REOPENED: Caught By The Past

Summary

Cold Case Files: REOPENED - Caught By The Past

Released July 31, 2025 | Host: Brooke Giddings | Produced by A&E / PodcastOne

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Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "Reopened: Caught By The Past," host Brooke Giddings delves into the harrowing 1986 murder of Clydine Dallas, a dedicated receptionist at WSBTV in Atlanta. This case, which remained unsolved for nearly two decades, underscores the relentless pursuit of justice by law enforcement and the transformative power of forensic advancements.

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The Crime

Victim Background

Clydine Dallas was a 37-year-old receptionist at WSBTV in Atlanta, known for her organization and punctuality. She had spent most of her life in Atlanta, raising her daughter with the support of her family. Unlike many victims whose lives are overshadowed by their deaths, Clydine was remembered fondly by her family, who took the time to celebrate her life.

Disappearance and Murder

On October 3, 1986, Clydine failed to report to work, marking the last time she was seen alive. Concerned by her absence, her daughter, Tasha Dallas, visited her home, only to discover a scene of devastation. "When I walked in, I was like, this is not right. Like, stuff turned over, paper everywhere, things on the floor," Tasha recalls (00:38).

Tragically, Clydine was found dead in her bedroom, "hanging over her bed naked, hands bound behind her back and her own bedsheets cinched around her neck" (03:01). Forensic analysis later confirmed she had been sexually assaulted (03:44).

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Initial Investigation

Discovery and Crime Scene

Detective Gary Lovett was promptly assigned to the case. He emphasized a methodical approach: "You start naturally at the victim's body. That's how you work a homicide. You start at point Z at ground zero and you work out from there" (03:32).

Key evidence included a slightly ajar window, with a stereo and furniture obstructing the entry point, indicating a possible break-in. Multiple unknown fingerprints were recovered from the window (04:22).

Media Coverage

The case garnered immediate media attention, with WSBTV reporter Mark Winnie covering the story. Upon arriving at the crime scene, Winnie was emotionally affected, "stunned to see my own face staring back at me" among the photographs of his colleagues displayed in Clydine's apartment (04:36).

Initial Leads and Challenges

Despite initial efforts, including tracking the stolen 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo—Clydine's missing vehicle—leads quickly went cold. Detective Lovett noted the frustration of not closing the case: "When I cannot walk that last mile to a conclusion for her, it becomes frustrating" (07:37).

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The Case Goes Cold

As months passed without progress, the Dallas family grappled with uncertainty. Tasha Dallas expressed the emotional toll, "Would someone just tell us something? It just got to the point you said, will it ever happen?" (08:16).

The case joined hundreds of others in the Fulton County archives, waiting for new developments or breakthroughs in technology (08:34).

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Reopening the Case

Formation of the Cold Case Squad

In February 2004, recognizing the backlog of unsolved cases, Fulton County established a dedicated Cold Case Squad. Detective Vince Velazquez highlighted the scope: "We identified upwards of 1200 cases... just a few dozen families looking for closure" (09:01).

Focus on DNA Evidence

The squad prioritized cases with potential DNA evidence, particularly those involving sexual assaults. Clydine Dallas's case was selected for its available rape kit, offering new investigative avenues (09:34).

Breakthrough with DNA Technology

On December 1, 2004, Lisa Hobgood processed Clydine's DNA, which was entered into CODIS (Combined DNA Index System). The results were astonishing: "It only takes two or three minutes to get the results back... the frequency of someone having the exact same information at all 13 areas is well over 1 in 10 billion" (10:06).

This led to a match with Richard Hembrick, a convicted offender recently released from prison, whose modus operandi aligned with Clydine’s murder—breaking in through a window (10:29).

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Arrest and Trial

Identifying and Apprehending the Suspect

Richard Hembrick became the prime suspect after his DNA matched the evidence. Detective Velasquez recounted the arrest: "Rich, you know what today is? Today is your past catching up with you" (11:35). Hembrick initially lied about his identity, claiming to be his brother, Leon, but eventually confessed when confronted with undeniable evidence.

