A mother is found stabbed to death in her home
On July 22, 1987, 31-year-old Junel Wingo Troutman was found murdered in her home in South Miami Heights, Florida. Junel, a mother of three, was discovered in the foyer of her home, having been stabbed to death. Her death remains unsolved, and despite investigations by the Miami-Dade Police Department, no suspect has been formally charged in over three decades since her murder.
Junel was described as a loving mother and a nurturing older sister who often took care of her siblings. She worked as a telephone operator for BellSouth and was well-regarded by her family and friends. Her family has always suspected foul play, particularly given her declining health in the months before her death. Junel had been experiencing unexplained health issues, which her family believed could have been the result of poisoning, possibly by someone close to her. Her husband, Gregory Trotman, was supposed to drop her off at her family’s house on the day of her murder, but she never arrived, leading to further suspicions. The investigation, however, found no evidence of forced entry, and no charges were filed against anyone, including her husband, who claimed Junel was alive when he left her that morning.
Junel’s case has left her family in deep grief and without closure for decades. Her children were separated after her death, with her daughters moving to Connecticut and her son remaining in Miami. Her family continues to search for answers and justice, working with advocacy organizations like Project Cold Case to keep her story alive and seeking information that might one day help solve this cold case. If anyone has any information, they are urged to contact the Miami Police Department or Crime Stoppers in the hopes of finally bringing justice to Junel and her family.
