The String of Disappearances and the Serial Killer Who Haunted Two States

In 1997, four young women vanished without a trace, leaving their tight-knit communities across Texas and Oklahoma in a state of terror. The proximity and eerie similarities of the cases suggested a single perpetrator, but it would take more than two decades and the forensic hypnosis of a surviving victim to capture and convict the man behind the heinous crimes.

The Victims

Laura Smither, a 12-year-old aspiring ballerina, disappeared on April 3 while jogging in her quiet Friendswood, Texas, neighborhood.

Kelli Cox, a 20-year-old college student and new mother, vanished on July 15 after a class trip to the City of Denton Jail.

Tiffany Johnston, a 19-year-old newlywed, went missing on July 26 from a car wash in Bethany, Oklahoma.

Jessica Cain, a 17-year-old stage actor, disappeared on August 17 after a performance and cast party.

The Investigations

The search efforts for the missing women involved massive community involvement, law enforcement collaborations, and extensive media attention. Despite exhaustive investigations, the cases remained unsolved for years, leaving the families and communities haunted by unanswered questions.

Sandra Sapaugh’s Escape

A crucial breakthrough came on May 17, 1997, when 19-year-old Sandra Sapaugh escaped her kidnapper’s vehicle and reported the incident to authorities. Sapaugh provided a detailed description of her abductor, which matched the physical characteristics of a suspect in Laura Smither’s murder: William Lewis Reece.

Forensic Hypnosis and a Suspect Emerges

Detective Sue Dietrich-Nance employed forensic hypnosis to help Sapaugh recall details of her traumatic experience, resulting in a more accurate description of Reece and his vehicle. This revelation prompted further investigation, leading to Reece’s arrest and conviction for Sapaugh’s aggravated kidnapping.

Linking Reece to the Other Cases

Following Reece’s conviction, investigators reopened the murder cases of Smither, Cox, and Cain. New DNA technologies allowed for testing of evidence collected from Johnston’s body, which linked Reece to her murder. With mounting evidence against him, Reece agreed to assist investigators in locating the remains of Cain and Cox in exchange for avoiding the death penalty.

Justice Prevails

In 2021, Reece was sentenced to death in Oklahoma for the murder of Tiffany Johnston. Later, he pleaded guilty and received three life sentences for killing Laura Smither, Jessica Cain, and Kelli Cox. While justice had been served, the families of the victims were left with a profound sense of loss and the enduring grief of their stolen loved ones.

The string of disappearances and the subsequent investigation revealed the devastating impact of a serial killer’s actions, forever altering the lives of countless individuals. The relentless efforts of law enforcement, forensic experts, and the unwavering support of families brought a measure of closure to the unsolved cases, but the tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the lurking dangers that can shatter communities.