Interrogation Tactics

Detectives employed strategic questioning, pressing Hembrick on his relationship with Clydine, whom he falsely identified as the "candy lady." Despite his claims of a consensual relationship, Hembrick failed to provide credible details, weakening his defense (16:01).

Trial and Conviction

Prosecutor Sheila Ross and Detective Lovett presented overwhelming DNA evidence linking Hembrick to the crime. Hembrick maintained his innocence, but the forensic and testimonial evidence was irrefutable. After seven days of trial, the jury found Hembrick guilty of murder (20:43).

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Aftermath

Impact on the Dallas Family

Tasha Dallas expressed a bittersweet sense of closure: "It helps me, but it doesn't bring her back. But it makes it a little easier to get along with your life a little better knowing that someone's called," acknowledging the lingering pain despite the justice served (20:53).

Law Enforcement Reflections

Detective Velasquez highlighted the ongoing challenges: "It's non-stop... we've identified over a thousand cases... we've got a lot of work to do" (21:27). While Hembrick's conviction was a victory, numerous other cold cases awaited resolution.

Legacy of the Case

The episode underscores the importance of perseverance in cold case investigations and the pivotal role of DNA technology in solving decades-old crimes. It serves as a testament to the families seeking answers and the detectives committed to uncovering the truth.

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Conclusion

"Reopened: Caught By The Past" is a poignant exploration of resilience, both from the Dallas family's perspective and the dedicated investigators who refused to let Clydine Dallas's murder remain unsolved. This case exemplifies how advancements in forensic science can bring justice long after a crime has been committed, offering a semblance of closure to those left behind.

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Notable Quotes:

• Tasha Dallas: "At first it didn't seem real. I was just in shock, just couldn't believe what I was seeing." (03:12)
• Detective Gary Lovett: "You start naturally at the victim's body. That's how you work a homicide. You start at point Z at ground zero and you work out from there." (03:32)
• Mark Winnie: "When you see something like that after somebody has died, you're flooded with a lot of emotions." (04:36)
• Detective Gary Lovett: "What y'all want me to say? I want the truth, Richard. I don't want you to tell me anything but the truth." (17:15)
• Tasha Dallas: "It helps me, but it doesn't bring her back. But it makes it a little easier to get along with your life a little better." (20:53)

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This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the "Reopened: Caught By The Past" episode of Cold Case Files, detailing the tragic events, the painstaking investigation, and the eventual triumph of justice.

Transcript

[Brooke Giddings]

This episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual assault. Use your best judgment. In 1986, Clydine Dallas was 37 years old. She lived in Atlanta for most of her life. She had raised her daughter there, and her parents and other members of her extended family were always nearby. When I look for information about a victim, I rarely find an obituary. Instead, it feels like the awful news about their death overshadowed the need to relay the details of their life. Clydine was the exception. Her family took the time to write about her life and to share the connections they had with her. Clydine was a receptionist in the WSBTV newsroom in Atlanta. She was organized and punctual. But on October 3, she was uncharacteristically late for work. Claudine didn't show up at the office that day. Claudine didn't show up at the office ever again because Clydine had been murdered. From A and E, this is Cold Case Files. I'm Brooke, and here's the talented Bill Curtis with a classic case caught in the past.

[Bill Curtis]

Let's shoot for DaVita doing two different.

[Unknown]

Election stories because I think there's plenty out there.

This is the newsroom of WSB TV in Atlanta.

Of all the political stuff today, if you weren't doing this, which is the big one? Is it airs? Is it early voting?

Is it each morning start?

The other thing is, you know, the.

Campaign manager, I don't think we should let him off the hook.

As reporters and producers determine what events to cover in the city of Atlanta.

[Bill Curtis]

We got the Davis trial. Eric Phillips is just going to go straight down there and cover that for today. Of course, the opening statements were at 3 o' clock on Friday.

