The Vanishing of Mary Ann Perez: A Cold Case Reopened and Resolved

A Night Out Turns Tragic

On March 26, 1976, 33-year-old Mary Ann Perez, a mother of three from St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana, went out with friends to a local bar in Chalmette, just outside New Orleans. She left her teenage daughter, Donna, to watch her younger children, assuring her she would call to check in later. That evening, Donna received a call from her mother, stating she was okay and would be home shortly. However, the next morning, Perez's car was found in the bar's parking lot, appearing to be in working order. Three days later, her purse was discovered in Lake Pontchartrain, weighted down by a brick. Perez was nowhere to be found.

A Break in the Case

In 1980, a drifter named David Courtney admitted that he and his wife, Donna, had killed five women across several states. One of the murders bore striking similarities to Perez's disappearance. Courtney claimed he had abducted a woman from a bar in New Orleans, convinced her to go with him, and later strangled her in the back seat of their car. He identified Perez from a photo lineup but couldn't recall where they left her body.

Discovery of Remains

On November 28, 1976, hunters in a wooded area off Old Pascagoula Road in Grand Bay, Alabama, discovered skeletal remains. The identity of the woman remained a mystery for decades. In 2018, Detective J.T. Thornton revisited the case and suspected the remains might belong to Perez. DNA testing confirmed the match, providing closure to a 42-year-old cold case.

Legal Proceedings

Despite David Courtney's confession, he was never charged with Perez's murder. He is currently serving a life sentence in Kansas for an unrelated killing. Donna Courtney served 10 years for her part in the killings and died two decades ago. Authorities believe Perez was slain in New Orleans, and there is potential for charges to be filed in Orleans Parish. ...Read More

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