For nearly 40 years, Donna Sanchez has searched for answers about what happened to her mother, Carolyn Sosa.
After Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose reached out during an ongoing investigation into former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen’s prison diaries and Roy Alan Stuart’s alleged prison confessions, Donna shared family memories, court records and historical documents she hopes could help bring renewed attention to her mother’s unsolved murder.
“I was seven years old when my mother died,” Donna said. “She was strangled and thrown into Bastrop Bayou.”
Carolyn Sosa Case
After speaking with Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose, Donna Sanchez shared family memories, court records, historical documents, newspaper articles, and text messages related to the Carolyn Sosa investigation.
Donna believes Roy Alan Stuart murdered her mother, Carolyn Sosa, and hopes the records contribute to another review of the case.
Some of the historical records overlap with information gathered during this investigation, including details Kent McGowen says Roy Alan Stuart shared while the two were incarcerated together. Readers can review the original source documents below and draw their own conclusions.
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Who Was Carolyn Sosa?
Carolyn Sosa was 33 years old when she disappeared in March 1987. Investigators believe she was last seen leaving Houston’s LaMonte Hotel.
Her body was later found in shallow water near Bastrop Bayou off FM 2004.
Investigators also believed Carolyn had information about the earlier killing of Terri Denise McDaniels.
Historical investigative records state investigators found Carolyn Sosa’s fingerprints and hair inside Roy Alan Stuart’s vehicle.
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Historical Court Records
The gallery below contains historical court records, newspaper articles, and investigative documents related to the Carolyn Sosa homicide investigation and Roy Alan Stuart. Readers can review the original source material and examine the records in their historical context.
Donna Sanchez shared court records showing Roy Alan Stuart was arrested in Carolyn Sosa’s murder. The murder charge was later dismissed.
Donna said investigators told her family they collected fingerprints, hair evidence, blood evidence, and skin reportedly found beneath Carolyn Sosa’s fingernails.
“My mom was small, but she was a fighter,” Donna told Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose.
Donna hopes someone will finally answer what happened to her mother.
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Matt Wingo’s Text Messages About Carolyn Sosa
Former Brazoria County investigator Matt Wingo exchanged text messages with Kent McGowen in July 2023.
One message states Carolyn Sosa fought Roy Alan Stuart during the attack.
Wingo wrote investigators built a homicide case using fingerprints, hair, and blood evidence.
He also wrote the murder case was dismissed after an HPD officer allegedly assaulted Stuart during his arrest.
Another message states Wingo believed Roy Alan Stuart could be connected to at least 14 killings.
Wingo also wrote then-Brazoria County District Attorney Tom Selleck wanted investigators to review Kent McGowen’s records.
These statements reflect Wingo’s account. Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose has not independently verified every statement beyond available court records.
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Kent McGowen Says Roy Alan Stuart Confessed
Former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen met Roy Alan Stuart while both were incarcerated at the Duncan Unit.
McGowen said Stuart openly discussed kidnapping and murdering women.
He said Stuart described picking up a Black woman near Telephone Road during rodeo season.
McGowen said Stuart claimed he tried to strangle her with a seat belt before shooting her twice with a .22-caliber pistol.
McGowen also said Stuart claimed a fisherman witnessed the killing from a nearby boat.
After reviewing historical records, McGowen believed Stuart was describing Carolyn Sosa’s murder.
Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose has not independently verified McGowen’s account.
Roy Alan Stuart Died Before the Investigation Was Complete
McGowen said he documented Stuart’s statements while they were incarcerated together and later prepared formal reports detailing the alleged confessions.
According to McGowen, he submitted those reports in 2019 to multiple agencies, including the Brazoria County District Attorney’s Office, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office, Galveston County District Attorney’s Office, Harris County Sheriff’s Office, Houston Police Department and the FBI.
Roy Alan Stuart died on May 10, 2019, while serving a life sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
His death came shortly after McGowen said he had notified multiple law enforcement agencies about Stuart’s alleged confessions.
Can the Carolyn Sosa Case Be Reopened?
Yes.
Under Texas law, there is no statute of limitations for murder.
Although Roy Alan Stuart is deceased and can no longer be prosecuted, investigators may reopen a homicide investigation if new evidence, witnesses, historical documents or advances in forensic science justify another review.
A reopened investigation could include re-examining physical evidence using modern DNA testing, interviewing surviving witnesses, reviewing investigative files, or comparing historical evidence with newly discovered information.
If investigators conclude the evidence supports it, they can publicly identify a deceased suspect as responsible for a homicide even though criminal prosecution is no longer possible.
What’s Next in the Carolyn Sosa Case?
Nearly 40 years after Carolyn Sosa’s murder, her family continues searching for answers.
Whether the Carolyn Sosa investigation is officially reopened will ultimately be decided by law enforcement.
However, newly shared family records, historical court documents, Matt Wingo’s text messages, Kent McGowen’s prison interview and previously submitted investigative reports have renewed attention on one of the Gulf Coast’s long-unsolved homicide investigations.
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Editor’s Note: This article includes newly obtained court records, historical investigative documents, text messages, and interviews gathered during an ongoing investigation by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose. Statements attributed to former Harris County deputy Kent McGowen are based on his interview and prison diaries describing alleged confessions made by Roy Alan Stuart while the two were incarcerated together. Statements attributed to former investigator Matt Wingo are based on text messages reviewed by Investigative Reporter Tammy Rose. Court records confirm Roy Alan Stuart was arrested in Carolyn Sosa’s homicide before the charge was dismissed. Some claims discussed in this article remain unverified or disputed. The purpose of this report is to present the available records, document new information provided by Carolyn Sosa’s family, and examine whether the case merits renewed investigative review.
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