After almost 50 years, a cold case is getting new life and attention: A renewed effort is underway to solve the decades-old mystery surrounding the disappearance of three young girls from Fort Worth.
In partnership with the Texas Center for the Missing and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Clear Channel has launched a campaign to generate new tips in the cold case of Rachel Trlica, 17, Renee Wilson, 14, and Julie Ann Moseley, 9, who went missing on December 23, 1974.
Terry Moseley, the brother of Julie Ann, spoke to NBC 5 DFW, saying that for over 48 years, his sister’s disappearance has been a mystery.
“We’re hoping these billboards open things up and maybe somebody will know something and speak up,” said Moseley to NBC.
The public service campaign began last week and features age-progressed photos of the girls displayed on billboards across North Texas.
In recognition of the significance of National Missing Children’s Day, Clear Channel is sponsoring the initiative free of charge.
As families gathered outside around one of the billboards off I-35W, Janet Moseley, Julie’s sister, addressed the crowd about the recent exposure.
“This is great news to have this out here,” Janet said, per NBC. “To look at it and remember and think back, ‘Was I there? What did I hear? Did someone tell me anything?’”
The trio of girls was last seen at the Seminary South Shopping Center — currently called La Gran Plaza de Fort Worth — where they had gone Christmas shopping before their disappearance.
Despite countless leads and extensive searches over the years, the truth behind the girls’ disappearance remains elusive.
Rachel’s brother, Rusty Arnold, expressed his lifelong dedication to finding his sister and her companions.
He emphasized the need to bring closure to the families, especially since the girls’ parents, except for his and Rachel’s mother, have all passed away.
The new billboard campaign aims to draw attention to the case and potentially generate fresh leads.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of any or all of these women can contact the Fort Worth Police Department at 817-335-4222 or email [email protected].
Kidnapping is a significant problem generally in the Dallas metro area.
According to CrimeGrade.org, on average, a crime occurs in the Dallas metro area every two minutes. The Dallas metro area ranks in the 41st percentile for safety, with kidnappings occurring at a higher rate than the average U.S. metropolitan area.
During the average year, the kidnapping rate in Dallas is 0.09 per 1,000 residents. The chance of being a victim of a kidnapping in the Dallas metro area varies depending on the neighborhood — it can be as high as 1 in 6,709 in the southeast part and as low as 1 in 19,835 in the northwest.
As reported by The Dallas Express, DPD is facing a severe shortage of police officers, hindering the force’s ability to address crime. While the department has sought to build a force of around 4,000 officers, it falls short by at least 400, according to Dallas Police Association President Mike Mata.
Allegedly due to a cyber attack, the City of Dallas’ crime analytics overview dashboard has not been updated recently.
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