These rumors provided investigators with their first major theory. [5] Such overkill caused Plumas County Sheriffs Office special investigator Mike Gamberg, along with Sheriff Greg Hagwood, to suspect that as many as six people may have taken part in the murders. The Walker family of Osprey, Florida, included father Cliff (25 years old), mother Christine (24 years old), a son named Jimmie (three years old), and a daughter named Debbie (two years old). Her family continues to fight for parole, and say her role in the abduction was minor. DALLAS COUNTY, AL (WSFA) - Jan. 21, 2015, Kirby Brown, all of 22 years old, was found lying on his back shot to death near his home in the Pine Glen Estates off Highway 80 near Selma. Due to the primitive state of forensics in 1990, along with the fact that the fire destroyed evidence, the case remains cold. One of the voices was determined to be Jerry Bland, and the other McPherson. "The guy just comes up with a gun. The victims hands were bound, and their throats had been so deeply slit that they had all nearly been decapitated. When she entered the salon, she first saw the corpse of 62-year-old Dorothy Harris. The case. Dobbins led searchers to where he said her body was left, but again the tip led nowhere. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The next and final discovery occurred on November 19, when all four bodies were found in a rural part of Johnson County. Shaquille Granta football star at the school, somebody killed him, said Detective Charles Mitchell with the Hardeeville Police Department. It turned out to be anything but cut-and-dry. I use it as an example when people have a horrible tragedy and their entire world as they know it has been obliterated. Still, Bland didn't know that and called off the drop. "It was amazing to watch. The FBI set up a command post inside Lawson's home. "And when we woke up the next morning, he was dead. } She started crying which started to make me cry, Jones said of Endres. TUSCALOOSA, AL The highly-publicized trial of football star and accused murderer O.J. Keddie, California, is an out-of-the-way kind of place. However, the true motives behind these horrid crimes may never be known, given their unsolved character. "I was going to be at that house when she came walking up the driveway," she said. They reportedly found some of the ransom money -- which had been documented by serial numbers -- in a truck on his property. "I was convinced as soon as we got him the money, we were going to get Carrie back and nail this bastard," Lawson said. 26 of them in the city of Selma. Simpson had just ended in early October 1996, but remained fresh in the public psyche and dominated headlines. A month later, an anonymous tip led searchers to Lake Tuscaloosa near the Alabama 69 bridge about 10 miles north of Northport. He was the best dad to both of us. The couple got dressed and jumped into their Ford Explorer parked in the carport. In 1997, a prison inmate claimed he had first-hand knowledge of the case. She didn't say anything that was true.". Last updated January 26, 2023. The National Read Across America Day takes place every year on March 2, Geisels birthday. They rushed to the car, and it began. Also, the killer did not seem to be motivated by lust, for none of the victims had been sexually assaulted.[7]. All of these clues would be wasted during the initial investigation, which is blamed by contemporary law enforcement for failing to follow up on solid leads and outright ignoring pieces of evidence. Keith (his preferred name) was not one to skip work, so his supervisor first called Keiths parents. Carrie Lawson was declared dead two years after her disappearance. Authorities got a major break when Bland was identified as a suspect. Jan. 21, 2015, Kirby Brown, all of 22 years old, was found lying on his back shot to death near his home in the Pine Glen Estates off Highway 80 near Selma. "Mr. Johnny Swinten, Vietnam Vet. Some of the cases remain unsolved. Then, when the police arrived, they found two more bodies in the utility room at the back of the store. Brynn Rainey, 27, vanished . Then, on Wednesday, a detective answered the phone. A subsequent search of the Walker home found that several items were missing: Cliffs pocketknife, Cliff and Christines marriage license, and a high school majorette uniform that Christine had once worn. |, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. Unsolved murders of Alabama Erin Edgemon | eedgemon@al.com Charles R. "Dick" Salmon Charles R. "Dick" Salmon, 72, of Auburn was found dead of a gunshot wound at the service station he owned and. 2020 The Associated Press. Sheriff Granthum is convinced science will end up playing a huge role in solving the remaining cases. "Do I think it was one of the agency's biggest failures? Do you see the house across the street?' The only tangible evidence is a composite sketch released in 1990 which shows two middle-aged black or Hispanic males with mustaches. