Podcast Summary: Somebody Knows Something – S2E7: The Final Murder of the Decade (1979) – Part 1

Date: October 24, 2025
Hosts: Detective Andrew Houghton & Detective Chris Hall, Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit
Theme: Exploring the unsolved murder of Renee Cruz Tovar, Elgin’s final homicide of the 1970s, through the voices of her friends, family, and Cold Case detectives.

Episode Overview

In this penultimate episode of season two, Detectives Houghton and Hall delve into the 1979 murder of 24-year-old Renee Cruz Tovar, remembered as a vibrant young woman with deep family roots in Elgin’s Hispanic community. The episode is defined by intimate recollections from her roommate, Cathy, and lifelong friend, Laura, whose testimonies offer both warmth and heartbreak. The detectives also contextualize Renee’s case within the broader tapestry of Elgin’s cold cases, encouraging public engagement and information-sharing.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Renee Tovar and Her Case

• [02:41] Detective Chris Hall introduces the case: “For our final case of the season, we're going to discuss the murder of 24 year old Rene Cruz Tovar in two parts... we hope that hearing directly from people who knew Renee can help us appeal to the public for new information in her case, and we hope that it helps honor her memory.”
• [03:08] Renee celebrated Thanksgiving 1979 with family before spending the night home alone. Her roommate Kathy returned the next morning to find Renee murdered. This was Elgin’s final unsolved homicide of the 1970s.

2. Renee’s Early Life and Family Background

• [03:52] Details on Renee’s family: youngest daughter, “Cookie,” raised on Gifford Street in a religious, close-knit household with four brothers.
• [04:30] “Renee also came from a religious family. The Tovars were members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church here in Elgin... she made many friends.”

3. Personality and Hobbies

• [05:26] Family memories highlight Renee’s joyful, warm personality: “She was smart, she was beautiful. She seemed to have everything going for her...”
• [05:56] Heartbreaking recollection of a family member: Buying a gold bracelet for Renee the very day she was found murdered.

4. Life on Her Own: Roommate and Independence

• [06:37] Renee leaves her family home to move in with Kathy at 144 S. Liberty St. Listeners learn the poignant detail that Renee’s beloved dog, Frasier, had to stay behind—a lasting “what if” for her family.

Exploring the Power of ‘What If’

• [07:24] Detective Hall and Houghton reflect on the persistent, haunting “what if” questions that families of victims carry.

5. Roommate Cathy’s Testimony – Life with Renee

• [08:05] Kathy, Renee’s roommate, speaks publicly for the first time in 45 years:
  • [08:40] “She was a beautiful girl. She was absolutely beautiful... She just had a look that everybody, when they saw her, they stopped and looked at her.”
  • Describes Renee as independent, responsible, and well-liked.
• [10:00] Discussion of candid photos showing Renee’s love for her many cats, friends, and crafts. “These photos are likely the last images of Renee Tovar when she was alive.” – Detective Hall.

6. Social Life, Friendships, and Character

• [12:27] Both hosts and Kathy recall Renee’s loyalty to her friend group and their favorite hangouts:
  • Frequented bars on Kimball St., loved dancing and spending time with friends.
  • [13:21] “Guys always try to talk to her.”
  • [13:24] “Typically, she'd be cordial to him, but she wouldn't, you know, give him much to go with.” – Kathy

7. The Impact of Renee’s Death on Her Friends

• [14:33] Kathy describes lifelong trauma:
  • [14:33] “It affected my life. My life has never been quite normal since. I've never been able to go anywhere on my own... I've gone all my life being terrified of people...”
  • [16:39] Heart-rending plea: “Please, please tell somebody. Call the police and tell them everything. You know, this has been a horrible thing... She was a good person and she didn't deserve it.”

