Updated: May 17, 2021 / 03:40 PM CDT. 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. Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. NBCs Dateline has been a staple of the true-crime genre ever since its premiere in 1992. 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 . Mary Bennett, center, mother of murder victim Cathy Torrez, photo at left, hugs Placentia Sgt. Cathy . 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. ET with the case of Cathy Torrez. Moreover, Sams brother, Armando Lopez was also involved with the cover-up. >> cathy had so much to live for and was a very happy person, a people's person . Police noted that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was shoved into the trunk, apparent from a visible handprint found inside. Sam Lopez didnt look at Torrezs family or friends during the sentencing, averting his eyes as he entered the courtroom and staring straight ahead, rather than turning around when they spoke. 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. Tell him why you chased her and stabbed her in the back. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? Prior to receiving his sentence in May 2015, he admitted to murdering her and apologized to the Torrez family. The Cathy Torrez, Placentia, California, murder case is set to air tonight on Dateline NBC. Hoffer said he was touched by a photo of the victim that Tina Mora held up as she made her victim impact statement to the judge. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. She had been stabbed 74 times. Cathy was found slain in her bed with an ax lodged in her head in Brighton in upstate New York on Feb. 19, 1982. . "We never gave up. The couple, along with Sam's cousin, would often spend time together at Cathy's workplace, a local drug store called Sav-On. 5 chilling details about Cathy Torrez's murder. Kathy is related to Michelle L Torres and Oscar C Torres as well as 2 additional people. 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 autopsy revealed that she had lacerations to the face, head and chest area with fatal wounds to her wrist and neck. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. Samuel believes he is above earthly judgment. Confess how you grabbed Cathy, how she screamed at you to stop. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Check for a confirmation email, and then you're all set with MyNewsLA.com! So Why Didn't She Come Home After Work Like She Was Supposed To? The prosecution and defense moved into the sentencing phase following the jury's verdict. } 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. Armando Lopez pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and was immediately sentenced to a year of informal probation. S2, Ep. Several years later, Detective Daron Wyatt revived the investigation. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, Cathy Torrez and Sam Lopez used to be high school sweethearts. But prosecutors said Lopez suffered from fits of jealousy and became enraged when he discovered a hickey another man had given Torrez a week before her disappearance. 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. The episode titled The promise will re-air this Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Finally, Sam Lopez was found guilty of legitimate wrongdoing in first degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life. The family says they hope their legal fight encourages others like them to never give up seeking justice. Clinical analysts determined that the cause of death was hemorrhaging from all the wound infections. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Her current term ends on December 31, 2024. At 20-years-old, Cathy Torrez was described by her friends and family as a smart, beautiful, and . 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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. 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 best result we found for your search is Cathy Lynn Torres age 50s in Bella Vista, AR. . In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Her ex-boyfriend later confessed. Photos courtesy of flickr, flickr, and Cathy Torres. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Originally Aired On NBC On April 24, 2015. 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. It rocks you to the core.. (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 . That is why he has lived his life with no remorse for the horrific things he did to my sister, Mora said. q ANZAC Parade 2022 marching down First Avenue in Sawtell. Weve got the details for you. Meanwhile, Xavier Lopez has been sentenced to four years and eight months after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter. He revealed he ran to the couple and tried to pull his cousin off of Cathy, but it didnt work. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Her term expired in 2010. Discretion is advised. Please logout and login again. 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. Be the first one to comment on this story. Breaking news for Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. Her campaign was absent and the drivers seat was reclined completely backwards, which was odd because Kathy wasnt very tall. When Cathy Torrez never came home after work, her family feared the worst. n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n; 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. A licensed attorney, Cathy is a former President of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, New York's largest, oldest ethnic bar association. dateline the promise, part 4. san diego noise ordinance times; About Us. Her mutilated body was found a week later, still in her car, in the parking lot of Placentia-Linda Hospital. Join Facebook to connect with Cathy Torres and others you may know. Lopez and his cousin, Javier Lopez, were . 