Dallas Man Sentenced to Life for 1996 Murder of 15-Year-Old Tamika Cromer, Ending Nearly 30-Year Cold Case

DALLAS, Texas - Nearly 30 years after 15-year-old Tamika Cromer disappeared and was later found murdered near the Trinity River, a Dallas County jury has convicted the man responsible for her death.

Steven Augusta Ridge, 59, was found guilty of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison on Oct. 5, 2026, bringing a long-awaited resolution to a case that remained unsolved for decades.

Ridge, who was arrested in October 2023 after DNA evidence linked him to the killing, had pleaded not guilty. His life sentence includes the possibility of parole.

His attorney filed a notice of appeal with the Fifth Court of Appeals on Oct. 7, two days after the conviction.

Teen Disappeared in February 1996, Found Dead Four Days Later

Tamika Cromer, affectionately known to her family as "Mimi," was 15 years old when she went missing on Feb. 25, 1996.

Four days later, her body was discovered burning beneath an isolated bridge pillar near the Trinity River.

Investigators determined that Tamika had been strangled, severely beaten and sexually assaulted.

According to court records associated with Ridge's 2023 indictment, prosecutors alleged that he caused Tamika's death by asphyxiating her with her own brassiere and his hands.

Despite the violent circumstances surrounding her death, investigators initially struggled to identify a suspect.

With few leads, the investigation eventually became a cold case.

For nearly three decades, Tamika's family waited for answers about what happened to the teenager.

"Not one of us ever stopped thinking about Mimi, talking about her, or wondering why she didn't come home that next day, as she always would," her family said in a statement released by the Dallas County District Attorney's Office. "When she didn't come home, we knew something was wrong."

DNA Evidence Leads Investigators to Steven Ridge

Years after Tamika's death, DNA evidence connected Ridge to the murder.

Further investigation by the Dallas County District Attorney's Office revealed that Ridge had spent time in Tamika's neighborhood before she was killed.

The findings helped investigators develop the case against him.

Ridge was arrested Oct. 18, 2023, and remained in custody at the Dallas County Jail on a $2.5 million bond while awaiting trial.

Prosecutors presented DNA evidence and other investigative findings to the jury.

Jurors also heard testimony from another woman who had previously been sexually assaulted by Ridge, according to the district attorney's office.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury found Ridge guilty of capital murder.

Jury Sentences Ridge to Life in Prison With Possibility of Parole

The trial was presided over by Judge Molly Francis, with prosecutor Kristin Treager representing the state.

Ridge maintained his not-guilty plea but was convicted and sentenced by the jury on Oct. 5.

Court records show that in August 2024, prosecutors filed notice that the state would not seek the death penalty.

The jury ultimately imposed a life sentence.

Ridge's sentence includes the possibility of parole, meaning he may become eligible for consideration for conditional release after meeting the applicable statutory requirements. Parole eligibility does not guarantee release.

Ridge's attorney filed a notice of appeal Oct. 7 with the Fifth Court of Appeals in Dallas.

The filing begins the appellate process but does not overturn the conviction.

Tamika's Family Remembers Teenager They Called 'Mimi'

For Tamika's family, the verdict brought answers to questions they had carried since 1996.

Relatives described her as a teenager full of life, love and laughter, someone whose absence continued to affect the family long after her death.

"Above anything else, we are just so grateful that Mimi can finally rest," her family said.

"We are thankful for the answers this verdict has given us, but answers cannot take away the hurt. Our hearts still ache, and they always will."

The family said they never stopped remembering Tamika or wondering what happened to her.

Her loved ones continued to speak about her throughout the years, preserving her memory while waiting for investigators to identify the person responsible.

Dallas County Cold Case Investigators Credited With Solving Murder

The Dallas County District Attorney's Office credited its Cold Case Unit and the investigators, prosecutors and victim advocates who worked to bring the case to trial.

The office recognized prosecutors Kristin Treager and Katherine Lessing, Investigator Jon Wakefield, and Victim Advocates Mackenzie Kile and Elise Welsh for their work.

The conviction came nearly 30 years after Tamika's death and three years after Ridge's arrest.

The district attorney's office said the case demonstrates that investigations can continue to move forward even after decades without an arrest.

For Tamika's family, the verdict provides accountability while leaving the loss of a 15-year-old girl whose life ended in 1996.