FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Identifinders International, in conjunction with the Houston Institute of Forensic Sciences and audiochuck, announces the identification of 1981 Harris County murder victims as then 21 year-old Harold Dean Clouse and spouse 17 year-old Tina Gail (Linn) Clouse.
The newlywed couple, who married in June 1979, was found together in a wooded area in Houston, Texas. They had been deceased approximately two months prior to their discovery on January 12, 1981, when a dog led searchers to their remains. Mr. Clouse was found beaten, bound and gagged. Ms. Clouse had been strangled.
The couple left their home in Volusia County, Florida in 1981 with their one year-old baby for Mr. Clouse to pursue carpentry work in Texas. Soon after, the couple’s car was returned to the family who was led them to believe the couple had joined a religious group and no longer wanted contact.
In July 2011, Dr. Jennifer Love, Forensic Anthropology Director of the Identification Unit-Harris County Medical Examiner’s office, exhumed the bodies to extract DNA to determine if the two were related.
In 2021, Indianapolis-based media company audiochuck, who produces true crime podcasts, funded the genealogy research. Working with forensic anthropologist Deborrah Pinto of the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, the case was solved by Identifinders Senior Forensic Genealogist Misty Gillis and former colleague Allison Peacock. Gillis identified Clouse within 10 days of taking the case. When his family mentioned his wife, Tina Gail Linn was identified as the other victim. "I’m very thankful to have been given the opportunity to work on this case. It was a difficult case emotionally." commented Gillis.
Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick, President of Identifinders International added "We are pleased the Forensic Science Institute placed its confidence in us and we could bring closure to the Clouse and Linn families. We thank audiochuck for their generous support in funding the work on this case."
But closure of these cases has led to another mystery: the whereabouts of baby Hollie Marie. No baby was found with the couple’s bodies and no Baby Doe cases have been found that match her description. Work is continuing to list Hollie Marie Clouse with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Identifinders International is a fee-based forensic service that works with law enforcement agencies and medical examiners to apply genetic genealogy to violent crime cold cases and unidentified remains cases. For more information, please visit www.identifinders.com.
Media contact:
Lori Jonasson
327355@email4pr.com
760-408-7434
SOURCE Identifinders International
