BEATRICE — A memorial service will be held Saturday for a woman who was one of six people wrongfully convicted of killing a Beatrice woman in 1985.
Kathleen Ann Gonzalez, of York, died Jan. 10 while visiting Greeley, Colorado. She was 62.
Kathy Gonzalez
“She left us too soon, and like all of us, she had seen burdens and hardships,” her obituary reads. “To get to know her was to be touched deeply by her resilience. She faced adversity that never really left her alone, yet she always refused to let it define her.”
The obituary also said she had a great sense of humor, was a voracious reader and adored Frank Sinatra.
Gonzalez was one of the so-called Beatrice 6, a group awarded a $28.1 million verdict against Gage County following a cold-case investigation that sent the six to prison for the brutal slaying.
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Years after they were sentenced, DNA testing on blood and semen evidence left in Helen Wilson’s apartment tied Bruce Allen Smith, who died in an Oklahoma prison in 1992, to her rape and murder.
By then, Gonzalez, Joseph White, Ada JoAnn Taylor, James Dean, Thomas Winslow and Debra Shelden had spent a combined 75 years in prison.
In 2008, state prosecutors said they believed the six had nothing to do with the crime. They were exonerated, and in 2009, sued Gage County for the reckless investigation that landed them in prison.
After a mistrial, a federal jury found enough evidence that then-deputy Burdette Searcey and then-reserve deputy Wayne Price had violated their rights, awarding them the $28.1 million.
The case made its way to the United States Supreme Court, which let the Nebraska federal jury’s ruling stand.
White died in a workplace accident in 2011.
Gage County made its first payment to the Beatrice 6 in June 2019. The county is one payment from having the judgment paid off. That payment is expected to be made in May.
The memorial service for Gonzalez will be at Metz Mortuary in York on Saturday at 2 p.m. Her obituary said a sister and brother are among her survivors.
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Top Journal Star photos for January 2023
Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican (left) swears in the new senators for 2023, on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Sen. John Fredrickson shows his son, Leon, the inside of the west wing on the first day of the 2023 Legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023, at the Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
Kristina Konecko, an administrative aide for Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte, boxes up items at his old desk Tuesday at the Capitol. The new session begins Wednesday.
Gov. Jim Pillen shakes hands with Senator Tony Vargas after the inauguration ceremony for the governor on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, at Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln.
A camera flash illuminates the newly elected Gov. Jim Pillen (center left) as he is escorted through the rotunda to the West Chamber to be sworn in on Thursday at Capitol in Lincoln.
Milford's Izzy Yeackley (left) grabs a rebound in front of Malcolm's Emma Brown on Thursday in Malcolm.
Tell Hanes (left) of the Waverly Fire Department and Southeast Rural Fire's Trey Wayne jump over freezing water to high-five while practicing surface ice rescues Friday at Holmes Lake. "We try to run these trainings for both our students and local first responders to make sure they are ready in case anything real happens," said Andrew Saunders, of the International Rescue and Relief program at Union College.
Lincoln Southeast's Kaitlyn Freudenberg (from left) tries to hold onto the ball against Lincoln Southwest's Brinly Christensen and Aniya Seymore on Friday at Lincoln Southwest.
Nebraska's Kendall Moriarty does push-ups as her teammates cheer after the Huskers beat Penn State on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska's Brock Hardy (right) wrestles Minnesota's Jakob Bergeland in the 141-pound match, Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, at the Devaney Center.
Ali Al-Mohammed, 17, kicks a soccer ball after school on Tuesday in front of Park Middle School. Renovations at Park that were part of the 2020 bond issue included a new cafeteria space.
Parkview Christian's Isabella Minatti (middle, right) is fouled against Johnson-Brock during a MUDECAS Tournament semifinal game Thursday at Beatrice Auditorium.
Nebraska's Emmanuel Bandoumel makes a dunk against Illinois' Matthew Mayer on Tuesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska's Derrick Walker is introduced before the Illinois game, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
A truck passes over an icy Platte River along U.S. 6 on Friday near Ashland. Friday's temperature failed to get above freezing, but the forecast for Saturday and Sunday is much better, with temperatures in the high 40s and low 50s before precipitation chances Sunday night and Monday.
A pair of ice skaters journey across a frozen Holmes Lake at sunset on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023, in Lincoln. As winter continues, weather this week will be consistently in the 40s with a dry weekend.
Ohio State's Rebeka Mikulášiková collides with Nebraska's Maddie Krull as they battle for the ball underneath the rim in the third quarter Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Kyrie Kelley-Johnson, son of Lincoln High head coach Dominique Kelley-Johnson, tries to keep the attention of the players while the Links stretch before their game Saturday at Lincoln High.
Governor Jim Pillen (center) announces the appointment of former governor Pete Ricketts to Nebraska's open senate seat, during an announcement on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln. The vacancy, left open by the departure of Ben Sasse, has been expected to go to Ricketts after his depurate from the governorship last year.
Oscar and Yenifer Contreras, (left to right) both family workers, enjoy some of the food they made before lunch on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, at Restaurante & Bar Sabor Latino in Lincoln.
Parker Moll braves a mix of snow and rain to clear the driveway outside his family's home on Wednesday.
Ohio State's Zed Key (left) lays the ball into the basket off of the backboard against Nebraska's Derrick Walker on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska's Sam Griesel (right) embraces teammate Keisei Tominaga after defeating Ohio State on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Nebraska's Isabelle Bourne (left) is blocked at the rim by Maryland's Gia Cooke on Sunday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Lincoln Pius X's Jackson Kessler (middle, bottom) celebrates after hitting a three-point shot against Lincoln Southwest on Thursday at Pius X High School.
Nebraska's Allie Gard completes a back hand spring during her routine on the balance beam during their duel against Maryland on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Lincoln Pius X's Nate Schauer (left) and Treyson Anderson celebrate after defeating Omaha Skutt on Tuesday at Pius X High School.
Nebraska's Denim Dawson bites a towel after the Huskers lost to Northwestern on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Leona Nissen (left) and Mackenzie Derowitsch chat during some one-on-one mentorship time at Lincoln Lutheran on Thursday. The 6-12 school has implemented a new mentor program called Warrior Walk that pairs a middle school student with a high school counterpart.
April and Stormi Mrsny hurtle down the hill on their sled while followed by their dog, Penni, on Monday at Pioneers Park. Chilly temperatures are in the forecast this week ahead of an Arctic air mass that could arrive by the weekend.
Gov. Jim Pillen delivers his State of the State address on Wednesday at the Capitol in Lincoln.
Lincoln High School senior Kristie Trinh was recently selected for the prestigious United States Senate Youth Program.
John Lee (left), an opponent of LB77, open carries his great-great grandfather's musket outside a Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday at the Capitol. "This is the only arms that they knew of when they were writing the Constitution," Lee said. LB77 would remove a requirement that gun owners obtain a permit to be able to carry a concealed weapon.
