Retha Stratton

Description

Disclaimer: This episode deals with the details of multiple sexual assaults. Listener discretion is advised. Within 48 hours of 18 year old Retha Stratton’s brutal murder, her killer was caught. The case against him seemed airtight and her family knew justice would be served. But they could have foreseen that Texas law meant they would be spending two decades in and out of court.

Credits

Researched, written, hosted, and edited by Charlie Worroll

Music by Scott Buckley

Cover art by Lars Hacking, host of Rusty Hinges podcast

Support the Show

Patreon: patreon.com/crimelines

Join me on GetVokl every Thursdays at 8/7c for a live stream about this week’s case!

Create an account on https://getvokl.com/ Then go to https://getvokl.com/channel/charlie-4 to join the chat! You can also view it on the Crimelines Facebook page.

Sources

Internet

• https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dangerous-reunion/

• https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/second-court-of-appeals/2010/21828.html

• https://abcnews.go.com/US/hundreds-convicted-killers-slipping-texas-loophole/story?id=19906352

• https://www.texasobserver.org/a-prison-by-any-other-name/

• https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/news/2008/nov/15/romance-with-jail-guard-lands-sex-offender-back-in-prison/

• https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2011/05/05/two-violations-of-civil-commitment-law-by-wesley-wayne-miller-overturned-by-court-at-request-of-prosecutors-and-defense/

• https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/feb/29/20040229-124328-3825r/

• https://apnews.com/article/4873b6aeb88a121c9d6f3bb8045b68ea

• https://www.lubbockonline.com/article/20160604/NEWS/306049881

Newspapers

• Woman Found Dead in Home in River Oaks, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Jan 1982

• Slaying Stuns, Frightens Residents of River Oaks, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan 1982

• Victim’s ex-classmate charged in murder, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan 1982
  Man Held in Stabbing Death, The Paris News, 25 Jan 1982

• Statement: Rejection Was Motive, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Jan 1982

• Bond Quadrupled in cheerleader slaying, The Marshall News Messenger, 26 Jan 1982

• Bond is raised again for Miller, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan 1982

• A nightmare ‘that couldn’t happen in River Oaks’, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 Jan 1982

• Print at rape scene links suspect, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Feb 1982

• Rape Link Confirmed, Victoria Advocate, 5 Feb 1982

• Tests Link Man In Rapes, Slaying, Victoria Advocate, 10 Apr 1982