The Slaying of Carolyn Kolas

The Slaying of Carolyn Kolas

Author: TTC Productions March 23, 2026 Duration: 29:41
On May 27, 1995, 41-year-old Carolyn Kolas left her Midland home for one of her regular morning walks and never returned. A few hours later, her body was found in an alley off West Ohio Avenue, just blocks from home. She had been brutally attacked in a case that shocked Midland, not only for its violence, but because Carolyn had been taken while doing something so ordinary and so familiar. It left an entire neighborhood unsettled.

Carolyn was a wife, a mother of two, a student, and a woman in the middle of changing her life. After serious health concerns, she had quit smoking, lost a significant amount of weight, and committed herself to a strict walking routine while working toward becoming a certified nurse’s aide. But as investigators searched for the person who killed her, the case grew more complicated. Early attention focused on the possibility of a stranger attack. Later, police publicly identified her husband, Daniel Kolas, as their prime suspect. Still, despite reward offers, grand jury review, and years of unanswered questions, no one was ever charged.

Three decades later, Carolyn Kolas’s murder remains unsolved, a case shaped by missing evidence, shifting suspicion, and the lingering hope that someone, somewhere, still holds the piece that could finally bring answers.

If you have any information about the murder of Carolyn Glynn Kolas, please contact Midland Crime Stoppers at (432)694-8477.

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The stories that haunt a community often linger long after the headlines fade, waiting for someone to listen. Gone Cold-Texas True Crime is a podcast dedicated to those unresolved narratives, focusing specifically on the vast and complex landscape of Texas. Each episode delves into a different mystery, from long-unsolved homicides and disappearances that have left families searching for decades to other enigmatic cases that have stubbornly resisted explanation. The sheer size and diverse history of Texas provide a unique backdrop for these investigations, where details can be as sprawling as the state itself. Produced by TTC Productions, this series approaches each case with a focus on the facts and the human stories at their core, avoiding sensationalism in favor of thoughtful examination. When you listen, you’ll hear a detailed recounting of events, often including what is known about the individuals involved and the investigative paths that were followed, all while considering the questions that remain unanswered. This podcast serves as an audio record for cases that deserve renewed attention, exploring the lingering impact on communities and the hope that new information might still emerge. It’s for those drawn to the intricacies of real-life mysteries and the understanding that some of the most compelling stories are those without an ending.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Gone Cold - Texas True Crime
Podcast Episodes
The Bathroom Slayings Part Three: Juanita Carroll [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:34
On April 24, 1977, 59-year-old Juanita Carroll was found dead inside the bathroom of her home on Ballinger Street in Abilene, Texas. Natural gas was flowing from a bathroom heater, and Juanita was seated in a chair, full…
The Bathroom Slayings Part Two: Geneva Jackson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:08
Six years after the unsolved murder of Sharon Kay Watts, Abilene was shaken by another brutal killing with unsettling similarities.Geneva Lucille Jackson was a respected seventh-grade math teacher, Air Force widow, mothe…
The Bathroom Slayings Part One: Sharon Kay Watts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:27
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The Disappearance of Roxanne Paltauf Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:59
Just days after Roxanne Paltauf vanished from a Budget Inn near Interstate 35 and Rundberg Lane in Austin, her missing ID surfaced in the wallet of a violent offender arrested after an assault at a neighboring motel. Det…
The Disappearance of Roxanne Paltauf Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:59
In July 2006, eighteen-year-old Roxanne Paltauf vanished from a Budget Inn near Interstate 35 and Rundberg Lane in Austin, Texas. Just hours earlier, she had promised her mother she would be home the next morning.Roxanne…
The Disappearance of Mike Jefferson Adams [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:52
In June of 1987, eighteen-year-old Michael Jefferson "Mike" Adams seemed to have everything going for him. A recent early graduate of Cooper High School, Mike had already enrolled at Texas Tech University to study archit…
The Dark History of Wharton County Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:04
In Part Two of our series on the dark history of Wharton County, we examine three more haunting cases that continue to leave families searching for answers.The episode begins in Ganado, Texas, with the unsolved 1999 murd…
The Dark History of Wharton County Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:28
For more than 150 years, Wharton County, Texas, has been shaped by both prosperity and violence. In the first installment of this special series, we trace the county's darker history: from racial terror and vigilante jus…
The Disappearance of Brandi Wells Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
Nearly twenty years after Brandi Wells disappeared, the questions surrounding her case remain as haunting as ever.In part two, we examine the investigation that unfolded after Brandi's black Pontiac Grand Prix was found…
The Disappearance of Brandi Wells Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:50
In August 2006, twenty-three-year-old Brandi Wells left her mother's home in Tyler, Texas, for what should have been an ordinary night out. Excited about returning to college and rebuilding her life after a difficult few…