unsolved murders in texas 2020

Terrible things happen everywhere, but its a little more bone chilling when they happen so close to come. 1982 cold case reopens after 18-year-old murder victim identified . 2 Dorothy Louise . Breakthrough improvements in DNA technology have resolved hundreds, if not thousands, of cold cases of all ages in every state across the United States. On December 6, 1991, four young women were found inside a I Can't Believe It's Yogurt! Investigators believe she was right handed. Search. If you have any information about an unsolved case please contact the Tampa Police Department Unsolved Homicides Unit at (813) 898-1435 . Netflix's rebooted version of Unsolved Mysteries is already on the path of, ahem, solving one of its more vexing cases. Click on any name below for details on a particular case and download the PDF flyer. To do so, choose "anonymous" when submitting your report. It is unknown how both victims were placed at the scene. Tilley said police have arrested the Red-haired Burglar. ". He was relatively short for a male, being five feet to five feet one inch tall. The Murder Accountability Project Cold Case Homicide Statistics Breakdown of Homicide Clearance Rates Nearly 340,000 cases of homicide and non-negligent manslaughter went unsolved from 1965 to 2021, according to the FBI's Uniform Crime Report data studied by The Murder Accountability Project. Alkhenala Al-Fatah - March 9, 2020; 1200 block of Barnaby Terrace, SE. Which of these did you find the most disturbing or perplexing? Many believe that his unsolved death is a hate crime. A package was also mailed to the Christian Broadcasting Network in Virginia, nearly taking the life of Scott Scheepers, a security guard for the business. While it may seem like Texas will never be able to put an end to every Texas homicide or true crime story in Texas, just think about how much progress the state has made in recent history. A heart tattoo containing a scroll was on one arm, and their fingernails had been painted gold at one point. Most states saw their murder rates go up between 2019 and 2020. No arrests in three unsolved 2019 Beaumont murders | 12newsnow.com - KBMT The list of its authors can be seen in its historicaland/or the page Edithistory:List of unidentified murder victims in Texas. Unsolved Crimes - Crime Stoppers of San Antonio 817-469-TIPS | Tarrant County Crime Stoppers He was between 35 and 50 years old, was approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighed between 195 and 200 pounds. He had light brown hair with a mustache and goatee, and brown eyes. Pastor John Osteen's daughter Lisa opened the package, leaving her with third degree burns and cuts to her abdomen and legs after the bomb exploded. 13 Unsolved: Cold cases and true crime around greater Houston area Major Case/Unsolved Homicides - 2020. To reiterate, according to Project: Cold Case, there are currently approximately 22,581 Texas cold cases, a number that has dropped dramatically as law enforcement agencies continue to investigate unsolved cases. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crimestoppers at (877) 373-8477. The progress made is largely due to advances in forensic technology, as well as the efforts and perseverance of law enforcement agencies even in the most difficult unsolved cases. [15], A young man and woman who were found in January 1981. Edwina had been shot at close range in the head, and both their bodies had been dismembered and hacked apart in the bathroom. He was given the nickname "Rebel Ray" after the wording on the hat. Please review the Cold Case/Missing Persons summaries and if you have any information pertaining to any of these cases, please contact the Austin Police Department Homicide Tipline at (512) 477-3588, Crimestoppers at (512) 472-TIPS or by email. Hundreds of cases stretching back decades have not had justice delivered because the . The motive for the murder was apparently an argument. BEAUMONT, Texas Beaumont Police have solved all but three of the city's 18 murders that happened in 2019. