Baby Missing For 40 Years After Parents' Slaying Found In Oklahoma

HOUSTON, TX — When Florida residents Dean and Tina Linn Clouse were slain more than 40 years ago, their infant daughter was nowhere to be found when police discovered their bodies in a wooded area of Houston.

Decades later, Holly Marie Clouse was found alive and living in Oklahoma with her five children, KHOU reported Thursday. The discovery of Holly was also confirmed in an announcement from the Texas Attorney General’s Office.

Holly Marie Clouse was last seen by her family in late 1980. Her parents were killed Jan. 12, 1981. Dean was beaten to death and his wife was strangled, according to USA Today. However, their bodies weren't identified until last year. Genetic genealogy helped confirm the remains were those of Dean Clouse and Tina Linn Clouse, officials said.

Holly, now 42, has been notified of the identities of her biological parents and has been in contact with her extended biological family, officials said.

"Finding Holly is a birthday present from heaven since we found her on Junior’s birthday," Donna Casasanta, Holly's grandmother, said in a statement. "I prayed for more than 40 years for answers and the Lord has revealed some of it ... we have found Holly.”

The search for Holly was a collaborative effort between the Texas Attorney General’s Office Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit and several other agencies spanning three states.

The investigation into the killing of Dean and Tina Linn Clouse remains open. Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, authorities did not release any additional information about Holly’s childhood and separation from her parents.