Offender Record · OFF-2026-160
Anthony Allen Shore (photo from the Radford University biography)
Anthony Allen Shore
Also known as The Tourniquet Killer, The Strangler
Sex
Male
Race
White
Height
5'10"
Weight
198 lbs
Hair
Gray
Eyes
Brown
Born
1962
Custody
Deceased
States
TX, SD, US
Distinguishing features5'10", 198 lbs, gray hair, brown eyes; TDCJ Number 999488.
Custody
Deceased at Huntsville Unit (execution facility), previously incarcerated at Polunsky Unit death row · #999488
Custody record at the facility
Executed by lethal injection on January 18, 2018, at 6:18 p.m. at Huntsville Unit, Texas, after 13+ years on death row.
This record documents arrests, charges and convictions reported by courts, law enforcement agencies and news organizations. Every statement is tied to a cited source with an archived copy. A charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt; a person charged is presumed innocent unless convicted. Where a record says named by police, no charge was ever filed: the record rests on a law enforcement agency's public identification of the deceased person, cited below. Not guilty by reason of insanity means the court found the act proven but the person not criminally responsible. Solve the Case does not allege that this person committed any offense beyond what the cited records state, and this record is not a suggestion that the person is connected to any unsolved case. How records are built, corrected and removed.
Summary of the record
Anthony Allen Shore was convicted of capital murder in the April 1992 rape and strangulation of Maria del Carmen Estrada, a 21-year-old woman in Houston, Texas. Shore confessed to the murders of three additional girls between 1986 and 1995: 15-year-old Laurie Tremblay (September 1986), 9-year-old Diana Rebollar (August 1994), and 16-year-old Dana Sanchez (July 1995), and to the October 1993 sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. He was sentenced to death on November 15, 2004, and executed by lethal injection on January 18, 2018, at the Huntsville Unit in Texas.
Documented Arrests, Charges and Convictions
Dispositions are shown exactly as the cited records report them. Pending charges are updated when a court acts; a record with no remaining conviction or pending charge is removed from the site.
Offense date Sep 26, 1986, Houston, Harris County, Texas
Capital murder (confessed, not charged)
Houston Police Department · None - sentencing hearing only · Texas Penal Code § 19.03 · Arrested Oct 24, 2003 · Named by police; died before charges Named by police; died before charges · Sentence: Death by lethal injection (sentenced for Estrada murder)
Laurie Tremblay, 15, was walking to school on September 26, 1986, when Shore gave her a ride. He attempted to sexually assault her; when she resisted, he strangled her with a cotton cord, injuring his finger in the process. He dumped her body behind Ninfa's Restaurant. Shore confessed to this murder after his 2003 arrest but was not charged with it; it was presented during his capital murder sentencing hearing for the Estrada case.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Shore, Anthony Allen; Anthony Allen Shore; Execution Report: Anthony Shore; Tourniquet Killer Anthony Shore: A look back at his reign of terror
Offense date Apr 16, 1992, Houston, Harris County, Texas
Capital murder
Houston Police Department; Harris County District Attorney · Harris County District Court, 339th State District Court · Docket Capital murder (4 counts charged but tried on 1) · Texas Penal Code § 19.03 · Arrested Oct 24, 2003 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Death by lethal injection
Maria del Carmen Estrada, 21, a Mexican immigrant nanny, was abducted on April 16, 1992, after accepting a ride. Shore sexually assaulted and strangled her with a nylon cord twisted around her neck with a stick as a tourniquet. Her body was found behind a Dairy Queen the same day. Shore was arrested October 24, 2003, based on DNA match to evidence under the victim's fingernails. He was tried and convicted October 21, 2004, and sentenced to death November 15, 2004.