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images Finally, the 2017 murder of Debarione Brandi Seals, the 1977 murder of Samarra Kaye Cribbs, the 1979 murder of Angela Kelly, the 1990 murder of Detta Dee Taylor Maris, and the 2001 murder of Daniel Whitehead are a few examples of some of the many unsolved murders in Harris County, Texas, included within various lists and databases. South Padre Island, Cameron County, Texas, List of unidentified murder victims in the United States, List of United States representatives from Texas, List of Farm to Market Roads in South Texas, "Cold Cases Go Online, with Respect for Victims", "Is Bobby French the Last Unidentified Victim of Serial Killer Dean Corll? According to information I've found, five cold case detectives are still working on the case. He had receding dark brown hair with gray roots and brown eyes. Saige Ballard - June 11, 2020; 200 block of E Street, NE. She had long, dark brown hair. 1992 Natasha Atchley White Female Frederick Earl . He witnessed someone in a pickup truck pull up and snatch her. He may have gone by the street name, "New York Billy". She was described as wearing a yellow pullover sweater and red heeled sandals. We believe the more resources we can provide to digital volunteers and citizen solvers mean more citizen detective communities. It appeared the man had been dragged outside of the club, possibly by a worker who had been cleaning up for the night. Love Texas? New A&E Documentary Examines 11 Unsolved Murders of Texas Teenagers [52] She was clothed, wearing a dark top, multicolored shorts with star decorations and bikini underwear, along with a sanitary pad. A female between 17 and 26 was discovered in Kendall County, Texas, on March 6, 2010. Name Sort by. 10 Incredibly Tragic Unsolved Child Murders - Listverse Ultimately, investigators from various investigative and law enforcement agencies across the state will continue to investigate the remaining unsolved cases until they can solve all of Texass true crimes. Major Case/Unsolved Homicides - 2020 | mpdc The Phantom Killer, an unidentified serial killer, was responsible for what news media call the Texarkana Moonlight Murders committed in the spring of 1946. The Texas Ranger Unsolved Crimes Investigation Program was created on September 1, 2001 by the 77th Session of Texas Legislature. [46], On April 28, 2007, the body of a middle aged Hispanic man was discovered by a group of community service workers, found floating in Double Bayou in Anahuac, Texas. The most common types of evidence shown in Harris County homicide trials include DNA evidence, trace evidence, biological evidence, and even Harris County murders crime scene photos, depending on the type of crime. Also included in the lists of cold cases in Texas are the many strange and unexplained disappearances. UNSOLVED TEXAS - Sleuth & Justice Cold Cases William Alexander III- 2018-160968. Investigators also searched the area for missing children, however none were reported missing at the time. Unsolved Crimes - Texas Monthly That's the most bone chilling part of all. The first two victims, Jimmy Hollis and Mary Larey, as well as the last victim, Katie Starks, survived, but were wounded severely. She was found to be wearing braces. Unsolved Mysteries (TV Series 2020- ) - IMDb The man was estimated to be between 17 and 30 years old, was between 5 feet 6 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall, and weighed between 145 and 175 pounds. Janet Deppin Ge. The body had gone undiscovered for approximately three weeks to three months. 75 years ago, Phantom Killer tormented Texas in unsolved murder case Unsolved Murders - UK True Crime - Murder UK - List Of Unsolved Murders He was found wearing a pair of blue Levi brand jeans, a brown short sleeve sports style shirt with a tag having the name "Wilson" written on it, and an earring of unknown description. She had been killed by two blows to the head, which caused skull fractures. [3], This youth is the only still-unidentified victim of serial killer Dean Corll, who, together with two teenage accomplices, killed at least 28 boys and young men between 1970 and 1973. Alkhenala Al-Fatah- March 9, 2020; 1200 block of Barnaby Terrace, SE, Demeitri Anderson- November 29, 2020; 4500 block of Benning Road, SE, Saige Ballard- June 11, 2020; 200 block of E Street, NE, Richard Bangura- August 9, 2020; 2400 block of Franklin Street, NE, Eric Barbour- January 26, 2020; Unit block of N Street, SW, Christopher Beckwith, Jr.