He was certain that the tarp was there. Melissa Witt was abducted from a bowling alley parking lot in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1994. Post Sep 03, 2007 #1 2007-09-03T19:31. . Home Email Facebook. All four of the people on the train who were able to observe the scene prior to the accident stated that the bodies were partially covered by the green tarp. He believes that Kevin and Don stumbled on either drug traffickers or a drug lab that manufactured methamphetamine and that they were killed as a result. He was usually present when Kevin returned home from school and his mother, Linda, was always home at nights. Nearly three decades after the investigation hit a dead end, Texarkanas Charles B. Police who searched the scene later denied that Stephen had told them about the tarp. Their families have conducted their own investigations and are still hoping that the case can be solved. "She's waited 42 years for answers. Homicides are the most commom types of cases worked by the cold case investigators as there is no statute of limitations on when a person can be charged for committing this crime. Updated: 9:18 AM CST March 4, 2021 FORT SMITH, Ark. Another attributes the light to his wifes lantern, as she eternally searches for her husbands body. However, it was never found. In the early morning hours of August 23, 1987, the mangled bodies of Henry and Ives were discovered on a set of railroad tracks in Bryant, a suburb just south of Little Rock. These cases are typically fairly old, some having occured as long as twenty years ago. Others insisted that they saw a Bryant officialthat Dan Harmon fellow we mentioned earlier, to be exactpartaking in a drug deal, and the boys were simply victims of being potential witnesses that could jeopardize a political career. In recent years, sightings have been sporadic. After serving a 10-month sentence in north Arkansas, he was released from prison in May of 1995. The West Memphis Three: Arkansas's most controversial murder case involves three men who were tried and convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three eight-year old boys (Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers) in West Memphis, Arkansas. By the time Allen got up from his seat, the man was gone. Links: Unsolved Mysteries Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Unsolved Cases . Crime in Arkansas. Arkansas, USA : C : Hoyt Franklin CLINES March 25, 1981: 1: Arkansas, USA : Johnie Michael . In Cold Blood: The Brutal 1959 Murder of the Walker Family. EMERGENCY 911. This contradicted official statements from the Ouachita Sheriffs department that they had yet to turn up any clues in her disappearance. The story haunted Gould for years, especially after she inherited a small tin box filled with Ellas personal belongings. NeverForgotten.ar.gov, launched in 2016 and hosted by Arkansas Crime Information Center, enables the public to access information on missing persons cases with an easy-to-use searchable database. That led police to suspect that they had ended up arresting the Phantom Killer. Ives, meanwhile, had blunt force trauma to his skull. who was the head of the Investigations Division at the time. Texarkana was on high alert, but despite the best efforts of the authorities, the violence continued. He determined that they had been in a deep sleep induced by the "psychedelic" effects of the drug and had never heard the oncoming train. She hoped to force eight federal agencies and three Arkansas-based law enforcement agencies to produce any documents they had about the case. A family is still looking for answers after a Sebastian County woman's murder case remains unsolved 42-years later. One week before Kevin and Don were killed, a man wearing military fatigues had been spotted in the vicinity. Judge orders North Little Rock mental health facility to pay $2.5M in teen rape case. Suspects: The man wearing military fatigues witnessed by police and others remains a possible suspect, but police have never been able to locate or positively identify him. He occasionally stayed overnight, but he always left the following day on the afternoon train. In the days following his disappearance, rumors started circulating. Under the guidance of Captain Montgomery, the NLRPD cold case team has been awarded a federal grant to use for cold case investigation. When police found a 21-year-old female brutally murdered in her hotel room, the mystery was just beginning. "I daresay every lawman who worked this case never quit mulling the story over and over in hopes of turning up the hard evidence that could have convicted Swinney of the murders," Presley told the magazine. Garrett had another autopsy conducted on Kevin and Don. The Doe Network has 49 Unidentified Victims listed found in Arkansas.. 