Saturday, October 17, 2009
“I think I may go out and see the world today.
So keep me safe and sound, I pray,
That I might live to see another day.”
— A guardian angel prayer that Jennie Finch placed on a picture of her granddaughter, Sheila Finch
From baby photographs to kindergarten up through Sheila’s first few years of school, Sheila’s pictures line her grandmother’s bedroom walls, top a dresser and cover a two-shelf stand under her TV in the small living room.
On one photo, not far from the white family Bible, the 89-year-old Finch has placed a prayer that beseeches a guardian angel to keep a child safe as she ventures out into the world.
Not that she needs it, but there are many reminders of Sheila Finch throughout Jennie Finch’s tiny South Waco home.
It was 20 years ago today that 10-year-old Sheila Finch rode her bike to a neighborhood store to call her aunt to take her to school because she missed the bus. She ran into the wrong person and never made it back home.
Fishermen found Sheila’s body on the outer edges of Lake Waco’s Speegleville II Park two days later. She had been stabbed to death.
Twenty years later, Sheila’s paternal grandmother may not be able to say how many grandchildren or great-grandchildren she has, but she has no trouble remembering Sheila and the horror that struck her family the day Sheila did not come home.
“She was just a sweet little girl, and she loved her granny, just like her granny loved her,” Finch said, tears welling in her eyes. “I often wonder what she would look like today or what she would be doing.”
No one was ever brought to justice in the girl’s death. Waco police arrested Anthony Torres, who closely resembled a witness’s description, and later, an artist’s sketch of a man seen near the grocery store where Sheila was using the telephone that morning.
While Waco police arrested Torres for capital murder in the girl’s death in January 1992, a McLennan County grand jury declined to indict him three months later after hearing from the witness, police investigators and others.
Less than a year later, Torres went to federal prison for five years for dealing marijuana. His parole was revoked in October 1999, and he went back to federal prison for six months, according to court records.
Waco police spokesman Steve Anderson said Finch’s case was handed down from detective to detective over the years and remained an active case until Torres’ death about five years ago. Anderson said he had no details about Torres’ death.
“The bottom line is that in our investigation, all those men who were involved in this investigation feel that Anthony Torres is the individual who killed this child, and unless some other evidence surfaces, just like in any other cold case, they feel like he was the one who was responsible,” Anderson said.
Sheila moved to Fort Worth with her mother, Pamela, and her father, Paul Finch. But she didn’t like school there and missed her granny and classmates at Sul Ross Elementary School, Jennie Finch said.
She came back to Waco to live with Finch and had been back only a day when she missed the bus and came back to her grandmother’s Ross Avenue home in the shadow of Baylor University’s Floyd Casey Stadium.
Finch told her granddaughter to ride her pink bicycle to the grocery store at South 26th Street and Dutton Avenue to call her aunt to take her to school because Finch did not drive. That was the last time her grandmother saw her alive.
“I think it would have helped some in my grief if they had found who did this, but I think they get off too easy nowadays, especially when it comes to kids,” Finch said. “I have made it OK, but sometimes it gets on my mind pretty heavy. I think about what they did to her and I get it in my mind that she was begging for help from me and I couldn’t help her.”
Finch, who has seven children, said her son died a few years ago at age 48. She is unsure where Sheila’s mother is, she said.
“I think Sheila’s murder could have contributed to my son’s death,” Finch said. “It really got him. He never got over it. I don’t think you ever get over something like that.”
Judge Ralph Strother, a prosecutor from 1988 to 1991, said the case would have been assigned to him had someone been indicted.
“I remember being horrified about what a brutal crime it was and how I desperately wanted to find out who did it,” said Strother, now 19th State District Court judge. “It was just a tragic, horrible crime. I remember seeing the picture of that little girl when they found her body and how pretty she would have been. It was just awful, and it was such a brutal killing. She died a horrible death. I still think about it from time to time.”
twitherspoon@wacotrib.com
757-5737
Comments
By Lisa
Oct 29, 2009 3:16 PM | Link to this
I remember Sheila she often visited my house.We rode our bikes together. We had the same bike. I remember the pink seat cushion. I lived on Cleavland St right in front of Baylor Stadium. I think we were the same age. I remember my mother taking me to her funeral. I was so sad, i remember cryin an askin GOD how could this happen. I remember what i wore to her funeral. I was so scared to ever go to that store again. My mom stop letting me ride my bike off our street after that very day. I remember her, she was a good friend to me. We even looked alike ... I am so sorry for your loss and My heart goes out to your family. I remember rumors going around, grown up's talkin about her mother and father we doin drugs i think it was the mom... i cant remember every detail it a little fuzzy, but i remember the neighbors sayin that someone owed for drugs and thats why they hurt her. I would ask my father cause i bet he would remember but he passed in 1990... I hope YOu will find peace in the LORD because she is with the LORD.... God will punish whoever did this and anyone who was involved or knows what happen.... sorry to say things that may just be rumors that a child heard but if it was my grandmother that was on here i would want her know anythin to help..... May GOD fill ya heart with peace..Grandma Finch...
