Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
295 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Forum Posts for Renee Cuevas:
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I’ve been thinking a lot about how important DNA evidence is—not just for solving crimes, but for giving families some kind of closure, even decades later.

Renee Cuevas, a 27-year-old woman who was murdered back in 1989 near the old El Toro Marine Base in Irvine, CA. Her case went cold for years. Her family had no answers, just a huge hole in their lives.

Then in 2003, DNA linked her murder to another case from 1987—Shannon Lloyd, who was also killed in a brutal assault. But even then, they didn’t know who the killer was. It wasn’t until 2021, thanks to advances in genetic genealogy, that they were finally able to identify the guy: Reuben Smith. Sadly (or maybe ironically), he had already died by suicide in 1999. So there wasn’t going to be a trial or justice in the traditional sense.

Still, just knowing who did it gave both families answers. After more than 30 years of not knowing, they could finally start to grieve with some kind of resolution.

What really struck me is that the key DNA match came from a woman who survived one of his attacks in 1998. Her courage to come forward—and the fact that DNA was collected—ended up solving two cold cases and bringing peace to two grieving families.

It just makes me realize how powerful DNA is, not just for catching people, but for acknowledging the pain of victims' families and giving them a chance to heal. I hope we keep investing in this kind of technology and cold case work, because it really matters.
I’ve been reading up on the case of Renee Cuevas and Shannon Rose Lloyd, and I can't help but feel a mix of relief and sorrow. While it's definitely a step forward that the DNA evidence linked their cases and ultimately connected them to Reuben J. Smith, it's deeply unsettling to think about how many years these families had to wait for answers. I keep coming back to the description of Renee Cuevas's dimples and warm personality. It's these human details that remind us she was more than just a name in a cold case file.
The fact that genetic genealogy was key here is fascinating and gives me hope for other cold cases. But it's also infuriating to know that Smith took his own life before he could be held accountable in court. It's a complex mix of emotions — you feel some closure, yet it's not the complete justice Renee’s family deserved. I can only imagine how tough it must be for Yolanda Lui and Renee's other loved ones. The power of DNA to provide answers is undeniable, but I hope it also brings them some peace, even if just a little.