A family is getting answers to what happened to their relatives, a family of three who seemed to have vanished over 40 years ago.
The bodies of two people found dead in Houston in late 1980/early 1981 were unable to be identified for years. That changed in 2021, when investigators used genetic genealogy to help identify the couple. They were determined to be Tina Gail Linn Clouse and Harold Dean Clouse Jr., originally of Florida.
The mystery wasn't entirely solved, however. There was the matter of baby Holly, the couple's 1- to 2-year old baby, whose body had not been found.
When the families of Tina and Harold were notified about the identification, they set out to search for baby Holly. Relatives hadn't heard from the family of three since October 1980. Shortly after, the families received a call from a woman named Sister Susan, who said she wanted to return their car to them in exchange for money.
According to Sister Susan, the couple had joined their religious group and no longer wanted contact with their families. As part of their group's beliefs, which allegedly included separating male and female members and a vegan-esque lifestyle, Tina and Harold had agreed to give up all of their possessions.
The families contacted authorities, and police met with them at the agreed car swap. A woman was arrested, but records of the arrest have yet to be uncovered.
Families were recently able to connect with Holly. Now 42, she is alive and thriving. Holly was adopted after being left at a church in Arizona. She now lives in Oklahoma and is a mom of five herself.
What's even more special, Holly's family connected with her on what was her late father's birthday.
"Finding Holly is a birthday present from heaven since we found her on Junior’s birthday," Donna Casasanta, mother of Harold, said in a statement released by a family spokeswoman.
"I prayed for more than 40 years for answers and the Lord has revealed some of it."
While authorities are not releasing Holly's identity, they shared that her adoptive parents are not suspects in the murders of her biological parents. The investigation is ongoing.
"After finally being able to reunite with Holly, I dreamed about her and my sister, Tina last night," said Holly's aunt and Tina's sister, Sherry Linn.
"In my dream, Tina was laying on the floor rolling around and laughing and playing with Holly like I saw them do many times before when they lived with me prior to moving to Texas. I believe Tina's finally resting in peace knowing Holly is reuniting with her family. I personally am so relieved to know Holly is alive and well and was well cared for, but also torn up by it all. That baby was her life."
