Woman Who Went Missing As Baby When Parents Were Murdered Found Alive 40 Years Later

A baby whose parents were brutally murdered in Texas has been found alive and well more than 40 years later. 

Harold Dean Clouse, 21, and Tina Gail Clouse, 17, were found dead in a wooded area of Houston, Texas on January 12, 1981. 

However, the couple’s identities were not known until last year, when DNA matched them to surviving family members in Kentucky. 

Because their then-infant daughter Holly Marie Clouse was not found alongside her parents' remains, investigators had hoped she could still be alive and well somewhere.

Facebook/Where Is Holly Marie?

But this week, thanks to the work of family history investigators, Holly has been found. 

Now aged 42, Holly is a mum-of-five and has been living in Oklahoma. Police arrived at her place of work on what would have been her father’s 63rd birthday to tell her the news.

Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas said: “I am extremely proud of the exceptional work done by my office’s newly formed Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit.

"My office diligently worked across state lines to uncover the mystery surrounding Holly’s disappearance. We were successful in our efforts to locate her and reunite her with her biological family.”

Facebook/Where Is Holly Marie?

Holly has since been in touch with members of her extended family and spoke with them online for the first time this week - she now hopes to be able to meet them face-to-face. 

Detective Steve Wheeler, Volusia County Sheriff's Office, told KHOU: “It's one of the most meaningful things I've ever been a part of. It's a once in a lifetime thing to play even a small part in reuniting a family after 40 years.”

Investigators from Texas' Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit began the hunt for Holly last year after her parents’ identities were revealed. 

Grandmother, Donna Casasanta, said: “Finding Holly is a birthday present from heaven since we found her on Junior's birthday. I prayed for more than 40 years for answers and the Lord has revealed some of it... we have found Holly. 

Facebook/Where Is Holly Marie?

“Thank you to all of the investigators for working so hard to find Holly. I prayed for them day after day and that they would find Holly and she would be alright.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Mindy Montford. We will be forever grateful.”

According to the Daily Mail, Harold and Tina vanished in late 1980 after moving from Volusia County, Florida, to Texas. 

After their disappearance, their car was returned to their family, who were reportedly led to believe that the couple and their young daughter had joined a religious cult. 

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