Texas College Students Crack Decades-Old Cold Case Murder

Five Gen Z undergrads uncover new evidence that leads to an arrest, but the case takes an unexpected turn.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 9:35am

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A team of five University of Texas at Arlington students enrolled in a new cold case investigation course made a breakthrough in the 1991 murder of Cynthia Renee Gonzalez, a young mother and exotic dancer. Their discoveries led to the arrest of a suspect, Janie Perkins, after more than 30 years. However, the case took an unexpected turn when a grand jury declined to indict Perkins, citing a lack of admissible evidence.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential for university students to breathe new life into long-dormant cold cases, leveraging their time and fresh perspectives to uncover new leads. It also raises questions about the challenges facing law enforcement in solving older murders, especially without dedicated cold case units.

The details

The students - Jacey Concannon, Jenna Lewis, Preston Schroeder, Natalia Montoya, and Samantha Underwood - were tasked with reviewing the case files of Cynthia Renee Gonzalez's 1991 murder. They discovered that a former girlfriend of Cynthia's boyfriend, Janie Hatley (now Janie Perkins), had allegedly confessed to the crime multiple times but was never seriously investigated. The students brought their findings to the attention of the Arlington Police Department, leading to Perkins' arrest in 2025. However, a grand jury later declined to indict Perkins, citing insufficient evidence.

  • On July 4, 1991, Perkins allegedly told a friend she was glad Cynthia was dead.
  • In October 1991, Perkins allegedly confessed to Cynthia's boyfriend that she killed Cynthia.
  • In February 1993, a friend of Perkins' told police that Perkins had confessed to the murder.
  • In November 2025, Perkins was arrested for Cynthia's murder based on the students' findings.
  • In March 2026, a grand jury declined to indict Perkins.

The players

Cynthia Renee Gonzalez

A 25-year-old exotic dancer and entrepreneur who was murdered in 1991.

Janie Hatley (now Janie Perkins)

Cynthia's boyfriend's ex-girlfriend, who allegedly confessed multiple times to Cynthia's murder but was never seriously investigated.

Jacey Concannon

A University of Texas at Arlington student who led the team that cracked the cold case.

Detective Jim Ford

The original lead investigator on Cynthia's murder case, who retired in 2010 without solving the crime.

Detective Anthony Stafford

The detective who reviewed the case in 2024 and worked with the students to make the arrest.

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What they’re saying

“We were pretty confident this was something that needed to be investigated right away.”

— Jacey Concannon, University of Texas at Arlington student

“He was one of their best detectives ever.”

— Patricia Eddings, UT-Arlington senior lecturer

“I had no inkling that it was Janie, none, even though she had told me weeks later, that she did it and blah, blah, blah.”

— Anselmo 'Tony' Ortiz, Cynthia's boyfriend

What’s next

Detectives are awaiting the results of DNA testing on evidence from the case, which could potentially lead to Perkins being indicted again.

The takeaway

This case highlights the potential for university students to breathe new life into cold cases, but also the challenges facing law enforcement in solving older murders without dedicated cold case units. It underscores the need for better resources and coordination between police and the public to ensure justice is served, even decades later.