Post by almagata on Aug 8, 2016 17:12:49 GMT
Murder victim Terri Lynn Ray loved riding horses, as shown in this Record Searchlight file photo.
By Record Searchlight Staff
Redding police announced today that an investigation into the 1976 murder of a 15-year-old Anderson High School girl has been reopened.
The body of Terri Lynn Ray was found on July 7, 1976, near the Clear Creek Bridge on Highway 273.
She had been stabbed 15 times.
Many of the wounds were on her arms, as if she'd tried to block the blade as her attacker slashed at her again and again.
An autopsy found no signs of sexual assault.
Although police said investigators aggressively worked the case, the number of leads declined over time and the case went cold.
Now 37 years later, police said they have developed new leads and have reopened the case.
Investigators say they are hopeful that these new leads, coupled with advances in DNA technology, will help identify the suspect.
Several items of evidence were submitted to the California Department of Justice DNA lab for analysis.
Police are also asking for the public's assistance in solving the crime
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered by Shasta County Secret Witness for information leading to the arrest of the suspect in this case.
Those with any information about the murder of the teen are asked to call police at 225-4214 or Shasta County Secret Witness at 243-2319.
On Aug. 30, 1976, an 18-year-old girl was arrested in the case after she confessed to the crime under hypnosis.
The teen, who was a minor at the time of the 15-year-old girl's death, was kept in custody at the Shasta County Jail for more than a month.
But she was freed when investigators determined she had a credible alibi. Her false confession was used nationally as example that helped invalidate the use of hypnosis as a police tool.
A 17-year-old boy was also taken into custody less than a week after Terri's murder, but he was quickly released.
By Record Searchlight Staff
Redding police announced today that an investigation into the 1976 murder of a 15-year-old Anderson High School girl has been reopened.
The body of Terri Lynn Ray was found on July 7, 1976, near the Clear Creek Bridge on Highway 273.
She had been stabbed 15 times.
Many of the wounds were on her arms, as if she'd tried to block the blade as her attacker slashed at her again and again.
An autopsy found no signs of sexual assault.
Although police said investigators aggressively worked the case, the number of leads declined over time and the case went cold.
Now 37 years later, police said they have developed new leads and have reopened the case.
Investigators say they are hopeful that these new leads, coupled with advances in DNA technology, will help identify the suspect.
Several items of evidence were submitted to the California Department of Justice DNA lab for analysis.
Police are also asking for the public's assistance in solving the crime
A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered by Shasta County Secret Witness for information leading to the arrest of the suspect in this case.
Those with any information about the murder of the teen are asked to call police at 225-4214 or Shasta County Secret Witness at 243-2319.
On Aug. 30, 1976, an 18-year-old girl was arrested in the case after she confessed to the crime under hypnosis.
The teen, who was a minor at the time of the 15-year-old girl's death, was kept in custody at the Shasta County Jail for more than a month.
But she was freed when investigators determined she had a credible alibi. Her false confession was used nationally as example that helped invalidate the use of hypnosis as a police tool.
A 17-year-old boy was also taken into custody less than a week after Terri's murder, but he was quickly released.