Former high school sweethearts, Torrez and Lopez had renewed their relationship in the weeks leading up to her February 1994 death. In 1993, Cathy reconnected with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. Samuel believes he is above earthly judgment. Its way too little and way too late, Wyatt said. Medical examiners determined the cause of death as exsanguination (drained of blood) due to all the stab wounds. The couple, along with Cousin Sam, hung out frequently at Cathys work environment, a nearby pharmacy called Save-On. 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. A . Mary Bennett, center, mother of murder victim Cathy Torrez, photo at left, hugs Placentia Sgt. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Dateline frequently airs repeat episodes on Thursday nights. The prosecution and defense moved into the sentencing phase following the jury's verdict. The upcoming episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered will revisit the haunting disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez, who was stabbed at least 74 times. Cathy Torrez, 20, is shown in an undated file image. It was all my fault: Ex-boyfriend gets 26, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), It was all my fault: Ex-boyfriend gets 26 years to life after admitting to 1994 Placentia murder of Cathy Torrez, Fire at Barnes & Noble in Orange disrupts book-signing event, Cold, drizzly week ahead for Southern California, OC Marine who volunteered in Ukraine, survived rocket attack: I would do it again, Masseur arrested on suspicion of sexual assault at Riverside acupuncture clinic, Sam Lopez confessed Friday to the brutal slaying, Man who helped his brother cover up 1994 Placentia murder of Cathy Torrez sentenced to probation, Crime Beat podcast: Letters between Cathy Torrez and the man her mother believed killed her, Prosecutor: Jealousy fueled ex-boyfriend in 94 Placentia stabbing death; defense says cousin killed her, Placentia investigators: Defendant in Cathy Torrezs stabbing death was suspect from the beginning, 1994 Placentia stabbing trial: No way Cathy Torrez was stabbed to death over a hickey, defense claims, Orange County restaurants shut down by health inspectors (April 20-27), The DMV says permission to drive is based on ability, but older drivers are scrutinized more, Then and Now: Photos of Casa Romantica show damage caused by landside, More land sliding at Casa Romantica; residents evacuated, trains halted through San Clemente, Repeat drunk driver gets 15 years to life for Orange crash that killed 19-year-old Starbucks worker, Here are Orange Countys top 6 educators this year, Joe Bidens re-election bid is off to a bad start, Land beneath Casa Romantica drops 10 feet, halts railroad service through San Clemente, Orange County Artist of the Year winners announced, A look at Orange Countys baseball teams and the CIF-SS playoffs, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Our latest episode of Crime Beat, Season 2: Mom vs. Murderer is available today. Whoops! Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015 and ensured he had cleared it all out. 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. 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. The Torrez family still doesnt have Cathy, and nothing will bring her back.. It was all my fault, Lopez said. 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 still alive when she was forced into the trunk of her car, where her body was found a week later. Annet Schlosser opened up to "Dateline" about her sister who was found . The upcoming episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered will revisit the haunting disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez, who was stabbed at least 74 times. jackson city dump hours; chicago bears rumors trade; clothing similar to wornstar; bbc scotland sports reporters; When Cathy Torrez never came home after work, her family feared the worst. var fbPixelFired = false; Sam Lopez and his cousin Xavier allegedly met Cathy Torrez in the parking lot of a Baskin Robbins on February 12, 1994. 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. Who killed Debbie Gama and what happened to him? An autopsy later revealed that she was stabbed in the face, head, and torso, with fatal slashes on her wrists and neck. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; 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. During her life, Torrez tutored children in the Placentia area. He then helped Sam in disposing of the body. 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. Join Facebook to connect with Cathy Torres and others you may know. The couple, along with Sam's cousin, would often spend time together at Cathy's workplace, a local drug store called Sav-On. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With Cathys manner of death ruled as a homicide, the search to find the truth about what happened began. document.addEventListener("scroll", function() { loadFBPixel() }); Lopez remained stoic as the sentence was handed down, showing little emotion. The Cathy Torrez, Placentia, California, murder case is set to air tonight on Dateline NBC. Likewise, his cousin, Xavier Lpez, was sentenced to prison for aiding the offense. Josh Mankiewicz reports. 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. 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. She was going to Cal State Fullerton for a social science major, and needed to satisfy her fantasies about becoming a social worker. Several years later, Detective Daron Wyatt revived the investigation. 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. Sam and his cousin Xavier were both arrested and charged with murder, with the former being tried first. The family also continues to honor Cathy's life by supporting the Cathy Torrez Learning Center in Placentia. 