A Teacher's Tragic End and a Killer's Shocking Secret
A Brutal Crime
Mary Catherine Edwards, a beloved schoolteacher, was brutally murdered in her home in 1995. The case baffled investigators for years, with no clear leads. The crime scene was unusual, with Edwards found over the bathtub, sexually assaulted, and handcuffed behind her back. The handcuffs, police-grade, became a key piece of the puzzle.
Initial Investigations
Initial investigations focused on an old boyfriend, David Perry, but he was cleared after providing a DNA sample that didn't match. The case went cold, with the crime scene DNA preserved but no matches found. Years passed, and the case remained unsolved, leaving Edwards' family and friends in anguish.
Breakthrough in Forensic Science
In 2018, a breakthrough in forensic science offered a new hope. DNA left at crime scenes could now be used to search for biological relatives. Detective Aaron Lewallen and Texas Ranger Brandon Bess saw an opportunity to revisit Edwards' case. They sent the DNA to Othram, a lab outside of Houston, for testing. The results led them to a family tree with nearly 7,500 names, a daunting task to sort through.
The Gene Hunter
Detective Tina Lewallen, Aaron's wife and an auto crimes detective, joined the effort. She noticed that the matches were all Cajun, pointing to a specific region in Louisiana. As she built the family tree, one name kept appearing: LaPoint. Shera LaPoint, a genealogist known as "The Gene Hunter," had been building her own family tree and agreed to help.
The Investigation
The investigation was complex, involving publicly available DNA, birth and death records, and building a vast family tree. LaPoint and Tina Lewallen worked tirelessly, often through the night, to identify a suspect. After nearly three months of relentless work, they hit paydirt. They found a family in Beaumont, Texas, with two sons who attended the same high school as Edwards around the same time.
The Suspects
The sons were Michael Foreman and Clayton Foreman. Detective Aaron Lewallen ran Clayton Foreman's name and discovered a prior conviction for sexual assault. Foreman had been convicted in 1981 for binding and raping a 19-year-old woman. He received probation and a fine but did not have to provide a DNA sample.
A Shocking Discovery
The investigation took a shocking turn when they discovered that Clayton Foreman had been married to Dianna Coe, Edwards' friend from middle school. Coe had been a bridesmaid in Edwards' wedding, and Edwards had been a bridesmaid in Coe's wedding to Foreman. Coe had no idea about Foreman's dark past and was devastated when she learned the truth.
The Arrest
Foreman was tracked down in Reynoldsberg, Ohio, where he was working as an Uber driver. DNA collected from his trash matched the DNA found at Edwards' crime scene. The likelihood of it being a match was 461 septillion, leaving no room for doubt.
Justice Served
Detective Aaron Lewallen and Ranger Brandon Bess flew to Ohio to confront Foreman. They arrested him, and the handcuffs used to bind Edwards were used to arrest her killer. The trial was emotional, with Edwards' family and friends testifying about the impact of her death. Foreman was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison.
The Impact
The case highlights the power of modern forensic science and the dedication of investigators who refuse to let cold cases go unsolved. It also serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of violence and the importance of seeking justice for victims and their families.
