Many residents remember Katie Sepich from news stories — a young woman who walked home from a house party early one morning and never made it back inside her own home. But to those who knew Katie, she was more than a woman who was tragically killed. She was a daughter, sister, best friend and a leader.
"Dateline NBC" revisited the 2003 slaying of Sepich, who was a graduate student at New Mexico State University at the time, in a two-hour episode titled, "The Woman Who Couldn't Scream."
The show featured emotional interviews with Katie's parents, Dave and Jayann Sepich, her siblings, her former roommate and law enforcement detectives, including former Las Cruces police detective Mark Myers and retired Capt. Robert Jones.
After the episode aired Feb. 21, friends and family of Katie shared their memories. Dave Sepich remembered his daughter as a go-getter. "She was quite something. She was a ball of fire from day one," Dave said in a Dateline NBC video honoring his daughter. "She was going 90 miles per hour her whole life."
Born Kathryn Jaye Sepich in Carlsbad, New Mexico, she was the oldest of three children. Her siblings are A.J. Sepich and Caraline Sepich.
"Her whole life was an adventure. She was really sweet and outgoing but also a little bossy. She liked to plan things and make her adventures go her way," Caraline stated. "She would say, 'This is what we're doing, let's go.'"
A.J. looked up to his big sister. "Katie was a lot to handle but also a lot to have behind you and on your side," he stated in the video. "She was always my protector, but also my best friend."
Katie's closest friends and former roommate remembered Katie as a shining light and someone people noticed. "I feel that you don't always see somebody who was as beautiful as her, but also self-deprecating," Amy Barnhart, Katie's friend, stated. "She was willing to laugh at herself and make fun of herself and be the butt of the joke and still do it with grace and crack everyone up."
Katie also worked as a waitress at El Sombrero Patio Cafe, a popular Las Cruces Mexican restaurant.
Katie, 22, was last seen alive leaving a party on foot after an argument with her boyfriend early the morning of Aug. 31, 2003, the start of Labor Day weekend. The next day her body was found near a Las Cruces landfill after her former roommate reported her missing when she did not return home. Evidence later showed that Katie did return home and her shoe was found outside her bedroom window where there appeared to be a struggle.
For more than three years, the case remained unsolved until DNA from a convicted felon turned up a partial match in 2006. Bischoff was later cleared. Gabriel Avila, then 27, of Las Cruces, had submitted a DNA sample after being sent to prison for convictions of burglary, resisting arrest and fraudulent refusal to return leased property.
Avila later confessed to killing Sepich, saying he nearly struck her with his truck the night of her slaying. He said he pulled over to make sure she was OK, then followed her to make sure she got home safely. Avila said he "suddenly lost it" and attacked her. Investigators said it was a random encounter.
During the "Dateline" episode, Myers said the chances of Avila seeing Sepich that night were slim to none. "If she would've left 30 seconds earlier or even a minute earlier or later, he would've never seen her," Myers stated. In 2007, Avila pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and was given a 69-year prison sentence.
Thanks to DNA testing, Katie's Law went into effect in New Mexico in 2006 and requires anyone arrested on a violent crime to submit a DNA sample. Less than three months after Sepich's slaying, Avila was arrested for aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon (knife) and resisting an officer. Had Katie's Law been in effect, he would have been required to submit a DNA sample then. But Avila didn't have to until he was sentenced to a state prison on other charges in November 2005. "It would have identified her killer sooner, but it wouldn't have saved her," Jayann stated on "Dateline."
The Sepiches, who spent a decade championing the law across the country (it's now in 31 states), say they will never know the people who were helped by Katie's Law, but they know they are there. "It's hard to not know who they are. I always say I can't wait to get to heaven and find out who they were and find out what the circumstances were," Dave stated. "And to find out what we actually accomplished. But we're just going to keep after it."
In 2008, Jayann started "DNA Saves," a nonprofit that aims to educate lawmakers and the public about power of DNA testing. In 2011, the Katie's Law was expanded to include all felony arrests.