[Unknown]

So that continues on an October morning. Twenty years ago, however, things were very different when these newsmakers actually became the news. After one of their own was murdered.

[Tasha Dallas]

I got a phone call from one of her co workers. She called me and said, well, Tasha, your mom hasn't made it into work yet.

[Unknown]

On October 3rd, Tasha Dallas takes a phone call from WSB TV. Her mother, Clydine Dallas, is a no show.

[Tasha Dallas]

She had been there for 10 years. She was the head receptionist. She was a very library employee. She never missed a day.

[Unknown]

Suspecting something is wrong, Tasha drives over to her mom's house.

[Tasha Dallas]

When I walked in, I was like, this is not right. Like, stuff turned over, paper everywhere, things on the floor.

[Unknown]

The house has been ransacked.

[Tasha Dallas]

I called for my mother, still didn't get any response. Kept walking through the house, went in her bedroom, and that's why I found out she was on the floor.

[Unknown]

37 year old Clydine Dallas hangs over her bed naked, hands bound behind her back and her own bedsheets cinched around her neck.

[Tasha Dallas]

At first it didn't seem real. I was just in shock, just couldn't believe what I was seeing.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

I was called to this location. A body had been found.

[Unknown]

Atlanta police detective Gary Lovett catches the.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

You start naturally at the victim's body. That's how you work a homicide. You start at point Z at ground zero and you work out from there. Family, friends. First.

[Unknown]

The body is transferred to the morgue where semen is recovered confirming Clydine was sexually assaulted. Meanwhile, Lovett isolates the killer's point of entry.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

There was a stereo, a huge piece of furniture up under the window with visible footprint on top of it. The window was slightly ajar and all that suggested that that's where entry was made. Everything else was locked up.

[Unknown]

Crime scene technicians dust the window and recover several unknown fingerprints.

[Mark Winnie]

Police took fingerprints from a front window. We are told she had lived there about eight years.

[Unknown]

Meanwhile, the local news catches wind of the story and WSB reporter Mark Winnie arrives on scene.

[Mark Winnie]

My overwhelming memory of that day is arriving at the scene and arrayed on her living room wall, kind of the centerpiece of her apartment were these photographs of a handful of the on air people she worked with. But I was startled to see my own face staring back at me. And you know when you see something like that after somebody has died, you're flooded with a lot of emotions. Authorities may know more about her death after an autopsy tomorrow.

[Unknown]

Winnie puts his emotions aside and covers the story. Meanwhile, Detective Lovett determines Clydine's stereo, TVs and car are missing.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

Well, with the car, the first thing I did was put a lookout for that car. I gave him the description of the car, the tag number and that sort of thing. And that was, that was put out.

[Mark Winnie]

Citywide, we're told she may have been robbed in her apartment and her car was missing. It is a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo. Anyone who sees it is asked to call Atlanta Police Homicide. I'm mark Winnie, Channel 2 Action News.

[Unknown]

As the story hits the airwaves, detectives work the streets in search of information and 24 hours later, catch a break.

Homes.com knows that when it comes to home shopping, it's never just about the house or condo. It's about the home. And what makes a home is more than just the house or property. It's the location and neighborhood. If you have kids. It's also schools, nearby, parks and transportation options. That's why homes.com goes above and beyond to bring home shoppers the in depth information they need to find the right home. And when I say in depth, I'm talking deep. Each listing features comprehensive information about the neighborhood, complete with a video guide. They also have details about local schools with test scores, state rankings, and student to teacher ratio. They even have an agent directory with the sales history of each agent. So when it comes to finding a home, not just a house, this is everything you need to know all in1place.homes.com We've done your homework.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

The car was found a few miles from this location where the victim was found on Hollywood Road on the street.

[Unknown]

The car is processed and prints are recovered.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

So that was, that was some glimmer of hope.

