HOUSTON Harris County deputies say they have cracked a cold case from 1994 and charged a man with murder in connection with the death of his high school girlfriend.
Following the charges, Robert Majewski said he always believed that Chris Stoernell murdered his daughter, Ruth.
We thought that he killed her, Majewski said. And that s what we thought all along. But I guess we didn t pique enough interest at the time.
Stoernell and Ruth Majewski were both juniors at Jersey Village High School. Police said they were dating in September, 1994, when Ruth Majewski went to Stoernell s mother s home.
Five other teens, between the ages of 15 and 19, were also there. Somehow they were able to get their hands on a loaded gun.
Stoernell allegedly pointed it at people and pretended to shoot. Ruth Majewski later died in a bedroom while he was allegedly with her.
He told law enforcement at the time that it was a suicide and/or an accidental shooting, Sgt. Eric Clegg with the Harris County Sheriff s Office said.
But the victim s family never gave up. Two years ago, they pleaded with deputies to reopen the case. After a new round of interviews, new information was uncovered.
There s also physical evidence in this case that doesn t support a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Sgt. Clegg said.
This month Stoernell was charged with murder. He is currently free on a $50,000 bond.
The Majewski family is ready for their day in court.
This will maybe give us some answers, Robert Majewski said.
Their big question is why their daughter s life was taken. A motive has never been clear.
