Who killed Karen Lynn Douglas? Reward increased in Houston-area mother's cold case murder

Karen Lynn Douglas (Photo from Texas Department of Public Safety)

The reward has been increased for help solving the 1981 cold case murder of a Houston-area mother.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is seeking information in the death of Karen Lynn Douglas.

What happened to Karen Lynn Douglas?

The backstory:

Douglas, 22, was a new mother. Authorities say her husband was at work and she was at home with her baby on Jan. 6, 1981, when she was stabbed to death. There were signs of a struggle.

Douglas’s mother came by to pick her up for a doctor’s appointment and discovered her body, Texas DPS says. She had last been seen alive two hours before.

What we don't know:

More than four decades later, a suspect still has not been identified.

Similar home invasions in the area

What we know:

Authorities say in the months before and after Douglas's death, other women in the area were attacked by someone armed with a knife while they were home alone.

A young, slender white male was suspected in those attacks.

What we don't know:

The person responsible for those attacks has not been identified, and authorities are not certain if Douglas’s death is linked to those cases.

Reward increased in cold case

What you can do:

The reward for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible for her murder has been increased to $6,000 until the next featured bi-monthly Texas Rangers cold case is announced.

Anyone with information can anonymously contact Texas Crime Stoppers in the following ways:

  • Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or the Crime Stoppers of Houston hotline at 713-222-TIPS (8477).
  • Submit a web tip through the Texas Rangers’ Cold Case website by selecting the victim’s name you have information about.
  • Call the Missing Persons Hotline at 1-800-346-3243. Your information will be forwarded to the Texas Ranger assigned to this case.

The Source: The information in this article comes from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Crime and Public SafetyHarris County