The only evidence that could possibly ID her killer was semen found onFelkins' body, according to the sheriff's office. The bodies of Richard Griffin, 29, and Polly Ann Moore, 17, were discovered the following morning. Garrett then focused on the green tarp. 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. ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) There are at least four unsolved missing person cases in North Central Arkansas since 1991, and all are women. 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. Harmon was later arrested on charges for running a drug ring, selling primarily cocaine, from his office. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! In late December 1988, the grand jury investigating the case released their final report, stating that the deaths were the result of foul play; however, no indictments were issued regarding the deaths. 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. Harmon dropped all charges against Abernathy, who had recently been promoted to lieutenant. There is a homicide investigation in Hot Springs involving a 32-year-old woman found dead on National Park Service land, but investigators said it is an isolated incident. 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. Medical examiners reported that both boys had suffered injuries prior to the train accident. Adding to the intrigue, all of his files on Crawford disappeared after a short trip away from the office. All Rights Reserved. She works in the field of information technology in Tulsa, where she lives with her husband and two catsbut her passion is wandering the hills of the Arkansas Ozarks. 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. He claimed that he was hired by a "corrupt Arkansas politician" to provide "muscle" at an Arkansas drug stop. When traveling through southwest Arkansas, we advise sticking to the main roads. On August 23, 1987, the bodies of 16-year-old Don Henry and 17-year-old Kevin Ives were hit by a freight train in Alexander, Arkansas, United States, as they were laying on the tracks. Arkansas Studies Catalog & Digital Collections, NIFI Dialogue Series / NIFI Serie de Dilogos, Mystery of Notorious Arkansas Murder Explored in New Book, CALS and Arkansas Symphony Call for Spoken Word Submissions, Business and Technology Center Opens at Williams Library. Gould explains that her goal was to create a complete account of the crime and its consequences. At the time of that incident, Renegar was armed with a knife and bound his victim. It is also known as the "Boys on the Tracks" case. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. He was originally placed there in hopes that someone would identify him or claim the body, but no one ever came forward. Their families have conducted their own investigations and are still hoping that the case can be solved. He had apparently passed away the night before. Curtis had the trains sound checked and found that it was ninety-eight decibels, which is equivalent to the sound of a jackhammer or an air compressor running. Maddox said that inanarticle that was removed because of a computer glitch,Arkansas 911 News reported that it was not able to verify that five women were murdered or that a serial killer was found. Featured Cases. the Murderpedia project stay alive. Teenagers Don Henry, 16, and Kevin Ives, 17, popular students who were gearing up for their senior year at Bryant High School, had decided to hang out with a group of friends at a local commuter parking lot, a popular gathering place for teens. The legal aftermath of the horrific event led all the way to the Supreme Court and a hanging. His murder remains unsolved. When 18-year-old Ella Barham was raped, murdered, and dismembered in broad daylight, the crime sent waves of shock through surrounding counties, the Ozarks, and even the national press. Phone: 870-633-2611 (24 hours) Email. He wanted to make some money to buy Christmas presents. To see a complete list of Butler Center Books, visit www.butlercenter.org/publication. Either way, well take our chances with the well-lit, paved areas of Fouke when passing through. The second attack came about a month after Hollis and Larey were assaulted. A composite photo of a potential suspect was released in hopes of generating local leads, but it did not generate any. An unidentified assailant often known as the Texarkana Phantom Killer committed a number of murders and assaults in Texarkana (Miller County, Arkansas, and Bowie County, Texas) through the spring of 1946. Neither of them was moving. The billboard advertises a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the 15-year-old case. Thats the last time anyone ever saw him. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "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. 870-777-6727 or . Garrett was later interviewed by Robert Stack; he claimed that there was drug trafficking throughout Bryant and Saline County that was also connected to several other counties and states. 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. Legal Statement. EMERGENCY 911. ", Another user wroteApril 12, "Dang! Creating an account gives you access to all these features. 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. Lying parallel to both of them was Dons .22 rifle. jerrysgirl67. Amber Hunt, Emily G. Thompson. He also points out that Dons gun was laying on the gravel. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He placed the train into an emergency stop position and laid down on the horn. The 2019 Hot Springs crime rate rose by 12% compared to 2018. Her body was found the next day at a dump site in Faulkner County, where authorities determined she was raped and "violently murdered. Those brave enough to wander into the woods risk running into the nefarious Fouke Monster. Don was a natural comedian and Kevin was his best audience. A traveling salesman, he would swing by each month to sell stationery to homes and local businesses. He also drove a mustard yellow, long-wheel base Ford pickup, a small gray car, and a Ford LTD. Edward Keith Renegar was convicted of kidnapping a "young, small frame lady" in n Cleburne County, Ark. The brutal murder of a young girl in the Arkansas Ozarks triggered shock and the threat of mob violence, followed by decades of mystery. They traveled to Petit Jean Mountain, the location of his last cell phone signal, and found his SUV parked outside the Mather Lodge. The Gurdon Light was first spotted in the early 1930s, following the murder of a railroad foreman. 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. SEARCY, Ark. Knowing him only by his first nameand after a postmortem search failed to turn up any identificationthe townspeople did the only sensible thing they could think of. "As far as an investigating technique, it was a very good one but it actually just wasn't enough," Director of Arkansas State Crime Laboratory Kermit Channel told FOX16. She also lived in NE. The case took a strange turn in 2012, when Jonathan Brawner, a convicted felon and prison barber at the Faulkner County jail, made local headlines after claiming that he and a few accomplices had buried Glasgow four years prior. She wanted to keep the baby, he didnt. According to Stephen, they questioned the existence of the tarp. Ives, meanwhile, had blunt force trauma to his skull. These are the three cases that remain unsolved. Speculation began to rise, with many residents wondering if the boys had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Murder Mystery: Scandalous Arkansas Trials By Janie Jones Detective Al Dawson escorts Orsini to jail.Photographs courtesy of Central Arkansas Library System Archives On the morning of Sept. 26, 1974, a housekeeper discovered the body of 67-year-old Fern Rodgers, wife Links: Unsolved Mysteries Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. The BridgeWay mental-health hospital, admitting it had wronged a 14-year-old patient who . Such is the case of two young men who went missing in 1987 in the U.S. state of Arkansas and would next be seen dead under perplexing circumstances. "You may not know a thing, you may know something you don't realize you know, so we would love to be able to speak to anyone who had a relationship with Mr. Renegar," the sheriff said. Interestingly, Campbell and Lane were involved in investigating Harmon. On the night Kevin and Don died, witnesses again reported seeing a man in military fatigues. They began a crusade to find out what really happened and salvage the reputation of their sons. Posted: Feb 28, 2023 / 08:40 PM CST. What Lies Beyond. The grand jury urged authorities to continue investigating the deaths and the drug problem in the county. Explore the mysteries of 20 compelling unsolved murder cases, from the Zodiac Killer to the death of JonBent Ramsey, with this true crime book. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. In July 1994, he was convicted of kidnapping a "young, small frame lady" in Cleburne County, Ark. He feels that his life could be in danger. HOT SPRINGS -- The new year began with some homicides still unsolved. Read our Privacy Policy. Six weeks after the investigation was reopened, Garrett came up with a strangely similar case. There is a homicide investigation in Hot Springs involving a 32-year-old woman found. Fact check: Ballot positions are done by a random draw in each county in Arkansas. Free Child ID kits are availabe to Arkansas families to keep a record of physical, medical and dental information. The reported green tarp was never seen again. Date: August 23, 1987. Who had covered them with it and why? who was "fortunate enough to escape his grasp" in 1994, the sheriff's office said. "In light of this new evidence, this investigation is ongoing and will continue," Sheriff Tim Ryals said at a press conference. Naturally, a state this friendly to mobsters was bound to have a fair amount of shady business deals. Edward Keith Renegar drove a red 1984 B2200 Mazda Pickup with a white camper shell, according to police. When Stephen laid down on the diesel horn, he got no reaction from them. 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. As a result, the grand jury changed its ruling from "probable homicide" to "definite homicide." He was only active for a three-week period between April and May, but in that span, he attacked eight people, killing five. Linda wondered, if they were that stoned, how were they able to lie down in identical positions? Get App. It was unusual for husband not to keep in touch. The gang's criminal exploits in Arkansas included murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, and automobile theft. NEW YORK WOMAN, WHO VANISHED ON BUS TRIP TO FIND TWIN SISTER, STILL BEING SOUGHT 8 YEARS LATER. Rose Harsent was stabbed to death on 1 June 1902, in Peasenhall, Suffolk, England by an unknown assailant. These cases are typically fairly old, some having occured as long as twenty years ago. North Little Rock | Powered by CivicLive | document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) Intrado Corporation | Contact Us, Real Estate Development Property for Sale, Board of Equalization/Pulaski County Board, Non-uniformed Employees Retirement Board/Pension Board, Residential Housing Facilities Board/Public Facilities Board, Find Community Development Grant Information. 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. Their supposed guard dog wasnt even fazed. 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. 