All rights reserved. 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. The killing occurred in an apartment complex . 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. 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. Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of a brutal murder and stabbing, which may trigger some readers. She worked two jobs while attending school, and lived with her mother Mary, stepfather, and three siblings. Who would commit such a savage crime? 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In the episode, titled "The Bad Man . Several years later, Detective Daron Wyatt revived the investigation. 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. The ex-boyfriend of a Cal State Fullerton student killed in 1994 was found guilty of first-degree murder. An intensive search ended after her car was found, with her body in the trunk. The family says they hope their legal fight encourages others like them to never give up seeking justice. Police determined that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was pushed into the trunk, according to a visible handprint found inside. 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. Sam's brother Armando was married to Cathy's elder sister Tina at the time. The Dateline Saturday Night Mystery episode The Promise investigates the 1994 disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez. Cathy Krauseneck was a young wife and mother. Confess how you grabbed Cathy, how she screamed at you to stop. The upcoming episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered will revisit the haunting disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez, who was stabbed at least 74 times. He faces a maximum possible sentence of 26 years to life in state prison. She admitted to spanking Isaiah, but denied she was responsible for any of the bruises or wounds covering the boy's . Former high school sweethearts, Torrez and Lopez had renewed their relationship in the weeks leading up to her February 1994 death. She had been stabbed about 70 times. 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. Finally, Sam Lopez was found guilty of legitimate wrongdoing in first degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life. Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. 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. Deadly Twist: With Lester Holt, Keith Morrison, Katelynn White, Rachel Winkler. t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, "We never gave up. document.addEventListener("mousemove", function() { loadFBPixel() }); 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. Samuel Lopez, last year when it aired on Dateline NBC . Sam Lopez was eventually found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. Thirteen people were randomly shot across Washington D.C. in just three weeks back in October 2002. Dateline: Secrets Uncovered airs with Cathy Torrez's case on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 pm ET. Your login session has expired. By Richard Schlesinger. The brutal murder of Cathy Krauseneck is the focus of Friday's episode of Dateline at 9 p.m. on Rochester's NBC affiliate (Channel 10). So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? CATHY LYNN TORRES, 48: She was born in Hayti, Missouri, in eastern Pemiscot County, on July 4, 1971. Authorities believed Cathy was still alive when she was put in the trunk, based on the visible handprint discovered within. Todays sentence may not seem significant in a criminal courtroom, but justices comes in different ways and everything that happens in darkness must come to light, she said. "There was never a question in our mind who did this, who's responsible for it and the way he did it, it just took time for technology to catch up to the case somewhat," said Senior Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy. 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Cathy Torrez's murder case was explored at length in Dateline: Secrets Uncovered's latest episode, titled The Promise, which aired on January 3. Wyatt, who has spent 17 years as the lead investigator on the case, said he hoped Sam Lopezs courtroom confession wasnt just a ploy to eventually position himself for parole. Cathy Torres sustained at least several fatal injuries to her wrist and neck. He was charged with first-degree murder and sentenced to 26 years to life. 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. Your email address will not be published. All rights reserved. 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. She was soon reported missing. Shortly after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy began a tumultuous relationship. 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. The hit television crime series normally focuses on cases that have happened in the African-American community. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Dateline: Secrets Uncovered What happened to Cathy Torrez? Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. 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. After court, Torrez's mother, Mary Bennett, told Eyewitness News that she never lost faith in the system. Cathy Torrez was a bright 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton honors student who vanished one night in 1994. 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. 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 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. DATELINE FRIDAY PREVIEW: Along Came Sarah 00:45. Shortly after reconnecting, Sam and Cathy begin a wild relationship. document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); Armando was shocked and saddened and he and the rest of the family felt very badly about what happened.. Curious to know more? Torrez was killed in February 1994. The upcoming episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered will revisit the haunting disappearance and murder of Cathy Torrez, who was stabbed at least 74 times. 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. We continued with hope that one day this day would come.". . Sam Lopez was ultimately found guilty of first-degree murder and was sentenced to 26 years to life in prison. . Dateline examines the death of Rachel Winkler a California mother who was beloved by four men. 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. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. That is why he has lived his life with no remorse for the horrific things he did to my sister, Mora said. An autopsy revealed that she was stabbed in the face, head and upper body with fatal slits to her wrists and neck. The Promise Kept. The couple, along with Sams cousin, often spent time together at Cathys place of work, a local drug store called Sav-On. She kept two sources of income while she went to class, and lived with her mother, Mary, stepfather, and three relatives. On the other hand, Xavier pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and received a four-year, eight-month prison sentence. The prosecution and defense moved into the sentencing phase following the jury's verdict. Samuel believes he is above earthly judgment. Cathys missing person case soon turned into a murder case. She told co-workers that she . Cathy Torrez was a 20-year-old Latina who was found dead in her car trunk over 20 years ago. KABC. Your email address will not be published. Xavier Lopez calmed his cousin and then they carried the victim to the trunk of the car and put her in, Murphy said. fbq('track', 'ViewContent'); Following her death, an after-school tutoring center was named in her honor. q ANZAC Parade 2022 marching down First Avenue in Sawtell. 