-- Who was Katie Sepich? Family and friends remember murdered woman in 'Dateline' video Jacqueline Devine, Las Cruces Sun-News, February 25, 2020
https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/community/2020/02/25/katie-sepich-murder-dateline-family-friends-nmsu-new-mexico/4862421002/
"Dateline NBC" revisited the 2003 slaying of Sepich, who was a graduate student at New Mexico State University at the time, in a two-hour episode titled, "The Woman Who Couldn't Scream."
The show featured emotional interviews with Katie's parents, Dave and Jayann Sepich, her siblings, her former roommate and law enforcement detectives, including former Las Cruces police detective Mark Myers and retired Capt. Robert Jones.
After the episode aired Feb. 21, friends and family of Katie shared their memories. Dave Sepich remembered his daughter as a go-getter. "She was quite something. She was a ball of fire from day one," Dave said in a Dateline NBC video honoring his daughter. "She was going 90 miles per hour her whole life."
Born Kathryn Jaye Sepich in Carlsbad, New Mexico, she was the oldest of three children. Her siblings are A.J. Sepich and Caraline Sepich.
"Her whole life was an adventure. She was really sweet and outgoing but also a little bossy. She liked to plan things and make her adventures go her way," Caraline stated. "She would say, 'This is what we're doing, let's go.'"
A.J. looked up to his big sister. "Katie was a lot to handle but also a lot to have behind you and on your side," he stated in the video. "She was always my protector, but also my best friend."
Katie's closest friends and former roommate remembered Katie as a shining light and someone people noticed. "I feel that you don't always see somebody who was as beautiful as her, but also self-deprecating," Amy Barnhart, Katie's friend, stated. "She was willing to laugh at herself and make fun of herself and be the butt of the joke and still do it with grace and crack everyone up."
Katie also worked as a waitress at El Sombrero Patio Cafe, a popular Las Cruces Mexican restaurant.
Katie, 22, was last seen alive leaving a party on foot after an argument with her boyfriend early the morning of Aug. 31, 2003, the start of Labor Day weekend. The next day her body was found near a Las Cruces landfill after her former roommate reported her missing when she did not return home. Evidence later showed that Katie did return home and her shoe was found outside her bedroom window where there appeared to be a struggle.
For more than three years, the case remained unsolved until DNA from a convicted felon turned up a partial match in 2006. Bischoff was later cleared. Gabriel Avila, then 27, of Las Cruces, had submitted a DNA sample after being sent to prison for convictions of burglary, resisting arrest and fraudulent refusal to return leased property.
Avila later confessed to killing Sepich, saying he nearly struck her with his truck the night of her slaying. He said he pulled over to make sure she was OK, then followed her to make sure she got home safely. Avila said he "suddenly lost it" and attacked her. Investigators said it was a random encounter.
During the "Dateline" episode, Myers said the chances of Avila seeing Sepich that night were slim to none. "If she would've left 30 seconds earlier or even a minute earlier or later, he would've never seen her," Myers stated. In 2007, Avila pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and was given a 69-year prison sentence.
Thanks to DNA testing, Katie's Law went into effect in New Mexico in 2006 and requires anyone arrested on a violent crime to submit a DNA sample. Less than three months after Sepich's slaying, Avila was arrested for aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon (knife) and resisting an officer. Had Katie's Law been in effect, he would have been required to submit a DNA sample then. But Avila didn't have to until he was sentenced to a state prison on other charges in November 2005. "It would have identified her killer sooner, but it wouldn't have saved her," Jayann stated on "Dateline."
The Sepiches, who spent a decade championing the law across the country (it's now in 31 states), say they will never know the people who were helped by Katie's Law, but they know they are there. "It's hard to not know who they are. I always say I can't wait to get to heaven and find out who they were and find out what the circumstances were," Dave stated. "And to find out what we actually accomplished. But we're just going to keep after it."
In 2008, Jayann started "DNA Saves," a nonprofit that aims to educate lawmakers and the public about power of DNA testing. In 2011, the Katie's Law was expanded to include all felony arrests.
-- Who was Katie Sepich? Family and friends remember murdered woman in 'Dateline' video Jacqueline Devine, Las Cruces Sun-News, February 25, 2020
https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/community/2020/02/25/katie-sepich-murder-dateline-family-friends-nmsu-new-mexico/4862421002/
Many residents remember Katie Sepich from news stories — a young woman who walked home from a house party early one morning and never made it back inside her own home. But to those who knew Katie, she was more than a woman who was tragically killed. She was a daughter, sister, best friend and a leader.
