WEATHERFORD, Texas--One day after WFAA spoke with the father of murdered teenager Wendy Kae Robinson, Weatherford Police announced that an arrest has been made in the 29-year-old case.
Ricky Lee Adkins, 59, was arrested at 10 a.m. Wednesday with help from the Texas Rangers. He is charged with capital murder after a grand jury indictment was handed up on December 1.
Adkins was arrested at his home in Ranger, about 60 miles west of Weatherford, and taken to the Parker County Jail.
A woman at the home, who identified herself as his live-in girlfriend, said she was shocked to hear investigators think he is linked to such a brutal and old crime.
"Capital murder charge, [it] really unnerves me," said Cynthia Brown.
She says detectives surfaced some months ago asking questions.
She says Adkins was acting more depressed since then, and that he recently made remarks she didn't fully understand and believe.
"Hidden what body? What are you talking about? But he wouldn't say anything else," she said.
The body of 19-year-old Wendy Kae Robinson was found in Parker County on July 12, 1987, according to authorities. She was reported missing on July 9 by her dad, Jim Robinson, after going to the beach at Lake Weatherford.
Robinson said he learned of the arrest Wendesday morning when he received a phone call from a Weatherford Police detective.
"It was real exciting to get that (call), we've been waiting a long time," Robinson said.
Robinson sat down with WFAA on Tuesday to talk about his daughter's murder that hadn't been solved in nearly 30 years.
"It's such a feeling of emptiness. There really is no way to describe it," he said. "It's still there. It'll never go away."
On Wednesday he added he didn't expect an arrest would come so soon afterwards. Weatherford detectives say they publicized the case this week to generate tips and leads they still need, They also did not want to reveal to anyone that Adkins was their prime suspect until they had him in custody, not even to Wendy's family.
"We understand that and we support what they have done and what they are doing," Robinson said.
The indictment unsealed on Wednesday revealed a little bit more on what detectives believed happened to Robinson.
According to the indictment, investigators say Adkins likely struck Williams with some kind of rock in an attempt to rob, kidnap and sexually assault the young woman.
Sergeant Jason Hayes says Adkins' arrest does not wrap up their case.
"We believe that there are other individuals involved, so he's a small piece of this puzzle," Hayes said. We are looking to get more information so we can get everyone involved brought to justice."
Jim Robinson says his daughter had completed her first year of college back in 1987 and planned to become a teacher one day.
Nearly three decades later, Robinson thinks about the future denied to his only daughter. He says seeing the face of the man police believe is responsible only brings it all back.
"I hope he gets what's coming to him," Robinson said.
Parker County Crime Stoppers is offering a $5000 reward for information that leads to additional arrests in the case.
Anyone with additional leads is urged to contact Weatherford Police at 817-598-4300.