[Unknown]

Over the next five weeks, Lovett compares the prints to four different suspects, but each is eliminated.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

We kept eliminating people. In fact, over, over a period of months, we continued to locate people, but they were all eliminated.

[Unknown]

After two months, Lovett is out of Leeds.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

When you walk on a crime scene and you see a victim laying there, in this case, Mrs. Dallas, she's been brutally murdered. At this point, she can no longer speak for herself. Now it becomes my job to walk for her, to talk for her, to speak for her. So when I cannot walk that last mile to a conclusion for her, it becomes frustrating.

[Unknown]

As Clydine Dulles case grows cold, a family is left without answers.

It was very hard from day to day. Would they ever find out who murdered my sister? You know, would somebody just tell us something? It just got to the point you said, will it ever happen?

This is the Atlanta police property section. We're on the seventh floor, which is the archived evidence and all of our part one crimes. Rape, robbery, murder.

Vince Velazquez is a cold case detective for Fulton County.

1989, 1988.

In February of 2004, a squad is formed to tackle the oldest and toughest cases on the books. Cold cases.

Well, we identified upwards of 1200 cases. You know, if you look at this shelf, these are just, you know, these are just tens and twenties of boxes just on this bin. But these are 10 or 20 families that are looking for closure. And you know, if we can help a family and take this box and put it on another shelf, that would be wonderful.

The squad goes through the files and handpicks 59 cases with the best potential for DNA.

We focused early on, on just female murders dealing with some type of sexual component where there may be Some DNA.

Detectives pull the file for the 1986 murder of Clydine Dallas and find a rape kit.

[Bill Curtis]

And the first one that I reviewed was Clyde and Dallas's case.

[Unknown]

On December 1, 2004, Lisa Hobgood takes the DNA profile and uploads it into codis.

[Bill Curtis]

I put it into the database. It only takes two or three minutes to get the results back. And when I look back, I saw the information that I put in from her profile and then a convicted offender profile beside it. So I was pretty shocked.

[Unknown]

The search results in a hint to a man named Richard Hembrick.

[Bill Curtis]

It's pretty good. Match the frequency of someone having the exact same information at all 13 areas is well over 1 in 10 billion.

[Unknown]

You know, it's like, you know, you're fishing and you're waiting for a bite. And that was it. That was our bite. You know, we got. And, you know, we kind of all got into gear and said, okay, let's get this. So we actually had a live person to look at now. And he gave us the name of Richard Hambrick.

The squad has a name now. They need to build their case.

He had recently been released from prison after serving 12 years for armed robbery and burglary. His MO's normally coming through a window is exactly what happened in this case. Looking at that as an investigator, you start seeing patterns, and you start seeing, you know, the motive being burglary, robbery, theft. You know, it really started fitting into play with this.

Cold case detectives track Hambrick's movements and find some suspicious connections.

After the murder occurred, a car was taken and her vehicle was found on a street directly across from where he actually lived at that time of the murder. Also looking at his family, we found a brother that lived across the street from where the victim lived. That would give him opportunity to surveil the victim. My gut instinct told me, this guy's good for the murder. No doubt in my mind.

18 years after Clydine Dallas was murdered, Detective Velasquez is about to come face to face with her killer.

Rich, you know what today is? Today is your past catching up with you. This is actually Hernan Holmes. 502 Kennedy street and apartment 103 is where Hambrick lived at the time that.

We arrested him on December 6, 2004. Cold case detectives head to the northwest side of Atlanta for a word with Richard Hambrick, the man suspected in the 1986 rape and murder of Clydine Dallas.

On that day, we, myself and investigator McBee came over here, and he was actually standing in the Doorway. As we approached, I could see his face through the screen. His eyes just became huge. His eyes became just very transfixed on, are they coming to see me? And honestly, it was as if Clydine Dallas herself was walking up to his door from his past to say, here I am. You know, you didn't get away with this.