"Dateline NBC" revisited the 2003 slaying of Sepich, who was a graduate student at New Mexico State University at the time, in a two-hour episode titled, "The Woman Who Couldn't Scream."
The show featured emotional interviews with Katie's parents, Dave and Jayann Sepich, her siblings, her former roommate and law enforcement detectives, including former Las Cruces police detective Mark Myers and retired Capt. Robert Jones.
After the episode aired Feb. 21, friends and family of Katie shared their memories. Dave Sepich remembered his daughter as a go-getter. "She was quite something. She was a ball of fire from day one," Dave said in a Dateline NBC video honoring his daughter. "She was going 90 miles per hour her whole life."
Born Kathryn Jaye Sepich in Carlsbad, New Mexico, she was the oldest of three children. Her siblings are A.J. Sepich and Caraline Sepich.
"Her whole life was an adventure. She was really sweet and outgoing but also a little bossy. She liked to plan things and make her adventures go her way," Caraline stated. "She would say, 'This is what we're doing, let's go.'"
A.J. looked up to his big sister. "Katie was a lot to handle but also a lot to have behind you and on your side," he stated in the video. "She was always my protector, but also my best friend."
Katie's closest friends and former roommate remembered Katie as a shining light and someone people noticed. "I feel that you don't always see somebody who was as beautiful as her, but also self-deprecating," Amy Barnhart, Katie's friend, stated. "She was willing to laugh at herself and make fun of herself and be the butt of the joke and still do it with grace and crack everyone up."
Katie also worked as a waitress at El Sombrero Patio Cafe, a popular Las Cruces Mexican restaurant.
Katie, 22, was last seen alive leaving a party on foot after an argument with her boyfriend early the morning of Aug. 31, 2003, the start of Labor Day weekend. The next day her body was found near a Las Cruces landfill after her former roommate reported her missing when she did not return home. Evidence later showed that Katie did return home and her shoe was found outside her bedroom window where there appeared to be a struggle.
For more than three years, the case remained unsolved until DNA from a convicted felon turned up a partial match in 2006. Bischoff was later cleared. Gabriel Avila, then 27, of Las Cruces, had submitted a DNA sample after being sent to prison for convictions of burglary, resisting arrest and fraudulent refusal to return leased property.
Avila later confessed to killing Sepich, saying he nearly struck her with his truck the night of her slaying. He said he pulled over to make sure she was OK, then followed her to make sure she got home safely. Avila said he "suddenly lost it" and attacked her. Investigators said it was a random encounter.
During the "Dateline" episode, Myers said the chances of Avila seeing Sepich that night were slim to none. "If she would've left 30 seconds earlier or even a minute earlier or later, he would've never seen her," Myers stated. In 2007, Avila pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and was given a 69-year prison sentence.
Thanks to DNA testing, Katie's Law went into effect in New Mexico in 2006 and requires anyone arrested on a violent crime to submit a DNA sample. Less than three months after Sepich's slaying, Avila was arrested for aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon (knife) and resisting an officer. Had Katie's Law been in effect, he would have been required to submit a DNA sample then. But Avila didn't have to until he was sentenced to a state prison on other charges in November 2005. "It would have identified her killer sooner, but it wouldn't have saved her," Jayann stated on "Dateline."
The Sepiches, who spent a decade championing the law across the country (it's now in 31 states), say they will never know the people who were helped by Katie's Law, but they know they are there. "It's hard to not know who they are. I always say I can't wait to get to heaven and find out who they were and find out what the circumstances were," Dave stated. "And to find out what we actually accomplished. But we're just going to keep after it."
In 2008, Jayann started "DNA Saves," a nonprofit that aims to educate lawmakers and the public about power of DNA testing. In 2011, the Katie's Law was expanded to include all felony arrests.
