Austin, TX – Authorities are renewing efforts in a decades-old North Texas homicide, urging the public to come forward with information in the killing of a 22-year-old college student whose case remains unsolved.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers are seeking tips in the 1997 murder of Brent Alan Gutheinz, whose body was found on Sunday, June 22, 1997, burned and mutilated along Squirrel Creek in rural Grayson County. Investigators said Gutheinz, a University of Texas at Dallas senior, was last seen on June 19 while running errands and going to the gym.
Officials said the case is now being highlighted as part of the Texas Rangers’ Featured Cold Case program, with a reward of up to $6,000 offered for information leading to an arrest. Authorities allege that individuals connected to the case may still be in the community, and they are urging anyone with knowledge—no matter how small—to come forward.
Investigators allege Gutheinz, described as an avid bodybuilder and full-time student, had accumulated significant debt in the months before his death, reportedly purchasing vehicles and electronics in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Authorities allege this financial activity may be tied to the circumstances surrounding his killing.
Despite multiple interviews over the years, officials say no arrests have been made. The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office and Texas Rangers continue to pursue leads, alleging that key information may still exist within the public.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online through the Texas DPS website under “Cold Cases Featured.” Tipsters may remain anonymous.
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