'Dateline NBC’: Inside the decades-long hunt for the man who murdered Terece Gregory and Sharyn Kills Back
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion is advised.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS: Curtis Don Brown was responsible for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of both Terece Gregory and Sharyn Kills Back. Brown's heinous crimes shook the communities of Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas, in the mid-1980s, leaving behind a trail of fear and unanswered questions.
Despite the passage of decades, Brown's guilt was finally confirmed through advancements in DNA profiling, leading to his conviction for these brutal murders.
Between 1985 and 1986, the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas, were gripped by fear as a string of brutal murders unfolded, leaving communities on edge and law enforcement baffled. At the heart of this terror was Curtis Don Brown, an American serial killer and rapist whose heinous crimes claimed the lives of at least three women, including Terece Gregory and Sharyn Kills Back.
Their deaths, marked by rape, abduction, and cold-blooded murder, remained unsolved for decades until advancements in DNA profiling finally brought Brown to justice. But the chilling revelation didn't end there – investigators suspect Brown may be responsible for up to 18 more murders, painting a picture of a prolific and elusive predator whose crimes shocked the nation.
'Dateline NBC' brings this case to light on Friday, June 7 at 9 pm ET as reported by Andrea Canning.
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Who was Terece Gregory and Sharyn Kills Back?
Terece Gregory was a 29-year-old woman living in Fort Worth, Texas. She was last seen alive on May 29, 1985, when she left a downtown nightclub. According to police reports, Terece's body was of a white female approximately 28 years in age wearing a blue print skirt, and a black blouse with thin spaghetti straps under a blue print jacket. There appeared to be a single-entry wound made by a bullet.
Her murder went unsolved for many years until a DNA match linked Curtis Don Brown to the crime. In 2009, Brown was convicted of Terece Gregory's murder, as well as the murder of another woman, Sharyn Kills Back, thanks to advancements in DNA technology.
Sharyn Kills Back was an 18-year-old woman who lived in Arlington, Texas. She was a member of the Oglala Sioux tribe and had a bright future ahead of her. On March 15, 1985, Sharyn disappeared while walking to a friend's house. Eight days later, on March 23, her body was found by a plumber inside a storm drain in southern Arlington.
Sharyn had been raped and strangled, with a rope found around her neck. Her murder remained unsolved for many years until advances in DNA technology helped link Curtis Don Brown to the crime. In 2009, Brown was convicted of Sharyn Kills Back's murder, along with the murder of another victim, Terece Gregory.
Curtis Don Brown kidnapped Terece Gregory and Sharyn Kills Back before killing them
Curtis Don Brown, an American serial killer, kidnapped and murdered Terece Gregory and Sharyn Kills Back in 1985. Terece Gregory, 29, was last seen on May 29, 1985, leaving a nightclub in Fort Worth, Texas. Sharyn Kills Back, 18, disappeared on March 15, 1985, while walking to a friend's house in Arlington, Texas. Brown kidnapped and strangled her, and her body was discovered eight days later in a storm drain.
In 2005, a new prison policy required Brown to submit a DNA sample, which matched evidence from both murders, prompting a re-examination of the cases by Fort Worth and Arlington detectives. Initially convicted in 1989 for the murder of Jewel Woods, Brown was serving a life sentence when he was linked to Gregory's and Kills Back's murders. To avoid the death penalty, he pleaded guilty to both additional murders in 2009, receiving two more life sentences without parole. Investigators believe Brown may be responsible for many more unsolved murders from the same period.
Curtis Don Brown says ‘yes sir’ in trials for shooting Terece Gregory in the face
During his trial, Curtis Don Brown admitted to shooting Terece Gregory in the face. When questioned by the prosecutor about his actions, Brown responded with a simple "yes sir," confirming his guilt. Brown's admission was part of a plea deal in 2009, where he pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty, leading to him receiving two additional life sentences without the possibility of parole.
Curtis Don Brown convicted after 20 years of raping and killing almost 18 women
Curtis Don Brown was convicted of raping and killing multiple women over 20 years after the crimes were committed. Between 1985 and 1986, Brown brutally attacked and murdered at least three women around Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas. In 1986, he raped and bludgeoned 51-year-old nurse Jewel Woods to death.
Brown was initially convicted of Jewel Woods' murder in 1987 and sentenced to life in prison. However, it wasn't until 2005, when DNA evidence linked him to the murders of Gregory and Kills Back, that he was charged with their deaths. This new evidence prompted investigators to re-examine other unsolved cases from the 1980s.
In 2009, Brown admitted to the murders of Gregory and Kills Back as part of a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He received two additional life sentences without the possibility of parole. Authorities suspect Brown may have been involved in up to 18 murders, but he has not been charged for those additional crimes. His conviction came more than 20 years after his initial crimes, thanks to advances in DNA profiling.
