Podcast Summary: "Fort Worth Missing Trio" (Episode 459 of Going West: True Crime)

Host Details:

• Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman (referred to as Daphne and Teeth in the transcript)
• Podcast Title: Going West: True Crime
• Episode Title: Fort Worth Missing Trio
• Release Date: December 6, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 459 of Going West: True Crime, hosts Daphne and Teeth delve into the mysterious disappearance of three young girls from Fort Worth, Texas, in December 1974. This case, while somewhat known, remains shrouded in unanswered questions and unresolved mysteries despite decades of investigation.

The Disappearance: December 23, 1974

Key Individuals:

• Rachel Arnold: 17 years old, newly married to Tommy Treliz.
• Renee Wilson: 14 years old, girlfriend of Terry Mosley.
• Julie Ann Moseley: 9 years old, sister of Terry Mosley.

On the morning of December 23, 1974, Rachel, Renee, and Julie headed to the Seminary South Shopping Center in Fort Worth for last-minute Christmas shopping. Rachel, excited about spending Christmas with her stepson, hoped to make it special despite being newly married at 17—a legally permissible age in Texas with parental consent at the time.

Quote Highlight:

"Renee was excited for that holiday party that night that she had been planning on attending with her boyfriend." [00:43]

Despite planning to return by 4 PM, the trio failed to return home by 5:30 PM, prompting their families to initiate a search. Rachel's car was found abandoned in the Sears upper parking lot, locked with a purchase still inside, but no trace of the girls was found.

Distinctive Details:

• Renee's Attire: Witnesses reported seeing Renee wear a sweatshirt with "Sweet Honesty" printed on it. However, there's inconsistency regarding its color—some recall a white crewneck with green letters, while others mention a pale yellow T-shirt.

The Mysterious Letter

The day after the disappearance, Rachel's husband, Tommy Treliz, received a letter purportedly from Rachel:

"I know I'm going to catch it, but we just had to get away. We're going to Houston. See you in about a week. The car is in the Sears upper lot. Love, Rachel." [16:04]

Analyzing the Letter:

• Authenticity Doubts: The letter was addressed formally, using "Thomas A. Trelitsa" instead of the familiar "Tommy," raising suspicions.
• Anomalies:
  • Handwriting Concerns: While some believe it matches Rachel's handwriting, others, including a source, suggest it resembles Tommy's.
  • Postal Details: The stamp showed a blurry zip code, possibly miswritten or indicating locations inconsistent with Houston's direction.

Hosts' Insights:

"Nobody believes that... Why wouldn't they take the car? Why would you abandon the car?" [17:14]

The letter's inconsistencies led investigators and families alike to doubt its authenticity, leaning towards the belief that the girls were abducted against their will.

Initial Investigation and Witness Accounts

Police conducted extensive searches, interviewing thousands of leads and hundreds of people, but the case remained unsolved. Notable witness accounts include:

1. Eyewitness Statement:

   • An older woman claimed to see a man pushing a young girl into a yellow truck with two other girls. However, this witness was never located for a detailed interview.

   "Police were never able to locate this woman to ask for her firsthand account." [22:43]

2. Late Tip:

   • Six weeks post-disappearance, a call was received claiming to be from Julie. The authenticity was never confirmed.

Despite widespread efforts, no substantial evidence surfaced to explain the disappearance, fueling fears of a serial abductor.

Private Investigations and Theories

John Swaim:

• Hired by the families two years after the disappearance.
• Controversial figure, known for aggressive tactics and conflicts with law enforcement.
• Claimed to receive tips, including one linking the girls to a suspect in Port Lavaca, Texas.
• Died by suicide in 1979, destroying all his investigative records, thereby eliminating potential leads.

Edward Harold Bell:

• A serial killer connected to the Texas Killing Fields.
• Confessed and later recanted involvement in the murders of two girls, though these were unrelated to the Fort Worth trio.

Quote Highlight:

"If those girls were going to run off, I believe they wouldn't take that little nine-year-old girl with them." – Mrs. Kennedy, a family friend. [23:07]

Reopened Investigation and Ongoing Efforts

In 2001, the Fort Worth Police Department officially reopened the case, shifting focus towards the possibility that the girls were taken by someone they knew and trusted. Five persons of interest were identified, though none have been publicly named.

Rusty Arnold's Campaign:

• Rachel's younger brother, Rusty Arnold, spearheaded ongoing search efforts alongside private investigator Dan James.
• Grassroots Initiative: Funded dives in Benbrook Lake after tips suggested a car related to the abduction was submerged.
• Discovery: In 2018, multiple cars were retrieved, one potentially linked to a person of interest. However, no conclusive evidence was found within these vehicles.

Quote Highlight:

"When my sister and I decided to launch our coffee company last year, Elders Coffee... [transition to advertisements]" [26:26] (Note: This segment includes advertisements that are excluded from the summary.)

Current Status and Family Perspectives

As of 2024, the case remains unresolved:

• Family Sentiments:

  • Rachel's Father, Raymond: Died six months after the disappearance battling cancer.
  • Rachel's Mother, Frances: Remained hopeful despite not believing her daughter is alive.

  "I don't believe my daughter is alive, but one day someone is going to find her." – Frances Arnold. [50:24]

• Public Appeals:

  • Rusty Arnold continues to advocate for information, urging anyone with knowledge to contact law enforcement.
  • Families hold memorials and maintain hope for eventual resolution.

"What worries me is the amount of time that's passed... investigations back in that day were so different." – Daphne. [52:18]

Conclusion

The disappearance of Rachel Arnold, Renee Wilson, and Julie Ann Moseley remains one of Fort Worth's most haunting unsolved cases. Despite extensive investigations, private efforts, and decades of searching, the truth behind their vanishing continues to evade closure. Hosts Daphne and Teeth emphasize the enduring pain of the families and the community's hope for answers, highlighting the challenges posed by the era's investigative limitations and the complex web of theories surrounding the case.

Final Quote:

"Hopefully one day these three girls will be found. It's just terribly tragic that things like this happened." – Teeth. [51:58]

Notable Quotes and Timestamps:

• "Renee was excited for that holiday party that night that she had been planning on attending with her boyfriend." – Daphne [00:43]
• "Nobody believes that... Why wouldn't they take the car? Why would you abandon the car?" – Daphne [17:14]
• "If those girls were going to run off, I believe they wouldn't take that little nine-year-old girl with them." – Mrs. Kennedy [23:07]
• "I don't believe my daughter is alive, but one day someone is going to find her." – Frances Arnold [50:24]
• "Hopefully one day these three girls will be found. It's just terribly tragic that things like this happened." – Teeth [51:58]

Final Thoughts

The Fort Worth Missing Trio case underscores the profound impact of unsolved mysteries on communities and families alike. As technology advances and new investigative techniques emerge, there remains a persistent hope that one day, the truth will surface, bringing peace to those left in the shadows of this enduring enigma.

For more detailed discussions and updates on this case, listeners are encouraged to follow the Going West: True Crime podcast and engage with their social media platforms.