Posted on 05/06/2021 7:19:22 PM PDT by nickcarraway
According to a probable cause affidavit, detectives connected Clayton Foreman to the brutal murder using a family tree they constructed from a Genealogy website
The man police say murdered a Beaumont teacher in 1995 knew her so well that she was in his wedding.
DNA evidence along with a genealogy database led police to arrest Clayton Bernard Foreman, 61, of Reynoldsburg, Ohio, on a capital murder charge.
Mary Catherine Edwards, who was found dead in her home, was a bridesmaid in the wedding of Foreman and his first wife, Jefferson County District Attorney Bob Wortham told 12News.
“She was a bridesmaid in his wedding. So he knew her," Wortham said.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by 12News, DNA from semen collected from Edwards' home was matched back to Foreman 26 years later thanks to a genetics website.
The affidavit says that investigators identified second cousins of the suspect from the website and were able to work up a family tree. "Detectives obtained further DNA samples (30 DNA files were voluntarily submitted) from additional distant family members," the affidavit said.
Those DNA samples led investigators right to Foreman, the affidavit says. Trash was collected from the curb of Foreman's residence in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, and analyzed by the DPS crime lab in Houston.
"DNA collected from the trash run of Clayton Foreman's residence is a match to the DNA extracted from the semen collected from Edwards' body in 1995," the affidavit states.
CONNECTING THE DOTS During their investigation into Foreman, detectives discovered he pled guilty to raping a classmate at Forest Park High School in 1981.
In that case, police said that Foreman gave the victim a ride home after finding her stranded at a gas station. Police say Foreman "bound her hands behind her back with a belt and held a knife to her throat" before sexually assaulting her.
Police say that 1981 rape had a number of similarities with Edwards' murder.
Edwards, 31, was last seen alive on January 13, 1995.
Her parents became concerned after phone calls went unanswered. When they went to her house to check on her, they found her drowned in an upstairs bathroom.
Her parents became concerned after phone calls went unanswered. When they went to her house to check on her, they found her drowned in an upstairs bathroom.
This Day in History Recap of important historical events that took place on that day.
Ads By Connatix The probable cause affidavit says that Edwards was found in a bathtub with her hands handcuffed behind her.
Evidence at the time showed that she had been sexually assaulted before she was killed, according to a DPS news release.
"There are numerous similarities in the 1981 case and the Edwards' murder," the affidavit states. "First, Edwards and the first victim both went to high school with the suspect. Secondly, their hands were bound behind their back. Thirdly, both were sexually assaulted."
Police say that in the 1981 rape, Foreman claimed to be a police officer, and they say the suspect used police tools during Edwards' murder.
Foreman was arrested and charged with capital murder last week. He is awaiting extradition back to Jefferson County.
Former students say Edwards touched a number of lives in Southeast Texas and news of an arrest in connection with her death has brought former students a sense a peace that hasn't been felt in a while.
"Her allowing me to be who I was, which was kind of shy and withdrawn, it helped me to come out of that shell at that time." Demtria Green said.
Edwards was Green's teacher at Price Elementary in 1992.
"It was sad hearing that because she was a real nice lady, and when I did hear it on the news the state that they found her in, that was horrible," former student Malcom Wells said.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
Good.
His wife got away from him...Think of what her emotions were when she heard he was arrested for rape and murder.....
Recreational murder. Someone’s life is snuffed out to provide a momentary thrill for some piece of garbage. the sentence for this should be death by impalement - short stake.
Try ‘im an’ fry ‘im.
Did he stop after the the first murder ? He had 26 years on the loose before they got him.
Did he stop after the the first murder ? He had 26 years on the loose before they got him.
Can’t even imagine how she felt. Very lucky woman.
Execution should be the *default* punishment for anyone who knowingly and deliberately kills another without a *damn* good reason (like self defense).
Vlad had the right idea.
You’re too kind.
These genealogy websites are a front for the government. Once they have your DNA sample, they can run it through their computers for any open crimes, not just for you but anyone you are related to. And the websites can also send it to your insurance company so they can check whether you are genetically disposed to any diseases, and they then can deny you coverage.
I thought under ACA, insurance companies can’t deny coverage?
For some crimes he did. I read something to the effect that just about every crime under Vlad Teppesch merited the death penalty. Theft was, but this was not unusual at the time.
This is what cracks me up. A “supposedly” private company sells the notion of telling you about your DNA. Since when did there get to be a database where they check against a law enforcement database?
I thought under ACA, insurance companies can’t deny coverage?
Life Insurance
Long-Term Care
Disability
Key Man
From some off the cases I've read about, it seems pretty easy to scam these insurance companies.
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