Collaboration Leads to Arrest
Authorities in the Dallas region have apprehended a woman linked to a murder that occurred in 1991, thanks to the efforts of college students.
The suspect, Janie Perkins, 63, is charged with capital murder for the death of Cynthia Gonzalez, who was just 25 years old at the time and resided in Arlington, Texas, approximately 20 miles from Dallas. The Arlington Police Department announced this development on Monday.
This case had gone cold after initial investigations failed to yield results. However, during the fall semester, criminology students from the University of Texas at Arlington collaborated with law enforcement to review evidence and investigate Perkins.
On November 6, police arrested Perkins without any incidents.
The victim’s daughter, Jessica Roberts—who was only six when her mother disappeared—expressed her gratitude for the program and pride in the students’ dedication. She shared her emotional response upon hearing about the arrest during an interview with local media.
Cynthia Gonzalez was reported missing on September 17, 1991, after failing to return home following a meeting with a client. Her abandoned vehicle was discovered in Arlington, while her body was later found on a rural property in Johnson County on September 22.
Perkins had been initially investigated as a friend of Gonzalez. The two women were involved with the same romantic partner who had informed Perkins he intended to leave her for Gonzalez shortly before the murder.
At the time of Gonzalez’s disappearance, Perkins did not provide an alibi. Additionally, she failed two voluntary polygraph tests regarding her knowledge or involvement in Gonzalez’s death. She had even mentioned thoughts about harming Gonzalez during initial inquiries by investigators.
Despite previous investigations not leading to charges due to insufficient evidence and inadmissible polygraph results, recent scrutiny by current detectives revealed witness statements indicating that Perkins confessed involvement in Gonzalez’s death. This prompted further investigation and ultimately led to charges against her.
Arlington Police Chief Al Jones expressed his appreciation for the students’ hard work and dedication throughout this cold case partnership with UTA. He noted that while they hoped for such an outcome eventually, they were pleasantly surprised by its swift resolution.
