A group of University of Texas at Arlington criminology students helped police make a breakthrough in a murder that had gone unsolved for more than three decades.
Arlington Police reported that 63-year-old Janie Perkins was arrested on Nov. 6 in Azle, Texas, for the 1991 killing of 25-year-old Cynthia Gonzalez. Gonzalez, described by police as an “adult entertainer,” disappeared on Sept. 17, 1991, and her body was found days later on rural property in Johnson County.
Despite initial investigations, the case went cold.
This year, UTA launched a program allowing selected students to examine real cold case files alongside Arlington detectives. Police Chief Al Jones told NBC News, “When we launched our cold case partnership with UTA, we always hoped we’d get an outcome like this one day. I don’t think any of us expected that lightning would strike the first time. I want to sincerely thank the students for their work and dedication to this case.”
While reviewing hundreds of files, the students noticed a connection between Gonzalez and Perkins, including a shared romantic partner. Investigators found that Perkins had no alibi for the night Gonzalez disappeared and had previously failed polygraph tests. Witness statements suggested Perkins had admitted involvement in the murder.
The students’ analysis prompted detectives to reopen the case, leading directly to Perkins’ arrest.
Gonzalez’s daughter, Jessica Roberts, said, “I am so grateful for this program and so proud of these students at UTA and so thankful for the time they have spent and the effort they have put into this case.”
The class is now reviewing two additional cold cases, continuing the collaboration that helped bring a decades-old investigation to a close.
