On Aug. 22, 1990, Cheryl Henry, 22, and Garland Andrew “Andy” Atkinson, 21, were found murdered near Lovers Lane in Houston after leaving a nightclub. Both died from stab wounds to the throat; Cheryl had been sexually assaulted and Andy was found bound to a tree. DNA from the Lovers Lane scene later matched evidence from a June 20, 1990 sexual assault on Terra Cotta Drive via CODIS, and a composite sketch was released in 2008. Despite forensic links and FBI profiling, the case remains unsolved as of 2025; HPD asks anyone with information to call 713-308-3600.
Unsolved Lovers Lane Murders: Who Killed Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson in 1990?
James Nielsen/Houston Chronicle via Getty; Steve Campbell/Houston Chronicle via GettyCheryl Henry, Garland Andrew "Andy" Atkinson
On the night of Aug. 22, 1990, 22-year-old Cheryl Henry and 21-year-old Garland Andrew “Andy” Atkinson left Bayou Mama's nightclub in Houston and drove to a secluded spot locals call Lovers Lane, off Enclave Parkway, according to the Houston Police Department. The young couple never returned home.
The following day a security guard on routine patrol discovered a grisly scene: Andy was found tied to a tree and had suffered near-decapitation, and Cheryl’s body was located nearby. Both had fatal stab wounds to the throat, and an autopsy later confirmed Cheryl had been sexually assaulted, KHOU reported.
Crime Scene Details
Investigators said the killer used items from Andy’s car — including golf clubs and golf balls — to indicate where Cheryl’s body was concealed under a pile of boards. A $20 bill was also recovered near Cheryl’s remains. Authorities believe Cheryl was killed first, and that Andy was forced to witness her final moments while bound, according to family accounts shared with KHOU.
Investigation and Forensic Links
The case went cold for years, but advancements in forensic analysis produced new leads. Using the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), investigators matched DNA from the Enclave Parkway scene to DNA recovered in an unrelated sexual-assault case on June 20, 1990, at 7826 Terra Cotta Drive in Houston. Police noted similarities between the two incidents — the Terra Cotta victim was robbed and sexually assaulted, while the Lovers Lane victims were not robbed — and considered those parallels crucial to identifying a suspect.
“The suspect's actions in the Terra Cotta attack and what is known from Enclave Parkway are similar and considered crucial to the ultimate identification of the suspect,” a 2008 HPD release said when authorities linked the two cases.
In 2008, Houston police released a composite sketch of a man they consider a suspect in the Lovers Lane killings. FBI profilers who reviewed the case suggested the attacker may have known the couple, according to reporting obtained by KHOU. Despite these leads, the murders remain unsolved as of 2025.
Family Impact and Appeal
The killings left a lasting wound for both families. Cheryl’s sister, Shane Craig, and their relatives have repeatedly urged anyone with information to come forward. Andy’s father described the anguish of imagining his son bound and listening to Cheryl’s screams — a detail investigators have shared with the family.
Anyone with information about the Enclave Parkway murders, the June 20, 1990 Terra Cotta Drive assault, or related incidents is asked to contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Division Cold Case Squad at 713-308-3600. Reporting tips can be submitted anonymously through HPD tip lines.
This account synthesizes information released by the Houston Police Department and reporting from KHOU, ABC13 and People magazine. All facts reflect investigative findings and family statements disclosed since the 1990 killings.