SourcesDeath Row Inmate Information; Texas executes Houston serial killer Anthony Shore; Tourniquet Killer Anthony Shore: A look back at his reign of terror; Execution Report: Anthony Shore
Offense date Oct 19, 1993, Houston, Harris County, Texas
Sexual assault / Rape (confessed, not charged)
Houston Police Department · None - sentencing hearing only · Texas Penal Code § 22.011 · Arrested Oct 24, 2003 · Named by police; died before charges Named by police; died before charges · Sentence: Death by lethal injection (sentenced for Estrada murder)
On October 19, 1993, Shore broke into a 14-year-old girl's home disguised in baggy clothes, surgical gloves, sunglasses, and a bandana over his face. He bound her hands with electrical cord, wrapped her head in duct tape, and began strangling her while attempting sexual assault. The girl managed to escape. Shore confessed but was not charged separately; this assault and the victim's testimony were presented during his capital murder sentencing hearing.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Shore, Anthony Allen; Anthony Allen Shore; Execution Report: Anthony Shore; Tourniquet Killer Anthony Shore: A look back at his reign of terror
Offense date Aug 08, 1994, Houston Heights, Houston, Harris County, Texas
Capital murder (confessed, not charged)
Houston Police Department · None - sentencing hearing only · Texas Penal Code § 19.03 · Arrested Oct 24, 2003 · Named by police; died before charges Named by police; died before charges · Sentence: Death by lethal injection (sentenced for Estrada murder)
Diana Rebollar, 9, was kidnapped on August 8, 1994 (document states August 7), while walking home from a convenience store less than a block from her house in Houston Heights. Shore beat, sexually assaulted, bound her hands and feet with duct tape, and strangled her with a tourniquet. Her nearly nude body was found behind an abandoned commercial building. Shore confessed but was not charged separately; presented at sentencing for Estrada case.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Shore, Anthony Allen; Anthony Allen Shore; Execution Report: Anthony Shore; Tourniquet Killer Anthony Shore: A look back at his reign of terror
Offense date Jul 06, 1995, Harris County, Texas
Capital murder (confessed, not charged)
Houston Police Department · None - sentencing hearing only · Texas Penal Code § 19.03 · Arrested Oct 24, 2003 · Named by police; died before charges Named by police; died before charges · Sentence: Death by lethal injection (sentenced for Estrada murder)
Dana Sanchez, 16, was abducted on July 6, 1995, when she called her boyfriend to say she was hitchhiking to his north Houston house. Shore picked her up, and during a struggle over his sexual advances, he strangled her. Her partially decomposed nude body was found in a Harris County field after Shore made an anonymous phone call to a local news station providing directions. Shore confessed but was not charged separately; presented at sentencing for Estrada case.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Shore, Anthony Allen; Anthony Allen Shore; Execution Report: Anthony Shore; Tourniquet Killer Anthony Shore: A look back at his reign of terror
Offense date 1997, Houston, Texas
Indecency with a child
Harris County District Attorney · Harris County District Court · Texas Penal Code § 21.11 · Arrested Oct 1997 · Convicted Convicted · Sentence: Probation 8 years, $500 fine, no prison time; DNA sample required
Shore pleaded guilty to indecency with his two daughters, Amber and Tiffany, molesting them from kindergarten on. He entered a no-contest plea in January 1998 and received probation with required DNA sample submission.
SourcesRadford University serial killer biography: Shore, Anthony Allen; Texas executes Houston serial killer Anthony Shore; The Killer Next Door; Execution Report: Anthony Shore
Pattern and Background
Victim counts and the pattern of the offenses as stated by courts, agencies and the cited reporting. Suspected counts are what officials have said publicly, not a finding of this site.
1
Victims convicted
4
Victims confessed
0
Victims suspected
Active years
1986–1995
Victim profile
Young women, Children, Teenagers, Strangers
Stated motive
Sexual
Range from home
local
Confessed
Yes
Cooperated with investigators
Yes
Education
high school
Marital history
Married, Divorced
Children
2
Died
2018-01-18 · executed
Agencies
Law enforcement, prosecutors and corrections agencies the records show dealing with this person. An investigator working a case with a possible connection can start here.
