Man Charged In Unidentified Woman's 1990 Death

HOUSTON -- Houston police homicide investigators have identified a suspect in the Oct.18, 1990, death of an unidentified female whose body was found in a drainage ditch. Detectives re-released two composite sketches of the woman Monday in efforts to help identify her, KPRC Local 2 reports.

The suspect, Terrence Tyrone Johnson, has been charged with murder. He is accused in the killing of the unidentified young woman whose body was found badly decomposed in the 9600 block of Beechnut Street. Children playing in the area found the body, police said.

The Harris County Medical Examiner's Office determined the woman had suffered head trauma but has not been able to formally identify her.

One of the sketches, which were originally released in 1991, is a reconstruction of what she likely looked like. The other sketch shows the clothing she was wearing when she was found.

She was described as Hispanic, 18 to 22 years old and about 5 feet tall with black hair. She was wearing a distinctive gray T-shirt with "Marine's Sport" written on the front and black pants. Investigators said the woman lived in the area where she was found and might have had a first name of Cassandra, Monique or Monica.

Police said new information in the case surfaced in June, leading investigators to interview Johnson, who was in a Texas Department of Corrections prison unit in Wichita Falls, Texas.

"Johnson provided investigators with a statement that led to murder charges filed against him," Officer C.P Abbey said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Houston Police Departmen Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.