PINEVILLE, Mo. -- Detective Lorie Howard made a promise years ago to identify Grace Doe and to find her killer.
The detective with the McDonald County Sheriff's Office fulfilled her promise and declared the decades-old case closed Thursday.
McDonald County Sheriff Robert Evenson, along with Howard and Detective Rhonda Wise, her partner, announced at Thursday's press conference that Talfey Reeves of Pineville, Mo., killed Shauna Garber in 1990.
Garber, 22, of Topeka, Kan., was known for years as Grace Doe as law enforcement officers worked to identify the bones discovered on Dec. 2, 1990, near an abandoned farmhouse on Oscar Talley Road, between Lanagan and Pineville, according to reports.
A couple collecting cans discovered her remains. The body was identified in 2021 by Othram Inc., which used DNA testing and genealogy.
Her killer utilized six different types of cord and clothesline for bondage, investigators have said. The six different types of cord included military cord that was not available to the public in 1990, reports said.
Investigators believe Garber was raped and drugged before being strangled.
Howard said she started working on "Grace's" case primarily after hours. Wise joined her after seeing her pulling molars from the skull to be sent for DNA testing.
Howard said Reeves had been a suspect for years, but they did not have the evidence to make an arrest. She said then-Sheriff Don Schlessman received a letter in 2010 that detailed the gruesome death of a woman.
"We are 100% certain we got the guy," Howard said about Reeves. "It breaks my heart he is not alive."
Reeves, 58, was killed in November 2021 in a two-vehicle wreck, according to the Joplin Globe. He was riding a scooter on U.S. 71 at Jane when he attempted to make a U-turn and was struck by a car, according to the Globe.
Howard said if Reeves was still alive a first-degree murder charge would have been requested from McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney Maleia Cheney.
Reeves was known by law enforcement, and he had a long criminal history, Howard said. People were afraid to talk about him, she said.
She said Reeves was known to be involved in drug trafficking and had spent time in a Missouri prison.
"He was a menace to the community," Howard said.
People were willing to talk about him after his death, she said.
Howard said there are six collaborative sources who provided information about Reeves. She said one woman actually saw the crime and another witness saw Garber's body days later.
Howard did not disclose any names, saying she is concerned about potential threats to the witnesses' safety.
Reeves took Garber in an old black pickup with a loud muffler and bound her with cords, Howard said. The witness reported Reeves raped Garber, she said.
The pickup did not belong to Reeves, Howard said. The detectives identified the owner of the pickup, but he is also dead, she said.
Howard said Garber was screaming, so Reeves injected her with methamphetamine to keep her quiet. The methamphetamine led to an overdose and caused Garber's death, she said.
Howard said they now know Garber was in the area working at a chicken plant as part of work program for a halfway house.
The detectives believe Garber was walking along Missouri 59 when Reeves picked her up. The detectives also believe Garber had spent time at a hotel because a napkin from the hotel was found in her pocket and a towel from the hotel was also on her body.
Howard said she even talked to Reeves once about Garber's death.
"I told him before you die I want to be your last call because I want to know how she died," Howard said.
She said Reeves only looked at her and smiled.
Howard and Wise found Garber's relatives, but they want to know more about her life.
Garber was placed in foster care in Kansas when she was 3 years old after her mother tried to set her on fire, Howard said. She was adopted but later placed back in foster care and spent time in different foster homes until she turned 18 years old.
The detectives were granted access to Garber's foster care records.
Garber's older brother had been searching for his sister and had sent letters to her case worker about wanting to be involved in her life, Howard said. Garber never received the letters, which were in the caseworker's file, Howard said.
Danielle Pixler, Garber's sister, attended the press conference. She was 3 months old when they went into foster care. She never met her sister.
Pixler, 51, of Topeka, Kan., said she started searching for her sister when she turned 18 years old and would like to talk to any of her friends.
Howard said she did not want Garber to remain invisible.
"I told Shauna from Day 1 that I wouldn't give up on her," Howard said.
What's next for Howard and Wise? There are other cold cases.
Howard said it's now time to turn their attention to a cold case involving a young woman and another involving an old man.
Detective Lorie Howard holds composite sketch of Shauna Garber on Thursday during a press conference in which authorities said Talfey Reeves of Pineville, Mo., killed Garber in 1990. Visit nwaonline.com/photos for today's photo gallery. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Daniel Bereznicki)
Sheriff Robert Evenson speaks during a press conference in which officials said Talfey Reeves of Pineville, Mo., killed Shauna Garber in 1990. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Daniel Bereznicki)
Sheriff Robert Evenson speaks Thursday during a press conference in which officials said Talfey Reeves of Pineville, Mo., killed Shauna Garber in 1990. Visit nwaonline.com/photos for today's photo gallery. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Daniel Bereznicki)
This image shows Shauna Garber as a child (right) and a sketch of her later in life. (Submitted image)
Talfey Reeves
Talfey Reeves