- May 25, 2020; 1400 block of Fairmont Street, NW, Demetrius Benson- November 2, 2020; 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE, Michael Bright- October 6, 2020; 1100 block of 45th Street, NE, Lagioria Brinkley- March 20, 2020; 1900 block of 16th Street, SE, James Brisbon- October 20, 2020; 300 block of 50th Street, NE, Marcos Brooks- September 18, 2020; 2300 block of Ainger Place, SE, Christopher Brown- August 9, 2020; 33rd Street and Dubois Place, SE, Malik Brown- March 6, 2020; 700 block of Quebec Street, NW, Tyree Brox- December 21, 2020; 5100 block of Bass Place, SE, Andy Bonilla- January 26, 2020; 2900 block of Sherman Avenue, NW, Antonio Burnett, Jr.- April 13, 2020; 3700 block of Hayes Street, NE, Malick Cisse- January 8, 2020; 1300 block of 7th Street, NW, George Coleman- June 27, 2020; 400 block of Mellon Street, SE, Troy Coleman- August 2 2020; 1800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, Kim Cooke- August 26 2020; 5000 block of Jay Street, NE, Jamaul Crockett- November 5, 2020; 600 block of Lamont Street, NW, Arthur Daniels IV- October 1, 2020; 6200 block of 8th Street, NW, William Dismuke- July 19, 2020; 1100 block of New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Antwon Duncan- June 28, 2020; 2600 block of Birney Place, SE, Carmelo Duncan- December2, 2020; 5700 block of Southern Avenue, SE, KevinEaton- October 13, 2020; 3100 block of Buena Vista Terrace, SE, Kamonie Edwards- June 9, 2020; 1600 block of W Street, SE, Zenus Epps- March 25, 2020; 3500 block of A Street, SE, Nathaniel Ford- December 6, 2020; 2300 block of Hartford Street, SE, Brahem Furtick- November 27, 2020; 700 block of AtanticStreet, SE, Rayfone Gassaway- July 19, 2020; 3400 block of Stanton Road, SE, Barron Goodwin- February 12, 2020; 800 block of 51stStreet, SE, Sa'id Grey- August 12, 2020; 1300 block of Missouri Avenue, NW, Vincent Gyamfi- December 11, 2020; 1700 block of 29th Street, SE, Evrett Harris- July 10 2020; 2200 block of Newton Street, NE, Demetri Harvin- October 5, 2020; 1100 block of 1st Street, NW, Donika Hawkins- Septembet 17 2020; 1800 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, Saul Hernandez- October 18, 2020; 1400 block of Perry Place, NW, Franklin Hernandez-Arevalo- November 7, 2020; 3300 block of Water Street, NW, Eugene Hickson- July 8, 2020; 1700 block of Benning Road, NE, Timothy Hinton- June 21, 2020; 1400 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE, Donelle Hodges- February 1, 2020; 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE, Angus Houston- January 27, 2020; 1300 block of Congress Street, SE, Eugene Isaac, Jr.- February 15, 2020; 100 block of N Street, NW, Larkia Izlar- June 21, 2020; 1400 block of Kenilworth Avenue, NE, Martez Jackson- November 9,2020; 1400 block of Howard Road, SE, Yisa Jeffcoat- October 92020; 1600 block of WStreet, SE, David Jefferson- October 192020; 5000 block of Queens Stroll Place, SE, Edward Johnson- September 8, 2020; 600 block of N Street, NW, Markiese Johnson- March 9, 2020; 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE, Navarras Johnson- November 12, 2020; 1400 block of Tobias Drive, SE, William Johnson- April 7, 2020; 3200 block of G Street, SE, Carey Jones- June 30, 2020; 5000 block of Hanna Place, SE, Demetrius Jones- November 6, 2020; 1700 block of Gales Street, NE, Terrence Jones- March 9, 2020; 2200 block of Savannah Terrace, SE, Zymia Joyner- June 13, 2020; 3100 block of Waclark Place, SE, Robert Judd- June 26, 2020; Unitblock of New York Avenue, NW, Cimerron Kennedy- September 21, 2020; 3500 block of Jay Street, NE, Kayvon Kenny- May 24, 2020; 1800 block of Gainesville Street, SE, Taejuan King- April 9, 2020; 1200 block of 44th Place, SE, Anthony Lee- September 26, 2020; 2900 block of Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE, Sheila Lucas- March 1, 2020; 1600 block of Savannah Street, SE, Malachi Lukes- March 1, 2020; 600 block of S Street, NW, Darnell Mack- October 10, 2020; 4500 block of Quarles Street, NE, David Miller- October 15, 2020; 1300 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, Eugene Miller- October 9, 2020; 2400 block of Elvans Road, SE, Richard Mitchell- May 31, 2020; 2500 block of Elvans Road, SE, Brea Moon- April 7, 2020; 3900 block of Alabama Avenue, SE, Raheem Murray- February 2, 2020; 4300 block of 3rd Street, SE, Stephan Nicholson- May 27, 2020; 1300 block