Case Profiles #67
Sonia Blanco and Evelyn Cruz
On February 4th, 1993, at 6:24 a.m., Worcester police were called to a multi-unit home at 27 Dix Street. The body of a young woman was found lying face down in the street. When police arrived and the woman was rolled onto her back and onto a stretcher, neighbors and onlookers were disturbed to see that she had two black eyes and multiple abrasions on her face and body. As police were securing the scene, another call came in at around 6:45 a.m. to report that there was a body of a young woman in the street. Upon further questioning, it was determined that this call was for another incident, a second body on Summit Street, just a mile and a half from the first. The first woman was identified by dental records as 23-year-old Sonia Blanco of Providence Street in Worcester, and the second was identified as 25-year-old Evelyn Cruz of Lincoln Street. A little over a week after their bodies were discovered, Sonia’s death was ruled as a homicide. She had blunt force trauma to her head, face and neck, and she had been strangled. Her toxicology report came back positive for morphine and cocaine. Three weeks later, Evelyn’s autopsy was completed, and her death was also ruled as a homicide. Her toxicology report came back positive for morphine and heroin. Due to this, it was believed that she had died of an overdose, but but witnesses at the scene when her body was found had noticed extensive bruising around her neck. Her death was later determined to be strangulation.
Evelyn’s family had been interviewed and said they had tried desperately for several years to get Evelyn help for her drug use and addiction, and her family said they knew she was a sex worker and was also HIV positive. Evelyn was a mom to three kids, and despite her struggles and addiction a he was genuinely a good mother and adored her children. Sonia had also been working as a sex worker for years, and it seems as though she had less family support as there is not a lot known about who she was as a person as opposed to a victim of a violent crime. There is a lot of speculation that there was a possible serial killer in Worcester in the early 1990’s, as Sonia and Evelyn’s murders were just two of multiple that took place. On April 28th, 2023, as part of an Arbor Day celebration, Worcester’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women planted a tree with a plaque in honor of the five women, including Sonia and Evelyn, who were murdered in the early 1990’s. The plaque states “Remember the women: in memory of victims of gender-based violence.” Anyone with any information on the murders of Sonia Blanco and Evelyn Cruz is asked to please call 855-MA-SOLVE or the Worcester Police Detective Bureau at 508-799-8651.
Tyrone Phet
Tyrone Phet was a well-loved and respected member of his community, especially while he had been a student at Chelmsford High School. He was not only great at track and field, but he was a known football star who carried his team to victory more than once. After high school, he became a devoted father to two children. On September 14th, 2020, just a little after 1:00 a.m., Tyrone was sitting outside of his Lowell, Massachusetts home with his German Shepherd in the passenger’s seat. Suddenly, his car was filled with bullets, and the young dad was shot eight times, getting struck in the head, chest, and arms. His dog remained unharmed by the spray of bullets. Tyrone was then brought to Lowell General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Luckily, due to being a known “acquaintance” to a local gang, police were able to zero in on some potential suspects. In late October of 2020, just six or so weeks after his murder, three brothers were arrested and charged with his murder. The brothers were Channa, Billy, and Billoeum Phan, who were a part of a Cambodian street gang known as “The Outlaws.” Their trial took place roughly four years later, with one of their associates and also friends testifying against them in court thanks to a plea deal that granted immunity. Despite hours of testimony and over 100 pieces of evidence, the jurors remained deadlocked and there was a mistrial. At this time, the new trial is waiting to be scheduled.
Image sources:
coldcasene.org - “Sonia Blanco and Evelyn Cruz”
lowellsun.com - “Lowell shooting victim was Chelmsford star athlete”