DNA Cracks Cold Case Killing Near Coachella Valley: Prosecutors

Palm Desert CA

10 June, 2022

7:09 PM

Description

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — The cold case killing of a woman whose body was found off Interstate 10 in the Riverside County desert nearly 30 years ago has been solved through DNA evidence, according to prosecutors. On Friday, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office filed a murder charge and a special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission of rape against 67-year-old Douglas Thomas, a retired truck driver from Waco, Texas. Thomas is accused of killing Sherri Herrera, 30, a mother of four from Tulare, Calif., according to the D.A.'s office. On March 30, 1993, her body was found on the eastbound Hayfield Road onramp to I-10 in Desert Center, about 70 miles east of Palm Desert. She was last seen alive just a few days before, the D.A.'s office reported. Her killer was never found, but prosecutors said Friday that DNA evidence has now linked Thomas to the crime, as well as another cold case killing in Texas. In late May, Texas Rangers arrested Thomas in connection with the April 1992 killing of Shenda Denise Hayes. DNA evidence from that crime scene linked him to her death, as well as Herrera's killing, according to Riverside County prosecutors. Hayes' body was found near a rest area along Interstate 30 near Mount Pleasant in Titus County. She had been strangled "with a device made of wire and cord in a manner to control the victim," according to court and arrest records obtained by 10 KWTX. "She was found partially clothed with evidence of sexual assault." Thomas traveled extensively throughout the United States during his 40-plus years as a truck driver, according to authorities. It's not clear how he came to know Herrara or Hayes. Thomas remains in custody in Texas and will be prosecuted there first in connection with the Hayes killing. After proceedings end, Riverside County prosecutors will request Thomas be extradited to California for charges he faces in the Herrera killing. The Riverside County D.A.'s Office is asking anyone who may have information about Herrera or Thomas, or who may have seen anything suspicious around I-10 and Hayfield Road on or around March 30, 1993, to contact the Riverside County Regional Cold Case Homicide Team at 951-955-2777.