His cousin Xavier Lopez was also sentenced to prison for helping him commit the crime. He was charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life. Following her death, an after-school tutoring center was named in her honor. The best result we found for your search is Kathy M Torres age 60s in Aurora, IL in the Pigeon Hill neighborhood. Your email address will not be published. Now, officials have made an arrest in the case. She was attending California State Fullerton as a sociology major, wanting to fulfill her dreams of becoming a social worker. Maurice Isaiah Torres died March 30, 2015, at a Bella Vista hospital. Cathy's the missing person's case was soon turned into a homicide. by 2Paragraphs in Culture, True Crime Murder TV | March 20, 2021, Placentia, CA featured on Dateline 'The Promise' (NBC). The Promise. fbq('init', '952063904834769'); Cathy Torrez and Lynsie Ekelund both . Cathy Torrez, a 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton student, was murdered in 1994. A jury sentenced her . The verdict was reached Tuesday, as family members of Cathy Torrez got emotional in the back of the courtroom. 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. Lopez, however, had an ironclad alibi from his cousin, Xavier Lopez, accounting for his movements the night prosecutors said Torrez was killed. 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 Sam's brother Armando was married to Cathy's elder sister Tina at the time. Thirteen people were randomly shot across Washington D.C. in just three weeks back in October 2002. They reconnected in September 1993 at Cathy's . 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.. 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. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered - What happened to Cathy Torrez. In the episode, titled "The Bad Man . . 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. It take years to get to the truth. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. 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. The trio then drove to a different location from there. An intensive search ended after her car was found, with her body in the trunk. cathy torrez had been murdered and stuffed in the trunk of her car. Lopez had suggested several days earlier that the two elope, but friends said Torrez planned to turn him down because she wanted an actual wedding and didnt want to run away. Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. 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. Although his statements validated their long-held belief that Lopez murdered Torrez, family members said it was too late to ease years of suffering. Dateline: Secrets revealed will air on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Kathy Torres lived her childhood in Placentia, California. The couple, along with Sams cousin, often spent time together at Cathys place of work, a local drug store called Sav-On. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Torrez was last seen leaving work and driving toward a Placentia ice cream shop. 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. . I still believe he has no remorse for what he did, said Mary Bennett, Torrezs mother. The Dateline Saturday Night Mystery episode 'The Promise' investigates the 1994 disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Prosecutors allege . Cathy was known for being a marvelous person with a bright future ahead of her. S5 - E4. The charges were nonetheless dismissed due to a lack of physical evidence connecting him to the murder. She had been stabbed 74 times. He pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and was sentenced to a year on probation. After court, Torrez's mother, Mary Bennett, told Eyewitness News that she never lost faith in the system. A . Our latest episode of Crime Beat, Season 2: Mom vs. Murderer is available today. 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. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. The womans car, with her body in the trunk, was found a week later, following a frantic, communitywide search. At his sentencing, Samuel Lopez took the unusual step of admitting his guilt and apologizing to the Torrez family. On the other hand, Xavier pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received a four-year, eight-month prison sentence. Please logout and login again. 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. Both were arrested and charged in connection with the murder case. >> cathy had so much to live for and was a very happy person, a people's person . So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? An intensive search ended after her car was found . Both suspects were subsequently arrested in 2007. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Shortly after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy began a tumultuous relationship. An autopsy revealed she was stabbed in the face, head and torso with fatal lacerations to her wrists and neck. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. . Confess how you picked up her bloody body, how she cried and told you to stop.. In This Dateline Classic, Cathy Torrez Was A Beautiful, Smart And Responsible 20-Year-Old Student. Several friends and co-workers testified that she had planned to meet Lopez after work. Who killed Debbie Gama and what happened to him? Mar 21, 2021 - The Dateline Saturday Night Mystery episode 'The Promise' investigates the 1994 disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez. The best result we found for your search is Cathy Lynn Torres age 50s in Bella Vista, AR. The episode titled The promisewill re-air this Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. 