HARRIS COUNTY, TX – Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson were two young people with their whole lives ahead of them. Their murders in 1990 devastated their families and shook the community.

Today, Commissioner Tom Ramsey joined Andy Kahan of Crime Stoppers of Houston to dedicate a memorial at Susan C. Kellner Pocket Park in Houston, honoring Cheryl and Andy and ensuring their stories will never be forgotten.

“This tragedy was a huge loss to our community,” said Commissioner Ramsey. “Cheryl and Andy should be here today pursuing their dreams and having families of their own. We can’t bring them back, but we can sure honor and remember them.”

For 36 years, Cheryl and Andy’s families endured the pain of waiting for justice of their murders until a break in the case this past March. Thanks to forensic DNA evidence, the killer was arrested in Nebraska and charged with capital murder. He died by suicide in April while awaiting extradition to Houston.

“For close to four decades their names were usually attached to a headline, a cold case, but to those who knew them, they were two extraordinary people whose futures were stolen,” said Kahan. “May both of them rest in eternal peace, forever young, forever vibrant, forever loved by their families and the community. We cannot go back and change what happened to Cheryl and Andy but we’re going to make things better for others who come along so that they’ve achieved a lasting legacy.”

With the murder case officially solved, the memorial offers an opportunity to honor Cheryl and Andy’s lives and recognize the decades-long search for answers. Their stories serve as a reminder of the importance of victim advocacy, advances in forensics, and continued efforts to pursue justice.

“I pray that this bench will serve as a place of solitude and peace and healing for others who are searching for answers, who just need a quiet seat or to put up a prayer to someone they yearn to see again in this life or the next,” said Francesca Del Rosa with the Atkinson family.

For Chris Colvert, Cheryl Henry’s brother, the memorial offers comfort in knowing his sister’s name will be permanently honored in a peaceful setting where visitors can reflect and remember.

“We understand how important Cheryl and Andy’s legacy is and to see this memorial is such a great tribute to their lives and those lives they have touched,” said Colvert.

The Precinct 3 We Remember Memorial initiative raises awareness for crime victims by creating tributes in their honor throughout Precinct 3 parks. It also encourages visitors to get involved in unsolved cases and advocate for crime prevention and justice. Cheryl and Andy’s memorial at the Susan C. Kellner Pocket Park is located at 12005 Kimberley Lane, Houston, TX 77024.

For more information about the We Remember Memorial Project and ways to support victim advocacy, please visit www.pct3.com/We-Remember-Memorial. 

Photos of this ceremony may be viewed and downloaded at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD7zy8