SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – The Texas Rangers are searching for information on the 1997 murder of a college student whose body was found in Grayson County.
Brent Gutheinz, a business student at the University of Texas at Dallas, had expensive taste and a passion for body building. When he didn’t show up to dinner one night, his parents became worried.
They filed a missing persons case with UTD police on June 22. About 40 miles north, a body was found that same day.
“They had thoughts early on that it could be Brent. But based on the condition of his remains, it was impossible to tell,” Ranger Thomas Fitzpatrick said.
The body was burned and mutilated, but the cause of death was clear: homicidal violence.
“It was very apparent that he’d been murdered,” Fitzpatrick said.
Investigation continues 29 years later
Brent’s killer hasn’t been found. Fitzpatrick joined the investigation a few months ago as part of the Texas Rangers Cold Case Unit.
“It quickly shifted from a missing person to a murder investigation,” Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick said he’s been looking at the files and figuring out who he wants to interview again.
“There was obviously several people to me that were interesting, close associates of Brent’s, whether it be relationships, dating, or friendships,” Fitzpatrick said.
Brent began spending a lot of money just before he died. He bought two cars that he wasn’t able to afford at all, Fitzpatrick said.
The way his body was treated is another clue.
“This to me looked like somebody was trying to cover up his identity so he could not be identified,” Fitzpatrick said.
Brent was found far from home.
“One of the most bizarre things about this case is there’s really not been any obvious connection to Grayson County,” Fitzpatrick said.
But Fitzpatrick said the lack of a link could be a lead.
“It’s certainly a very remote location that I don’t think people would just happen upon. I think you’d have to have some knowledge of this area and the geography there to even know where it is, for one, and then know where to put somebody,” Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick is asking the public for help. Anyone who remembers seeing something odd at Squirrel Creek near Austin Road in 1997, is familiar with the area, or knows something about the crime is asked to contact authorities.
“A violent homicide like that’s a hard thing to live with,” Fitzpatrick said.
The reward for information about Brent’s murder is now $6,000.
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