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. Authorities believed Cathy was still alive when she was put in the trunk, based on the visible handprint discovered within. She signed a plea deal for life in prison without parole for the capital murder charge and 20 years for battery. "Even though people say no, there's nothing that they can do anymore, you have to keep trying. 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. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Police determined that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was pushed into the trunk, according to a visible handprint found inside. By Richard Schlesinger. Discretion is advised. We continued with hope that one day this day would come.". 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.". 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. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); Josh Mankiewicz reports. Josh Mankiewicz Reports. . They reconnected in September 1993 at Cathy's sister Tina's wedding to Sam's older brother, Armando Lopez. The confession came as a shock to his brother, according to Armando Lopezs attorney, David Swanson. Lopez, however, had an ironclad alibi from his cousin, Xavier Lopez, accounting for his movements the night prosecutors said Torrez was killed. BENTONVILLE, Ark. Cathy Torrez never came home after work and her family fears the worst. (KNWA/ KFTA) - In a KNWA / Fox 24 News Special Report, Anchor Tavares Jones takes a closer look at the case of Mauricio Torres, the . He was convicted of first-degree murder and was given a sentence of 26 years to life in prison. 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. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered airs with Cathy Torrez's case on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 pm ET. document.addEventListener("scroll", function() { loadFBPixel() }); The victim and Samuel Lopez were in her car while Xavier Lopez was in Samuels pickup truck, Murphy said. ET. Meanwhile, Xavier Lpez was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison after confessing to compulsory killing. Lopez, who admitted to the crime during sentencing, is serving 26-years-to-life in prison. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 26 years of life imprisonment. DATELINE FRIDAY PREVIEW: Along Came Sarah 00:45. All rights reserved. On the other hand, Xavier pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received a four-year, eight-month prison sentence. Sams brother Armando had been linked to Kathys older sister Tina at that point. In the episode, titled "The Bad Man . However, with no physical evidence tying Sam to Cathys remains or her car, the case went cold. Kathy Torres lived her childhood in Placentia, California. 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. Samuel Lopez, last year when it aired on Dateline NBC . She should be here today I like to think she was.. liverpool hospital outpatients; ohio high school colors and mascots; tjx warehouse jobs memphis, tn; Services. jackson city dump hours; chicago bears rumors trade; clothing similar to wornstar; bbc scotland sports reporters; 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. 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 was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. In 1993, Kathy reconnects with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. 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. The police noticed that Cathy was still alive when she was pushed into the storage room, evident from the visible impression seen inside. 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. 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. He then helped Sam in disposing of the body. My family has suffered for 21 years not knowing whether there would be justice for Cathy. Dateline NBC Today at 3:10 PM On September 28, Tony Berry, boyfriend of missing South Carolina mot . 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. An accomplished runner, Cathy completed the 2009 and 2010 NYC ING . S5 - E4. Produced by Clare Friedland, Anthony Venditti and Gail Abbott Zimmerman. Josh Mankiewicz reports. Our latest episode of Crime Beat, Season 2: Mom vs. Murderer is available today. 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. Share with God how you ignored her cries. They have also lived in Ann Arbor, MI and Appleton, WI. Sam and his cousin Xavier were both arrested and charged with murder, with the former being tried first. On the day she disappeared, she reportedly intended to meet her on-and-off boyfriend Sam Lopez after her shift at the drug store. 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. 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. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying Sam took to the stand himself during his sentencing hearing and confessed to his girlfriends brutal killing. Well send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon. Shortly after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy began a tumultuous relationship. Her purse was missing and the drivers seat was reclined completely, which was unusual as Cathy wasnt very tall. The couple, along with Cousin Sam, hung out frequently at Cathys work environment, a nearby pharmacy called Save-On. Curious to know more? When Cathy Torrez never came home after work, her family feared the worst. SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The brother of a man convicted in the 1994 stabbing death of a Cal State Fullerton . She worked two jobs while attending school, and lived with her mother Mary, stepfather, and three siblings. The upcoming episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered will revisit the haunting disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez, who was stabbed at least 74 times. 