A mother of three is found strangled to death in her home by her son
In the late summer of 2010 in Gallatin, Tennessee, the life of 27-year-old Lydia Gutierrez was tragically cut short in a brutal act of violence that left a community in shock and a family shattered. On the afternoon of August 12th, Gallatin officers were dispatched to a residence on Lincoln Drive where they discovered Gutierrez deceased inside. She had been stabbed multiple times in the neck, and a plastic bag had been placed over her head. The grim discovery was made after her oldest son returned home from school. Her two younger sons, who were just toddlers at the time, were present in the home when their mother was killed.
The investigation into the homicide quickly focused on Lydia Gutierrez's ex-boyfriend, Joshua Singletary. He was located a short time after the discovery of the body at a nearby hospital where he was receiving treatment for lacerations to his hands. Singletary was arrested and charged with the murder. Investigators believed the crime had occurred in the morning, and the young children had been alone with their mother's body for hours. One of the children reportedly mentioned Singletary's name to the police when describing the events.
Despite the initial arrest and what seemed to be a promising lead, the case against Joshua Singletary soon encountered significant hurdles. After being held for 51 days, he was released from custody. The prosecution determined that the account of the two-year-old witness would not be admissible in court due to the child's age. Furthermore, a lack of DNA evidence placing Singletary at the crime scene weakened the case against him. Singletary has consistently maintained his innocence in the murder of Lydia Gutierrez.
In the years following Lydia Gutierrez's death, the case has remained open and active, becoming a painful cold case for the Gallatin Police Department. The story of the single working mother's unsolved murder gained national attention when it was featured on an episode of the television series 'Cold Justice.' The program aimed to bring fresh eyes and resources to the investigation. Law enforcement has periodically appealed to the public for any new information that could lead to a breakthrough and finally bring justice to Lydia Gutierrez and her three sons.