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. Upon further investigation, the employee found $500 missing, along with four other employees. if (document.mmm_fo) document.write ("&mmm_fo=1"); "Having somebody kidnapped was the last thing you could ever think. Kennedy then said investigators believe the shooter may have hidden in nearby bushes and later escaped through a wooded area behind the south part of the bar's parking lot. This quick thinking saved the young girls life, and, for a time, it saved her mothers life as well. Under the FBI's direction, Lawson wore a directional beeper to let agents follow him as he made the drop. Christmas is usually a time of good cheer, good food, and good times spent with family. Christmas 1959 was supposed to follow this tradition. He was killed outside, a party with at least 20 to 50 residents. I always felt like he had this deep-seated feeling that he failed Carrie because he couldn't protect her," she said. We were supported by thousands of people who didn't even know us, and that's one reason we've been able to move on. The FBI took heavy criticism for its handling of the case. "I have no idea how he picked our family next," Lawson said. Everywhere I went in Jasper, people wanted to hug me and talk about it," he said. While never closed, the case went cold without new evidence. "Most of those people didn't know us at all," he said. And it still, in some ways, marks Walker County. Those with information into this or any other cases are asked to call VCU at (205) 464-8690, the Tuscaloosa Police Department at (205) 349-2121, or CrimeStoppers at (205) 752-STOP (7867). No arrests have been made in the case, although one tantalizing suspect, 36-year-old convicted rapist Donald Ray Forrester, did confess to crime before recanting. Sadly, Senac died in 1999 due to complications from the shooting. Carrie was declared legally dead two years after her disappearance. Fear and not wanting to get involved are perhaps the primary reasons why the murders remain a mystery. "They had searched his house, and questioned him and left him in the house with a bunch of guns," Kubiszyn said. Drugs -- primarily cocaine -- helped fuel that fall. Cliff and Jimmie were dispatched with the .22, while Debbie was also shot but was likely killed by being drowned in the familys bathtub. In the week that followed, local media also reported that a handgun was recovered in the parking lot of the bar. "I went to visit him in the nursing home before he died and he said he wasn't afraid to die and he couldn't wait to see Carrie," Kubiszyn said. Concealed in the ransom bag was another beeper, which would allow agents to follow the kidnapper. Mobile County Sheriffs Office Capt. [McPherson family speaks out: 2016] The Smith and Lawson families signed an agreement with McPherson that if she would meet with Carrie's father and tell them everything she knew about the abduction, they would not oppose parole after 10 years. According to our research of Alabama and other state lists, there were 61 registered sex offenders living in Jasper, Alabama as of March 01, 2023. Mobile County Sheriffs Office Sgt. She had taken the bar exam but disappeared never knowing she had passed. He drove away with Carrie as Lawson assured himself she would be OK. She had to be OK. "Back in 1991, nobody got kidnapped. Both would be murdered. Police investigated both McLeod and Elbert Walker (Cliffs cousin, who was known to be a hothead) but decided that both men were innocent. She was also Bland's cousin by marriage, and the two were close. Jump to a detailed profile, search site with google or try advanced search. Glenna and Tina Sharp would suffer the same fate, although Tinas skeletal remains would not be found until years later. "It's obvious we're not happy with the result of the kidnapping investigation and I was in charge of it," former FBI Special Agent in Charge Allen P. Whitaker said in 1993. If you come across them, do not attempt to apprehend them yourself. The motive appeared to be robbery, as a trunk which was rumored to contain around 1500 dollars was missing. Earl Lawson was bound, and Carrie Lawson was never seen again. Unsolved Alabama Murders According to Project: Cold Case, from 1980 to 2019 there were 20,003 homicides in Alabama alone, leaving 7,893 unsolved murders in Alabama. McPherson appeared before the parole board Thursday. Read More: The strip mall, which was located on the northwestern edge of the city, included a yogurt shop with the witty name, I Cant Believe Its Yogurt! The firefighters managed to put out the blaze, but what they found inside necessitated the involvement of the Austin Police Department. A new true crime podcast is seeking answers on behalf of the family of Eric Cates, a 32-year-old whose burned remains were found inside his truck beside those of his dog behind the old Empire school in 2015. . He wasn't arrested then, however, but FBI instead staked out the house throughout the weekend. "I think we found five dead bodies searching for Carrie, and certainly we found people who would kill somebody for a couple of hundred dollars. Authorities asking public for help in unsolved murder of Jasper man. What's more, another witness in the parking lot informed police at the time of the shooting that they saw a white man wearing black clothing run behind the lounge immediately after the shot rang out. Many, if not most should be considered armed and dangerous. Lawson left the money at the payphone, as directed, and drove off. RELATED: Details About The Murder Of Arkansas Teen Dana Stidham And Why Police Have Yet To Find Her Killer Alabama. If you have any information on an unsolved