-- Who was Katie Sepich? Family and friends remember murdered woman in 'Dateline' video Jacqueline Devine, Las Cruces Sun-News, February 25, 2020
https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/community/2020/02/25/katie-sepich-murder-dateline-family-friends-nmsu-new-mexico/4862421002/
"Dateline NBC" revisited the 2003 slaying of Sepich, who was a graduate student at New Mexico State University at the time, in a two-hour episode titled, "The Woman Who Couldn't Scream."
The show featured emotional interviews with Katie's parents, Dave and Jayann Sepich, her siblings, her former roommate and law enforcement detectives, including former Las Cruces police detective Mark Myers and retired Capt. Robert Jones.
After the episode aired Feb. 21, friends and family of Katie shared their memories. Dave Sepich remembered his daughter as a go-getter. "She was quite something. She was a ball of fire from day one," Dave said in a Dateline NBC video honoring his daughter. "She was going 90 miles per hour her whole life."
Born Kathryn Jaye Sepich in Carlsbad, New Mexico, she was the oldest of three children. Her siblings are A.J. Sepich and Caraline Sepich.
"Her whole life was an adventure. She was really sweet and outgoing but also a little bossy. She liked to plan things and make her adventures go her way," Caraline stated. "She would say, 'This is what we're doing, let's go.'"
A.J. looked up to his big sister. "Katie was a lot to handle but also a lot to have behind you and on your side," he stated in the video. "She was always my protector, but also my best friend."
Katie's closest friends and former roommate remembered Katie as a shining light and someone people noticed. "I feel that you don't always see somebody who was as beautiful as her, but also self-deprecating," Amy Barnhart, Katie's friend, stated. "She was willing to laugh at herself and make fun of herself and be the butt of the joke and still do it with grace and crack everyone up."
Katie also worked as a waitress at El Sombrero Patio Cafe, a popular Las Cruces Mexican restaurant.
Katie, 22, was last seen alive leaving a party on foot after an argument with her boyfriend early the morning of Aug. 31, 2003, the start of Labor Day weekend. The next day her body was found near a Las Cruces landfill after her former roommate reported her missing when she did not return home. Evidence later showed that Katie did return home and her shoe was found outside her bedroom window where there appeared to be a struggle.
For more than three years, the case remained unsolved until DNA from a convicted felon turned up a partial match in 2006. Bischoff was later cleared. Gabriel Avila, then 27, of Las Cruces, had submitted a DNA sample after being sent to prison for convictions of burglary, resisting arrest and fraudulent refusal to return leased property.
Avila later confessed to killing Sepich, saying he nearly struck her with his truck the night of her slaying. He said he pulled over to make sure she was OK, then followed her to make sure she got home safely. Avila said he "suddenly lost it" and attacked her. Investigators said it was a random encounter.
During the "Dateline" episode, Myers said the chances of Avila seeing Sepich that night were slim to none. "If she would've left 30 seconds earlier or even a minute earlier or later, he would've never seen her," Myers stated. In 2007, Avila pleaded guilty to multiple felonies and was given a 69-year prison sentence.
Thanks to DNA testing, Katie's Law went into effect in New Mexico in 2006 and requires anyone arrested on a violent crime to submit a DNA sample. Less than three months after Sepich's slaying, Avila was arrested for aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon (knife) and resisting an officer. Had Katie's Law been in effect, he would have been required to submit a DNA sample then. But Avila didn't have to until he was sentenced to a state prison on other charges in November 2005. "It would have identified her killer sooner, but it wouldn't have saved her," Jayann stated on "Dateline."
The Sepiches, who spent a decade championing the law across the country (it's now in 31 states), say they will never know the people who were helped by Katie's Law, but they know they are there. "It's hard to not know who they are. I always say I can't wait to get to heaven and find out who they were and find out what the circumstances were," Dave stated. "And to find out what we actually accomplished. But we're just going to keep after it."
In 2008, Jayann started "DNA Saves," a nonprofit that aims to educate lawmakers and the public about power of DNA testing. In 2011, the Katie's Law was expanded to include all felony arrests.
-- Who was Katie Sepich? Family and friends remember murdered woman in 'Dateline' video Jacqueline Devine, Las Cruces Sun-News, February 25, 2020
https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/local/community/2020/02/25/katie-sepich-murder-dateline-family-friends-nmsu-new-mexico/4862421002/
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