Episode 37: Unsolved in Dallas
Image credit: @USA-Reiseblogger, Pixabay.
In June 1985, the body of a young woman was found naked, wrapped in a sheet, in the trunk of a car. Upon looking at her body, a police officer told the press that it appeared as if she died of a drug overdose. When the autopsy came back, she had no drugs in her system.
For reasons unknown to her family, the police spent little to no time investigating what happened to 24-year-old Catherine “Catrina” Mowrey. Her family never got answers or any sense that the Dallas Police Department cared about what happened to her.
In this episode, we talk about what led up to Catherine’s death, the murder of her sister Joan, and the tragic death of her youngest sister, Deborah. The victim’s niece and namesake, Catrina Marshall, joined us to share information, what she hopes happens with her petition to the Dallas Police Department, and stayed for a discussion on the Mowrey family tree.
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Episode 37: Unsolved in Dallas: Catherine Mowrey
Catherine Diane “Catrina” Mowrey, ca 1977.
Photo courtesy of Catrina Marshall
Just a couple of weeks ago, Catrina Marshall, Catherine’s niece, requested a copy of the police report and toxicology report. It turns out there was no drugs in her system, just a small amount of alcohol.
The only news report and coverage given to the murder of Catherine Mowrey.
Source: The Dallas Morning News, 26 Jun 1985
This was the police report she received, heavily redacted. Why?
Catherine Shaw Mowery, mother of Catrina, created a quilt with each of her children on it. This block showcases her oldest daughter Catrina Mowrey (1961-1985).
Photo courtesy of Catrina Marshall
The sisters remain together at their grave in Lawrence, Kansas.
Photo courtesy of Catrina Marshall
Catrinas younger sister, Joan Marie Mowrey, was murdered just 8 years after Catrina, also in Dallas, Texas. In this case, though, the murderer was caught and sent to prison. He’s currently free.
Photo courtesy of Catrina Marshall
Catrina with her mother, Deborah!
Photo courtesy of Catrina Marshall
Youngest sister Deborah lost her two best friends by the time she turned 30. Her heart was broken and she never fully recovered, dying of a broken heart in 2020.
Photo courtesy of Catrina Marshall
A tribute photo of Deborah Mowrey created by her daughter, Catrina Marshall. The deaths of her sisters affected Deborah deeply, resulting in the loss of her life in November 2020.
Photo courtesy of Catrina Marshall
Tribute in the paper to Richard Benbow Bullock (1842-1925) upon his death. Richard was married to Sarah Susan Absolom, Catherines’s 2nd great-grandaunt on her father’s side of the family.
Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch, 22 Nov 1925
Sarah May Mowrey (1911-2006) was Catherine’s grandaunt. After this article she would marry Reginald Fraser (1903-1969) in Hawaii on 3 Oct 1941.
Source: St. Louis Globe Democrat, 6 Jul 1941.
Grandfather of Catherine, James Absolom Mowrey, Jr (1906-1979) was married 3 times. This was the announcement for his first marriage.
Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch, 26 Jan 1930
James Absolom Mowrey, Jr., grandfather of Catherine. She never knew him.
Possible Darwin Award winner?
Source: Fort Worth Star Telegram, 18 May 1945
James Absolom Mowrey, Sr. (1872-1938) and wife Margaret Ligouri Mattingly (1882-1977) in front of their first department store in St. Louis.
Wedding announcement for Joan Mowrey (1933-2016), sister of James Edward Mowrey (1932-2006).
Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch, 14 Nov 1954
Isaiah Mowrey (1838-1896)
A more formal photo of James and Margaret Mowrey, Sr.
One of two children removed from Marie Lucile Snyder Mowrey and given up for adoption by the state.
Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, 21 May 1946
Richard Shaw, son of Alva and Eva, made some money off the murder of his father in this book.
Source: The Greenfield Vidette, 2 Jul 1942
The second child Marie Snyder Mowrey was forced to give up and the state adopted out.
Source: The Edwardsville Intelligencer, 19 Dec 1946
A newspaper story regarding the execution of Charles William Thompson (1843-1864) and his friend John P. Powell.
Source: The Louisville Daily Journal, 25 Jul 1864
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Please sign the petition we discussed in this episode! Catrina is hoping to finally get answers from the Dallas Police Department. Every signature helps!
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Recommended Reading
Let the Hallelujahs Roll book written by Catherine’s grandmother, Naomi Bean Shaw.
The Unexplained Death of Catherine “Catrina” Mowrey at Stories of the Unsolved.
SOURCES
Jeff-Vander-Lou Neighborhood (St. Louis)
Vandeventer Place
Grand Center’s Vanished Past by Chris Naffziger
Wikipedia
We use a multitude of resources when researching a family tree up to an including census records from 1800-1940, marriage records in various states, draft registration cards, newspaper articles, and more. If you would like more specific details on where information was obtained, please email us and we’ll respond in a timely manner.