hollydolly
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The missing daughter of two newlyweds who were murdered and dumped in the Texas woods more than 40 years ago was left at an Arizona church by remembers of a religious cult.
Holly Marie Clouse was an infant when her parents Harold Dean Clouse and Tina Gail Clouse disappeared in late 1980 while moving from Florida to Texas.
Harold, 21, and Tina, 17, were found in dead in a wooded area of Houston on January 12, 1981. However, their identities remained unknown until last year when DNA connected the couple to family members in Kentucky.
The couple's infant daughter, Holly, was not found with their remains, leaving investigators to believe she could still be alive.
Family history detectives located Holly, a 42-year-old mother-of-five living in Oklahoma.
It remains unclear what happened to her after her parents were killed, and before she was identified as the missing child. Police will hold a press conference later today to reveal more details around the case.
Police showed up at Holly's place of employment in Oklahoma on Tuesday, on what would've been Harold's 63rd birthday.
Holly spoke with her extended family for the first time via the internet on Tuesday.
'It's one of the most meaningful things I've ever been a part of,' Det. Steve Wheeler, Volusia County Sheriff's Office, told KHOU. 'It's a once in a lifetime thing to play even a small part in reuniting a family after 40 years.'
It is unclear if she had been made aware of her biological parents' identities prior to Tuesday as officials have not yet disclosed how they identified Holly.
Investigators with Texas' newly-formed Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit began looking for Holly after officials confirmed the identities of Harold and Tina earlier this year.
The Hope for Holly project spanned across state lines with law enforcement officials in Texas, Florida and Arizona working to find Harold and Tina's missing baby.
Meanwhile, Holly's extended family said finding her was an answered prayer.
Finding Holly is a birthday present from heaven since we found her on Junior's birthday. I prayed for more than 40 years for answers and the Lord has revealed some of it... we have found Holly,' her grandmother, Donna Casasanta, said.
'Thank you to all of the investigators for working so hard to find Holly. I prayed for them day after day and that they would find Holly and she would be alright. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Mindy Montford. We will be forever grateful.'
Harold and Tina Clouse, who married in 1979, disappeared in late 1980 during their move from Volusia County, Florida, to Texas. Harold was pursuing work as a carpenter.
The couple's car was returned to their family after they disappeared, and relatives were led to believe the newlyweds had joined a religious cult and no longer wanted to be contacted.
Their bodies were found by dogs two months later off Wallisville Road in Houston. Harold had been beaten, bound and gagged, while Tina had been strangled. Their were no signs of their infant daughter at the scene.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ered-dumped-woods-Houston-ALIVE-40-years.html
Holly Marie Clouse was an infant when her parents Harold Dean Clouse and Tina Gail Clouse disappeared in late 1980 while moving from Florida to Texas.
Harold, 21, and Tina, 17, were found in dead in a wooded area of Houston on January 12, 1981. However, their identities remained unknown until last year when DNA connected the couple to family members in Kentucky.
The couple's infant daughter, Holly, was not found with their remains, leaving investigators to believe she could still be alive.
Family history detectives located Holly, a 42-year-old mother-of-five living in Oklahoma.
It remains unclear what happened to her after her parents were killed, and before she was identified as the missing child. Police will hold a press conference later today to reveal more details around the case.
Police showed up at Holly's place of employment in Oklahoma on Tuesday, on what would've been Harold's 63rd birthday.
Holly spoke with her extended family for the first time via the internet on Tuesday.
'It's one of the most meaningful things I've ever been a part of,' Det. Steve Wheeler, Volusia County Sheriff's Office, told KHOU. 'It's a once in a lifetime thing to play even a small part in reuniting a family after 40 years.'
It is unclear if she had been made aware of her biological parents' identities prior to Tuesday as officials have not yet disclosed how they identified Holly.
Investigators with Texas' newly-formed Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit began looking for Holly after officials confirmed the identities of Harold and Tina earlier this year.
The Hope for Holly project spanned across state lines with law enforcement officials in Texas, Florida and Arizona working to find Harold and Tina's missing baby.
Meanwhile, Holly's extended family said finding her was an answered prayer.
Finding Holly is a birthday present from heaven since we found her on Junior's birthday. I prayed for more than 40 years for answers and the Lord has revealed some of it... we have found Holly,' her grandmother, Donna Casasanta, said.
'Thank you to all of the investigators for working so hard to find Holly. I prayed for them day after day and that they would find Holly and she would be alright. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Mindy Montford. We will be forever grateful.'
Harold and Tina Clouse, who married in 1979, disappeared in late 1980 during their move from Volusia County, Florida, to Texas. Harold was pursuing work as a carpenter.
The couple's car was returned to their family after they disappeared, and relatives were led to believe the newlyweds had joined a religious cult and no longer wanted to be contacted.
Their bodies were found by dogs two months later off Wallisville Road in Houston. Harold had been beaten, bound and gagged, while Tina had been strangled. Their were no signs of their infant daughter at the scene.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...ered-dumped-woods-Houston-ALIVE-40-years.html
