Cold case review team to investigate quarter-century-old Cedar Creek Lake murder mystery




Henderson County Sheriff Botie Hillhouse recently announced he turned two cold murder cases -- including a quarter-century-old mystery concerning a prominent Corsicana woman -- to the Sheriff’s Association of Texas Cold Case Review Team.


Shelly Watkins’ bound body was found floating in the Trinity River south of Seven Points on Labor Day in 1993. Her body rose to the surface of the water after mortar products failed to keep it submerged.


The pretty young mother was last seen at her family’s Cedar Creek Lake weekend home. Her husband, a wealthy businessman, reported her missing.


The second case involved Ricky Gene Herriage, whose body was found March 8, 1987, under a bridge next to Walnut Creek.


Hillhouse and two members of his staff presented the cases to the review team in Austin May 10.


“These cases are cold,” Hillhouse said. “But they are not gone, forgotten, ignored or put on some back burner. I want these cases solved, prosecuted and suspects convicted for their terrible crimes."

The cold case team is composed of doctors, prosecutors, lab technicians, retired judges and law enforcement officials at the federal, state and local level.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 800-545-TIPS. Calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential. 




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Cedar Creek Lake Weather Forecast

Tuesday

Partly Sunny

Hi: 82

Tuesday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 68

Wednesday

Thunderstorms Likely

Hi: 80

Wednesday Night

Chance Rain Showers

Lo: 68

Thursday

Rain Showers Likely

Hi: 82

Thursday Night

Chance Rain Showers

Lo: 66

Friday

Partly Sunny

Hi: 78

Friday Night

Partly Cloudy

Lo: 64


Cedar Creek Lake Water Level (last 30 days)


Water Level on 5/27: 322.19 (+0.19)



Cedar Creek Lake

Fishing Report from TPWD (May 21)

EXCELLENT. stained; 77 degrees; 0.02 feet full pool. The hybrid striped bass and white bass have made a full recovery from the spawn and are now back in the main lake in droves and are on a feeding frenzy! Start looking for heavy bird activity throughout the lake on flats and near the Dam on edges of drop offs especially on cloudy and overcast days. Focus on using slabs on drop offs and along seawalls early in the mornings in depth of 5-14 feet. Reports of great catches using silver or white slabs and spinners and retrieving off the bottom at a very slow retrieve to catch these fish in depths of 17-26 feet of water. The crappie have also migrated back into the main lake. Look for them under bridge pylons or under docks where the depths are between 3-10 feet. Guides have been reporting exceptionally nice catches on sunny warmer days. Report by Brent Herbeck, Herbeck’s Lonestar Fishing Guide Service. Shad spawn is nearing an end, but there continues to be a good early shallow bite on and around points and windy shoreline. Drifting in 15-25 feet of water is consistently producing bigger fish. Report by Jason Barber, Kings Creek Adventures. As we enjoy a weekend of fishing we salute and honor our Nation’s heroes this Memorial Day. Anticipate increased recreational boater traffic this weekend.

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