By Lisa
Oct 29, 2009 3:13 PM | Link to this
I remember Sheila she often visited my house.We rode our bikes together. We had the same bike. I remember the pink seat cushion. I lived on Cleavland St right in front of Baylor Stadium. I think we were the same age. I remember my mother taking me to her funeral. I was so sad, i remember cryin an askin GOD how could this happen. I remember what i wore to her funeral. I was so scared to ever go to that store again. My mom stop letting me ride my bike off our street after that very day. I remember her, she was a good friend to me. We even looked alike ... I am so sorry for your loss and My heart goes out to your family. I remember rumors going around, grown up's talkin about her mother and father we doin drugs i think it was the mom... i cant remember every detail it a little fuzzy, but i remember the neighbors sayin that someone owed for drugs and thats why they hurt her. I would ask my father cause i bet he would remember but he passed in 1990... I hope YOu will find peace in the LORD because she is with the LORD.... God will punish whoever did this and anyone who was involved or knows what happen.... sorry to say things that may just be rumors that a child heard but if it was my grandmother that was on here i would want her know anythin to help..... May GOD fill ya heart with peace..Grandma Finch...
By Lisa
Oct 29, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this
My heart goes out to the finch family. I knew sheila i really dont remember her family to well. I went to Sul Ross with her. I rode my bike with her often. We had the same pink seated cushion i remember her coming over to my house. I remember when this happen. i was so scarred to go that that store ever again. I lived on Cleavland St. right in front of the Baylor Stadium. We were the same age an looked a lot alike. I was so hurt when this happen. I remember my mom offering to take me to her funeral. I remember what i was to wear. I remember crying and asking GOD why would he let this happen. I remember rumors in the neighborhood that her mom or dad were drug users and they owed money an this happen im not sure if that is true or if it was a horrible rumor. I was just a child when i heard it and i didn't have anyone to tell. An im sorry to say it if it isn't true but it was still on my heart so i wanted to tel someone.... I hope the LORD will bless your heart and fill it with peace so you can have some thing to mend your broken heart. I love my grandmother and if she was still carrying something like this in her heart i would want every piece of info possible.....
By Lisa
Oct 29, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this
My heart goes out to the finch family. I knew sheila i really dont remember her family to well. I went to Sul Ross with her. I rode my bike with her often. We had the same pink seated cushion i remember her coming over to my house. I remember when this happen. i was so scarred to go that that store ever again. I lived on Cleavland St. right in front of the Baylor Stadium. We were the same age an looked a lot alike. I was so hurt when this happen. I remember my mom offering to take me to her funeral. I remember what i was to wear. I remember crying and asking GOD why would he let this happen. I remember rumors in the neighborhood that her mom or dad were drug users and they owed money an this happen im not sure if that is true or if it was a horrible rumor. I was just a child when i heard it and i didn't have anyone to tell. An im sorry to say it if it isn't true but it was still on my heart so i wanted to tel someone.... I hope the LORD will bless your heart and fill it with peace so you can have some thing to mend your broken heart. I love my grandmother and if she was still carrying something like this in her heart i would want every piece of info possible.....
By null
Oct 19, 2009 4:48 PM | Link to this
It's really sad but I am sure that there are other terrible/horrible cases that have happen in Waco and the families will never have closure!!! My heart goes out to the families.
By null
Oct 19, 2009 4:47 PM | Link to this
It's really sad but I am sure that there are other terrible/horrible cases that have happen in Waco and the families will never have closure!!!
By null
Oct 19, 2009 11:49 AM | Link to this
My Grandmother lives in this neighborhood and I remember when this happened we were all outside playing and were very concerned when we saw the police cars; then to find out of the tragedy; my heart is with Miss Finche, she is a dear friend of my grandmothers.
By sonja
Oct 18, 2009 8:22 AM | Link to this
my husband was shot outside my appartment 37 years ago the man who shot him only got 7 years in prison my heart goes out to you and anyone eles that has to go thru this pain god bless
By sonja
Oct 18, 2009 8:21 AM | Link to this
my husband was shot outside my appartment 37 years ago the man who shot him only got 7 years in prison my heart goes out to you and anyone eles that has to go thru this pain god bless
By Marcela
Oct 17, 2009 12:46 PM | Link to this
I grew up in south waco and remember this tragedy. I didn't know shiela but have thought of her as the years have gone by. I too hope that this coldhearted selfish animal be caught!!!!
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