murder, you can make an anonymous phone call to the LowcountryCrimeStoppers at 843-554-1111. Lawson said much of those first few months after Carrie's disappearance and Bland's suicide is a blur. On the horrible morning of February 10, 1990, two armed men entered the Las Cruces Bowl located on East Amador Avenue in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Endres vanished the same month Greenwell was found dead. Court records don't include a defense attorney who could speak on behalf of Whited on the murder charge, but he already was awaiting trial on a methamphetamine charge with his trial scheduled for May. Its not quite as prevalent in the county with two unsolved cases on the books. Given the suspects strange features and supposedly awkward gait, some have proffered the idea that the killer was a woman disguised as a man. "Thousands of people sympathized, empathized with their family. During the stakeout, Bland, his wife and two daughters slept on mattresses in the living room, ducking when police lights bore into their windows. Five years later, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Springsteens conviction. The intensity lasted for about six weeks, but ultimately the FBI and other agencies pulled out. While police sometimes make public appeals for information to help resolve old cases, that had not happened with Dailey's killing. They were still missing a definitive link, until a cassette tape was found -- reportedly by a young boy at an apartment complex who turned them over to his father -- that had recordings of plans to kidnap Jasper businessman and coal executive Ellis Taylor. Her remains were found 600 days later, on Dec. 6, 2005, in Dawson County, Ga. For a while, Hinson and Gierse had worked for Records Security, a company based in Jasper, Indiana. He forced Lawson to the ground and instructed Carrie to bind her husband with duct tape. Both of these suspicions were quickly ruled out, as there was no evidence of ritual activity, and a VCR and a camera were left untouched at the crime scene. "He would run you around every night. She sat down with my dad for five hours and told all lies, Kubiszyn said. These cases are solvable, but we need your help. if (document.MAX_used != ',') document.write ("&exclude=" + document.MAX_used); }else{ Private investigator W.W. "Red" Self sits in his Pinson office in this 2002 file photo. All rights reserved (About Us). Looks like they had a party. Please note in order for the office to follow up on any information . Let's just arrest him on a drug charge, get him in jail.' 6 The Burger Chef Murders. You didn't want to hear it, but you appreciated it.". All Rights Reserved. Posted at 1:45 PM, Nov 20, 2018 . Investigators deduced that the attack had been part of a robbery, and the attacker had opened fire after McFarland managed to call 911. Tony Lynn Dobbins said he was there when Carrie was murdered. There weren't a lot of murders in Jasper," Lawson said in a recent interview, his first about the case in more than 20 years. The kidnapping happened about 3 a.m. at the home Lawson, 25, shared with her husband, 26-year-old Earl Lawson, also an attorney. Detectives theorized at the time that the killer or killers had run out of ammunition. The cases are not forgotten, not collecting dust and not being ignored. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. If you know something, SAY something. "We all went to bed that night thinking they were going to arrest him then," Kubiszyn said. Then, at that moment, the alleys mechanic, 26-year-old New Mexico State University student Steven Teran, arrived with his daughter and stepdaughter in tow. The victims included 34-year-old manager Stephanie Senac, who was in her office with her 12-year-old daughter Melissa Repass, and 13-year-old babysitter Amy Houser. This booking photo provided by police in Decatur, Ala., shows Johnny Dwight Whited. She also watched over Carrie afterward, and told investigators that the last time she saw Carrie was within two days after the abduction, and that she was alive at the time. First of all, Sheriff Perry Johnson told the press that the scene inside of the Hair Gallery was horrific and that all three victims throats had been cut deeply. He just wants to know what happened. Some parts 2023 Advameg, Inc. Crime rate in Jasper, Alabama (AL): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Some locals insinuated, though, that the men were connected to the Mafia and had plundered clients and equipment away from Records Security. (AL.com/File). His penis had also been removed. My uncle lived in Nebraska. The bottom line is this: I dont disagree that my sister deserved to be punished. CHICAGO (CBS) -- A mob gambling operator "was taken for a ride" and lived to tell about it. All three women had been attacked with a knife; the killer had slashed each of their throats. The article ran two days before Endres body was found and police seemed to consider Jones a prime suspect. Netflixs reboot of the classic Unsolved Mysteries, Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. A hammer and a knife were recovered at the crime scene, while survivor Justin Sharp provided information that led to a composite sketch. Years later, in 2000, the daughter of a man named Fred Harbison told the local media that her father had written a deathbed confession claiming to have carried out the triple homicide as part of a contract killing drawn up by Uland.