0:00. His cousin, Xavier Lopez, was also sentenced to prison for helping him commit the crime. Torres' wife, Cathy, is scheduled to go to trial on the same charges in May 2017. An intensive search ends after her car is found, with her body in the trunk. 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. by Eleanor Klibanoff April 13, 2022 10 AM Central. Originally aired on NBC on April 24, 2015. Cathy Torrez grew up in Placentia, California. The womans car, with her body in the trunk, was found a week later, following a frantic, communitywide search. MyNewsLA.com wont sell your information and you can unsubscribe at any time. On the day she disappeared, she reportedly intended to meet her on-and-off boyfriend Sam Lopez after her shift at the drug store. Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015 and ensured he had cleared it all out. 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. 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. At 20-years-old, Cathy Torrez was described by her friends and family as a smart, beautiful, and responsible young lady. He then helped Sam in disposing of the body. They reconnected in September 1993 at Cathy's . My family has suffered for 21 years not knowing whether there would be justice for Cathy. Her amazing dressing sense, Delightful looks and Honest Grin makes her not the same as others. 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. Both suspects were subsequently arrested in 2007. Prosecutors allege Lopez stabbed Torrez more than 70 times, and he and his cousin stuffed her in the trunk of her car while she was still alive. In 1993, Cathy reconnected with Sam Lopez, her high school sweetheart. Cathy Torrez and Sam Lopez used to be high school sweethearts. When Cathy Torrez never came home after work, her family feared the worst. Your email address will not be published. Without any physical evidence, the case went cold for nearly 21 years and was only reopened several years later when Xavier was linked to the DNA found on the victim's clothes. Annet Schlosser opened up to "Dateline" about her sister who was found . 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 . 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. 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. Lopez confessed to the murder in 2015, claiming he took everything from her. 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. He is the brother of Sam Lopez, who was sentenced in 2015 to the killing of his ex-girlfriend Cathy Torrez in 1994. 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. During her life, Torrez tutored children in the Placentia area. Dateline frequently airs repeat episodes on Thursday nights. jackson city dump hours; chicago bears rumors trade; clothing similar to wornstar; bbc scotland sports reporters; 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. But with no physical evidence tying Lopez to the car or to Torrezs body, the case went cold. 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 Cathy Torrez never came home after work, her family feared the worst. Medical examiners determined the cause of death as exsanguination (drained of blood) due to all the stab wounds. 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 . His cousin Xavier Lopez was also sentenced to prison for helping him commit the crime. 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. 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. fbq('init', '952063904834769'); Cathys missing case turned out to be a murder before long. Cathy just jumps right out of that picture, Hoffer said. This entry in the franchise takes a second look at some of the most mysterious cases of recent history. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. For more than 25 years, Dateline has brought viewers investigations into some of biggest mysteries in America. Select this result to view Cathy Lynn Torres's phone number, address, and more. So why didn't she come home after work like she was supposed to? Facebook gives people the power to. Thus, a year later, they publicly named him as their primary suspect. Our latest episode of Crime Beat, Season 2: Mom vs. Murderer is available today. Cathy Torres testified Tuesday morning and blamed Isaiah's abuse on her husband. After moving to an unknown location Samuel Lopez got out of the car and opened Torrez's trunk. Torrez was killed in February 1994. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 26 years of life imprisonment. Police say they suspected Lopez was the murder suspect from the very beginning. I had just reached the top of the pay scale at . 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Likewise, his cousin, Xavier Lpez, was sentenced to prison for aiding the offense. }, Your email address will not be published. This Episode is Currently Unavailable. She signed a plea deal for life in prison without parole for the capital murder charge and 20 years for battery. Sam and Xavier Lopez were arrested in 2007. Tell him why you chased her and stabbed her in the back. Share with God how you ignored her cries. Police noted that Cathy was allegedly still alive when she was shoved into the trunk, apparent from a visible handprint found inside. An intensive search ended after her car was found, with her body in the trunk. On February 19, following a community-wide search, Cathys 1990 Toyota Corolla was found abandoned in the Placentia Linda Hospital parking lot. Torrez was last seen leaving work and driving toward a Placentia ice cream shop. In this Dateline classic, Cathy Torrez was a beautiful, smart and responsible 20-year-old student. Who would commit such a savage crime? 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 20-year-old from Placentia, California worked two jobs while studying Dateline: Secrets revealed will air on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Our latest episode of Crime Beat, Season 2: Mom vs. Murderer is available today. 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. The 20-year-old Cal State Fullerton college student from Placentia, California, was stabbed 74 times and left for dead in the trunk of a car. Cathy was known for being a marvelous person with a bright future ahead of her. Mary Bennett, center, mother of murder victim Cathy Torrez, photo at left, hugs Placentia Sgt. Your email address will not be published. FROM Page 1. has been met with feelings of sadness and frustration by Jetty Dunecare members. Dateline: Inside facts revealed with Kathy Torres case on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 7 p.m. Originally Aired On NBC On April 24, 2015. cathy torrez had been murdered and stuffed in the trunk of her car. The victim and Samuel Lopez were in her car while Xavier Lopez was in Samuels pickup truck, Murphy said. Its way too little and way too late, Wyatt said. The then-29-year-old lived in Brighton, a suburb of Rochester, New York, with her husband, James Krauseneck. At the age of four, she and her family moved to Jonesboro. An autopsy revealed she was stabbed in the face, head and torso with fatal lacerations to her wrists and neck. However, with no physical evidence tying Sam to Cathys remains or her car, the case went cold. 5 chilling details about Cathy Torrez's murder. Maryland high school coach pulls team, goes on rant about officiating, Who Is Xana Kernodles Mom? Sams brother Armando was married to Cathys older sister Tina at the time. I still believe he has no remorse for what he did, said Mary Bennett, Torrezs mother. >> cathy had so much to live for and was a very happy person, a people's person . Meanwhile, Xavier Lopez has been sentenced to four years and eight months after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

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