8. Laura’s Perspective – A Best Friend’s Grief

• [17:44] Laura, childhood and high school friend, shares vivid memories:
  • [17:44] “She had the most beautiful long black hair... She was just beautiful. Really nice figure... She laughed loud and we passed notes all the time in the hallway...”
• [19:19] The strength of Renee’s friendship:
  • [19:19] “I will always say she saved me, because she was that bright light, and it gave me hope that she was always going to be there. We were always going to be friends.”
• [20:31] The moment Laura learned of Renee’s murder:
  • [20:40] “Tell me. Tell me what's happened. And then they told me, and it was horrible.”
• [21:14] On attending the funeral:
  • “It was terrible... It was the most tragic, tragic thing ever in my life. I stopped reading Mystery. I stopped doing a lot of things... Every man I saw with a scratch on his face killed her. It was horrible.”

9. Funeral and Community Response

• [22:27] Detectives recall the massive community turnout, noting “dozens upon dozens of pages filled with names” in Renee’s funeral ledger.
• [23:01] The episode shares a prayer from Renee’s funeral card:
  • “When you're alone with Jesus and he sweetly smiles on thee, will you gently whisper to him a little prayer for me?... May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Rene Cruz Tovar, born September 16, 1955, at rest November 24, 1979.”

10. Looking Forward: Part Two & Call for Tips

• [24:33] The hosts preview next episode, promising newly released evidence and possible connections to a series of homicides in the 1980s Chicago area.
• [25:04] Andrew Houghton issues a final plea for information to the public.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [08:40] Kathy (Roommate):
  “She was unique. So guys were attracted to her all the time. She was beautiful... I don't know one person that didn't like her. Not one.”
• [14:33] Kathy:
  “I've gone all my life being terrified of people... maybe whoever killed her might be coming after me because they think that I knew something. So I've been afraid all my life.”
• [16:39] Kathy:
  “Please, please tell somebody. Call the police and tell them everything you know. This has been a horrible thing that happened to her... She was a good person and she didn't deserve it.”
• [17:44] Laura (Best Friend):
  “She had the most beautiful long black hair... She laughed loud and we passed notes all the time in the hallway and we talked on the phone a lot.”
• [19:19] Laura:
  “I will always say she saved me, because she was that bright light, and it gave me hope that she was always going to be there.”
• [21:14] Laura (on the funeral):
  “I was just so traumatized by it all... It was the most tragic, tragic thing ever in my life. I stopped reading Mystery. I stopped doing a lot of things... Every man I saw with a scratch on his face killed her.”
• [23:01] Detective Andrew Houghton (Reading Prayer Card):
  “When you're alone with Jesus and he sweetly smiles on thee, will you gently whisper to him a little prayer for me?”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:41 – Introduction to the Renee Tovar case
• 03:52 – Renee’s family background and upbringing
• 05:26 – Family memories of Renee’s personality and hobbies
• 05:56 – Emotional account: last time family saw Renee
• 06:37 – Independence and moving out (leaving behind her dog)
• 08:05 – Cathy’s interview: describing Renee and life together
• 10:00 – Evidence photos: life in the apartment
• 12:27 – Social life: favorite bars and interactions
• 14:33 – Cathy recounts post-traumatic impact and plea for answers
• 17:44 – Laura’s memories of high school and friendship with Renee
• 19:19 – How Renee “saved” Laura’s life, their emotional bond
• 21:14 – Funeral aftermath: Laura’s trauma and changes in her life
• 23:01 – Reading of Renee’s funeral prayer card
• 24:33 – Preview of part two and call for public tips

Tone & Style Captured

Throughout, the episode maintains the compassionate but methodical tone of police detectives working cold cases—balanced with the personal, often raw emotions of those closest to Renee. The language is direct yet sensitive, honoring Renee’s legacy while underscoring the ongoing need for community involvement.

Conclusion

This deeply personal episode brings listeners into both the investigation and the very human aftermath of a decades-old tragedy. Through first-person memories, case file details, and ongoing appeals for information, the Elgin Police Cold Case Unit seeks not just justice, but healing for a community that still remembers. Part two will carry the investigation further, with the hope that—after nearly half a century—answers might finally emerge.

If you have information about Renee Tovar’s case or any Elgin cold case, contact the Elgin Police Department at ColdCaseTips@elginil.gov or 847-289-COLD.
For case info: elginil.gov > Transparency Hub > Cold Cases