I've watched a lot of true crime shows, my particular favorite being vintage Forensic Files episodes. It has cultivated a paranoia in me that if I go hiking or jogging, I will find human remains. Intellectually, I know that is highly unlikely, but plenty of these shows start that way. And one of those shows focuses on a crime that happened very close to Lubbock.

The Skull Found In Yellow House Canyon

In 1993, a couple of guys illegally hunting stumbled upon a grisly discovery- a human skull, a few other bones, and a white high heel. Not wanting to get in trouble, they held onto that information for a while before fully cooperating with Lubbock authorities.

What the hunters found was a human being. A skull that held a brain full of dreams, loves, memories, and a hope for the future- from some accounts, a hope for a new baby. And, tragically, that hope was dashed, along with a woman who was far too young to die.

Read More: Famous Lubbock True Crimes: The Scott Dunn Case

Belynda Kay Tillery

When a human skull is found, the priority is to find out who it belonged to, usually a person who was reported missing. Dental records tend to be unique from individual to individual, and in the 90s, not too many people had their DNA on file. The skull found in Yellow House Canyon was compared with over sixty missing persons, and none matched.

The next step was to have a facial reconstruction rendered. In the 90s, this was done by an artist in lieu of a computer program. The artist did a fantastic job, and the drawing was recognized by Belynda Kay Tillery's mother. Dental records confirmed a match. This sequence of events, along with some sordid details, made this case an ideal candidate for its own episode of Forensic Files entitled "Headquarters" (season 10, episode 6).

The Death of Belynda And The Conviction of Troy Armstrong

With what remained of her remains after animal predation, it was determined that Belynda had been stabbed over 14 times. Stabbing leaves tell-tale marks, even on bones.

Belynda had been employed underage as a dancer at a club owned by a local motorcycle club. While a potentially dangerous pursuit, it was her boyfriend who was found guilty of her murder, allegedly because she was pregnant. He invited her to go camping and during that time dispatched her from this mortal realm, leaving her body for animals and for over a year alone, many more years anonymous.

There was very little physical evidence tying Armstrong to the crime, however, he made a fateful decision to make a run for it. Authorities used cutting-edge technology at the time to track him, GPS. Perhaps you've heard of it.

Troy was found to have a storage locker full of Belynda's possessions, including her driver's license. Troy's other girlfriend testified, " that Troy admitted to committing the murder and threatened he’d kill her children and her father if she told anyone." It was enough to convict him and sentence him to life in prison, which he is still currently serving.

Belynda was only 17 when she died. She deserved many more years to figure out and enjoy life, no matter what her circumstances had been.