Her Car Broke Down Three Times—Then She Vanished ⚠️

Описание: Her car broke down three times. She jogged less than a mile to her parents' home for help. She never made it. A witness saw what they thought was a "mannequin" in a blue sweatshirt and white sweatpants being placed into a gold Pontiac Catalina. It wasn't a mannequin. Nearly 40 years later, her killer—or killers—have never been identified.

🔍 CASE SUMMARY:
Victim: Teresa Branch, 18, Arlington, Texas
Date: April 19, 1986 (Saturday evening)
Last Contact: Left friend Lisa Freeman at stalled car, jogged toward parents' home
Discovery: Same evening by group of teenagers at Harmony Baptist Church parking lot
Crime Scene: 1814 W. Arkansas Lane, Arlington, Texas
Cause of Death: Gunshot wound (large-caliber firearm, below heart), blunt force trauma, strangulation, sexual assault
Evidence: Biological DNA collected, preserved, entered into CODIS (no match)

🚗 THE THREE CAR BREAKDOWNS:
Teresa's red Pontiac Sunbird (graduation gift) stalled three times on April 19, 1986:
Breakdown #1 (Morning): Father Kenneth Branch (former Navy) recharged battery
Breakdown #2 (During day): Passing motorist jump-started vehicle
Breakdown #3 (Evening): Final stall in apartment complex parking lot, less than 1 mile from parents' home

Teresa told friend Lisa Freeman: "I'll jog to my parents' house and be back in 20 minutes." She asked Lisa to stay with the car because their belongings were inside. Teresa never returned.

👁️ CRITICAL WITNESS TESTIMONY - "THE MANNEQUIN":
A witness near the 2400 block of Avonhill Drive (approximately ONE BLOCK from car breakdown) observed:
What appeared to be a MANNEQUIN lying in a yard
Figure wearing: BLUE SWEATSHIRT, WHITE SWEATPANTS, LIGHT-COLORED HAIR (or wig)
A GOLD or YELLOW four-door sedan (possibly 1966-1970 Pontiac Catalina)
ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS placing the figure into the vehicle
Vehicle drove EAST on Arkansas Lane (toward Harmony Baptist Church)

🚨 DETECTIVES BELIEVE TWO MEN MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED

🧬 DNA EVIDENCE & BREAKTHROUGH (2015-2017):
1986: Biological evidence collected from crime scene
1999-2001: DNA profile entered into CODIS database - NO MATCHES
2015-2016: Arlington Police contact Parabon NanoLabs for DNA phenotyping
2017: Parabon creates composite sketches predicting suspect's appearance
👥 PERSONS OF INTEREST ELIMINATED:
Tim Maxwell (Teresa's boyfriend):
Questioned early in investigation
Declined polygraph on advice of counsel
Later voluntarily provided DNA
DNA testing EXCLUDED him as suspect

Jerry McFadden (convicted serial rapist/murderer):

Teresa's Father: Kenneth Branch, former U.S. Navy veteran
Teresa's Mother: Mercedes Branch
Recovering from serious car accident when Teresa was murdered
Suffered nervous breakdown, admitted to psychiatric care
Feared killer was coming after rest of family
Died from prescription medicine overdose 3 MONTHS after Teresa's death
Family uncertain if accidental or intentional

After losing daughter and wife:
Kenneth began showing signs of mental illness
Started disappearing for stretches of time
Struggled with the law
Teresa's youngest brother John went to live with grandparents

🚗 VEHICLE DESCRIPTION (CRITICAL):
Make/Model: Possibly 1966-1970 Pontiac Catalina
Color: GOLD or YELLOW
Body Style: Four-door sedan
Last Seen: Driving east on Arkansas Lane (evening of April 19, 1986)
Occupants: One or more individuals

📞 HOW TO HELP:
If you have ANY information about this case, no matter how small:
Arlington Police Department Cold Case Unit
Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County: Anonymous tips accepted
Reward offered for information leading to arrest

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⚠️ DISCLAIMER: This video is for educational and investigative purposes. All information comes from public police reports, news coverage, and official statements. This case remains OPEN and ACTIVE. If you have information, contact law enforcement directly—do not attempt to investigate on your own.

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