“Baby Holly” was found in Texas 41 years after her parents were murdered

An Oklahoma woman has been identified as a child who made headlines four decades ago when she disappeared without a trace during the horrific 1981 murder of her parents in Texas, the Lone Star state attorney general’s office said Thursday.

The child, known as “Baby Holly,” is now a 42-year-old woman who was able to reconnect with her biological family thanks to DNA tracking that established the link, Texas Attorney General Ken’s office said Paxton in a press release.

“Finding Holly is a godsend for her birthday because we found her on[Dad’s]birthday,” said Holly’s biological grandmother, Donna Casasanta. “I’ve prayed for answers for more than 40 years and the Lord has revealed some of it…we have found Holly.”

Authorities had been searching for baby Holly since her parents went missing in 1980. Two bodies believed to be her parents were found in a wooded area in Houston, but the bodies could not be identified at this time.

Tina Gail Linn Clouse and Harold Dean Clouse Jr. had relocated to Texas from Florida with their young daughter Holly shortly before their disappearance. When the two bodies were found, the baby was gone.

Decades passed before, in 2021, Identifinders International was able to use genetic genealogy to positively identify the bodies found as the Clouses. According to the Houston Chronicle, Dean was beaten to death and Tina was strangled.

The couple’s families were notified of the positive ID last year and began searching for Holly.

Investigators visited Holly’s Oklahoma workplace Tuesday and broke the news to her, reports the Houston Chronicle.

Holly grew up in a family that adopted her and has already met her biological relatives. It was not clear who took Holly after the murders and how she ended up in the care of the adoptive family. Holly’s current identity has also not been disclosed.

“It was so exciting to see Holly. I was so happy to meet her for the first time. It’s such a blessing to have peace of mind that she’s fine and has had a good life. The whole family slept well last night,” said Cheryl Clouse, Holly’s aunt.

The investigation into the murders of Holly’s birth parents is ongoing, and the Texas Attorney General is asking anyone with information to contact the Unsolved Cases and Missing Persons Division at coldcaseunit@oag.texas.gov.

The Texas Attorney General’s office will hold a press briefing on the case Thursday at 2:30 pm CT.