Source link : https://las-vegas-news.com/18-years-on-dna-breakthroughs-reignite-hunt-for-molly-ervins-killer-in-tulare-county/
A Rural Field Hides a Heartbreaking Secret (Image Credits: Yourcentralvalley.com)
Tulare County, Calif. – Detectives hope advanced genetic testing will crack the case of 16-year-old Molly Ervin, whose strangled body turned up in a remote field near Highway 99 back in 2008.[1][2]
A Rural Field Hides a Heartbreaking Secret
Residents still recall the shock that rippled through the community on September 16, 2008. A passerby discovered Ervin’s body in a desolate area near Avenue 264 and Road 94, just north of Tulare and close to the Tagus Ranch exit off Highway 99.[3][2]
An autopsy confirmed the teen had died from asphyxiation, likely strangulation. She hailed from nearby Visalia, where family described her as a quiet, homeschooled girl who cherished time with her young cousins and niece.[2]
Investigators noted few leads emerged quickly. Ervin’s movements in the days before remained unclear, though tips later surfaced about her possibly entering a truck. The rural dump site suggested her killer transported the body there after the attack elsewhere.[1]
Family Devastated, Community on Edge
Ervin’s aunt, Terina Menges, captured the raw grief in the aftermath. “It’s put fear in all the children and pain in all of our hearts,” she said. “She’s a sweet girl, there’s no reason for this.”[2]
The family portrayed Molly as withdrawn yet joyful, with no known enemies. Her death shattered their world as they scrambled for funeral plans amid overwhelming sorrow….
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Author : Matthias Binder
Publish date : 2026-02-20 09:05:00
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