[8]. All rights reserved (About Us). "He'd never met her, but he loved her.". Thirty years ago . A search of Blands property found the majority of the $300,000 paid by her family. Authorities at the time said the note indicated the ransom money was in the attic, and that's where roughly $250,000 had been found. Glennas body might have also been arranged in a sexually explicit manner. It was like the movies," Kubiszyn said. In one case, two victims died when their home was intentionally set on fire in Selma. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Namely, members of Bostons underworld frequented Blackfriars, and on the night in question, several men in the bars basement were busy playing a game of backgammon when they were fired upon. He and his wife, Carrie, had received an urgent call after midnight claiming Lawson's father was gravely ill. (Associated Press). It was personal to them.". Without question, the massacre was a gangland killing, yet no one is sure if the perpetrators were members of the Patriarca crime family, the Bulger gang, or some other unknown Italian or Irish crime outfit. Before 10:45 AM, four customers, the stores manager, and a part-time employee were taken to the back of the Lane Bryant store located at the Brookside Marketplace shopping mall. With no football fans or tourists in town, the cool but clear fall weekend had been a relatively uneventful one for Tuscaloosa. This Walker County Alabama Most Wanted List posts the top 50-100 fugitive criminals on the run. It wasn't long before the kidnapper -- later identified as 49-year-old Jerry Bland, a former strip mine operator -- contacted Lawson and demanded a $300,000 ransom for Carrie's safe return. Lane Bryant is known as a popular clothing store for bigger women. I just remember being nauseous.". To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Two days after the murder, the Tuscaloosa News confirmed that several people had been interviewed by investigators, which ultimately proved fruitless. The case file on Brown remains what it . "On Day 1, they told us the statistical probabilities of someone being found alive and well. She wasn't a spectacular student, she wasn't a beauty queen, she wasn't someone who leaves their mark by being famous. Alabama Department of Corrections lists McPherson as being in a Birmingham work release program. "He had duct tape and told Carrie to duct tape my hands behind my back. Other clues at the crime scene included the position of the bodies. Also inside was cook Ida Holguin. Bland left behind a suicide note of which the full contents have never been released. People who may have evidence or clues about cold case sexual assaults and murders are encouraged to call or email the Attorney General's Office and share this information. On Sept. 19, 2005, Melvin Keeling, 43, Loveland, Ohio, shot and killed Family Express employees Lisa Kendall, 29, and Kendora Furr, 38, at the gas station, located on U.S. 24 and Interstate 65. . Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts. In 1996, investigators hired a construction crew to pump out a pool at a closed surface mine in Tuscaloosa County. Instead, after Bland's voice was identified as the kidnapper making ransom demands, agents surrounded the house and waited to obtain a warrant. Well, it is sad to say that mass murder has been a problem for a while now. Lawson has since remarried, has three children and continues to work as an attorney. We tracked down the lady Brown was dating at the time and she declined to be part of this story. The first discovery was a vehicle belonging to one of the abducted four. If you had told me that moment that I'd have the kind of life I have now, I would have never believed it. [3] The unidentified killer used duct tape to tie up his victims before shooting them execution-style. At some point, Bland's wife and the girls left the home. But it wasn't one of our shining successes. The Meeks were tenants on land owned by the Taylors. The WCSO currently has two Cold Case investigators that work 40+ hours a week solely on cold cases. It has been 25 years since 25-year-old Carrie Smith Lawson disappeared in Walker County on Sept. 11, 1991. Bland, once successful in businesses of coal mining and land reclamation, had fallen on hard times and was desperate for money, according to investigators and family members. In 1894 in Linn County, four members of the Meeks family (Gus, Delora, Hattie and Mary) were brutally murdered by George and William Taylor, wealthy citizens of northeast Missouri. They had been married for 18 months when the call came early that morning from a woman saying they needed to get to the hospital right away. The Irish pub, which was located downtown, was known to have a rather rough reputation. But she didn't.". document.write ("&loc=" + escape(window.location)); ", "What has been taken from me personally is immeasurable," said Carrie's sister, Margaret Smith Kubiszyn. (Photo courtesy of McPherson's family). "I needed to start over. "I can still see the driveway. Mitchell started a group called Concerned Citizens of Jasper Countyand made t-shirts with every murder victim whose family has not gotten justice. document.write ("