of U Street, SE, Olga Ooro- July 17, 2020; 300 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Anthony Orr- December 7, 2020; 400 block of Xenia Street, SE, Marquis Osborne- March 25, 2020; 1100 block of 4th Street, SW, Kareem Palmer- November 1, 2020; 1300 block of Mapleview Place, SE, Shalonte Pearson- December 2, 2020; 400 block of 61st Street, NE, Devin Peterson- July 19, 2020; 3600 block of 14th Street, NW, Bobby Plummer- October 5, 2020; 400 block of Orange Street, SE, John Pollard II- September 30, 2020; 3200 block of Hiatt Place, NW, Dymani Priestley- January 5, 2020; 1200 block of U Street, NW, Kevin Redd- June 11, 2020; 4700 block of JayStreet, NE, Anthony Riley- July 16, 2020; 100 block of Walnut Street, NW, Phillip Roache- September 17, 2020; 7000 block of Blair Road, NW, Charles Robinson- January 4, 2020; 2000 block of 19th Street, SE, KristonRobinson- March 25, 2020; 1600 block of 19th Street, SE, Miguel Romero- March 1, 2020; 4900 block of Nash Street, NE, Brandon Rose- September 20, 2020; 800 block of Kenilworth Terrace, NE, Rashad Scott- August 7, 2020; 1900 block of 6th Street, NW, Jordyn Simons- July 3, 2020; 1900 block of 18th Street, SE, Naseem Simpson- March 15, 2020; 3000 block of 14th Street, NW, Clarence Skrine- April 13, 2020; 700 block of Longfellow Street, NW, Cyhneil Smith- October 16, 2020; 300 block of 37th Street, SE, Tyrell Smith- May 29, 2020; 3000 block of 30th Street, SE, Gary Swinson- July 12, 2020; 3300 block of 15th Street, SE, Demetrius Sullivan- July 2, 2020; 1100 block of 46th Place, SE, Bryan Tate, Jr.- February 20, 2020; 1600 block of 18th Street, SE, Xavier Tate- January 5, 2020; 1400 block of 3rd Street, SW, LorraineThomas- October 30, 2020; 4200 block of 4th Street, SE, Nurudeen Thomas- July 21, 2020; 4100 block of 14th Street, NW, Wilfredo Torres- February22, 2020; 6000 block of 13th Street, NW, De'Mari Twyman- February28, 2020; 700 block of MonroeStreet, NE, Rashard Waldo- June 13, 2020; 3100 block of Waclark Place, SE, Marcus Wallace- November 21,2020; 1400 block of L Street, NW, Jeanette Walls- November 11, 2020; 4300 block of Wheeler Road, SE, Lamar Walters- January 6, 2020; 2400 block of FranklinStreet, NE, Anthony Ward- January 4, 2020; Unitblock of KStreet, NW, Christopher Washington- January 4, 2020; Unitblock of KStreet, NW, Aaron Watts- August 29, 2020; Unitblock of QStreet, NW, Senquea Whitley- July 13, 2020; 3800 block of Minnesota Avenue, NE, Shanika Williams- July 12, 2020; 800 block of 19th Street, NE, Trevon Williams- June 9, 2020; 1000 block of 15th Street, SE, DevonteWilson- December 3, 2020; 700 block of Morton Street, NW, Noelle Wilson- October 11, 2020; 2300 block of GreenStreet, SE, Duane Woolfolk- December 10, 2020; 3200 block of 23rd Street, SE, Clarence Wright- May 28, 2020; 3900 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE, Glenn Wright- October 27, 2020; 2800 block of GeorgiaAvenue, NW, Taijhon Wyatt- August 10, 2020; 5500 block of 9th Street, NW, Jose Antonio Yaxon Cuc- July 10, 2020; 4900 block of North CapitolStreet, NE, David Deandre Young- April 3, 2020; 3500 block of 22nd Street, SE, Jaime Zelaya- February22, 2020; 6000 block of 13th Street, NW. The area in which her body was found was a spot typically used for tractor-trailers to park. 5 most brutal murder cases in 2020: Vanessa Guilln to - MEAWW The case remains unsolved. [34][35], On November 26, 1989, a young Hispanic woman was found in a supine position in the street near the driveway of a residence in Houston, Texas. [39] The victim wore black pants, socks and shoes as well as a white bra, panties and a pullover. If youve ever gone through any type of serial killer list, you most likely have come across one of several Texas serial killers without even recognizing their names. Apparently he was nearly decapitated, and the police also found a golf club and three golf balls lined up in a row pointing to Cheryl's body. 9 of the Most Bizarre Unsolved Mysteries in Texas - Wide Open Country The police have responded to thousands of leads during their investigations, but none of them led to the murderer. Precambrian reptiles that predated the dinosaurs are still . DaNydia Nee-Nee. A pair of athletic shoes and an unfired .32 caliber cartridge were also found with the body. Her boyfriend Andy was found tied to a tree