AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF News ) – Investigators looking into the bizarre murders of a Florida couple whose remains were found in Houston in 1981 said they’ll never stop searching for clues into who killed them amid the news that their daughter has been found alive and well.
The Texas Attorney General’s Office’s Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit revealed this week that Holly Marie Clouse is living in Oklahoma.
“Oh my God. You don’t know the relief I have. I can lay my head right now on the pillow now and not worry if my grandchild is out there in the human trafficking or with someone out there doing bad things,” said Dean’s mother Donna Castanada to KHOU TV in Houston.
Authorities had previously been unable to determine the identities of the bodies of Harold Dean Clouse Junior and Tina Gail Linn Clouse until last year. Investigators used genetic genealogy to positively identify the couple.
Brent Webster, Texas First Assistant Attorney General revealed clues about the people who may be involved in the Clouse’s deaths.
“Two women who identified themselves as members of a nomadic religious group brought Holly to the church in Arizona. They were wearing white robes and they were barefoot. They indicated the beliefs of their religion included the separation of male and female members, practicing vegetarian habits and not using or wearing leather goods. The women indicated they had given up a baby before at a laundromat,” he said.
Webster said the group traveled throughout the Southwestern United States including Arizona, California and possibly Texas. In late December 1980 or early 1981, the families of Dean and Tina received a call from someone with the group named Sister Susan.
The woman said she wanted to return the Clouse’s car.
“She further stated that Tina and Dean had joined the religious group and no longer wanted contact with their families. They were also giving up all of their possessions. Sister Susan asked for money in exchange for returning the car and asked where the family lived,” said Webster.
The family agreed to meet Sister Susan at the Daytona Racetrack in Florida but contacted police about the development in the case.
“The family described meeting two to three women and possibly one male. The police purportedly took the women into custody but there is no record of a police report that has been found as of yet,” said Webster.
While the trail on the religious group has gone cold, investigators said they’re not giving up on getting justice for the Clouse family.
Authorities stressed the couple that raised Holly are not suspects in the murders and they’re urging anyone with information to come forward.
Tipsters can send information to coldcaseunit@oag.texas.gov.
Holly has already met with her biological family virtually and well be meeting them in person soon.
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