Do you know who murdered Sally McNelly and Shane Stewart in 1988? On July 4, 1988, Sally McNelly, 18, and her boyfriend Shane Stewart, 17, were murdered near Lake Nasworthy in San Angelo, Texas. The two had reunited that evening to watch the annual Fourth of July fireworks display. After they failed to return home, a search was initiated, and Stewart’s car was found abandoned the following day. Their remains were not discovered until several months later, on November 11 and 14, 1988, respectively, by hunters near Twin Buttes Reservoir, roughly 20 miles from
where they were last seen. Both teenagers had died from shotgun wounds, and their deaths were classified as homicides.
The murders of McNelly and Stewart occurred amid rumors that the two were involved with a local satanic cult. Friends of Sally reported that they had seen her attending parties where occult activities were present, and both teenagers had previously turned a gun over to the police, claiming it was connected to criminal activities involving a cult. These details led to widespread speculation and connected the case to the "Satanic Panic" that was pervasive in the United States during the late 1980s. Despite the sensational aspects of the case, it remains unsolved.
In 2017, a new person of interest emerged when police found potential evidence, including writings and audio tapes, in the home of John Cyrus Gilbreath, who was under investigation for unrelated offenses. Gilbreath was subsequently named as a person of interest in the McNelly and Stewart case, although no charges have yet been brought against him in connection to the murders.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Crime Stoppers have continued to seek public assistance in solving this cold case, offering a reward for information leading to an arrest. Despite ongoing efforts, including involvement from the Texas Rangers' Cold Case Unit, the case remains open, and both families still await justice for Sally and Shane.
