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In a significant breakthrough, an arrest has been made in the decades-old cold case of Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson, who tragically lost their lives nearly 36 years ago. These young souls embarked on what was meant to be a joyful date night in west Houston on August 23, 1990, only to never return home.
That evening, a security guard on his routine patrol came across a vehicle parked in a cul-de-sac, notably stationary for an extended period. Upon investigation, he discovered an unresponsive woman inside the car, and nearby, a man was found in a similar condition. These victims were later identified as Henry and Atkinson, both having sustained fatal injuries to their necks.
The narrative of their untimely deaths, often referred to as the “Lover’s Lane Murders,” remained a haunting mystery for nearly 36 years. In a development that offers a glimmer of hope for justice, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare announced that 64-year-old Floyd William Parrott has been charged with their murders.
This case, which has captured the community’s attention for years, was revisited in ABC13’s True Crime series in November 2025, featuring poignant interviews with the victims’ family members, who have long awaited this moment of closure.
The case dubbed “Lover’s Lane Murders” went unsolved for almost 36 years. It was also profiled in ABC13’s True Crime series in November 2025, with interviews from the victims’ family members.
SEE ALSO: Texas True Crime: Lovers’ Lane Murders
“Initially I thought, ‘OK, three to six months,’” Andy’s cousin, Tim Godwin, told Eyewitness News in 2025. “We’d find out who did this, there’d be a trial, and they’d be brought to justice.”
But months turned into years. One year became five. Then 10. Even after 15 years, there were still no arrests, no suspects – only grief and unanswered questions.
For decades, the families continued speaking out and held on to hope that one day someone would come forward.
In 2008, Houston police had a break in the case, linking DNA found at the murder site to a separate rape case, but could not find a suspect.
But then, the latest court documents show that police were reviewing the case in 2025 and got the suspect’s name from a tip. Records show that further police work led to DNA and other evidence matching up.
“One of Houston’s most haunting and infamous cold cases has weighed on the Henry and Atkinson families, as well as our community, for more than three decades,” Teare said. “Our prosecutors, working with the HPD and FBI, have pursued this investigation with relentless and dogged determination. They have worked hundreds of leads, facing dead ends and plenty of frustration. But, they never gave up on Cheryl and Andy.”
Teare said Houston police and the FBI arrested Parrott in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Wednesday, where he is currently awaiting extradition to the Harris County Jail.
Authorities will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. Friday to provide more details on the case.
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