Tina Lewallan and Shera Lapoint

Forensic Genetic Genealogy made its breakthrough in law enforcement with the identification and conviction of the Golden State Killer in April 2018. Hear about how this methodology cracked a 25-year old Southeast Texas cold case on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

The 1995 murder of Beaumont teacher and Forest Park HS graduate Mary Catherine Edwards remained unsolved for 25 years. Hear about how investigators using Forensic Genetic Genealogy brought Clayton Bernard Foreman to justice for the crime, right here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Through comparing source DNA with DNA matches on family trees, law enforcement investigators are now solving long-time cold cases . Hear about Southeast Texas' first cold case solved through using Forensic Genetic Genealogy on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Married couple Aaron and Tina Lewallan were Beaumont PD's lead detectives in solving the 25-year old cold case murder of Mary Catherine Edwards. Hear Tina Lewallan's account of using Forensic Genetic Genealogy to bring Clayton Foreman to justice here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Tina and Aaron Lewallan of the Beaumont PD headed up the search for the cold case 1995 cold case murder of Mary Catherine Edwards. Hear Tina Lewallan's account of the successful investigation and prosecution of Clayton Foreman here on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Nationally recognized genealogist and author Shera Lapoint teamed with Detective Tina Lewallan to identify the owner of DNA left at the 1995 murder of Mary Catherine Edwards using the methods of Forensic Genetic Genealogy. Hear Shera tell about this journey on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

This picture, submitted by Shera Lapoint, shows Shera and Tina "...at the gravesite of the common ancestors that helped put the pieces together. Paul Thibodeaux and Marguerite Manceaux in Morse, Louisiana." Hear Shera Lapoint tell how Forensic Genetic Genealogy solved the Mary Catherine Edwards cold case on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Shera Lapoint is a nationally known authority on Forensic Genetic Genealogy. Here she is serving on a panel with Nancy Grace. Hear Shera Lapoint talk about how DNA and genealogy led to the solving of a Southeast Texas cold case on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Shera Lapoint is a sought after authority on Forensic Genetic Genealogy. Here is a picture of her as a guest on the Nancy Grace Show. Hear how Shera teamed up with Detective Tina Lewallan to solve the Mary Catherine Edwards cold case on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

This is a picture of Shera Lapoint with world-recognized Forensic Genetic Genealogy authority Dr. Henry Lee. Hear Shera Lapoint talk about how DNA and family trees led to the conviction of Clayton Foreman for a 25-year old cold case murder on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Texas Ranger and Kirbyville native Brandon Bess started the ball rolling when he approached Aaron Lewallan with the idea of solving a Southeast Texas cold case murder using Forensic Genetic Genealogy. Hear the behind-the-scenes story of the Mary Catherine Edwards cold case murder on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Mary Catherine Edwards had a twin sister, Allison. Mary Catherine was 31-years old when she was found murdered in 1995. Hear about how her case was solved using Forensic Genetic Genealogy on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Clayton Foreman and Mary Catherine Edwards were both graduates of Forest Park High School in Beaumont. Hear about the investigation and conviction of Clayton Foreman for her murder--after 25 years--on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Mary Catherine Edwards (right) and her twin sister Allison were bridesmaids at Clayton Foreman's marriage to his first wife. Hear the story about how Clayton Foreman was brought to justice through the method of Forensic Genetic Genealogy on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Clayton Foreman was interrogated in Ohio by Texas Ranger Brandon Bess and Beaumont Detective Aaron Lewallan  in 2021. Hear about how the investigation led to this interrogation on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Shortly following Clayton Foreman's interrogation, he was arrested in Ohio for the 1995 murder of Mary Catherine Edwards. Hear about the arrest of Clayton Foreman, and the DNA evidence that identified him as a person of interest, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

What is the significance of these handcuffs that were used in the arrest of Clayton Foreman? Find out the story behind these handcuffs, on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

Beaumont Police Chief James Singletary held a press conference in 2021 to update the media on the arrest of Clayton Foreman. Standing at the left of this picture are Shera Lapoint, Tina Lewallan, and Aaron Lewallan. Hear about how the Beaumont Police Department solved the 25-year old cold case murder of Mary Catherine Edwards on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo by Kim Brent, Beaumont Enterprise)

Shera Lapoint gives Police Chief James Singletary supportive words as Detective Tina Lewallan looks on. This exchange happened following a 2021 press conference about the arrest of Clayton Foreman for the 1995 murder of Mary Catherine Edwards. Hear Tina Lewallan and Shera Lapoint talk about that case from beginning to end, on Down Trails of Victory podcast! (Photo by Kim Brent, Beaumont Enterprise)

Clayton Foreman stood trial in Jefferson County for the murder of Mary Catherine Edwards in March, 2024. Both Detective Tina Lewallan and Shera Lapoint testified as witnesses during the trial. Hear their thoughts about the Clayton Foreman murder trial on Down Trails of Victory podcast!

In 2024, Clayton Foreman was found guilty by a Jefferson County jury for the 1995 murder of Mary Catherine Edwards. He was convicted on the DNA evidence, and he was identified by that DNA evidence through the method of forensic genetic genalogy. Hear Detective Tina Lewallan, and "The Gene Hunter" Shera Lapoint, tell the story of cracking this 25-year old cold case on Down Trails of Victory podcast!