32 John Doe's & 17 Jane Doe's.. The reason why you find the wrongfully convicted in my database is simple: when the exonerated is taken out of the . Legal Statement. Source: HBO. Virgil, 37, was killed, but Katie made it to the safety of a neighbor's house despite being hit in the face with two bullets. Before being treated at the hospital for minor injuries, Ford explained to the officers that he routinely spotted the monster on his property terrorizing his livestock, so they decided to investigate. Last updated February 23, 2023. . By all accounts, Kevin and Don were typical teenage boys who both loved to work on their cars and hunt. My great grandmother, Angeline Patrick, remains a mystery as far as who she was and who her parents and siblings were. Mother of boy found dead on tracks in 1987 suing United States of America, Judge to look at files in 1987 deaths of 2 boys found on central Arkansas railroad tracks, Former wrestler claims he witnessed murders of Don Henry and Kevin Ives, Mom of cold case victim dies; Linda Ives sought answers in the deaths of 2 teens for decades, Linda Ives, mother who sought answers in 'Boys on the Tracks' case, dies at 71, SitcomsOnline Discussion of Don Henry and Kevin Ives, This case originally aired on the October 12, 1988 episode of. In Izard County, a billboard advertising a reward in the murder case of Rebekah Gould was installed near Melbourne. However, no suspects were identified. In April, Paul Martin, 16, and Betty Jo Booker, 15, were found murdered after a high school dance. They began a crusade to find out what really happened and salvage the reputation of their sons. You cansubscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. . Residents booby-trapped their houses with pots and pans full of silverware or old nails. Meanwhile, the Crossett Light also originated from a fatal railroad incident, this time with the unlucky worker being beheaded by the train. FORT SMITH, Ark. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Name: Date: Victims: Location : B: Charles Jason BALDWIN: May 5, 1993: 3 ? It's been nearly 30 years since Pam Felkins was kidnapped from her job at an Arkansas video store, rapedand then murdered -- but authorities announced Monday they may finally know who killed her. It seemed difficult to believe that they would lay on the tracks without moving a muscle, while a huge freight train was hurtling towards them blaring its horn. Submit Via Email. 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Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas The 10 Murder Capitals Of Arkansas For 2021 1. Some of the biggest unsolved murders in Arkansas include the 1994 murder of Melissa "Missy" Witt, the 1995 murder of Marlo Taylor, and the 1987 double murder of Don Henry and Kevin Ives, among many others. As his train drew closer, he made the horrifying discovery that two boys were lying motionless across the railroad tracks. When police officer Danny Allen stopped to question him, the man opened fire. Garrett believes that Kevin and Don were murdered. The sheriff's office said that investigators collected DNA from Renegars biological daughter, which also confirmed a 99.99% match with the DNA found on Felkins. Curtis recalls that Don came into his bedroom at around 12:15am. Harsent was six months pregnant at the time of her death. Both are similar in appearance, with witnesses describing them as glowing white lights that occasionally move throughout the woods. When Linda Edwards got a job as dispatcher for the Garland County Sheriffs Office, she considered it a godsendbut just six months after joining the force, she vanished. He told police that they were laying motionless on the tracks, parallel to one another with their arms straight down at their sides, their bodies partially covered by a green tarp. Garrett had another autopsy conducted on Kevin and Don. They thought maybe that was evidence of a possible ransom or extortion, but the money in his bank accounts hasnt been touched. What had caused Kevin and Don to lie side-by-side on the railroad tracks? In March of this year, however,the sheriff's office announced investigators were using Snapshot DNA Phenotyping for the first time in hopes of tracking down the killer. Crawford was looking into a potentially illegal transfer of assets between Berg and some of his family members. On December 30, 2000, a gruesome murder occurred in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo, Japan. They were also told some incriminating stories by his wife Peggy, 21, whom they had arrested a few weeks earlier for the same thing. "Five bodies have been discovered since March, each dismembered and left in secluded areas in local Arkansas. It was unusual for husband not to keep in touch. Key witnesses were examined, leads were hunted down, evidence was poured overbut nothing concrete ever came from it. The investigators would then work on each case when time would allow. Residents honored their memory with a memorial last spring. SMITH, Kirt Douglas USA TODAY was unable to reach the Facebook users for comment. Adding to the creepiness of the case, some self-proclaimed web-sleuths have tenuously linked the Phantom with San Franciscos notorious Zodiac Killer. Arkansas was a hotbed for mob activity in the first half of the 20th century. Six weeks after the investigation was reopened, Garrett came up with a strangely similar case. 100 Rock Street Anonymous tips to the telecenter suggested that Kevin and Don were murdered by drug traffickers, and that they may have stumbled into the middle of a "drug drop." A mother's 30-year missions to uncover the truth about what happened to her son's in 1987 has led a federal judge to order an urgent review of several tightly guarded government . In the early 1900s, down in Nevada County, the man who would come to be known as Old Mike was a familiar face in and around the city of Prescott. While there, he allegedly witnessed the murders. Arkansas parents dispute ruling on sons' deaths, Parents Doubt Report Blaming Marijuana: Youths' Deaths on Train Tracks Probed, Forensic