A CLOSER LOOK: Torres home life with a blended family 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. Your login session has expired. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? In 2011, Cathy was recognized by El Diario/La Prensa, the nation's oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper, as a "Woman of Distinction.". Shortly after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy begin a wild relationship. The last person we meet is Sam Lopez, who lives across the street. It take years to get to the truth. Cathy Torres Accepts Plea Deal In Capital Murder Case; Avoids Death Cathy Torrez's family members wept in the . "Dateline: Secrets Uncovered" The Promise (TV Episode 2018) - IMDb Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015 and ensured he had cleared it all out. 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. Breaking news for Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. The prosecution and defense moved into the sentencing phase following the jury's verdict. Sign up here for our free newsletters. An autopsy revealed she was stabbed in the face, head and torso with fatal lacerations to her wrists and neck. We continued with hope that one day this day would come.". Authorities believed Cathy was still alive when she was put in the trunk, based on the visible handprint discovered within. The upcoming episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered will revisit the haunting disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez, who was stabbed at least 74 times. Your login session has expired. Curious to know more? Cathy Torres sustained at least several fatal injuries to her wrist and neck. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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 . Cathy just jumps right out of that picture, Hoffer said. I had just reached the top of the pay scale at . Her term expired in 2010. fbq('track', "PageView"); The Promise Kept - Dateline NBC - Podcast - Podtail 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dateline: Secrets Uncovered What happened to Cathy Torrez? FROM Page 1. has been met with feelings of sadness and frustration by Jetty Dunecare members. 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. While attending school, she worked two jobs and lived with her mother, Mary, stepfather, and three siblings. The trio then drove to a different location from there. During her life, Torrez tutored children in the Placentia area. The Promise Kept. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The 6-year-old died of a . We meet Cathy Torrez, Mary Bennett and the people in their neighborhood. Before being sentenced to 26 years to life in prison, Sam Lopez confessed to the murder and apologized in court to Cathys family. Cathy was found slain in her bed with an ax lodged in her head in Brighton in upstate New York on Feb. 19, 1982. . Her current term ends on December 31, 2024. dateline the promise, part 4. san diego noise ordinance times; About Us. One week after her disappearance, Cathys body was found in the trunk of a car. Whoops! DATELINE FRIDAY SNEAK PEEK: Along Came Sarah 01:53. Cathy Krauseneck's family recalls ax murder, justice being served She studied sociology at California State Fullerton and wanted to fulfill her dream of becoming a social worker. The episode, titled The Promise, re-airs . 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. In 2015, more than 21 years after her murder, Sam Lopez was found guilty of first-degree murder. An intensive search ended after her car was found, with her body in the trunk. View the profiles of people named Cathy Torres. 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. . Armando Lopez pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and was immediately sentenced to a year of informal probation. Maryland high school coach pulls team, goes on rant about officiating, Who Is Xana Kernodles Mom? He then helped Sam dispose of the body. In the end, Sam Lopez was convicted and sentenced for first-degree murder. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Man who helped his brother cover up 1994 Placentia murder of Cathy Cathy Torrez was found stabbed multiple times in the trunk of her car just days after she was first reported missing in February 1994. Cathy Torrez and Lynsie Ekelund both . The Placentia resident was an honor sociology student at Cal State Fullerton and had dreams of becoming a social worker one day. Who would commit such a savage crime? The verdict was reached Tuesday, as family members of Cathy Torrez got emotional in the back of the courtroom. 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. 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. Originally Aired On NBC On April 24, 2015. 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. but for now, they were left with unanswered questions and a town shaken by her murder. Daron Wyatt at the conclusion of a press conference announcing arrests in the 13-year-old case in . 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.. Cathy Torrez, 20, is shown in an undated file image. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Its like shes here. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. She was soon reported missing. }, Your email address will not be published. Several years later, Detective Daron Wyatt revived the investigation. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? by Cathy Torres | September 24, 2020. The episode titled The promise will re-air this Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. 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. They reconnected in September 1993 at Cathy's . 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. 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. Xavier Lopez, on the other hand, received a four-year and eight-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. 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. When everything was over, Xavier said he helped Sam dispose of Cathys body. document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); 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. Judge grants complete mistrial in Mauricio Torres murder case - KHBS Debbie Torrez noted how Armando Lopez appeared to help in the search for her sister before the victims body was found. Thirteen people were randomly shot across Washington D.C. in just three weeks back in October 2002. The upcoming episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered will revisit the haunting disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez, who was stabbed at least 74 times. According to producers, Dateline NBC will also include Saturday nights beginning this fall. Cathy was known to be a wonderful person with a bright future ahead of her. Xavier Lopez, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, is set to go to trial sometime in March. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? Listen to the details of a night a week before Cathy Torrez was murdered that hinted at the danger she was facing. An intensive search ended after her car was found, with her body in the trunk. Prior to receiving his sentence in May 2015, he admitted to murdering her and apologized to the Torrez family. Mauricio Torres' Other Children, Stepchildren Describe Abuse During After moving to an unknown location Samuel Lopez got out of the car and opened Torrez's trunk. The confession shocked Torrezs family members, several of whom grew up with Lopezs family in a small Placentia neighborhood. With this, in 2007, both Sam and Xavier were charged and arrested for murder.
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