Velasquez introduces himself as a homicide detective. In return, the man says he is Leon, Richard's brother.

I played along with him, and he invited us in his home. He then gets on the phone and calls his mother and continues with the charade and says, mom, you know, the police are here looking for Richard. Do you know where he's at? So I looked at McBee like, okay, this is okay. Let's just continue to play along with his game for a minute. And I said, well, before I leave, one thing. I need to see your id. And at that point, he just, you know, froze for a second, said, well, you know, I gotta be honest with you. I lied to you. You know, I am Richard, you know. And I said, of course, you know, we know that.

Richard Velasquez cuts to the chase.

The first question I asked him, does he know who Clydine Dallas is? His answer was immediately, no, I don't. At that point, I had a photograph of Clydine with me. I showed him the photograph, and I asked him, do you know who this person is? And he looked at the photograph and he said, no.

Hambrick denies any involvement, but his DNA proves otherwise.

Said, richard Hambrick, you're under arrest for murder. And no shock. No, I mean, just put his head down, like, here it is. And that's when he was handcuffed.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

I'm Detective Jim Rose.

[Unknown]

This is Detective Velasquez.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

Today is the December 6, 2004.

[Unknown]

Less than an hour after his arrest, Richard Hembrick sits down with Cold Case detectives.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

Did you know a woman by the name of Clydine Dallas? Have you ever in your entire life been in those apartments at 336 Holly Street? You understand that?

[Unknown]

For 45 minutes, Hambrick continues the denials until detectives turn up the heat.

Rich, you know what today is? Today is your past catching up with you.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

Past catching up. I'm thinking about all I'm going.

[Unknown]

If you look at his nonverbal language, his hands are in his lap. He's constantly looking down, you know, and, you know, that's just not indicative of someone who's trying to profess their innocence. You mentioned something earlier. You watch Cold Case Files, right? Well, we work Cold Case Files. That's what we do.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

I seen it on your card.

[Unknown]

Right. Do you understand what DNA is? I mean, do you.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

How would you explain. Explain to me how that DNA got there. How could you explain that to me?

[Unknown]

Doesn't lie, Richard. You gotta go in there with a strategy. And the strategy is to let them lie to you. Look at that photo, Richard. You ever had sex with her? I mean, you know the facts, and you can prove the facts. All right? And you use those lies against him later. And that's exactly what we did. Just living, I don't know. Just living. Yeah, we didn't remember this.

Hebrick says he recognizes Clydine Dallas as the candy Lady.

She was a candy lady. She would sell candy out of her house is what she said.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

Richard, did you ever have sex with the candy lady?

[Unknown]

Yeah, he said, okay, well, tell me your story, and you just let him do it, you know? And if they want to dig a hole, you just hand them a bigger shovel. That's my theory.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

The last time you saw the candy lady, did you have sex with her? The last time I saw her.

[Unknown]

Hambrick says he dated the candy lady for several weeks. It's a claim detectives don't buy.

What do you know about her family? We know about her friends or occupation or what does she like to do. What were her likes or dislikes? Tell me about her. I want you to tell me about her. But what he couldn't get past is the fact that he knew absolutely nothing about this woman. Nothing, but wanted us to believe that he was in a relationship with her. And that would explain why his DNA is there.

[Detective Gary Lovett]

What do y' all want me to say?

[Unknown]

I want the truth, Richard. I don't want you to tell me anything but the truth. Only you know the truth.

After three hours, the interview is over.

We have breaking news about a major development in a murder case that is more than 20 years old.

[Mark Winnie]

Just maybe an hour ago, maybe less. Suspect left in a very unusual manner. We're told he was on a gurney leaving Atlanta Police Homicide because he complained of chest pains.

[Unknown]

Emrick is charged with the murder of Clydine Dallas and sent to a jail cell to await his trial.

From the waters of Lake Erie.

It was raising flags. And he said, there's no way that that fish should weigh 7.9 pounds. It's just not big enough.

