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Teresa Wren Gilcrease (2002)

teresa gilcrease cold case homicideOn 06/10/02 the body of Teresa Marie Wren Gilcrease, 44, was found at 132 Jenkins Rd (Sand & Gravel) in Alexandria, Louisiana.

A 1979 graduate of Alexandria Sr High School, she received a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern State University, and a Masters Degree in Social Work from Louisiana State University.

She is survived by husband Shannon Gilcrease, daughter Trisha Foulk, parents Elvin & Carol Wren, and siblings Scott Wren, Dianne Ritchie and Ginger Jones.1

Teresa, a native of Boyce, lived in Oregon with her husband for about a year before returning to Cenla for her daughter’s high school graduation in May. She flew into Dallas, Texas, and drove a rental car to her parents’ home in Boyce where she spent most of her time.2

Crime Scene

unknown subjectTeresa was last seen leaving The Stick, a pool hall on McArthur Dr., between 1:30-1:45 am on 06/10/02 with an unknown white male (sketch). A witness reported the couple left in the suspect’s vehicle, and her rental car was later found in The Stick’s parking lot.2

A farm laborer discovered Teresa’s body 06/10/02 at 6:45 am, on a remote road near Louisiana State University at Alexandria. Autopsy revealed she was stabbed at least five times and ran over by a vehicle. The cause of death was a combination of her wounds. Unfortunately, the suspect left no DNA on the scene.3

Questioned & Released

Detectives eliminated more than 50 suspects within the first year of the crime, including Jason Alston, 32, a former Louisiana State Police Trooper, who a tipster identified as being connected to the murder.  He was placed on administrative leave 03/27/03 pending the outcome of RPSO‘s investigation. There was no DNA found at the scene for comparison to Alston’s.4

According to Mike Small, Alston’s attorney, he voluntarily submitted to and passed a polygraph exam regarding Teresa’s murder. The release further stated that two independent examiners determined Alton was “truthful when he denied any knowledge of or involvement in the Gilcrease murder.”5

Family Comments

On 06/10/03 Teresa’s family and friends placed an engraved stone plaque on the site where she was found exactly a year before. There to support the family was Jerry Miller, whose daughter Rebecca Miller was murdered 12/02/02.6

In 2015 her father Elvin said he “harbors a lot of anger” about the lack of communication from detectives handling the case, and that the last contact was about two years prior. Her sister Ginger believes a suspect interviewed in 2003 is responsible, “…and described a strained relationship between her family and some investigators.”7

Ginger later shared her anguish and frustration on a 10/24/19 Facebook post:

teresa gilcrease“Teresa was stabbed to death and ran over, not just once, but the killer ran her over again. With as many times as she was stabbed, I believe there should have been DNA, in which the sheriff’s office said there was none.

The main suspect, a state trooper out of Baton Rouge is Sheriff William Earl Hilton’s nephew, Jason Alston. Jason was seen that weekend at a few of the bars that Teresa was at, and they were both seen at the Stick that Sunday Night. Teresa was seen leaving with a man at closing time.

America’s Most Wanted even contacted the sheriffs office and myself, after two contacts with them I was told that the sheriffs office would not let them in on the case. I was told on good authority that any DA’s office in the nation would have prosecuted this case.

I just miss my SIS.”8

Have Information?

Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office is working to solve the Teresa Marie Wren Gilcrease case and bring her killer(s) to justice. If you have information about this crime, call (318) 473-6727.

Please submit corrections/updates here.

Submit corrections/updates here.

Sources:
  1. Alexandria Town Talk: Obituaries, page A4, published 06/13/02. [↩]
  2. Alexandria Town Talk: Slaying suspect still at large, page A3, published 06/25/02. [↩][↩]
  3. Alexandria Town Talk: Busy, page A4, published 12/28/02. [↩]
  4. The Daily Review-Morgan City: DNA test rules out Trooper as serial killer suspect, page 4, published 04/14/03. [↩]
  5. Alexandria Town Talk: Trooper passes polygraph test in slaying case, page A3, published 04/25/03. [↩]
  6. Alexandria Town Talk: Tribute to Teresa Gilcrease-Family places marker on road, page A8, published 06/11/03. [↩]
  7. Alexandria Town Talk: Family of slain woman still waits for answers 13 years later, online edition, published 06/03/15. [↩]
  8. Ginger Jones: 10/24/19 Facebook Post, accessed 07/06/20. [↩]

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