Pearl Ann Cruz - Medical Detectives

Been on a bit of a Medical Detectives series binge over the last few days, and one case that got my attention was the 2004 murder of Diane Tilly. She was raped and killed for around $400. That episode is: Medical Detectives (Forensic Files) - Season 12, Episode 6 - Transaction Failed. You can watch it below.

Ronnie Joe Neal and his daughter, Pearl Ann Cruz, were convicted of the killing in 2006. Ronnie Joe Neal [the trigger man] was sentenced to death and Pearl Ann Cruz, who was just 15 years old when the crime was carried out received a 30 year sentence.

Ronnie Joe Neal commited suicide in 2010. Pearl Ann Cruz was paroled in 2010 [Austin, Texas], serving between 4 - 5 years in prison of a 30 year sentence.

While some say she was just a kid at the time of the crime, and that she was the victim of extensive abuse growing up, it does seem like she got off quite lightly considering the severity of the crime and the fairly significant role she played in that crime which resulted in the murder of Diane Tilly.