To a nondescript office building in Richmond, Virginia, home to a $700 million fund for children with special needs.

If there was a cliche list of how to blow money that you just stole very quickly this guy did all of them.

To the ski slopes of Salt Lake City, where a former Olympic snowboarder landed on the FBI's most wanted list.

Ryan James wedding is one of those interesting narcos who have had two very successful careers, one legal and one illegal.

We're pulling back the curtain on a fresh lineup of opportunists who stopped at nothing to get ahead. These are the stories of people who saw a loophole, a moment of weakness, a chance to get ahead and took it. I'm host Sarah James McLachlan. Join me for a new season of the opportunist on May 19th. Follow now wherever you get your podcasts.

[Bill Curtis]

This guy had gotten away with murder for 19 years. We gave opening statements 19 years to the day of Clydine's murder.

[Unknown]

Sheila Ross prosecutes the case for Fulton County.

[Bill Curtis]

There are no questions anymore. The mystery has been solved. And the evidence overwhelmingly shows that this defendant right here, Richard Hambrick, is responsible for raping, verbalizing and murdering Clyde's Dallas on October 3rd of 1986.

[Unknown]

Central to Russ's case, the DNA evidence.

[Bill Curtis]

The answer for 18 years that everybody was looking for, was contained in this little packet and was contained on the.

[Brooke Giddings]

Tip of a Q tip.

[Bill Curtis]

The DNA was overwhelming. If you add to that the medical examiner, Dr. Randy Hanslick's findings that the sex and the death were what they call perimortem, which is almost contiguous or near at the time of her death, and that's really difficult for them to overcome.

[Unknown]

Hembrich sticks to his defense that he had a consensual relationship with Clydine Dallas.

[Bill Curtis]

And you can't say, based on the way she was found, that you had consensual sex with her. Nothing about being bound and gagged after you have entered in through the window speaks of consensual sexual intercourse.

[Unknown]

After seven days of trial, the jury comes back with the verdict.

[Bill Curtis]

It was always a scary moment. It was tense, it was quiet. You could have heard a mouse scurry along the floor.

[Unknown]

We the jury find the defendant guilty on count one of the offense of murder.

[Tasha Dallas]

It helps me, but it doesn't bring her back. But it makes it a little easier to get along with your life a little better knowing that someone's called. But he gets to live every day, he gets to eat every day, and my mother don't.

[Unknown]

Richard Hembrick is sentenced to life in prison for the cold case squad. It's one case down, hundreds more to go.

You know, it's non stop. You know, we just hit the rewind button and just started over again. You know, we've identified over a thousand cases going back to I believe pre1970. So you know, we've got a lot of work to do.

But for one family, justice is finally served.

Came to put some new flowers, but we brought somebody. Yeah, we love you. Always thinking of you. I have to say something. You know we are here. We love you and we never. We always miss you and we never forget you.

[Tasha Dallas]

Dear Heavenly Father, we're once here again visiting our sister on a good sunshine, shiny day. It's all for a good cause.

[Unknown]

She'll never leave us, you know. She's always in our hearts.

[Brooke Giddings]

On October 7, 2010, the Atlanta Journal Constitution published two sentences in the death and funeral section of their newspaper. Richard Hambrick Jr. 55 died September 29th. Funeral noon Friday, Woods Memorial Baptist Church Cold Case Files the podcast is hosted by Brooke giddings, produced by McKamey, Lynn and Steve Delamater. Our associate producer is Julie McGruder. Our executive producer is Ted Butler. Our music was created by Blake Maples. This podcast is distributed by Podcast one. The Cold Case Files TV series was produced by Curtis Productions and is hosted by Bill Curtis. You can find me rookginnings on Twitter and Brooke the Podcaster on Instagram. I'm also active in the Facebook group Podcast for Justice. Check out more Cold case [e-mail] or learn more about cases like this one by visiting the A E Real crime [e-mail] RealCrime.

[Unknown]

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