Kathleen Patricia Gouldin was 23 when she was found dead in her Elkridge, Maryland apartment on the morning of July 4, 1989. She had spent the previous evening with family; her sister discovered her in the bedroom the next day. Investigators determined Gouldin had been shot once in the chest by a shotgun fired through her window and sexually assaulted as she lay dying.

Police focused on Vernon Lee Clark, a man with a history of drug use, after a pizza box found near the scene was traced to him. He was arrested January 26, 1990, and semen collected from the victim produced a DNA match to Clark. In April 1991 Clark was convicted of first-degree murder, rape, and multiple sexual assault charges and sentenced to life plus 28 years for Gouldin’s slaying.

Clark was already serving prison time for earlier killings. If anyone knew Kathleen or has information about her last night at home, please share what you remember.