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. Cathy Torrez grew up in Placentia, California. Cathy Torrez was a 20-year-old Latina who was found dead in her car trunk over 20 years ago. The then-29-year-old lived in Brighton, a suburb of Rochester, New York, with her husband, James Krauseneck. Mar 21, 2021 - The Dateline Saturday Night Mystery episode 'The Promise' investigates the 1994 disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez. At 20-years-old, Cathy Torrez was described by her friends and family as a smart, beautiful, and responsible young lady. The autopsy revealed that she had lacerations to the face, head and chest area with fatal wounds to her wrist and neck. By Richard Schlesinger. >> cathy had so much to live for and was a very happy person, a people's person . The victim and Samuel Lopez were in her car while Xavier Lopez was in Samuels pickup truck, Murphy said. They have also lived in Ann Arbor, MI and Appleton, WI. He then disposed of the body with his cousin's help. Your email address will not be published. Everything that Mr. (Deputy District Attorney Matt) Murphy said is true. All rights reserved. Trigger Warning: This article contains descriptions of a violent crime, which may be disturbing to some readers. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? 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 . Police report that her ex-boyfriend Samuel Augustine Lopez was a suspect but he had an alibi from his cousin, Xavier Javier Lopez. December 12, 2015 / 11:08 PM / CBS News. She will forever be young, and she will live on in our memories.. Following her death, an after-school tutoring center was named in her honor. 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 ex-boyfriend of a Cal State Fullerton student killed in 1994 was found guilty of first-degree murder. . But with no physical evidence tying Lopez to the car or to Torrezs body, the case went cold. Xavier Lopez still faces trial. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Who would commit such a savage crime? . 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. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 26 years to life in state prison. "We never gave up. fbq('track', "PageView"); Her ex-boyfriend later confessed. Cathy . dateline the promise, part 4. san diego noise ordinance times; About Us. Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. From the start, detectives suspected Cathy Torrezs casual boyfriend Sam Lopez, who had a false alibi claiming he was dating his cousin Xavier. It rocks you to the core.. Maryland high school coach pulls team, goes on rant about officiating, Who Is Xana Kernodles Mom? Torres' wife, Cathy, is scheduled to go to trial on the same charges in May 2017. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Originally Aired On NBC On April 24, 2015. 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 Catherine Torres-Stahl is a judge of the Texas 175th District Court. He was convicted of first-degree murder and was given a sentence of 26 years to life in prison. 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. Xavier reportedly testified that he was in his truck when the couple got into an argument which saw Sam attack Cathy. The episode titled The promise will re-air this Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. One week after her disappearance, Cathys body was found in the trunk of a car. 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. The womans car, with her body in the trunk, was found a week later, following a frantic, communitywide search. However, it was the three slashes made on her wrists and neck that ended her life. Josh Mankiewicz Reports. Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of a brutal murder and stabbing that some readers may find triggering. Season 2, Mom vs. Murderer, has a launch date. Police determined that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was pushed into the trunk, according to a visible handprint found inside. Sam Lopez was eventually found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. 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. In 1997, authorities were eventually able to charge Sam's cousin, Xavier Lopez, with murder. Clinical analysts determined that the cause of death was hemorrhaging from all the wound infections. In February 1994, California State Fullerton University student Cathy Torrez was only 20 years old when she was brutally stabbed to death. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? He was charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life. He also said: Everything they said about Cathy was the truth she was a wonderful person. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered - What happened to Cathy Torrez. "It's been a difficult journey, but we were constantly supported by prayers and faith," said Torrez's sister, Tina Mora. During his hearing, Xavier testified that he was sitting in his truck when he saw the argument between Cathy and Sam break out. 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. She was going to Cal State Fullerton for a social science major, and needed to satisfy her fantasies about becoming a social worker. She studied sociology at California State Fullerton and wanted to fulfill her dream of becoming a social worker. Tell him why you chased her and stabbed her in the back. Cathy Torrez and Lynsie Ekelund both . Torrez was killed Feb. 12, 1994 after leaving her job at a local Sav-On store. Her purse was missing and the driver's seat was completely reclined, which was unusual as Cathy wasn't very tall. Meanwhile, Xavier Lpez was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison after confessing to compulsory killing. Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of a brutal murder and stabbing, which may trigger some readers. fbq('track', 'ViewContent'); In 2015, more than 21 years after her murder, Sam Lopez was found guilty of first-degree murder. 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. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered airs with Cathy Torrez's case on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 pm ET. While attending school, she worked two jobs and lived with her mother, Mary, stepfather, and three siblings. 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 . 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. Cathy was known for being a marvelous person with a bright future ahead of her. 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. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Confess how you grabbed Cathy, how she screamed at you to stop. She went to Williams Baptist College . 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. It is believed that her story will be covered on an episode of Fatal Attraction. Instead, all he did was injure his hand in the process. Crime Beat, Dateline NBC will investigate Cathy Torrez's . S2, Ep.8: Cold as Ice. She was soon reported missing. A jury sentenced her . . 