David Graham and Diane Zamora: What Most People Get Wrong

It started with a lie about a one-night stand.

In late 1995, David Graham told his fiancée, Diane Zamora, that he had slept with a girl from his high school cross-country team named Adrianne Jones. He later claimed he made the whole thing up just to make Diane jealous—sorta like a twisted test of affection. It worked, but not the way any sane person would want. Instead of just getting mad, Diane allegedly gave him an ultimatum: kill the girl, or she’d kill herself.

Thirty years later, the "Texas Cadet Murder" still feels like a fever dream. People remember the headlines about the "honor student killers" and the "star-crossed cadets," but the actual mechanics of the crime and the weird life they've lived since 1996 are often glossed over.

The Night at Joe Pool Lake

Most people think this was some high-stakes military operation because they were cadets. Honestly? It was a messy, brutal, and amateurish disaster. On the night of December 4, 1995, Graham lured 16-year-old Adrianne Jones out of her house in Mansfield, Texas. He told her they were going to get a late-night snack. Diane was already in the car, hiding in the back under a coat or in the trunk area of her Mazda.

They drove to a remote spot near Joe Pool Lake.

Once they stopped, things went south fast. According to court testimony, Diane came out of hiding and a struggle broke out. She hit Adrianne in the head with a weighted barbell. Adrianne, terrifyingly brave, actually managed to scramble out of the car and tried to run across a field, even climbing a barbed-wire fence while bleeding from the head.

That’s when Diane reportedly told David to "finish it." He stepped over the fence and shot Adrianne twice in the head with a 9mm Makarov pistol. They left her there and went home to clean the car.

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The Secret That Didn't Stay Secret

For nine months, they got away with it. They graduated high school. They went off to prestigious military academies—David to the Air Force Academy in Colorado and Diane to the Naval Academy in Annapolis.

The case only broke because Diane couldn't keep her mouth shut. During a "late-night venting session" with her roommates at Annapolis, she confessed. She basically told them her boyfriend had killed a girl to prove his love for her. One of those roommates, Jennifer McKearny, did the right thing and told the authorities.

The image of two clean-cut, high-achieving cadets being hauled away in handcuffs became a national obsession. It shattered the idea that "good kids" from "good families" don't do things like this.

Where Are David Graham and Diane Zamora Now?

As of 2026, both are still behind bars, and they aren't getting out anytime soon. Texas law at the time of their conviction carried a mandatory life sentence for capital murder, but with a catch. They weren't given "life without parole." Instead, they were sentenced to life with the possibility of parole after 40 years.

• Diane Zamora is currently 47 years old. She is held at the Murray Unit in Gatesville, Texas. Over the years, she’s been in the news for prison drama, including a high-profile friendship with Yolanda Saldívar (the woman who killed Selena). She also went through a brief prison marriage to another inmate via mail, though that didn't last.
• David Graham is 48. He is serving his time at the Allred Unit near Wichita Falls. Unlike Diane, who has occasionally sought the spotlight or filed various appeals, David has mostly stayed under the radar.

The 2036 Parole Date

The date everyone is looking at is September 5, 2036. That is the first day they are officially eligible to apply for parole.

It’s important to understand how Texas parole boards work. Eligibility does not mean release. Especially in high-profile capital murder cases where a teenage girl was executed, the Board of Pardons and Paroles rarely grants release on the first try. The Jones family has remained vocal about their loss, and their impact statements will carry massive weight when 2036 finally rolls around.

The Lingering "One-Night Stand" Mystery

One of the biggest debates that still haunts this case is whether the sex ever happened. David Graham eventually recanted his story, saying he never actually touched Adrianne Jones. He claimed he was just a teenage boy trying to sound "experienced" to his intense, obsessive fiancée.

Investigators later found zero evidence that David and Adrianne had any kind of romantic relationship. Adrianne’s friends and family maintained she wasn't even interested in him. This makes the murder even more senseless—it was an execution based on a lie told by the killer to his accomplice.

Real-World Takeaways and Next Steps

The story of David Graham and Diane Zamora is a case study in obsessive relationships and the "folie à deux"—a madness shared by two. If you are following this case or researching true crime from this era, here is what you need to know:

• Check the Records: You can actually look up their current status on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) website using their SID numbers (Zamora: 05713081).
• The Legal Landscape: This case is often used to discuss why Texas changed its sentencing laws. Today, a capital murder conviction for an adult often results in life without the possibility of parole, meaning 2036 wouldn't even be an option for newer cases.
• Support for Victims: If you’re moved by Adrianne’s story, the Adrianne Jones Memorial Scholarship was established in her hometown of Mansfield to help other students achieve the dreams she never got to realize.

To keep up with the 2036 parole hearings, you can set a Google Alert for "TDCJ Parole Board" or follow Mansfield local news outlets, as they typically cover the anniversary of the case every December.