Dallas Murders Solved After 20 Years

(CBS 11 News) DALLAS It took more than 20 years, but two high-profile murder cases are now solved, and the killer is serving life sentences for the crimes.

37-year-old Cedric Denell Compton admitted to the murders after DNA evidence proved he committed the crimes.

Extra deputies were called into the courtroom as Compton pled guilty to the crimes.

Prosecutor Nancy Mulder said, "Cedric Compton had threatened to take a bailiff's gun and shoot the judge and anybody else he could take down when he entered the courtroom."

In shackles and chains, Compton admitted he killed 20-year-old Cathi Corken of Oklahoma.

"She was an OSU student who came down for Texas-OU weekend,” Mulder said, “and was murdered that Saturday night of Texas-OU weekend in 1985."

Prosecutors say Cathi was walking back to the place where she was staying for the weekend when Compton approached her. He raped her, stabbed her 20 times, and left her body in a ravine near Park Lane in Dallas.

Mulder says it was the most heinous and horrific murder she has seen.

Now, nearly 21 years later, Cathi Corken's family addressed the killer for the first time. Her sister Candice McCormick said, "I was only 7 years old when you, Cedric, chose to end the life of Cathi Corken."

Her father read a letter from the victim's other sister. He also spoke to Compton, saying, "I don't know if you could ever know the hurt you've caused this family."

Compton killed Cathi Corken when he was just 17 years old. Two years later he raped and strangled 25-year-old Tony Singleton. Her body was found under a house in south Dallas.

Prosecutors say six weeks later he was convicted of aggravated robbery and received a 15 year sentence for the crime.

They say DNA evidence in both cases is what led them to Compton. "DNA is truly a wonderful forensic tool in prosecution and as you've seen today it has brought closure to the families," Mulder said.

Compton is also a suspect in at least one other murder, that of a Dallas woman in 1997. It happened when Compton was on parole. That case is still pending.

Compton must serve 35 years of his two life sentences before he is eligible for parole.