MURDER
CASE #: 1985-1
Catherine Catrina Mowrey
Also Known As:
Catrina
Status:
Open
Date of Offense:
Date of Offense:
Jurisdiction:
Offense Location:
Dallas, TX
Summary:
Dallas PD discovered 24 yr old, Catrina Mowrey's remains in the trunk of a blue, 1978 Ford LTD in an alleyway of the Oak Cliff Neighborhood of Dallas. Her body was wrapped in a white stained bedsheet with a belt wrapped around her neck as well as a belt wrapped around her neck above the sheet. Police initially stated that Catrina had taken her own life but then shared with reporters that it was a cocaine overdose however, the toxicology report states that no drugs were found in her system.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Offense:
Mowrey was known have friends or associates who were in the Dallas drug scene around the Oak Cliff neighborhood. Her lifeless body was found locked in the trunk of a vehicle (from the outside, with a key) of a reported romantic partner approximately 6.5 miles from where she lived. Mowrey was nude and did not have her glasses meaning she would not have been able to drive herself to that location since she was legally blind without her glasses. Family had been told initially that Mowrey's death was likely a suicide and then later, revised to a cocaine overdose. Police shared with news reporters- just one day after her body was found- that she died of a cocaine overdose, even though the toxicology reports were not completed yet. This information was then prematurely, inaccurately and falsely published in the Dallas Morning News paper on multiple occasions that her death was the result of a cocaine overdose. The medical examiner would eventually go on to determine Catrina had died two days earlier and that the toxicology reports showed no drugs in her system at the time of her death. The toxicology report results were never shared with anyone in Mowrey’s family or any of the reporters who reported otherwise. In 2020, Mowrey's niece (and namesake) obtained a copy of the death certificate and it listed the cause of death as "undetermined". In 2022, her niece then received a copy of the autopsy and toxicology reports which found no drugs present in her system at the time of her death along with the information regarding the belt found around her neck, which had never been disclosed before prior. It was also discovered that 2-3 weeks prior to her murder, a man had kicked in her apartment door and attacked her with a loaded firearm in hand.
Additional Details:
Mowrey's family has experienced a continual stream of tragic events. In 1993- 8 years later, Mowrey's sister Joann was also violently murdered in Dallas only 5 or so miles away from where Catherine's body was found. A suspect was arrested and prosecuted for her murder. The two deaths are believed to be unrelated. Mowrey's other sister, Deborah committed suicide within a month of receiving the news that the case was classified as "Undetermined" and had not been actively investigated as she was always led to believe it was for the last 35+ years. Forensic evidence in the case is currently being tested as a result of Dallas PD reopening this case.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
Evidence from crime scene is transported to two different labs for advanced DNA and mitochondrial DNA testing
Obituary is reported in the Lawrence Journal World Newspaper w/ “Catrina Mowrey” as the name and states that, “the circumstances surrounding her death are still under investigation by the Dallas, TX police department”.
Funeral is Held in Lawrence, KS and Catherine's Cremated Remains are Buried in Local Cemetery
Supplemental Police Report is Created and the case is classified as a "murder"
Autopsy is Performed in Dallas, TX
Victims Body is Found in Trunk of abandoned car in an alleyway. 220 S Marsalis Ave / Lancaster Ave Alley in the trunk (locked with key - around 6pm) of an abandoned vehicle: 1978 Blue Ford LTD - 2 door
Catherine's roommate is reportedly the last person to see Catrina Mowrey alive at 6:20am in the morning on June 23rd at their alleged “shared” residence in Dallas. This is also Dallas PD's Estimated Date of Death
Deborah and Catherine get in argument over the phone and Deborah hangs up on her sister. This is the last time anyone speaks to her.
Victim calls 911 to report a man kicking her door in with a gun
Victim was in Lawrence, KS visiting her family for Christmas
Catrina was in a car accident in Kansas City, MO on January 5 th of 1984 in the early morning hours (near where she worked) by the Harry S. Truman Sports Complex off I-435. She suffered face cuts, neck injuries and broken bones in her back. She was in a wheelchair for a short time after that. The newspaper also reported her driving a 1980 Chevrolet and that she was living in Lawrence, KS at the time of the accident.
Related Vehicles
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Associated Persons
L. W. (Person of Interest) - Living
Deborah M. (Sibling) - Living
U. P. (Person of Interest) - Living
J. D. (Other) - Living
Catrina M. (Family) - Living
Joann M. (Sibling) - Living
Boyfriend N. (Person of Interest) - Living
Jack Andrew C. (Person of Interest) - Living
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Case Content Disclaimer: The details on this case page are sourced from numerous locations to include family, friends, news postings and government public releases. Solve the Case, Inc. does not guarantee the accuracy of any content as case pages are living documents that frequently update as case details expand.
