Rachel Trlica, Renee Wilson, and Julie Moseley, now recognized as the "Missing Trio," were last observed at the Seminary South Shopping Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 23, 1974. Life in Fort Worth, Texas, during the 1970s, diverged from today's reality, as was the case in many parts of the country.
"My father was absent, and my mother, compelled to work, was seldom at home," Terry Moseley conveyed to Dateline. It was December 23, 1974, and Terry, then 15 years old, was on Christmas break from school. "I would exercise greater caution now, but back then, we could stay home without parental supervision."
Terry shared with Dateline that his younger sisters, Janet (11) and Julie (9), were also at home. However, he crossed the street that morning to visit his 14-year-old girlfriend, Renee Wilson.
"Renee and I grew up in proximity, given her grandmother resided across the street from us," Terry recalled. "Our relationship evolved beyond mere neighbors. I visited her early that morning—she had spent the night at her grandmother's—and I presented her with a promise ring. She was elated."
Before departing from Renee that morning, she expressed her intention to visit the store to retrieve some layaway jeans. Terry revealed, "She wanted me to accompany her, but I hesitated at the last moment. A friend of mine was scheduled for a hospital operation, and I committed to being there for him. I didn't want to break that commitment." Renee informed Terry that she planned to go with her married friend, 17-year-old Rachel Trlica, who lived nearby. At this point, Julie, Terry's youngest sister, seized the chance to spend time with the older girls.
"Renee and Rachel weren't keen on having Julie join them due to her age," Terry explained. "However, Julie persuaded our mother over the phone, and for some reason, she consented this time. Our mother knew Renee well because of my relationship with her." Before noon, Rachel chauffeured Renee and Julie to the Army Navy Store. After obtaining Renee's jeans, the trio proceeded to the Seminary South Shopping Center in south Fort Worth.
Dateline interviewed Rusty Arnold, Rachel's younger brother, who mentioned that the girls were expected back around 4:00 p.m. for a planned celebration.
Nevertheless, 4:00 p.m. passed, and the girls failed to appear at the party. Rusty conveyed, "Concerns heightened when they didn't arrive. People started to worry." As the sun set and the parents returned home from work, anxiety intensified.
Richard Wilson, Renee's father, informed Dateline that he and other community members drove the short distance to the mall to search for the girls. Simultaneously, Terry, Julie's older brother, remained at home. "I was assigned to stay by the telephone while others scoured the area for the car," he informed Dateline.
The Oldsmobile, used by the girls for shopping, was discovered in the mall parking lot. Rusty reported no signs of struggle, but it seemed the girls had returned to the car after mall shopping, evidenced by a lone Christmas present in the backseat.
Rusty told Dateline that the Fort Worth Police Department was notified that evening. The subsequent morning, Tommy Trlica, Rachel's husband, received a handwritten letter. The families found the contents suspicious, especially a misspelling of Rachel's name, casting doubt on its authenticity. "I doubt Rachel wrote that letter," Rusty asserted. "But it stands as the sole physical evidence in their disappearance."
Terry expressed his perplexity, stating, "The letter appears crafted by someone familiar with them. People speculate it's meant to mislead, but from what track? There's been no discernible track. I'm unsure if we'll ever unravel the mystery."
Family members informed Dateline that the girls were initially labeled as runaways by the Fort Worth Police Department but were later transferred to the Major Case Unit after a family-hired investigator expressed dissatisfaction with the status.
"I don't believe the girls ran away. Renee invited me to join her at the mall, and I'm certain I would have known if we were planning to run away," Terry asserted. "Plus, Rachel had a nice car. If you're going to run away, why abandon it in the parking lot?"
Renee's father, Richard, reported cruel prank calls in the years following his daughter's disappearance. "It's been challenging since their vanishing. We had to get an extra phone due to false calls pretending to be the girls," Richard disclosed.
As of Monday afternoon, the Fort Worth Police Department had not responded to Dateline's request for comment. Limited information released over the years has frustrated some family members, but Terry empathized with the investigators facing challenges in an ongoing inquiry. "The current investigators are working with dated information, questioning individuals with 44-year-old memories of this event," Terry acknowledged. "However, we find ourselves in the same predicament as 44 years ago." Rachel's brother, Rusty, is actively striving to change this narrative.
"I've been dedicated to resolving their disappearance since I was old enough to do so—virtually my entire life," Rusty revealed to Dateline. He administers the Missing Ft. Worth Trio Facebook page, boasting over 13,600 members. "The diverse membership gives me hope. People worldwide are engaged, and we must persist in discussing and publicizing it.
"Rusty's commitment transcends the digital realm. In September 2018, collaborating with Texas EquuSearch, he organized a dive team to explore Benbrook Lake, near the girls' last known location. Rusty's interest was piqued by a missing car report around the same time as the girls' disappearance.
"If someone wanted to dispose of a car, Benbrook Lake would be the nearest reservoir," Rusty explained. "We discovered three cars, and though two were unrelated, the third, of particular interest, will be retrieved this spring."
Numerous family members have passed away since 1974. Rachel and Rusty's mother, Fran Langston, now 80, has endured the lingering pain. "My mom places three angels on her lawn annually at Christmas, symbolizing the girls," Rusty shared. "Fort Worth was forever altered on the day they vanished."
Rusty revealed how his sister's disappearance influenced his parenting. "It profoundly affected how I raised my own children. I was excessively protective, ensuring they had cell phones even in elementary school, determined to always know their whereabouts."
Terry, who lost both his sister Julie and girlfriend Renee in the disappearance, acknowledges the enduring pain. "I've learned to coexist with it, though it's challenging not to let it impact me. I try not to let it overshadow Christmas, but I'm relieved when it swiftly passes."
All three family members, Richard, Terry, and Rusty, affirm their ignorance regarding the events of that fateful day at the mall.
"I lack clarity on what transpired. If my daughter has passed away, she deserves proper rest," Richard expressed. Rusty emphasized, "Closure entails apprehending those responsible for their disappearance, ensuring a life sentence or the death penalty, and recovering their bodies for a dignified burial. As for 'a normal life,' I'm uncertain what that entails."
Today, Rachel Trlica would be 61, Renee Wilson 58, and Julie Moseley 53. If you possess information on the missing trio, please contact the Fort Worth Police Department at 817-469-8477.
0 Comments