After more than four decades of uncertainty and sorrow, the Sacramento Police Department announced a significant breakthrough in a longstanding cold case. Helen Terry, a young mother, was discovered brutally stabbed in her Sacramento apartment on August 28, 1980, leaving behind her one-year-old son who was found alone at the scene. Since Helen's murder, the question of who was responsible lingered, unresolved and tormenting for all who remembered the case. According to the Sacramento Police Department Facebook post, investigators working alongside the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Cold Case, Science, and Technology Unit have now named a suspect: Robert Terry, who at the time was embroiled in a dispute over the paternity of Helen's child.
Though Robert Terry denied being the biological father and was entangled in a paternity suit launched by Helen for child support, the case remained at a standstill due to the lack of evidence. The Sacramento Police Department's dedication to seeking justice, on August 28, 1980, remained unwavering as they reopened the case in 2016 under their cold case initiative. However, despite uncovering new DNA evidence pointing to Robert Terry, prosecuted at that time he could not be. In a renewed effort, the District Attorney's Office brought forth new information through advances in investigative methods, which has led to Robert Terry's booking on homicide charges on September 27.
The Sacramento Police Department has vowed to relentlessly pursue justice for victims of violent crime, emphasizing that the passage of time will not deter their efforts. "The case has been officially filed by the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office," further extends a message of resolution and determination to the community, signaling that justice may be on the horizon for Helen Terry and her family. The police department continues to reach out to the public, urging anyone with information regarding the case to contact either the dispatch center or the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers. Informants may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000, and tips can also be provided through the "P3 Tips" smartphone application.
