In an extraordinary twist, a team of University of Texas Arlington criminology students helped police solve a decades-old murder in Texas, finally bringing justice to a family haunted for more than 30 years.
Arrest Made in 1991 Murder of Cynthia Gonzalez
Authorities arrested 63-year-old Janie Perkins on Monday in connection with the 1991 murder of 25-year-old Cynthia Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, a mother-of-one and working as an adult entertainer, vanished after leaving her home on September 16, 1991, to meet a client.
Her ex-husband reported her missing the next day, and her abandoned vehicle soon led police to investigate a potential kidnapping.
Gonzalez’s body was discovered on September 22 in rural Johnson County, with multiple gunshot wounds.
Students Dive Into Cold Case Files
The case had remained unsolved for decades, with police receiving leads but never making an arrest.
That changed this fall, when a new partnership between the University of Texas Arlington and local police allowed criminology students to review cold case files.
Selected based on coursework and essays expressing interest in assisting law enforcement, students were given flash drives containing hundreds of pages of case files—everything except physical evidence.
“This program allows students to put their training to real-world use, while also giving detectives much-needed support on unsolved cases,” said Patricia Eddings, a senior lecturer at UTA.
Perkins Emerges as Prime Suspect
As students sifted through hundreds of files, Janie Perkins’ name repeatedly came up.
Records showed that Perkins and Gonzalez had been close friends who shared a romantic partner.
Shortly before Gonzalez’s death, that partner ended things with Perkins to be with Gonzalez.
When initially questioned in the 1990s, Perkins failed two voluntary polygraph tests and admitted to thinking about harming Gonzalez.
However, she was never charged due to a lack of admissible evidence at the time.
Witness Statements Align With Evidence
The students’ questions prompted detectives to revisit witness statements.
They found that Perkins had admitted involvement in Gonzalez’s murder and even revealed details unknown to the public.
Investigators determined that these admissions aligned with the evidence in the case, indicating that Perkins either participated in or facilitated the crime.
On November 6, Perkins was arrested by US Marshals in Axle, Texas, charged with capital murder, and booked in Tarrant County Jail.
She was later released on a $150,000 bond.
Family Reaction Brings Emotional Closure
For Jessica Roberts, Gonzalez’s daughter, now 34, the arrest was an emotional milestone.
“I am so thankful for this program and proud of these students,” she said, describing a mixture of shock, excitement, and relief.
“The grief never subsided—it came in waves every year.”
Students Feel the Impact of Their Work
For Alyssa Ramirez, a senior criminal justice major, assisting with the case was deeply rewarding.
“I’m very happy that she’s getting answers and closer to closure,” Ramirez said.
“This is exactly why I chose this field—to help people who have been waiting for justice.”
Partnership Between Academia and Law Enforcement
This case highlights the potential of academic programs to assist law enforcement in solving cold cases, especially in departments without full-time cold case units.
Police Chief Al Jones expressed gratitude: “I don’t think any of us expected lightning to strike the first time.
The students’ dedication made all the difference.”
The UTA criminology students’ work has not only cracked a decades-old case but also brought long-awaited justice and healing to a family that has carried the weight of loss for over three decades.
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