Wendy Kae Robinson, a Texas teenager, had just completed her finals. She began her summer holidays in July 1987 by taking a solo trip to Lake Weatherford. The Texan teenager had no idea of the horrors ahead for her. Later, she was raped and beaten to death at a ranch in Parker County. It took nearly 40 years for the police to finally catch her assailant.
Investigation Discovery’s “On the Case With Paula Zahn: Cloud Of Darkness” focuses on the investigation that led to Wendy’s murder. Let’s get started, shall we?
How Did Wendy Kae Robinson Die?
Wendy Kae Robinson was born in Tarrant County, Texas, on May 10, 1968. She is the daughter of Linda Kae Roderick (née Roderick) and James Robinson. In 1986, she graduated from Weatherford High School and is pursuing her degree at Weatherford Junior College. James, her father, stated that his daughter wanted to become a teacher. She went solo on a sunbathing trip to Lake Weatherford on July 8, 1987, after completing her final term of the summer term. At 1:55 PM that day, she was last seen at Lake Weatherford’s east end, also known as “The Wall.”
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Wendy didn’t return home that night, so her father filed a missing person report with the police. Wendy was found dead at the ranch’s gated entrance in Parker County. This was several miles from the last time she was seen. She had her hands and feet tied and was beaten with a rock. The autopsy report by Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office showed that she died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Who Killed Wendy Kae Robinson
The Weatherford Police Department did not initially have any evidence or suspects. Robin’s billfold was found by someone fishing in Lake Worth in November 1987. Authorities organized for divers to search the lake. They found Wendy’s possessions and stolen items from Weatherford Petro Truck Stop. The robbery took place on July 9, 1987. Based on the descriptions of the victims, the investigators created a sketch, but it didn’t yield any results.
Even though Weatherford police enlisted the assistance of many law enforcement agencies, the case became cold. Two new detectives decided in January 2016 to reopen this case and look at the matter from a different angle. The Parker County Special Crimes Unit, the United States Secret Service, Texas Rangers, and Texas Rangers assisted the investigators in interviewing multiple witnesses and reviewing old reports. After an extensive investigation, Ricky Lee Adkins was identified as the suspect.
Prosecutors obtained an indictment by a Grand Jury and issued a Capias Warrant For Capital Murder for Ricky on December 1, 2016. On December 14, 2016, he was taken into custody by authorities from Ranger, Texas. He had been living in a house with his girlfriend. Ricky was a registered sexual offender who had spent 8 years in prison on charges of aggravated sexual assault that he committed in 1993. Witnesses claimed that Ricky was a registered sex offender and had spent 8 years in jail on charges of aggravated sexual assault.
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Ricky Lee Adkins is Where Are You Today?
Ricky admitted to the authorities that he met Wendy and two other accomplices on the fateful July 8, 1987. The two men wanted to have a physical relationship with Wendy, but she declined their advances. Ricky and one of his accomplices began to sexually assault Wendy. He claimed that Wendy was killed by one of his accomplices.
Ricky pleaded guilty to capital murder charges and was sentenced on August 30, 2018, to 35 years imprisonment. The investigators are looking for his accomplices and offer $5000 in prize money for any tips leading to their arrest. According to official court records, Ricky is currently in Navasota’s Wallace Pack Unit. His parole date will be August 14, 2028. He is expected to be released on December 13, 2051.