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 . Torres' wife, Cathy, is scheduled to go to trial on the same charges in May 2017. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Select this result to view Kathy M Torres's phone number, address, and more. 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. The episode titled The promisewill re-air this Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. April 25, 2015 Sean Emery is a crime and public safety reporter for the Register who covers state and federal courts and criminal justice issues. He is the brother of Sam Lopez, who was sentenced in 2015 to the killing of his ex-girlfriend Cathy Torrez in 1994. Both were arrested and charged in connection with the murder case. The confession shocked Torrezs family members, several of whom grew up with Lopezs family in a small Placentia neighborhood. He pleaded guilty to dissuading a witness from reporting a crime and was sentenced to a year on probation. Please logout and login again. In February 1994, California State Fullerton University student Cathy Torrez was only 20 years old when she was viciously stabbed to death. Her purse was missing and the driver's seat was completely reclined, which was unusual as Cathy wasn't very tall. Jan. 18, 2012 -- The husband of a pregnant woman who was found beaten to death five years ago was back in a North Carolina courtroom Tuesday as jury selection began for . BENTON COUNTY, Ark. Dateline: Secrets revealed will air on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of a brutal murder and stabbing, which may trigger some readers. According to producers, Dateline NBC will also include Saturday nights beginning this fall. The 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying at California State University Fullerton. A . With this, in 2007, both Sam and Xavier were charged and arrested for murder. 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. Whoops! Your email address will not be published. I still believe he has no remorse for what he did, said Mary Bennett, Torrezs mother. Crime Beat, So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? 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. Cathy has a reputation for being a bright individual with a bright future ahead of her. Thus, a year later, they publicly named him as their primary suspect. Its way too little and way too late, Wyatt said. Cathy Torrez and Lynsie Ekelund both . One week after her disappearance, Cathys body was found in the trunk of a car. It take years to get to the truth. Cathy Torrez's murder case was explored at length in Dateline: Secrets Uncovered's latest episode, titled The Promise, which aired on January 3. Deadly Twist: With Lester Holt, Keith Morrison, Katelynn White, Rachel Winkler. An autopsy revealed that she was stabbed in the face, head and upper body with fatal slits to her wrists and neck. 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.. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered - What happened to Cathy Torrez. Cathy Torrez was a bright 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton honors student who vanished one night in 1994. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 26 years to life in state prison. 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. 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. 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. As part of the plea deal with prosecutors, a felony charge of being an accessory after the fact was dropped. Cathy Torrez grew up in Placentia, California. Both suspects were subsequently arrested in 2007. Her amazing dressing sense, Delightful looks and Honest Grin makes her not the same as others. Torrez was last seen leaving work and driving toward a Placentia ice cream shop. Likewise, his cousin, Xavier Lpez, was sentenced to prison for aiding the offense. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? 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 return; For more than 25 years, Dateline has brought viewers investigations into some of biggest mysteries in America. Xavier Lopez still faces trial. if(fbPixelFired) { She told co-workers that she . The trio then drove to a different location from there. Medical examiners determined the cause of death as exsanguination (drained of blood) due to all the stab wounds. It takes years to get to the truth. 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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. During his hearing, Xavier testified that he was sitting in his truck when he saw the argument between Cathy and Sam break out. An intensive search ended after her car was found . Sometimes, it even revisits matters with added updates, which has been the case for its episode entitled The Promise. Profiling the 1994 disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez, this classic highlights exactly how investigators used advanced technology to bring her justice decades later. Listen to the details of a night a week before Cathy Torrez was murdered that hinted at the danger she was facing. fbq('track', "PageView"); 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.