Do you know who killed Emily Wallace and Treva Gernannt in 1994? On December 1, 1994, Emily Wallace, aged 74, and her mother Treva Gernannt, aged 88, were found dead in their home at 1031 SE 3rd Avenue in Gainesville, Florida. The fire department responded to a blaze reported around 12:45 a.m., which led to the discovery of the two bodies in their bedrooms. While the fire had initially seemed to be the cause of death, it was later determined that Treva had stab wounds to her neck, adding a more sinister element to the tragedy.
The fire, which originated in the attic, is believed to have started from the gas heater exhaust igniting wooden beams. As a result, part of the roof collapsed, further complicating the scene. Firefighters discovered the bodies while sifting through the wreckage. It was reported that the house had been ransacked, possibly due to both the fire and an earlier intrusion. The incident has remained unsolved for years, and the exact circumstances leading to their deaths remain unclear.
Emily Wallace had been seen the evening before at a church service, while Treva had stayed home due to illness. Authorities have treated the case as a suspicious death, given the presence of stab wounds and the extensive fire damage. Despite the significant efforts put into the investigation, no arrests have been made, and the case remains one of Gainesville's long-standing cold cases. The Gainesville Police Department continues to seek any information that could provide clues to solving this tragic double homicide.