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. Her remains were discovered off Blacksnake Road on March 27, andthe NPS is working with the FBI,Hot Springs Police Department,Arkansas State Policeand Garland County Sheriffs Department. HOT SPRINGS, Ark. "So we continued on from there to do actual genealogy work. They had also been shot to death. Nearly half of US murders going unsolved, data show by: Tyler Wornell. The FBI was brought in, as well as the Texas Rangers. The initial investigation was swift. FAQs Facebook Hot Cases Inmate Roster. As of this writing, though, no one has come forward claiming responsibility. Her body was never recovered. Dr. Frank Schambagh, a professor at Southern Arkansas University, said that the tracks were man-made and that the anatomy of the Fouke Monster didnt fit with the known species of primates. After fighting to get the case reopened, they finally succeed in early 1988 when a new prosecutor was assigned to the case. William Gardiner, a preacher of the Primitive Methodist Chapel, was suspected due . They appeared as a series of 10 circles as large as 9 meters (30 ft) in diameter. ", A composite photo of a potential suspect based on DNA was released earlier this year. Then things got weirder. A well-known public figure in Camden and a pioneer for women in Arkansas, Crawford worked as a court stenographer before she decided to take the bar exam. to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really The movie spawned four sequels. Watch Video: Ark. All rights reserved. However, he was never charged in the case or officially labeled a suspect. Crawford was looking into a potentially illegal transfer of assets between Berg and some of his family members. Spreading your gift out through monthly contributions is a great solution for your budget and ours. Spotlighting was a fairly widespread activity among the local boys. Scott Johnson and Norman Ladner are two other cases involving youths who might have been murdered after observing drug drops. The sleepy town of Texarkana was shaken by a series of vicious slayings in the spring of 1946. Then under the direction of Captain Leonard Montgomery, the cold case squad was officially in operation. 869 ratings108 reviews. A $10,000 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this crime. Besides being a frequent visitor to the video rental storethe 32-year-old was abducted from, Renegar lived near the dump site in Greenbrier and also had a history of sexual assault and abuse of women, according to the sheriff's office. No answers 29 years after murder of Arkansas teen Dana Stidham Eighteen-year-old Dana Stidham was last seen on July 25, 1989 leaving a grocery store in Bella Visa, Arkansas with medicine for. Anyone with information that can help solve this case is asked to call the Cold Case Squad at 816-234-5136. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Thurman Abernathy, had gotten her pregnant. Very interesting article from AY Magazine. by Janie Jones | Mar 25, 2022 Murder Mystery: The Moab Murders, Pt. 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. Curtis was not worried about them going into the woods because he did not think they would get in trouble. The two victims were identified as 16-year-old Don Henry and 17-year-old Kevin Ives, best friends and popular seniors at Bryant High School. In a statement to USATODAY, Arkansas 911 News chief editor Paul Maddox said the site nevermentioned that there was a serial killerrunning loose in Hot Springs. However, he was unable to stop it in time. He also drove a mustard yellow, long-wheel base Ford pickup, a small gray car, and a Ford LTD. (Faulkner County Sheriff's Office). 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. (Faulkner County Sheriff's Office). Rate and review titles you borrow and share your opinions on them. 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." These investigators examine and submit evidence for testing to the state crime lab for new testing using modern techniques, especially in the field of DNA. The History Channel even got in on the action, sending its MonsterQuest team to investigate in 2009. Hempstead County Sheriff's Office . Cold Case Investigations is responsible for the reopening and investigation of older, unsolved cases that occurred in North Little Rock. 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. Five people were killed, and three were wounded. Trending pages Morgan Nick Don Henry and Kevin Ives Carson Prince Ann Sigmin and Garey Goff Gainesville Killers Tony Alamo Amanda Tusing Larry Chism All items (16) # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other A The house belonged to two of the victims, 34-year-old Robert Gierse and 27-year-old Robert Hinson. Earthquake swarms arent entirely unusual in Arkansas. Stephen noted that although three seconds does not seem like a long amount of time, it felt like an eternity for him. In that case the statute of limitations expires in 15 years. Thats where Mike sat for the next six decades. A Growing Whisper. Henrys shirt was in tatters, with lacerations all over his body indicative of stabbing. Featuring both well-known and more obscure cases spanning across the 20th and 21st century, Unsolved Murders combines page-turning text . Within hours, she had organized a search party. He referenced a YouTube and Facebook video. Arkansas911news said the bodies were dismembered and chopped up. Police who searched the scene later denied that Stephen had told them about the tarp. The claim that there is an active serial killer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, is FALSE, based on our research. Two unsolved murders of young women from the 1970s have now been linked to one suspect through DNA and genetic genealogy, according to Northern California prosecutors. The expert pathologist, Joe Burton, found an apparent stab wound in Don's back and a wound to Kevin's cheek. FORT SMITH, Ark. Submit Via Email. Dont let the serenity of the Arkansas landscape fool you. They denied any involvement in the case and sued Matrisciana and his film company for defamation, and the judge awarded them $USD598,750. Renegar died from natural causes on Sept. 5, 2002, in Salt Lake City. Pam Felkins, 32, was kidnapped on Feb. 2, 1990 from a video rental store where she worked in Greenbrier, Ark. In Cold Blood: The Brutal 1959 Murder of the Walker Family. Most Dangerous Places in Arkansas The 10 Murder Capitals Of Arkansas For 2021 1. The reason why you find the wrongfully convicted in my database is simple: when the exonerated is taken out of the . Pierce made a movie loosely based off of the events, titled The Town That Dreaded Sundown. Arkansas was a hotbed for mob activity in the first half of the 20th century. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In March 1990, Kevin and Don's manner of death were officially changed from "accidental" to "homicide." 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. The young lovers survived the attack, but had differing reports of who had carried it out. Larey claimed that the man had been black, despite not having seen his face, but Hollis said he believed the man to have been white. The next victims of the Phantom Killer, however, would not be as fortunate as his first. 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. Relatively little new information ever surfaced in subsequent years. So far, the run had been clear sailing, as engineer Stephen Shroyer approached the small town of Bryant, Arkansas. Arkansas State Parks kicks off centennial celebration 16 hours ago. According to the articles, Odis A. Henley, the officer originally assigned to the case, reported to his superiors that all the evidence he uncovered implicated Berg as her killer. Picavettold The Sentinel-Record that the FBI is working with local law enforcement because the investigation involves an incident on federal land. While the 70s saw interest in the Fouke Monster peaka local radio station even put out a bounty for its capturethe late 90s was the last time the mysterious beast ever saw a resurgence in popularity. Crime Tip Hotline. Crime in Arkansas. After 25 years, though, it appears as if the case will forever remain unsolved. Unsolved Cases - Howard County Sheriff AR Unsolved Cases Howard County Sheriff's Department Case of Missing Person: Nona Jean Young (Coleman) W/F, 02-26-51 On August 20, 2002, the case of Nona Jean Young was reopened at the request of her family. Garrett had another autopsy conducted on Kevin and Don. In the mid-1980s, a series of articles in The Arkansas Gazette alleged that her disappearance involved Arkansas State Police Commissioner Mike Berg. The Doe Network has 33 Missing Persons listed from Arkansas.. 13 Males & 20 Females. He said that he and Kevin were going to go out hunting. He also suspects that there was some sort of police cover-up involved in the case; however, he was not sure if it was inadvertent or deliberate. 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. At the time, Edwards had been missing for months. Stephen Smith, 19, July 2015 Stephen Smith, a 19-year-old nursing student at the time, was found dead in the middle of the road on July 8, 2015,. Inside the vehicle they recovered his phone, two credit cards, and his laptop. Rumors began to circulate that the man she had been having an affair with, Sgt. Last updated February 23, 2023. . The story haunted Gould for years, especially after she inherited a small tin box filled with Ellas personal belongings. . According to the New York Daily News, the terror began on February 22, when a date that was going pretty well ended in tragedy. Market data provided by Factset. He has been a guest speaker on numerous national radio and television stations and is a five time published author. Harsent was six months pregnant at the time of her death. The exception to this is when DNA evidence can be processed. Murdered Ella Barham was the authors long-dead cousin. Leave your legacy with a planned gift that can help ensure quality materials, programming, and services for our libraries. The victims of the so-called "Whitechapel Murders" Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly all had their throats slashed, and most of them had. gov. The white-hooded Phantom Killer preyed on young couples who escaped to secluded areas late at night. Neither had they ever seen Kevin spaced out nor any signs that he was into drugs. SMITH, Kirt Douglas Read on to find out the 10 creepiest. Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. Crawfords last known whereabouts place her at home. 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. Their parents would not accept Dr. Malaks conclusion. On March 11, 2002 at approximately 5:42 P.M. a 71 year-old woman identified as Mrs. Jane Murdaught was found brutally beaten in her residence located at 835 Fairview Road in White County. 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. Abdulhakim Mujahid Gould was driven to unearth answers long-buried under decades of gossip and folklore. However, it was never found. Remembering Ella is available at bookstores including the Central Arkansas Library Systems Bookstore and Galleries at Library Square. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Details: In the pre-dawn hours of August 23, 1987, a seventy-five car, 6,000 ton Union Pacific cargo train made its regular night run to the UP freight yard in North Little Rock, Arkansas. She successfully nominated several Boone County, Arkansas, properties to the National Register of Historic Places, including her own Barham ancestral home. The Faulkner County Sheriff's Office revealed DNA evidence has identified Edward Keith Renegar as the primary suspect in the 1990 slaying. The state medical examiner, Dr. Malak, concluded they had smoked the equivalent of twenty marijuana cigarettes. I got the youtube clip from the Arkansas Times Blog. 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. 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.