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals · TX
Affirmed conviction and sentence in December 2007
Source: Texas Executions
Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles · TX
Reviewed clemency petition; unanimously rejected clemency in 2017
Source: Wikipedia, Texas Executions
Harris County Jail · TX
Held Shore without bond following 2003 arrest prior to trial
Source: Houston Chronicle
Harris County District Attorney's Office · TX
Prosecuted capital murder and indecency with child convictions; DA Kim Ogg's office directed prosecution strategy and pursued death penalty
Source: Texas Tribune, Murderpedia
Houston Police Department · TX
Primary investigating agency for all capital murder cases; made arrest on October 24, 2003; conducted interrogations and obtained confessions
Source: Texas Tribune, Houston Chronicle, Houston Press
Montgomery County District Attorney's Office · TX
Investigated Shore's claim of involvement in 1998 Melissa Trotter murder; requested execution stay to probe alleged inmate collusion scheme
Source: Texas Executions
Texas Department of Criminal Justice · TX
Agency case TDCJ #999488
Incarcerated Shore on death row from November 15, 2004 until execution on January 18, 2018; Huntsville Unit
Source: Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Texas Executions
Harris County Sheriff's Office · TX
Homicide unit under Lt. Danny Billingsly worked cold case DNA analysis that led to breakthrough in Estrada case
Source: Murderpedia
Places Lived, Worked and Frequented
Each place and date range comes from a cited record. Dates marked approximate are as reported. Know a place that is missing? Use Edit record under the photo; a moderator reviews it before it appears.
SD
Rapid City, South Dakota
approx. Jun 25, 1962 – 1965 · Born at Ellsworth Air Force Base
TX
Houston, Texas
1972 – 2003 · Settled in Houston area; multiple addresses throughout Houston during adult life
Houston, Texas
1983 – 2003 · Worked at Southwestern Bell as telephone technician/repairman for approximately 17 years; also worked as wrecker driver, construction worker, and musician
Houston, Texas
Oct 24, 2003 – Oct 24, 2003 · Arrested at home on Freeport Street, North Shore area, Houston
Harris, Texas
Oct 24, 2003 – Nov 15, 2004 · Held in Harris County jail pending trial; appeared in 339th State District Court
Livingston, Texas
Nov 15, 2004 – Jan 18, 2018 · Death row inmate at Polunsky Unit, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Livingston, Texas (TDCJ Number 999488)
Huntsville, Texas
Jan 18, 2018 – Jan 18, 2018 · Executed by lethal injection at Huntsville Unit at 6:15 p.m., pronounced dead at 6:28 p.m.
US
United States
approx. 1965 – 1972 · Multiple cities · Family relocated frequently due to father's military career; lived in Kansas, Alabama, Florida
Known Vehicles
Vehicles and approximate dates of ownership or use, as reported in the cited records. A photo next to a vehicle is the vehicle itself as published.
Van
approx. 1992 – 1995
Shore used a van to lure Dana Sanchez in July 1995, according to police accounts. Used to abduct and assault victims.
Timeline
Jun 25, 1962
Anthony Allen Shore born in Rapid City, South Dakota at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Sep 26, 1986
Shore kidnaps 15-year-old Laurie Tremblay, sexually assaults and strangles her with a cotton cord, dumping her body behind Ninfa's Restaurant in Houston.
Apr 16, 1992
Shore kidnaps 21-year-old Maria del Carmen Estrada after offering her a ride, sexually assaults and strangles her with a nylon cord twisted with a stick, dumping her body behind a Dairy Queen.
Oct 19, 1993
Shore breaks into home of 14-year-old girl wearing disguise, binds her with electrical cord, wraps her head in duct tape, and strangles her before she escapes.
Aug 08, 1994
Shore kidnaps 9-year-old Diana Rebollar as she walks home from convenience store, beats her, sexually assaults her, binds her with duct tape, and strangles her with tourniquet, dumping her body behind abandoned building.