photos indicate teens were injured prior to being struck by train, Garrett says, Second Autopsy Report Concludes Teens Murdered, Saline County Sheriff criticizes Malak for his handling of deaths, Prosecutor says teens hit by train may have seen drug dealers before death, Prosecutor: Teens killer will be brought to justice, Teens deaths ruled homicides after parents push for facts, Patrick Matrisciana's US Court of Appeals. In September of 2004, the North Little Rock Police Department started a pilot program designed to reduce the number of open investigations by using retired law enforcement officers to supplement the existing group of investigators. Only days before disappearing, she had confronted him face-to-face about the issue. Witnesses say that they saw her standing next to a maroon car driven by a man in his 30s on August 9, 1970. Nate Coulter, the Executive Director of the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS), has appointed a committee of local historians and CALS staff members to accept RFQs (Requests for Qualifications) from qualified artists who are interested in designing, creating, and installing A MEMORIAL TO AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR SOLDIERS WHO SERVED WITH THE UNION ARMY IN ARKANSAS. When a fight broke out between the two, he allegedly killed her. However, since he started working on it, he has carried one. Location: Alexander, Arkansas After fighting to get the case reopened, they finally succeed in early 1988 when a new prosecutor was assigned to the case. Gould was driven to unearth answers long-buried under decades of gossip and folklore. In recent years, more designs have been popping up in southern areas of the state as well. In June 1988, a local man came forward, claiming that on the night of the murder, he saw two police officers beating two boys senseless in a store parking lot before tossing them into a police car and driving away. He believes the assailant(s) incapacitated one of them, and then, felt like they had to do something to the other one. The claim that there is an active serial killer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is FALSE, based on our research. However, he was unable to stop it in time. The second attack came about a month after Hollis and Larey were assaulted. It's been nearly 30 years since Pam Felkins was kidnapped from her job at an Arkansas video store, raped and then murdered -- but . On October 23, 2018, Garrett passed away at the age of seventy-two. To this date, they have solved 6 cold cases and have evidence pending at the state crime lab that they hope will lead to the identification of more perpertrators in other cold cases. It is not known if the boys were Kevin and Don. After living in Faulkner County from the late 1980s to early 1990s, he attended welding school in 1995 at Spartan College of Aeronautics Aviation and Technology in Tulsa, Okla. after his release, Edward Keith Renegar was convicted of kidnapping a "young, small frame lady" in n Cleburne County, Ark. FAQs Facebook Hot Cases Inmate Roster. Within about three seconds, he hit the boys. They traveled to Petit Jean Mountain, the location of his last cell phone signal, and found his SUV parked outside the Mather Lodge. They were best friends and popular seniors at Bryant High School. Whats more, both lights share equally murky origins. Goulds book draws on reliable sources to recreate the last day of Ella Barhams life, her disappearance, the discovery of her remains, and a heated courtroom trial with over 35 witnesses and a seething mob outside the courthouse. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Ursula Herrmann (10), disappeared on 15 September 1981 and she was found dead in mysterious circumstances. After 25 years, though, it appears as if the case will forever remain unsolved. However, he repeatedly received resistance from authorities, who seemed unwilling to cooperate or change their opinions about the case. A prominent figure in the Little Rock construction industry, Glasgow was raking in a seven-figure salary as CEO of CDI Contractors when heallegedlybacked out of his driveway at 5:15 a.m. on January 28 to leave for work. When they were about six poles away from Kevin and Don, his conductor yelled out big-o and he immediately realized that there were bodies on the tracks. 7. Explore the mysteries of 20 compelling unsolved murder cases, from the Zodiac Killer to the death of JonBent Ramsey, with this true crime book. Little Rock or remote Pocahontas, records on Arkansas warrants for arrest in the unsolved murders in arkansas of the unsolved murders in arkansas is strong here, and gay travelers are welcomed in many of the unsolved murders in arkansas at least 75 hours of hands-on training. On June 3, 2021, Linda passed away at the age of seventy-one. The unit is made up of retired North Little Rock Police officers who have agreed to volunteer their expertise in helping solve these cases. Remembering Ella is available at bookstores including the Central Arkansas Library Systems Bookstore and Galleries at Library Square. Hempstead County Sheriff's Office . He does not believe Don would do that because he would not want the wood getting scratched. In the meantime, Captain Mask began contacting retired North Little Rock Police officers to seek out interested individuals who would be willing to volunteer their expertise and help solve some of these cold cases. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Arkansans who have missing loved ones should share as much information as possible, especially the most recent available photographs with their local law enforcement agency. CrimeDoor opens the 'AR' door to unsolved murders. Their parents could not accept that ruling. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 1. Man charged with murder in North Carolina is not George Floyd's brother, Ballot positions are done by a random draw in each county in Arkansas, National Park Service seeks tips from the public to aid homicide investigation in Hot Springs National Park, National Park Service and FBI Seek Information Regarding Hot Springs National Park Homicide Investigation, Woman found dead in Hot Springs National Park; death investigated as homicide, Police investigating after woman's remains found at Hot Springs National Park, Investigation by FBI, NPS closes part of Blacksnake Sunday. Inmate Roster Map Message from the Sheriff. The Creepy Truth About The Texarkana Murder Mystery, The Phantom Killer: Unlocking the Mystery of the Texarkana Serial Murders: The Story of a Town in Terror. The mysterious Moonlight Murders rocked the sleepy southern town of Texarkana in 1946. The entire story has never been told, so I wanted to pull it all together and allow readers to develop their own fully informed opinions. Sports reporter by day, internet sleuth at night, keep up with Brandon at On Campus Sports, Highlands Today, or on Twitter. He said that he and Kevin were going to go out hunting. They put him behind bars for car theft. Her body was found a month later in a shallow grave in South Lake Tahoe, according to the El Dorado County District Attorney's Office. While the appeal wound its way through the courts, the case was passed along to newly appointed prosecutor Dan Harmon. Just a few months later, on August 24, Kevin's sister, Alicia, passed away at the age of fifty-three. On most weekends, the two double dated. That night, they chose their usual hunting ground, along the railroad tracks that ran behind Dons house. Viral posts on social media warn of a purported serial killer in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Adding to the intrigue, all of his files on Crawford disappeared after a short trip away from the office. The murder clearance rate hit an all-time low in 2020, and data analyzed by a nonprofit shows that trend continued last year. Very interesting article from AY Magazine. As a result, the grand jury changed its ruling from "probable homicide" to "definite homicide." Their supposed guard dog wasnt even fazed. Unfortunately, the law barred Peggy from testifying against her husband, and the detectives lacked evidence strong enough to convict Swinney for murder. They believe that Kevin and Don walked up on something that they were not supposed to see; they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Simply go tokrogercommunityrewards.com, click Create an Account to sign in, and selectCALS Foundationas your organization to support. (Faulkner County Sheriff's Office). Arguably the state's most notorious cold case, the mysterious deaths of Don Henry and Kevin Ives still haunt Central Arkansas. In 1971, Bobby Ford told police that he was attacked by a man-like creature standing over 2 meters (7 ft) tall with red eyes. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The Cold Case investigators primarily focus their efforts on unsolved homicides and rapes. Box 1817. Whether it was by choice, though, well never know. Arkansas: The West Memphis murders of Stephen Branch, Christopher Byers, and James Moore. . Nona Young went missing sometime around June or July, 1973. Abdulhakim Mujahid All the victims and wrongfully convicted people are listed by their last name. Also called the Southern Sasquatch, sightings of the Fouke Monster date back to the 1940s, but arguably the most famous accounts occurred in the early 70s. They were lying exactly across the tracks; their legs were across the rails, their torsos were between the tracks, and their arms were straight down by their sides. The kit includes a fingerprint strip and place for fingerprints, as well as a photograph. Several witnesses who testified before the grand jury were charged with drug trafficking and other offenses. It started as a normal Saturday night on August 22, 1987 in Bryant, Arkansas. Medical examiners reported that both boys had suffered injuries prior to the train accident. Arkansas Unsolved Murder--Luther Gerald (Jerry) Parks, Jr. jerrysgirl67. He does not believe that anyone could sleep through that kind of noise. Get App. The exception to this is when DNA evidence can be processed. NEW YORK WOMAN, WHO VANISHED ON BUS TRIP TO FIND TWIN SISTER, STILL BEING SOUGHT 8 YEARS LATER. Thank you for supporting our journalism. At 9 a.m. the next morning, June 25, 1983, the victim's body was discovered near 2000 E. 22nd Street, hidden in the brush of a semi-secluded area not far from her home. SEARCY, Ark. These cases surround themselves with weird clues, strange evidence and testimony, and odd circumstances, all of which serve to launch them into the realms of the most mysterious unsolved crimes. Kevins father, Larry, could not believe that his son was knocked out on marijuana or into any kind of heavy drugs. SUBSCRIBE TO FOX NEWS FIRST -- YOUR BRIEFING ON ALL THE STORIES TO START THE DAY. Her husband, Clyde, returned to their house to find her car