Houston Recording Artist Interviewed by ABC’s 20/20 Regarding the 2003 Quadruple Murders of Clear Lake Teenagers
Jennifer Grassman Recognized by 20/20 for her 2003 Crime Stoppers Benefit Concerts
Houston, TX – March 12, 2009 – Houston based recording artist Jennifer Grassman was recently interviewed by ABC 20/20 producer Allison Lynn regarding a five year old quadruple Clear Lake homicide case. The four victims, Tiffany Rowell, 18, Adelbert Sanchez, 21, Marcus Precella, 19, and Grassman’s high school friend Rachael Koloroutis, 18, were found dead in a suburban home in Clear Lake, Texas, on July 18, 2003. The Harris County medical examiner's office stated that the teenagers died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds and blows to the head.
“I remember my Mom calling me up at work,” said Grassman, now 24. “She said, ‘Honey, I’ve got some horrible news. Rachael’s dead. She’s been murdered.’ At first I couldn’t process the idea that she was talking about Rachael Koloroutis. I got numb all over, and then I started to cry.”
Grassman was instrumental in organizing several memorial concerts to raise money for Rachael’s Crime Stoppers Reward Fund. With Grassman’s help, the Koloroutis family and Houston Crime Stoppers raised $100,000 for the reward fund, which at the time, was the largest reward in Crime Stoppers history.
After four torturous years of minimal leads and no answers, friends and family of the deceased were finally given some closure, when Christopher Snider and Christine Paolilla were charged with capital murder in the 2003 slayings. Snider committed suicide before he was captured, but Paolilla was apprehended and sentenced to life in prison on Monday, October 18, 2008.
“I remember sitting in court not ten feet away from Christine Paolilla,” stated Grassman, “and wondering how someone who looked so small and miserable could have committed such a horrendously cruel and violent act. Some people say they want to know why such a horrible thing happened. In this case, I don’t think there was a ‘why.’ This crime was pure spite and the motive nonsensical.”
Once an air date for the 20/20 episode is established, an online memorial for Rachael Koloroutis will be posted on the front page of www.JenniferGrassman.com, along with a free download of the song which Grassman wrote for Rachael, entitled White Roses. The song is also included on Jennifer’s debut album, At The Back Of The North Wind.
“I wanted to immortalize Rachael,” said Grassman. “She never got to attend college, get married, have kids, or do all the great things she dreamed of doing. I want everyone to know that Rachael is not just a statistic. Any parent would have been proud to have a girl like Rachael as a daughter, and she should still be with us today.”
About Jennifer Grassman
Jennifer Grassman is a vocalist, pianist, composer and recording artist. Grassman’s music effortlessly fuses diverse elements of classical, Celtic, gothic and rock styles into a beautiful, moving genre all her own. She resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and two cats. To learn more, please visit www.JenniferGrassman.com or www.rainnoverhouston.org.
About 20/20
ABC's second longest running prime-time series, 20/20 is a newsmagazine that mixes investigative pieces with human-interest and celebrity features. Hosted by John Stossel and Elizabeth Vargas, 20/20 airs in Houston every Friday at 9:00 PM on KTRK, ABC Channel 13, after SuperNanny.
Source: www.JenniferGrassman.com
