Edwina Latriss Barnum, a 23-year-old African American woman, was found dead in her southeast Houston apartment on May 25, 1994. Her neighbors noticed that her door had been kicked open sometime during the night. Concerned, they alerted the apartment management, and upon entering her residence, they discovered her lifeless body in the bedroom. Authorities responded to the scene and determined that she had been murdered in the early morning hours after returning home from work.
The investigation revealed that she had been strangled to death using a belt.
For years, the case remained unsolved, with investigators struggling to identify a suspect. However, in 2006, DNA evidence linked Edward George McGregor, a 33-year-old man, to the murder of Edwina Barnum. McGregor had previously been charged with the murder of Kim Wildman in Fort Bend County and was also suspected in the killings of Mandy Rubin and Danielle Subjects. His DNA was found to match evidence collected from Barnum’s case, leading authorities to charge him with capital murder.
McGregor was arrested at his home in Missouri City without incident. Investigators continued to examine evidence from past cases to determine if he was connected to additional crimes. His arrest brought some closure to Barnum’s family, who had long sought justice for her tragic death. The case highlighted the importance of forensic advancements in solving cold cases and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
