On August 4, 1971, 14-year-old Sharon Lynn Shaw and her friend Rhonda Johnson disappeared from a beach outing in Galveston, Texas. Both girls were last seen walking on Seawall Boulevard. Their skeletal remains were discovered in early 1972 in and around Clear Lake near Galveston Bay. Shaw's skull was identified via dental records, and a crucifix found wrapped around her jawbone was recognized by her mother.
Michael Lloyd Self, a local gas station attendant, was charged with the murders
in 1972 and convicted of Shaw's murder in 1975. Self's conviction was based solely on his confession, which he later recanted, claiming he had been coerced by police. In 1998, convicted killer Edward Harold Bell confessed to both murders, leading to speculation that Self may have been wrongfully convicted. Self died in prison in 2000.
The case is often associated with the Texas Killing Fields, a 25-acre section of land off Interstate 45 in League City where the bodies of dozens of young women have been discovered since the 1970s. Despite the convictions and confessions, the true perpetrator of Shaw's and Johnson's murders remain unknown, and the case continues to be a subject of controversy and investigation.