Jul 06, 1995
Shore lures 16-year-old Dana Sanchez into his van, sexually assaults and strangles her during altercation, dumping her body in Harris County field; later calls news station with directions to body.
Oct 1997
Shore arrested for sexually molesting his two daughters Amber and Tiffany from kindergarten.
Jan 23, 1998
Shore pleads guilty to two counts of indecency with a child, receives probation and $500 fine with no prison time; required to submit DNA sample.
2000
Detectives reopen Maria del Carmen Estrada's cold case, extract DNA from under her fingernails, and submit to Texas DNA database.
Oct 24, 2003
Shore arrested at 4:15 p.m. at his Freeport Street home in north Houston after DNA match to Estrada murder is confirmed.
Oct 25, 2003
During 11-hour police interrogation, Shore confesses to murders of Maria del Carmen Estrada, Laurie Tremblay, Diana Rebollar, and Dana Sanchez, and rape of 14-year-old girl.
Nov 14, 2003
Shore attempts suicide by overdosing on sleeping pills.
Oct 18, 2004
Shore's trial begins in Harris County District Court for capital murder of Maria del Carmen Estrada.
Oct 21, 2004
Jury finds Shore guilty of capital murder in death of Maria del Carmen Estrada after two-week trial.
Nov 15, 2004
Shore sentenced to death by lethal injection after jury deliberates less than one hour; Shore requested death penalty.
Dec 2007
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals affirms Shore's conviction and sentence.
Oct 18, 2017
Shore's execution scheduled for October 18, 2017, is stayed six hours before scheduled time after Shore claims involvement in scheme with death row inmate Larry Swearingen.
Jan 18, 2018
Shore executed by lethal injection at Huntsville Unit at 6:15 p.m., pronounced dead at 6:28 p.m., first execution in Texas and nation in 2018, after 13+ years on death row.
Sources
Solve the Case is never the original source. Each item below is the public record a statement on this page rests on, with an archived copy where one exists.
News report · Murderpedia ·
Anthony Allen Shore“Anthony Allen Shore currently awaits execution on Texas's death row at Livingston, Texas... Shore, 42, is charged with capital murder in each of the four cases.”
Other government record · Wikipedia ·
Anthony Allen Shore“Anthony Allen Shore (June 25, 1962 – January 18, 2018) was an American serial killer and child molester who was responsible for the murders of one woman and three girls.”
News report · Houston Press ·
The Killer Next Door“His molestation conviction required Shore to give Houston police a DNA sample in 1998. Shore agreed to plead guilty to two counts of indecency with a child.”
News report · Texas Tribune ·
Texas executes Houston serial killer Anthony Shore“Shore wasn't arrested in the murders until 2003, when his DNA was matched to the 1992 murder of 21-year-old Maria Del Carmen Estrada, according to court documents.”
Other government record · Texas Executions ·
Execution Report: Anthony Shore“Anthony Allen Shore, 55, was executed by lethal injection on 18 January 2018 in Huntsville, Texas for the rape and murder of four women and girls.”
News report · ABC13 Houston ·
Tourniquet Killer Anthony Shore: A look back at his reign of terror“Shore was convicted and sentenced to death in 2004 after prosecutors said he confessed to the murders of four females ranging in age from 9 to 21 between 1986 and 1995.”
Other · Radford University Department of Psychology ·
Radford University serial killer biography: Shore, Anthony Allen“Timeline of Shore's life from birth through incarceration and details of victims, crimes, and background.”
Other government record · Texas Department of Criminal Justice ·
Death Row Inmate Information“TDCJ Number 999488, Date of Birth 06/25/1962, Date Received 11/15/2004, Native County Pennington, Native State South Dakota.”
News report · Houston Chronicle ·
North Shore man arrested for serial killings“Anthony Allen Shore, a 41-year-old wrecker driver, was arrested at his home on 352 Freeport without incident after detectives secured a warrant for his arrest.”
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