Before being sentenced to 26 years to life in prison, Sam Lopez confessed to the murder and apologized in court to Cathys family. ET on Oxygen. Sams brother Armando was married to Cathys older sister Tina at the time. Cathy Torrez was found stabbed multiple times in the trunk of her car just days after she was first reported missing in February 1994. When this got combined with Sams stoic expressions upon being notified of his girlfriends demise, their doubts furthered. He was charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life. >> cathy had so much to live for and was a very happy person, a people's person . Torrez was killed Feb. 12, 1994 after leaving her job at a local Sav-On store. . Josh Mankiewicz reports. 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. Thirteen people were randomly shot across Washington D.C. in just three weeks back in October 2002. Kathy Torres lived her childhood in Placentia, California. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. I still believe he has no remorse for what he did, said Mary Bennett, Torrezs mother. Sam Lopez and his cousin Xavier allegedly met Cathy Torrez in the parking lot of a Baskin Robbins on February 12, 1994. She had a beautiful, promising future, full of life, and I took everything away from her. Xavier Lopez pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received a four-year, eight-month prison sentence. Samuel Lopez, last year when it aired on Dateline NBC . Investigators suspected Cathy Torrezs ex-boyfriend, Sam Lopez, was behind her disappearance even before her body was discovered. KABC. Sam Lopez was ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. Cathy Torrez's family members wept in the . An autopsy later revealed that she was stabbed in the face, head, and torso, with fatal slashes on her wrists and neck. Then help Sam get rid of the body. Cathy Torrez, 20, is shown in an undated file image. Samuel Lopez used a newspaper and plastic bag to lift the . The confession came as a shock to his brother, according to Armando Lopezs attorney, David Swanson. Several friends and co-workers testified that she had planned to meet Lopez after work. Torrez was killed in February 1994. ET on Oxygen. Cathy is related to Karen Faye Thompson and Gary Dewayne Vickers as well as 3 additional people. Xavier Lopez, who is charged with being an accessory after the fact, is set to go to trial sometime in March. Your email address will not be published. On the day she disappeared, she reportedly intended to meet her on-and-off boyfriend Sam Lopez after her shift at the drug store. Armando Lopez pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of dissuading a witness from reporting a crime. He has worked for the Register since 2006, previously covering breaking news, the city of Irvine, the Orange County Great Park, and the city of San Juan Capistrano. Xavier Lopez still faces trial. Murphy said Lopez got into Torrezs car and he drove her to an unknown area, where an argument broke out. In 2011, Cathy was recognized by El Diario/La Prensa, the nation's oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper, as a "Woman of Distinction.". 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. Samuel believes he is above earthly judgment. The victim and Samuel Lopez were in her car while Xavier Lopez was in Samuels pickup truck, Murphy said. Lopez, who admitted to the crime during sentencing, is serving 26-years-to-life in prison. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. In 1993, Kathy reconnects with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. Originally Aired On NBC On April 24, 2015. Authorities believed Cathy was still alive when she was put in the trunk, based on the visible handprint discovered within. Cathy Krauseneck was a young wife and mother. 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. Sam and Xavier Lopez were arrested in 2007. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? A . mr fog max pro twist bottom how to use; lewistown sentinel police report 2022; 1951 hudson hornet top speed . The prosecution and defense moved into the sentencing phase following the jury's verdict. Although his statements validated their long-held belief that Lopez murdered Torrez, family members said it was too late to ease years of suffering. This Episode is Currently Unavailable. They reconnected in September 1993 at Cathy's sister Tina's wedding to Sam's older brother, Armando Lopez. Be the first one to comment on this story. That is why he has lived his life with no remorse for the horrific things he did to my sister, Mora said. 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. 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. In 2015, more than 21 years after her murder, Sam Lopez was found guilty of first-degree murder. Maryland high school coach pulls team, goes on rant about officiating, Who Is Xana Kernodles Mom? 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. q ANZAC Parade 2022 marching down First Avenue in Sawtell. A Postcard from . Our latest episode of Crime Beat, Season 2: Mom vs. Murderer is available today. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. As part of the plea deal with prosecutors, a felony charge of being an accessory after the fact was dropped. Cathy Torrez, 20, is shown in an undated file image. Following her death, an after-school tutoring center was named in her honor. Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. The Promise Kept. 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. Both were arrested and charged in connection with the murder case. 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. The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying at California State University Fullerton. 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. Cathy was known to be a wonderful person with a bright future ahead of her. Cathy Torres testified Tuesday morning and blamed Isaiah's abuse on her husband. The ex-boyfriend of a Cal State Fullerton student killed in 1994 was found guilty of first-degree murder. 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. During his hearing, Xavier testified that he was sitting in his truck when he saw the argument between Cathy and Sam break out. 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. Her purse was missing and the drivers seat was reclined completely, which was unusual as Cathy wasnt very tall. At the age of four, she and her family moved to Jonesboro. So Why Didn't She Come Home After Work Like She Was Supposed To? 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. She was going to Cal State Fullerton for a social science major, and needed to satisfy her fantasies about becoming a social worker. 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. 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. Xavier Lopez was also charged with murder as he helped put Cathys body into the car while she was still alive. After all, she had already immersed herself in tutoring and mentoring those who belonged to the rougher neighborhoods. Cathy Torrez was a 20-year-old honors student at Cal State Fullerton and a part-time worker at a Sav-On drugstore in Placentia, California. Sara was only three years old at the time of Cathy's tragic death. Updated: May 17, 2021 / 03:40 PM CDT. Lopez, however, had an ironclad alibi from his cousin, Xavier Lopez, accounting for his movements the night prosecutors said Torrez was killed. The Rio Grande Valley, often seen as a reliable vote against abortion, has a long history of advocacy to increase access to the procedure. MALICIOUS DAMAGE. Dateline frequently airs repeat episodes on Thursday nights. I do hope and pray this brings at least a small amount of relief from the pain I have caused them. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? Cathy just jumps right out of that picture, Hoffer said. 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. 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 He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 26 years of life imprisonment. 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. "It's been a difficult journey, but we were constantly supported by prayers and faith," said Torrez's sister, Tina Mora. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? Armando Lopez also admitted to helping his brother and cousin commit the crime. Shortly after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy began a tumultuous relationship. 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. Meanwhile, Xavier Lopez has been sentenced to four years and eight months after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. In the episode, titled "The Bad Man . Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Her mutilated body was found a week later, still in her car, in the parking lot of Placentia-Linda Hospital. 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. Share with God how you ignored her cries. He then disposed of the body with his cousin's help. She had been stabbed 74 times. 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 . She was attending California State Fullerton as a sociology major, wanting to fulfill her dreams of becoming a social worker. 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 . She worked two jobs while attending school, and lived with her mother Mary, stepfather, and three siblings. Torrez was killed in February 1994. An intensive search ends after her car is found, with her body in the trunk. 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. He then helped Sam dispose of the body. We continued with hope that one day this day would come.". Finally, Sam Lopez was found guilty of legitimate wrongdoing in first degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life. YouTuber Moody Unicorn Twin Finally Reveals Her Face | Read. The confession shocked Torrezs family members, several of whom grew up with Lopezs family in a small Placentia neighborhood. Josh Mankiewicz reports. It was all my fault, Lopez said. An intensive search ended after her car was found . Now, officials have made an arrest in the case. However, it was the three slashes made on her wrists and neck that ended her life. Debbie Torrez noted how Armando Lopez appeared to help in the search for her sister before the victims body was found. They have also lived in Ann Arbor, MI and Appleton, WI. All rights reserved. Select this result to view Cathy Lynn Torres's phone number, address, and more. Police say they suspected Lopez was the murder suspect from the very beginning. She went to Williams Baptist College . 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. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window).
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