with his throat also slashed. The Most Dangerous Active Serial Killers In 2020 - Grunge.com Until the evening of September 6, 1991. Four days after Kelly Lynn Albright disappeared from her family's home, she was found dead in a field. He was estimated to be between 20 and 35 years old, was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighed between 130 and 140 pounds. Cause of death could not be determined, however investigators are treating the case as a homicide. Some examples of the most gruesome murders which you can find on their list of unsolved murders include the 1998 abduction and murder of Brittany Locklear, the 2000 murder of Keke Jefferson-Moore, the 2001 murder of Michelle Howard, the 1992 murder of Tammy Zywicki, the 1994 murder of Melissa Witt, the 2017 murder of Brandi Seals, and the 1985 Some of the unsolved crimes featured on Crime Stoppers are regarding arsons, hit & runs, homicides, missing persons, robberies, and other high profile cases. Peter Akintola- 2017-537981. The FBI Uniform Crime Report, in addition to the reports frequently released by the Texas Rangers, are perfect resources for studying exactly what types of crime in Texas take place across the state, as well as showing crime rates for each area. While theres no exactway of knowing how many murders in Texas 2021 or how many murdersin Houston, Texas, 2021, we can estimate that, based on archival records, the homicide rate and violent crime ratein both Houston and Texas as a whole appear to be growing every year. 4 Mysterious Cold Cases to Know in 2021: Unsolved Murders - Esquire Baby John Doe O. June Murlene Mo. Unsolved Homicides (Cold Case Investigations) - Texas Department of So far, he has gone multiple rounds of DNA extraction and sequencing, with unusable results. They approached the suspicious car and discovered the body of a woman, riddled with gunshot wounds. [18], On May 13, 1983, the decomposing remains of a young white female were discovered by a group of schoolchildren in a wooded area behind a 76 truck stop on US Route 59 in New Caney, Texas. This decedent had black hair and blue eyes, and was found wearing a pair of brown cowboy boots, gray socks, and gray jeans. [48][49] Submission into the Kendall County morgue records department filed as CASE# A31Z6 (STATUS: PENDING). Homicide - Cold Case | AustinTexas.gov He was found wearing a longs sleeve button-up shirt with a white and blue pattern, Levi brand jeans, white tube socks with red and blue stripes, brown Wellington boots, a necklace made of white puka shells and large black beads, and a silver Snoopy medallion. Shortly thereafter Mr. Aguilar's body was found fatally wounded. As per the 2019 Uniform Crime Report (UCR) from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the violent crime rate in Texas was about 428.9 per 100,000 people. [2], A white or Hispanic male between 15 and 18 years old was found buried in a Harris County boat shed in August 1973. The murder spree, dubbed the Texarkana Moonlight Murders, started with the attack on 25-year-old Jimmy Hollis and his girlfriend, 19-year-old Mary Jeanne Larey, just before midnight on Feb. 22 . Famous Unsolved Murders: The Boy In The Box. Although there was no clothing on the body, a pair of underwear and a hat were nearby. In most of these cases, the murders remain unsolved. An unidentified bomber first sent a package to Lakewood Church in Houston on January 30, 1990. During the incident, the suspects forced entry into the location causing damage totaling approximately $1,500. He was buried in an unmarked grave in McLennan County Restland Cemetery, however the location of his body is unknown. It is unknown if the girl had actually been conventionally raped, although she had been viciously sexually assaulted with a large foreign object. He was soon buried in a pauper's grave in Rose Hill Cemetery in Cleburne, Texas. Stories of the Unsolved March 12, 2022. Henry Lee Lucas claimed to have been responsible for the murder, however his confession is not considered to be plausible. This page was last edited on 10 October 2021, at 23:52. In a letter written to police in 1998, a convicted murderer named Edward Howard Bell claimed to have murdered 11 girls in Galveston County, and although he was a suspect in the case, police didn't have enough evidence to press