Theresa Hall, a 9-year-old African American girl from Decatur, Illinois, tragically lost her life on Halloween night in 1984. She had been out trick-or-treating with her 12-year-old cousin, Sherry Gordon, and her 7-year-old sister, Patricia. The three girls were reported missing late on October 31st, and an intense search ensued. Two days later, on November 2nd, Theresa and Sherry were found strangled in a vacant apartment within the Longview Housing Project, a complex near their home.
Patricia was discovered alive in a closet within the same apartment, cold but unharmed.
Authorities determined that Theresa and Sherry had been strangled—one with a piece of clothing and the other with an electrical cord. Investigators initially pursued leads, including reports of an older man seen driving a rusty, four-door Oldsmobile, but that lead was later dismissed. The case remained unsolved for decades, haunting the Decatur community.
In 2009, advancements in DNA testing finally provided answers. Investigators matched DNA evidence from the crime scene to Melvin Johnson, a man with a history of crimes against children. Johnson had been convicted in 1978 for taking indecent liberties with a child and was sentenced to six years in prison. He was living in Decatur at the time of the murders. DNA samples taken from Sherry Gordon’s clothing were preserved and later matched to Johnson through the Illinois State Police Laboratory. Unfortunately, Johnson had died of stomach cancer in Texas in 2003, meaning he was never brought to trial for the murders of Theresa Hall and Sherry Gordon.
Despite Johnson’s death, the revelation brought a sense of closure to the families and the community. The case had remained a painful mystery for 24 years, and while justice could not be served in court, the identification of the perpetrator allowed the families to begin healing. Authorities continued investigating Johnson’s potential involvement in other crimes, including the murders of Sandra J. Hopson in 1985 and John L. Woods in 1988. Though Johnson was never formally charged for these crimes, DNA evidence linked him to multiple cases, solidifying his reputation as a serial offender.
Theresa Hall’s tragic death remains a somber chapter in Decatur’s history, a reminder of the dangers that lurk even in seemingly innocent moments like Halloween night. The resolution of her case, though delayed, underscored the importance of forensic advancements in solving cold cases and bringing long-awaited answers to grieving families.
