15-year-old Christi Kaufman and 23-year-old Debbie Jo Perkins were shot and killed during a home invasion. Perkins was six months pregnant.
SAN ANTONIO — It’s a cold case mystery for one San Antonio family.
February marks 31 years since 15-year-old Christi Kaufman and 23-year-old Debbie Jo Perkins were shot and killed inside their home on the east side.
Although it’s been more than three decades, the pain of their murders is still felt by Kaufman’s brother, Patrick.
Perkins and Kaufman were murdered just after 1 a.m. at an east-side home in the 100 block of Fredonia Street.
Kaufman’s brother Patrick was just 16-years-old at the time but recalls the chaos that unfolded when someone knocked on the door.
“He kicked it in and shot my sister right off the top, a couple of times,” said Patrick.
Patrick says the gunman then shot his cousin, Debbie Jo, who was six months pregnant.
“When they shot my sister, they immediately shot my cousin, who was asleep,” he said.
According to Patrick, Christi tried to hide in the home.
“My sister was found in a closet in my cousin’s room because she was trying to get up. She was trying to get away and that’s when they shot off some more times,” said Patrick.
Patrick says Christi was shot 13 times and calls it an overkill. He says the intruder was looking for Debbie Jo’s boyfriend, who police say was not home at the time. Christi and Debbie Jo were innocent victims.
“Who murdered them?,” asked Patrick.
It’s a burning question police have been trying to figure out for 31 years and it’s a story that made headlines.
Police say the suspect was described as a black man with a slender build, wearing a white t-shirt and blue jeans and driving a blue Cutlas.
Even though Patrick was just one year older than his sister Christi he says she was more like a big sister and was always looking out for him. He says he feels like she is still watching over him today.
“It hurts me because I wasn’t there to protect her,” he said.
Stuck in the trauma from all those years ago, Patrick says he’s never going to give up his fight to find their killer.
“It would mean that my sister is at peace and my cousin,” said Patrick.
If you know anything about the murders and can give Patrick the closure he needs, you are urged to contact San Antonio Police.