The 2nd, 1983, the Austin American Statesman called the year 1982, the bloodiest year on record.

Homicides were up 46% above the previous year and above the previous record holding year, 1980 by almost as much.

Austin Police couldn't provide insight as to why the rates had climbed like they did in 82.

There's just no way to tell.

Lieutenant Robert Wizyon said,

Most murders are crimes of passion on the spur of the moment.

The lieutenant went on to say that of the 57 homicides that year, only five were killed by

strangers.

33 of the 57, he said, involved drugs or alcohol.

By the end of 1982, the department had solved all but three of those, one of which, the rape

and murder of Ruth Elizabeth Bettis, remains unsolved today in 2020. Ruth Elizabeth Bis was born in Travis County on September 26th, 1963 to parents Dale and Rebecca.

She was known by her middle name, or Liz for short, for most of her life, though as she sought

autonomy in her teenage years, she'd begin to go by the first name, Gibson.

Elizabeth's upbringing and the story of her parents is, perhaps, vital to reach a full understanding

of her own.

The year she was born, Elizabeth's father, Dr Dale Galard Bettis,

received a master's degree in engineering mechanics from the University of Texas College of Engineering.

Even before earning his master's, Dr. Dale assisted in astronomy research and taught mathematics at the university.

After receiving the degree, he went on to spend some time in Pasadena, California,

at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, where Dr Dale would impress with his acute understanding

of orbital mechanics.

From there, he'd go on to Yale, earning a Master of Science degree in 1967 and in 1969 a PhD in astronomy.

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