Remains found in Houston field are identified as those of missing Jessica Cain

Publish date: 2024-10-04

Human remains found in a Houston pasture are those of a 17-year-old girl who disappeared in 1997, the Harris County medical examiner's office said Friday.

The remains of Jessica Cain, who disappeared after dining with friends, were identified through DNA analysis, said Audrey Carter, an investigator with the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

Cain, from La Marque, 50 miles south of Houston, had been missing since her abandoned car was found on Interstate 45 near the Village of Tiki Island, a Bayfront community across from Galveston Island. 

She was on her way back from a cast party that was held at a restaurant, the Houston Chronicle reported.

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Human remains found in a Houston pasture are those of 17-year-old Jessica Cain, who disappeared in 1997, the Harris County medical examiner's office said Friday The remains of Jessica Cain, who disappeared after dining with friends, were identified through DNA analysis, said Audrey Carter, an investigator with the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences

Human remains found in a Houston pasture are those of 17-year-old Jessica Cain, who disappeared in 1997, the Harris County medical examiner's office said Friday

'While this news brings confirmation, it also brings new sorrow to Jessica's family, friends and those in law enforcement who have mourned her loss,' Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady said in a statement.

Charges will be forthcoming once the investigation is completed, Roady said.

An anonymous relative told KHOU: 'It's closure. At least now they know what happened.'

Ex-police chief of Tiki Island Sue Dietrich-Nance told ABC 13: 'At least we don't have to wonder where she is anymore.' 

A convicted kidnapper who might be linked to other violent crimes pointed investigators to the location of the remains. Investigators dug for more than three weeks in a rural pasture on the edge of Houston before finding the remains on March 18.

William Reece, who is serving a 60-year sentence for a 1997 kidnapping, assisted authorities in the search. Reece, 56, also recently led authorities to remains identified as those of 20-year-old college student Kelli Cox, who had been missing from Denton in North Texas since 1997.

William Reece (pictured), who is serving a 60-year sentence for a 1997 kidnapping, assisted authorities in the search He also recently led authorities to remains identified as those of 20-year-old college student Kelli Cox (pictured)

William Reece (left), who is serving a 60-year sentence for a 1997 kidnapping, assisted authorities in the search. He also recently led authorities to remains identified as those of 20-year-old college student Kelli Cox (right)

Cox's mother Jan Bynum told Dallas Bynum last month: 'You get up every single day and think is today the day that she will call or ring the doorbell or is today the day we will get answers from the police.'

Reece's attorney, Anthony Osso, has said his client ultimately hopes to avoid the death penalty by cooperating with authorities.

Osso told Click 2 Houston: 'He had concerns about his health. You know, he's not in the best physical health.

'Medically, he has a heart condition. He's had one surgery already and had a stent inserted. 

'He's not interested in a second surgery. So he knows his life expectancy in prison is not that long.

'There's a few factors that come into play. His health, closure for the families. I think he wants to get this off his chest.'  

Police are seen with Reece (in handcuffs, center). Reece faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in Oklahoma for the slaying of 19-year-old Tiffany Johnston, who was abducted from a car wash northwest of Oklahoma City in 1997

Police are seen with Reece (in handcuffs, center). Reece faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in Oklahoma for the slaying of 19-year-old Tiffany Johnston, who was abducted from a car wash northwest of Oklahoma City in 1997

Reece faces first-degree murder and kidnapping charges in Oklahoma for the slaying of 19-year-old Tiffany Johnston, who was abducted from a car wash northwest of Oklahoma City in 1997. 

He was also previously named the prime suspect in the April 1997 abduction and killing of 12-year-old girl Laura Smither in Friendswood near Houston but has not been charged.  

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Reece was sent to prison in 1998 for the May 1997 Houston-area abduction of Sandra Sapaugh, who told authorities Reece forced her at knifepoint into his truck after first feigning to help her with a flat tire. Sapaugh escaped after jumping from the truck.

Reece had been temporarily released from state prison into local custody to help with the searches for both Cain and Cox.

Reece has not spoken to law enforcement about any other cold cases, though Osso said he expected agencies with similar cases might want to approach Reece eventually.

 

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