Shivangi Sinha
In April 2021, authorities arrested Clayton Foreman from Ohio in connection with the 1995 murder of Catherine Edwards in Beaumont, Texas. He denied any involvement, but the police had leveraged advanced DNA technology to link him to the crime. The case eventually proceeded to court, where the prosecution highlighted his past and various alleged criminal associations over the years. ABC’s ‘20/20: The Code Breakers’ features the case in detail and explains how investigators were able to solve the decades-old crime and bring Clayton to justice.
Clayton Foreman’s Former Assault Charge Made the Police Suspicious of Him
Clayton Bernard Foreman was raised in Beaumont, Texas, and attended Forest Park High School, where he met his future wife, Dianna Daleo Coe. Their relationship grew serious, and they continued dating. However, in 1981, a woman named Paula Bledsoe Ramsey accused him of assault. She claimed he had given her a ride, restrained her, and assaulted her before dropping her at her home. She reported the incident to the police a week later. Clayton was convicted of assault but received probation and a fine. He did not disclose this history to Dianna, who only learned about it a few days before their wedding in January 1982. He reassured her that it was a misunderstanding and lied to her about the charges against him being dismissed.
Between 1985 and 1986, one of Dianna’s friends alleged that Clayton had assaulted her, though she never filed charges. Years later, Clayton’s ex-wife testified that she allegedly discovered a gun, handcuffs, and pornographic materials in a briefcase in the trunk of his car and found it to be concerning. Their marriage faced other difficulties, ultimately leading to a divorce in 1993. In January 1995, Dianna called Clayton to inform him that her friend, Mary Catherine Edwards, had been murdered in her Beaumont, Texas, home. Clayton reportedly showed no visible reaction, which Dianna found unusual, especially since he knew Mary Catherine and her sister Allison Edwards, who had served as bridesmaids at their wedding.
Police continued investigating the case over the years, and by April 2021, they had identified Clayton as a suspect. Advanced DNA technology and genealogical analysis helped narrow the investigation to him. Learning about his prior sexual assault record strengthened their case. On April 29, 2021, Clayton was arrested in Franklin County, Ohio. During his conversation with law enforcement, he claimed that he had been a police officer, but it was a complete lie. He was subsequently extradited to Jefferson County, Texas, where he was formally charged with capital murder.
Clayton Foreman is Serving His Sentence in a Texas Prison Today
Clayton Foreman’s trial began in March 2024, with the prosecution presenting a strong case. His ex-wife testified about his patterns of behavior, and Paula Ramsey also took the stand and shared her account for the first time since the 1981 incident. On March 20, after less than an hour of deliberation, the jury found Foreman guilty of capital murder. He was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years, by which time he would be 93. Currently 65 years old, he is incarcerated at the James V. Allred Unit in Wichita Falls, Texas. His parole eligibility is set for June 2061.
Read More: Catherine Edwards Murder Details and Investigation Timeline