still in the driveway, the TV on, and money in her purse. The victim was a young blonde, and she had been savagely beaten before being shot in the. jerrysgirl67. Captain Mask directed the Crimes Against Persons Unit to gather up all of the open case files, making sure they had as much of the original files as possible. "It is with 99.99% accuracy that it is Edward Keith Renegars DNA that was collected as evidence from Pam Felkins during the initial investigation," Ryals told reporters. The FBI was brought in, as well as the Texas Rangers. vetoes transgender youth treatment ban, View Gallery: Meet the candidates running for US senate from Arkansas, The claim: There is an active serial killer in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Swamp gas, pressurized quartz crystal, and headlight reflections have been possible explanations. The secret starts in the wooded terrain of Jack Mountain in Hot Spring County, where hunters found the remains of Linda Edwards back in 1977. The term "serial killer" hadn't been coined yet (according to Refinery29, it entered the lexicon via a 1981 article in The New York Times), but authorities in Texarkana strongly believed that a single killer had been behind all of the attacks. In March 1990, Kevin and Don's manner of death were officially changed from "accidental" to "homicide." 5 dead bodies so far is what theyre saying.". According to Texas Monthly, however, local journalist James Presley's book The Phantom Killer: Unlocking the Mystery of the Texarkana Serial Murders: The Story of a Town in Terror presented a compelling case for Swinney's guilt in 2014. National Park Service spokeswoman Alexandra Picavet directed USA TODAY to an April 13news release that says special agents of the NPS Investigative Service Branch soughttips related to the homicide of Paige Autumn White, 32. It seemed especially unlikely that it would happen to two people at the same time. Submit Via Email. Crop circles first popped up in Arkansas in summer 2003. The first two victims' remains, those of an adult woman and young . These are the three cases that remain unsolved. Her body was never recovered. Medical examiners reported that she died from blunt-force trauma to her skull. gov. However, the boys parents didnt agree with that conclusionthey were certain their sons died of foul play. The legal aftermath of the horrific event led all the way to the Supreme Court and a hanging. The only items missing were his keys and wallet. I relied extensively on primary, legal, and academic sources such as court case files, original newspaper articles, history and law books, and Barham family documents.. Three hours later, Stephen Shroyers locomotive came speeding down Bryant Hill. Most Wanted Press Releases Sex Offenders. Friends said he was anxious over it. Spreading your gift out through monthly contributions is a great solution for your budget and ours. Eventually, Glasgow and his company were cleared of anything illegal by the audit. It's been over 20 years and people are still looking for answers in the murder of Arkansas teenager, Melissa Witt. He had apparently passed away the night before. NeverForgotten.ar.gov includes all missing persons from Arkansas and will be updated regularly. That night, Mikio Miyazawa, 44, Yasuko Miyazawa, 41, and their children Niina, 10, and Rei, 6, were all stabbed to death by an unknown assailant. Ben Flajnik, who has worked on CrimeDoor, an app that allows users to enter true crime scenes, in his home office on March 3, 2021. While traveling through this part time or even full time jobs in Arkansas have come to call home. In the early morning hours of August 23, 1987, the mangled bodies of Henry and Ives were discovered on a set of railroad tracks in Bryant, a suburb just south of Little Rock. Prior to working on this case, Garrett never carried a gun. NeverForgotten.ar.gov is also made possible by the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police, Arkansas Sheriffs Association, Arkansas State Crime Lab, Arkansas State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation Little Rock Division, Morgan Nick Foundation and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. Nicknames: Kevin (Larry); Don (Donald) Despite his death, investigators are working to collect evidence in the case and the sheriff is asking for anyone who knew Reneger to come forward. Along with their stormy relationship, further implicating Abernathy in her murder was testimony from Edwards friend, Mary Patterson, who told police that Edwards was going to meet Abernathy the night she disappeared. The bodies of Richard Griffin, 29, and Polly Ann Moore, 17, were discovered the following morning. Featuring both well-known and more obscure cases spanning across the 20th and 21st century, Unsolved Murders combines page-turning text . Nearly half of US murders going unsolved, data show by: Tyler Wornell. His behavior had aroused suspicion. At the time, Edwards had been missing for months. At 5:30 am on 7 January, 1977, a young boy, Phillip Watts, aged 11, left his house to deliver newspapers around his home in St. Laurent, Montreal. Home Calendar E-Newsletter Email Employment. They believe that he found out about their investigation and named them as suspects in order to taint their credibility and hinder their investigation into him. This doctor concluded that together, they had smoked not twenty, but between one and three marijuana cigarettes.