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 couple, along with Sams cousin, often spent time together at Cathys place of work, a local drug store called Sav-On. 9: Surprise: Four Arrests. The episode, titled The Promise, re-airs . BENTON COUNTY, Ark. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Cathy Torrez, a 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton student, was murdered in 1994. That's the one thing that kept me going, kept us going," she said. }, Your email address will not be published. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. On February 19, following a community-wide search, Cathys 1990 Toyota Corolla was found abandoned in the Placentia Linda Hospital parking lot. Debbie Torrez noted how Armando Lopez appeared to help in the search for her sister before the victims body was found. In February 1994, California State Fullerton College student Kathy Torres was just 20 years old when she was violently mauled to death. Be the first one to comment on this story. The Dateline Saturday Night Mystery episode The Promise investigates the 1994 disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez. 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. 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. The confession came as a shock to his brother, according to Armando Lopezs attorney, David Swanson. Confess how you picked up her bloody body, how she cried and told you to stop.. 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. Samuel Lopez used a newspaper and plastic bag to lift the . However, the murderer was the victim here, and this case \r\rDateline 20/20 Cathy Torrez Left For Dead Dateline 20/20 Cathy Torrez Left For Dead Dateline 20/20 Cathy Torrez Left For Dead. S5 - E4. 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. Produced by Clare Friedland, Anthony Venditti and Gail Abbott Zimmerman. 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. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? 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. My family has suffered for 21 years not knowing whether there would be justice for Cathy. Prior to receiving his sentence in May 2015, he admitted to murdering her and apologized to the Torrez family. Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015, claiming he took everything from her. Attorney Mark Rosenblum, who represented Lopez, told the judge his client will not appeal the verdict. The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying at California State University Fullerton. by Eleanor Klibanoff April 13, 2022 10 AM Central. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Shortly after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy begin a wild relationship. She signed a plea deal for life in prison without parole for the capital murder charge and 20 years for battery. 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. MALICIOUS DAMAGE. Facebook gives people the power to. Lopez, who admitted to the crime during sentencing, is serving 26-years-to-life in prison. 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. 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. Before being sentenced to 26 years to life in prison, Sam Lopez confessed to the murder and apologized in court to Cathys family. Investigators suspected Cathy Torrezs ex-boyfriend, Sam Lopez, was behind her disappearance even before her body was discovered. Cathys missing case turned out to be a murder before long. 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. Armando Lopez pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and was immediately sentenced to a year of informal probation. NBC's 'Dateline' has been a staple of the true-crime genre ever since its premiere in 1992. 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. Both are about missing girls from Placentia, a suburb just outside of Orange County. } Dateline: Secrets revealed will air on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Her mutilated body was found a week later, still in her car, in the parking lot of Placentia-Linda Hospital. Please reload the page and try again. After 12 years in the air, Cathy Torres is contemplating life on the ground. . but for now, they were left with unanswered questions and a town shaken by her murder. He revealed he ran to the couple and tried to pull his cousin off of Cathy, but it didnt work. Sam took to the stand himself during his sentencing hearing and confessed to his girlfriends brutal killing. I still believe he has no remorse for what he did, said Mary Bennett, Torrezs mother. (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 . 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. He is the brother of Sam Lopez, who was sentenced in 2015 to the killing of his ex-girlfriend Cathy Torrez in 1994. 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. Torrez was last seen leaving work and driving toward a Placentia ice cream shop. The episode titled The promisewill re-air this Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. I had just reached the top of the pay scale at . 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. Sam implied that he made the final three slashes after he and Xavier had already placed her in the trunk of her car. The episode, titled The Promise, re-airs on Oxygen this Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 pm ET. Required fields are marked *. Dateline: Inside facts revealed with Kathy Torres case on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 p.m. Deadly Twist: With Lester Holt, Keith Morrison, Katelynn White, Rachel Winkler. Then help Sam get rid of the body. In This Dateline Classic, Cathy Torrez Was A Beautiful, Smart And Responsible 20-Year-Old Student. They reconnected in September 1993 at Cathy's sister Tina's wedding to Sam's older brother, Armando Lopez. Now, officials have made an arrest in the case. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cathy has a reputation for being a bright individual with a bright future ahead of her. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Be the first one to comment on this story. Who would commit such a savage crime? Although the boyfriend was a prime suspect in the case, due to a lack of solid physical evidence, the case went cold until 2007, when DNA found on the victim connected Sam's cousin Xavier Lopez to the murder.
Are Enn And Vic Static Or Dynamic Characters, Articles C