On November 1, 1993, 22-year-old Amy Vess, a Caucasian female, was working alone at Dancer's Closet, a dance apparel store in Arlington, Texas. Although it was her day off, she had agreed to fill in for a coworker. The store was located just off Interstate 35. Sometime between 6:15 and 6:22 p.m., an unidentified man entered the store and forced Amy into the backroom, where he shot her twice—once in the neck and once in the back of the head.
Despite her critical injuries, Amy managed to crawl to the phone and dial 911. Due to the severity of her wounds, she was barely able to speak, and 911 operators struggled to understand her. When paramedics arrived, Amy was able to convey that she had been robbed and shot by an unknown man. She was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to her injuries the following day. A small amount of money, approximately $200, was missing from the cash register.
Investigators noted the similarities between Amy's murder and a series of killings attributed to the "I-70 Killer," who had targeted small specialty stores in the Midwest during 1992. The modus operandi in Amy's case closely resembled that of the I-70 Killer: a lone female clerk in a specialty store near a major interstate, shot with a .22-caliber firearm, and a small amount of cash taken. However, ballistics tests determined that the gun used in Amy's murder was not the same as the one used in the earlier I-70 killings. This discrepancy has led to ongoing debate among law enforcement agencies about whether the same individual is responsible for both sets of crimes.
In the aftermath of Amy's murder, authorities released composite sketches of the suspect based on witness descriptions. The suspect was described as a thin white male, standing between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall, with sandy blond hair that had a reddish tint and day-old beard stubble. Despite these efforts, no arrests have been made in connection with Amy's death. The case remains unsolved, and investigators continue to seek information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of the perpetrator.
Amy's tragic death is part of a broader pattern of similar murders in the region during that period. On September 25, 1993, 51-year-old Mary Ann Glasscock was killed in her antique store in Fort Worth, Texas, and on January 15, 1994, 35-year-old Vicki Webb was shot in her gift shop in Houston but survived. These cases share striking similarities in terms of victim profile, crime scene, and method, leading some investigators to believe they may be connected. However, definitive links between these cases and Amy's murder have not been established.
The passage of time has not diminished the resolve of law enforcement to solve Amy's case. Advancements in forensic technology, including DNA analysis, offer renewed hope that evidence from the crime scene may yet yield clues. Authorities urge anyone with information related to Amy's murder or similar cases to come forward, emphasizing that even the smallest detail could be crucial in bringing closure to these long-unsolved crimes.