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 Promise Kept. n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; but for now, they were left with unanswered questions and a town shaken by her murder. Dateline frequently airs repeat episodes on Thursday nights. Juan Gustafo Barroso also was charged as an accessory after the fact, but charges against him were dismissed in September 2008. 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. Murphy said Lopez got into Torrezs car and he drove her to an unknown area, where an argument broke out. After all, she had already immersed herself in tutoring and mentoring those who belonged to the rougher neighborhoods. Her campaign was absent and the drivers seat was reclined completely backwards, which was odd because Kathy wasnt very tall. Your login session has expired. fbq('track', "PageView"); She admitted to spanking Isaiah, but denied she was responsible for any of the bruises or wounds covering the boy's . A licensed attorney, Cathy is a former President of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, New York's largest, oldest ethnic bar association. Sam implied that he made the final three slashes after he and Xavier had already placed her in the trunk of her car. In 1993, Kathy reconnects with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. Cathy Torrez was a 20-year-old Latina who was found dead in her car trunk over 20 years ago. 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. dateline the promise, part 4. san diego noise ordinance times; About Us. 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. In the end, Sam Lopez was convicted and sentenced for first-degree murder. CATHY LYNN TORRES, 48: She was born in Hayti, Missouri, in eastern Pemiscot County, on July 4, 1971. She studied sociology at California State Fullerton and wanted to fulfill her dream of becoming a social worker. Torrez was killed in February 1994. Meanwhile, Xavier Lpez was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison after confessing to compulsory killing. The Rio Grande Valley, often seen as a reliable vote against abortion, has a long history of advocacy to increase access to the procedure. Xavier Lopez still faces trial. ET on Oxygen. From the start, detectives suspected Cathy Torrezs casual boyfriend Sam Lopez, who had a false alibi claiming he was dating his cousin Xavier. After moving to an unknown location Samuel Lopez got out of the car and opened Torrez's trunk. She was soon reported missing. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? 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. 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. My family has suffered for 21 years not knowing whether there would be justice for Cathy. Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. 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. It was the first time that Lopez admitted to being involved in the murder that shocked a tight-knit Placentia community. 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.". 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 . 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. An accomplished runner, Cathy completed the 2009 and 2010 NYC ING . Your email address will not be published. Cathy Torres pleaded guilty to capital murder and battery. 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. 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. 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In 1993, Cathy reconnected with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. Cathy Torrez, 20, is shown in an undated file image. Attorney Mark Rosenblum, who represented Lopez, told the judge his client will not appeal the verdict. 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. Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015, claiming he took everything from her. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? 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. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The brother of a man convicted in the 1994 stabbing death of a Cal State Fullerton . fbPixelFired = true; 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. 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. Join Facebook to connect with Cathy Torres and others you may know. That's the one thing that kept me going, kept us going," she said. April 20, 2023, 7:40 PM UTCBy Veronica FultonLast month marked the 20 year anniversary of the murder of 20-year-old SUNY Orange student Megan McDonald. 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. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered. Produced by Clare Friedland, Anthony Venditti and Gail Abbott Zimmerman. Though detectives found her body in the trunk of her car within a week, it was nearly two decades before they finally caught her killer her longtime boyfriend, Sam Lopez. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. Sean Emery is a crime and public safety reporter for the Register who covers state and federal courts and criminal justice issues. They have also lived in Jonesboro, AR and Paragould, AR. document.addEventListener("scroll", function() { loadFBPixel() }); t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, She will forever be young, and she will live on in our memories.. . Weve got the details for you. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered airs with Cathy Torrez's case on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 pm ET. Cathy was known to be a wonderful person with a bright future ahead of her. 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. 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. 