Suvechha Sarkar
On July 9, 1999, Kimberly Ann Langwell set out from work like any other day in Beaumont, Texas. However, the 34-year-old never returned home, prompting a search and investigation that lasted over two decades. The consistent patience and unwavering pursuit of truth ultimately led to the discovery of her remains. In the episode titled, ‘Kimberly Langwell’s Hidden Grave’ of CBS’ ’48 Hours,’ the focus shifts to the clues and the informant tip that brought a chilling truth to light. It also features interviews with the officials who have worked on the case over the years and Kimberly’s beloved daughter.
Kimberly Langwell’s Remains Were Found 25 Years After Her Disappearance
On February 24, 1965, Stratton H. Langwell and Betty L. Clark welcomed their beautiful daughter, Kimberly Langwell, into the world. She grew up in a lively household in Houston, Texas, surrounded by her parents’ love. Kimberly had always loved spending time with her sisters, Susan Butts and Toni Lynn Cross, and her brother, Norman Ray Langwell Sr. Sadly, the relationship between Stratton and Betty started becoming tumultuous, leading them to separate. Stratton once again found love when he crossed paths with Dorothy June Cottongin, and it didn’t take long before they tied the knot. Kimberly was known among her family and friends for her outgoing personality and dry sense of humor. Kimberly eventually completed her studies before stepping into her career.
By 1999, Kimberly was working in shifts at a local chemical plant in Beaumont, Texas. In adulthood, Kimberly entered a relationship, which helped her embrace motherhood with open arms when she gave birth to her daughter, Tiffani M. McInnis. Although the connection with her child’s father didn’t work out, she never gave up on finding love. Simultaneously, Kimberly focused on raising and supporting her daughter, even taking on three jobs. Everything appeared to be going perfectly when Kimberly called 15-year-old Tiffani on July 9, 1999. While leaving work around 5:30 pm that day, she called Tiffani to let her know she would be back home soon, since they had plans to go out to dinner. However, Tiffani grew concerned when Kimberly didn’t return home that day, and on July 10.
After multiple failed attempts to contact her mother, Tiffani called 911 to report Kimberly missing. As officials began searching for Kimberly, they found her car abandoned in the Eckerd Pharmacy parking lot in Beaumont. They reportedly uncovered her keys and purse inside the vehicle. As the years passed, the case grew cold due to a lack of leads. Official reports state that Kimberly was presumed dead in the years after her disappearance. Things changed when authorities received a tip in April 2024, which led them to a house at 1655 Lindbergh Drive in Beaumont. There, authorities used ground-penetrating radar and cadaver dogs to uncover human skeletal remains wrapped in a blanket under the floor of a bedroom on June 13, 2024. The DNA testing confirmed that those were Kimberly’s remains, but her cause of death couldn’t be determined due to advanced decomposition.
An Informant’s Tip Helped Investigators Solve the Crime After Over Two Decades
During the initial investigation, authorities questioned several family members, friends, and coworkers of Kimberly, who said they last saw or heard from the 34-year-old around 5:30 pm. According to reports, Kimberly had also called Tiffani because they were set to meet for dinner. Further reports suggest that Kimberly told Tiffani on the call that she planned to drop by the home of Kimberly’s ex-boyfriend, Terry Lee Rose, before heading home. Investigators soon learned that the 34-year-old had broken up with Terry around 6 months before she went missing because he allegedly tried to strangle her, as per reports.
Although Terry was considered a person of interest at the time, there was no evidence against him. As more time passed without any breakthrough, the case grew cold. That changed in the spring of 2023 as the detectives reopened the case and reexamined the witness statements. In April 2024, they received a tip from a reliable informant/witness, David Wiley, who was Terry’s former tow truck driver. According to court records, David revealed that on July 9, 1999, he met with Terry between 5 pm and 6 pm, and during the meeting, Terry arrived driving Kimberly’s car.
In his statements, David said that Terry told him he had shot Kimberly in the back of her head. As per official records, David also informed the authorities that by the following weekend, Terry told David that he had dug a hole in the bedroom of his home and buried Kimberly there. Ultimately, a search warrant was executed at Terry’s home, where authorities uncovered the remains of Kimberly on June 13, 2024. Terry was arrested on the same day and was indicted by a grand jury for the murder of Kimberly on June 18, 2024.
Terry Rose is Currently Incarcerated at a Texas Correctional Facility
Following his arrest and indictment, Terry was held on a $1 million bond. In July 2024, Kimberly’s daughter, Tiffani, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Terry to hold him financially accountable and seek justice beyond the criminal case. However, a judge in November 2024 put the lawsuit on hold, ruling that Terry could sell his residence and other assets to pay legal expenses. However, the rest of his assets remained frozen because the judge extended his temporary injunction against Terry for the civil lawsuit. Currently, no public reports provide further details about the lawsuit.
In June 2025, a judge ruled that Terry was competent to stand trial, allowing the case to proceed. In August 2025, he was offered a plea deal that would have resulted in a 40-year sentence, but he rejected it during the hearing. Hence, the case moved toward a jury trial, and the jury selection was scheduled to begin on December 8, 2025. Terry ultimately avoided it by accepting the same plea deal and pleaded guilty to murder on December 2, 2025. During his sentencing hearing on December 16, 2025, David testified against Terry.
During his testimony, David recalled July 9, 1999, when he met Terry on the evening of Kimberly’s disappearance and saw Terry arriving in Kimberly’s vehicle. David reportedly testified about Terry’s confession to him and said, “My reaction, I was shocked and astonished. I was scared, scared for my own life.” According to court records, David claimed he didn’t come forward previously because he was afraid of getting into trouble. Ultimately, Terry was sentenced to 40 years in prison, and he will not be eligible for parole until June 12, 2044. His projected release date is scheduled for June 12, 2064. As of writing, Terry is serving his sentence at the Diboll Correctional Center in Diboll, Texas.
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