The Sleepover That Turned Silent
New Year’s Eve 1999 ended quietly in Del Rio, Texas. Inside a family home, five children had gathered for a birthday sleepover at the residence of thirteen-year-old Katie Harris. Among them were ten-year-old Krystal Surles and her seven-year-old sister. The girls laughed, talked, and eventually fell asleep believing they were safe inside a familiar home with Katie’s mother nearby.
Katie’s father was not present that night. Only Katie’s mother and the children were inside the house.
In the early morning hours of January 1, 2000, while the home was dark and still, an intruder allegedly entered the residence. He moved directly toward the bedroom where the girls were sleeping.
According to later testimony, the intruder approached Katie Harris first and began sexually assaulting her. When she screamed, the attacker allegedly stabbed her sixteen times and cut her throat. Katie suffered fatal injuries at the scene.
The intruder then turned toward Krystal Surles, who was lying in a nearby bed. Krystal’s throat was slashed. Believing she had been killed, the attacker left the home.
Krystal, gravely wounded but alive, remained still until she believed the attacker had gone. Unable to speak due to her injuries, she fled the house and ran to a neighbor’s home for help. She later stated that she believed everyone inside the home had been killed, which is why she ran rather than returning.
Emergency responders were called. Krystal was transported to the hospital, where her life was saved.
One detail would later stand out: Krystal’s seven-year-old sister had begged to sleep in the bedroom with the older girls that night. She cried herself to sleep when she was told she had to stay in another room. That decision may have saved her life.
Two Children Caught in a Killer’s Path
Katie Harris was thirteen years old and celebrating her birthday with friends. She was a young girl excited about the new year, spending the night surrounded by classmates and family. She was a daughter, a friend, and a child whose life was just beginning.
Krystal Surles, age ten, attended the sleepover with her younger sister. Despite suffering a severe throat wound, Krystal survived the attack and later became a key witness in the case. Her bravery and ability to communicate with investigators played a critical role in bringing the attacker to justice.
Krystal’s seven-year-old sister, though unharmed, experienced the trauma of believing her sister and others in the home had been killed.
Together, these children became central figures in a crime that shocked the Del Rio community and exposed the violence of a serial offender.
When a Survivor Became the Voice of Justice
At the hospital, Krystal Surles could not speak due to the severity of her injuries. Instead, she communicated with Del Rio law enforcement by writing notes. In those notes, she described the attacker and what had occurred inside the bedroom.
Her statements provided investigators with critical information. Within days of the attack, authorities arrested Tommy Lynn Sells in connection with the crime.
The case quickly shifted from a local home invasion to a broader serial murder investigation. As details of Sells’ past emerged, law enforcement believed he was responsible for numerous violent crimes across multiple states.
Krystal later testified against Sells in court, becoming one of the youngest surviving witnesses to confront a serial killer in a murder trial.
A Town in Shock and an Expanding Investigation
Police secured the home as a crime scene and interviewed Katie’s mother and the surviving children. Medical personnel focused on saving Krystal’s life while investigators gathered information from her written statements.
Once Sells was in custody, law enforcement agencies began reviewing unsolved murders and assaults from other jurisdictions. His movements and criminal history were examined as part of a larger investigation into serial killings across the United States.
The case drew national attention and deeply affected the Del Rio community, where residents struggled to understand how such violence could occur during a child’s birthday sleepover.
Confirmed Outcomes in the Case
Katie Harris died from multiple stab wounds and a fatal throat injury.
Krystal Surles survived a severe throat wound and provided written statements and courtroom testimony.
Tommy Lynn Sells was arrested in connection with the crime.
Sells was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.
Authorities believed Sells was responsible for numerous other murders involving men, women, and children.
Tommy Lynn Sells was executed by lethal injection in 2014.
Unanswered Questions That Remain
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How did the intruder enter the home without waking other occupants?
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What led the attacker to target this specific residence?
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Were there warning signs or suspicious activity prior to the attack?
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How many additional crimes may be connected to Sells but were never officially confirmed?
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Why was only one bedroom attacked while others were left unharmed?
People Forever Linked to the Crime
Katie Harris – Victim – Thirteen-year-old girl killed during a birthday sleepover.
Krystal Surles – Victim / Survivor – Ten-year-old girl who escaped and testified.
Krystal’s sister – Witness – Seven-year-old child who slept in another room.
Tommy Lynn Sells – Suspect – Serial killer convicted of the crime.