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. Sam Lopez was eventually found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. Judge David A. Hoffer told Lopez he appreciated his honesty, but it wasnt enough to sway the judge from sentencing Lopez to 26 years to life in state prison. 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. The confession came as a shock to his brother, according to Armando Lopezs attorney, David Swanson. 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. 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. In 2011, Cathy was recognized by El Diario/La Prensa, the nation's oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper, as a "Woman of Distinction.". Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. Dateline: Inside facts revealed with Kathy Torres case on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 p.m. At 20-years-old, Cathy Torrez was described by her friends and family as a smart, beautiful, and responsible young lady. Armando was shocked and saddened and he and the rest of the family felt very badly about what happened.. At 20-years-old, Cathy Torrez was described by her friends and family as a smart, beautiful, and . fbq('track', 'ViewContent'); 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 Torres testified Tuesday morning and blamed Isaiah's abuse on her husband. Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of a brutal murder and stabbing, which may trigger some readers. Her current term ends on December 31, 2024. The 6-year-old died of a . The killing occurred in an apartment complex in Placentia, Murphy said. Cathy Torrez was still alive when she was forced into the trunk of her car, where her body was found a week later. View the profiles of people named Cathy Torres. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window). NBC's 'Dateline' has been a staple of the true-crime genre ever since its premiere in 1992. 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. Lopez, who admitted to the crime during sentencing, is serving 26-years-to-life in prison. The autopsy revealed that she had lacerations to the face, head and chest area with fatal wounds to her wrist and neck. jackson city dump hours; chicago bears rumors trade; clothing similar to wornstar; bbc scotland sports reporters; Cathy Torrez grew up in Placentia, California. Annet Schlosser opened up to "Dateline" about her sister who was found . The episode, titled The Promise, re-airs . document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); Cathy is related to Karen Faye Thompson and Gary Dewayne Vickers as well as 3 additional people. Crime Beat, Torrez was killed Feb. 12, 1994 after leaving her job at a local Sav-On store. But with no physical evidence tying Lopez to the car or to Torrezs body, the case went cold. 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. Its like shes here. The narrative unraveled slowly, and it was eventually revealed that Lopez attacked Torrez during an argument and stabbed her 74 times. Xavier Lopez calmed his cousin and then they carried the victim to the trunk of the car and put her in, Murphy said. Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015 and claimed that he "took everything away from her." Confess how you grabbed Cathy, how she screamed at you to stop. Sara was only three years old at the time of Cathy's tragic death. Cathy Torrez's murder case was explored at length in Dateline: Secrets Uncovered's latest episode, titled The Promise, which aired on January 3. 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. Armando Lopez also admitted to helping his brother and cousin commit the crime. The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying at California State University Fullerton. Sam and Cathy got into a fight at one point, during which the former attacked the 20-year-old and repeatedly stabbed her in the head, face, and chest. He then put her in the car trunk with his cousin's assistance while she was still alive and sliced her neck and wrists. Her amazing dressing sense, Delightful looks and Honest Grin makes her not the same as others. Several years later, Detective Daron Wyatt revived the investigation. Cathy Torrezs family members wept in the packed Santa Ana courtroom as Lopez made his surprise apology for killing the 20-year-old girl in 1994. She worked two jobs while attending school, and lived with her mother Mary, stepfather, and three siblings. Josh Mankiewicz reports. All rights reserved. She was going to Cal State Fullerton for a social science major, and needed to satisfy her fantasies about becoming a social worker. Updated: May 17, 2021 / 03:40 PM CDT. I had just reached the top of the pay scale at . . Cathy Torres, organizing manager of Frontera Fund, protests outside the Starr County Jail after Lizelle Herrera was held there on a charge of murder for allegedly having a self-induced abortion. . 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. Catherine Torres-Stahl is a judge of the Texas 175th District Court. He remains under investigation, however. 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. When Cathy Torrez never came home after work, her family feared the worst. "We never gave up. On the day she disappeared, she reportedly intended to meet her on-and-off boyfriend Sam Lopez after her shift at the drug store. Moreover, Sams brother, Armando Lopez was also involved with the cover-up. Wyatt," which aired June 11 as the premiere episode of "The Price of Duty," recounted the haunting murder of Cathy Torres, a vibrant Cal State . 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.

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