charges against him. Nearly half of US murders going unsolved, data show The man had been shot to death with a small caliber handgun approximately one week prior to the discovery of his body. As of the 2019 census, the total population of Harris County, Texas, was over 4.77 million, making it the most populous county in the entire state of Texas. The Long Island Serial Killer One New York serial killer has been plying his grisly trade for over twenty years now, killing at least ten victims between 1996 and 2010, and possibly more we haven't yet discovered. Put your inner sleuth to work and dig into the true crime mysteries of Texas with these resources. Skahur Hassan, 23, was shot dead in Austin Road, Hayes, on 13 October 2020. The man had been deceased for anywhere between five and six months. The cause of death was strangulation, which may have been done with pantyhose. Shepherd has lost two nephews to homicide in Houston and both of their cases remain unsolved. On November 18, 2001, a newborn female infant of indeterminate race was found by a man picking up cans in Johnson County, Texas. Dig deeper Other distinctive details regarding this decedent include two sets of distinctive earrings she had worn which contained beads and shells, a tattoo of the letter 'V' on her upper left arm, and a scar resulting from her gallbladder being removed. . According to this list, there were a staggering 86,484 homicides in Texas during that time period of almost 40 years. While we dont know exactly how many Harris County murders have been committed in recent years, archived annual Uniform Crime Reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation can shed some light on some accurate statistics. Her head was not found at the scene, nor recovered. I spend any chance I get traveling, enjoying nature, trying out new recipes, and meditating. Food was found on the table, and for some reason the officers had a hunch to check the fridge. Cold Case Homicide Stats - Project: Cold Case He was found wearing a watch, a bracelet, and two rubber rings. Here's The Most Harrowing Unsolved Murder From Every State Unsolved Murder Cases - City of Knoxville In 2021, only 51% of homicides were solved, according to FBI statistics analyzed by the Murder Accountability Project.The country is seeing a continued decline in cleared cases compared to previous decades when the rate was closer to 70%. [19], On August 12, 1985, the body of a Hispanic female aged between 16 and 35 was found inside a vacant store. She was between 18 and 25, standing 5 feet, 11 inches tall. A pair of work eyeglasses with smoky-gray frames were also found near the body. The Unsolved Murder of Jason MacCullough (1999) - Dartmouth, NS (Interview with Vanessa Clark) On Saturday, August 28, 1999, 19-year-old Jason MacCullough was shot in the back of the head while walking home in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. KANSAS: In 1970, 12-year-old Kelly Lynn Albright went missing and was found dead in a field in Reno County. Sort All Cases By: Company Area | Male | Female | County | Year | Last Name Results: 13 Record (s) Found. She was initially suspected to be white, but admixture testing later proved she was of over 50 percent Sub-Saharan descent, most likely indicating she was African American. 10. [42], On September 17, 1990, the body of a middle aged white/Hispanic man was found about five miles north of Roscoe, Texas, and about a mile north of Interstate 20 in rural Nolan County, Texas. Only one of the brutal murders was ever solved when Louisiana police arrested Kevin Edison Smith in 2009 on drug charges. [20], On March 26, 1986, a black woman was shot multiple times and left near a railroad. 2020. [8], He had received good dental care, and had never received any teeth fillings in his lifetime. The killer still runs free today, but police say they will never give up on her case. He was described as having a medium build. On 7 April 1959, 6-year-old Carol Ann Stephens ran up to her mother, Mavis, and happily told her she was going outside to play. He was found wearing a blue polo shirt with an Exxon logo on the sleeve, blue jeans, a brown/black belt with a silver buckle, and blue sneakers. August 1 . As her daughter, Shannon Dion, puts it: "The mentality of it was, 'They were old, and they just died.'.