Is it really justice if the murderer goes free for 50 years? Is it really justice if the murderer is behind bars, but the bodies are never found and brought home?
Katherine and Sheila Lyon disappeared from a shopping center in Wheaton, Maryland, on March 25, 1975. The sisters were 10 and 12. This double kidnapping sparked one of the largest police investigations in the history of the Washington Metropolitan area.
It was the second day of their summer vacation, and the two girls decided to walk to the Wheaton Plaza Shopping Center to meet some friends, but they decided to stop off at the Orange Bowl to eat some pizza first. Eyewitnesses say the sisters were seen talking to an unidentified man outside the Orange Bowl. The girls had a curfew and needed to be home by 4:00 p.m., so shortly after 2:00, they left the shopping center, and witnesses saw them heading back towards their home. This is the last verified sighting of the sisters.
By 5:45 p.m., Mary Lyon was cooking dinner and starting to get annoyed because her daughters hadn’t returned home. That annoyance turned into panic by 7:00 p.m., and the police were called in. House-to-house searches were conducted, witnesses were interviewed, and tips poured in, but no one could find the two sisters.
The police theorized that it must have been a group of people working together to kidnap two children at the same time. They were looking for multiple suspects.
Over the years, the family threw themselves headlong into the investigation, doing everything they could to raise awareness about their missing children. Rewards were offered, hoaxes were dealt with, and missing person fliers were printed, yet no leads gave them the answers they needed.
Suspects:
#1: Tape Recorder Man:
A young boy who knew the sisters claimed to have seen them sitting on a bench outside the Orange Bowl speaking to a man. He said he was between 50 and 60 and wearing a brown suit. Strangely, he was also carrying a briefcase with a tape recorder inside. He also had a microphone that the children were enjoying speaking into. He claimed that they were speaking live on some local radio station. Of course, there was no radio station, and this was a clever ruse to get the children to pay attention to a stranger. The police ended up calling him the tape recorder man, but no one could identify him.
#2: A Younger Man:
A local girl told police that she actually saw the girls headed back towards the house but she also saw a younger long-haired man that was following them. The girl’s name was Danette Shae. She told the police that he had been staring at her and her friends so much that they got nervous and told him he should just take a picture it would last longer.
The police made composite sketches of the two men, but they chose to pay more attention to the older tape recorder man than the younger one. Leads came in, but they led nowhere.
After the composite drawing was released to the public, an 18-year-old man named Lloyd Lee Welch Jr went to the shopping center and informed the security guard that he had seen a man matching the description of the tape recorder man. He gave the police just enough information to sound credible. He also told them that he believed he saw the man force the children into a red Camaro with white upholstery before hurriedly leaving the scene.
The eyewitness provided a six-page report and consented to have a polygraph test done, but he failed it. He was released by the police and classed as unreliable. Unfortunately, he wasn’t just unreliable, he was responsible!
On May 23rd, 1975, the lieutenant governor, Blair Lee, ordered the National Guard to help search the County forest for the missing girls. Surely 122 soldiers could find the missing girls, but they found nothing.
2013 Reinvestigation:
Sergeant Chris Homrock looked into the cold case, trying to see any clues that could have been missed at the beginning. And boy, did he find them. At first, he noticed a mugshot taken of Lloyd Welch back in 1977. He had been arrested for a burglary. Strangely, his mugshot looked almost identical to the young man in the second composite sketch. Everyone had been so focused on the older, Tape Recorder Man, but they didn’t pay much attention to the younger one.
Then, when he realized Lloyd Welch had come in and given false statements, it was pretty obvious who was responsible. Welch did not come in to give a tip out of the goodness of his heart. No, he gave a tip that would send all of the attention towards someone else.
In the years since the girls disappeared, Welch had acquired a large, violent criminal history and was in prison. So, the sergeant scheduled an interview on October 16th, 2013. At first, Welch refused to speak, but eventually he would admit to playing a part in their kidnapping and murder, but he claimed somebody else actually killed the girls. Other members of his family were even suspected of helping to kidnap the girls.
In July of 2015, Welch was indicted for the first-degree murder of both girls. It is still unclear if any of his family were involved in the kidnapping or murders. Since his father is deceased, we may never know. Sadly, the bodies of these two beautiful young girls have never been found.
In a rural County in Missouri, a young mother is killed and the case is overlooked. The county has been full of crime and chaos since the wild west days. homicides are immediately labeled as self-inflicted or as overdoses. And they never seem to receive the in-depth investigation that they deserve. Today I’m going to tell you a story of another strange death in Madison County, Missouri.
October 8, 2021:
A 35-year-old mother of five was found hanging from the shower curtain rod in her RV camper. She was held to the shower curtain rod by a woman’s belt. She wasn’t a tiny woman, and Lord knows those shower curtain rods can barely hold a wet shower curtain.
She had been beaten and bruised before being hanged by her belt. If investigators had studied even elementary-level science, they would understand that a curtain rod holds an average of 20 lb of weight. There is no way it could have held up a full-grown woman. But investigators immediately closed the case as self-inflicted. In all 500 cases that I have written about, I have never seen someone beat themselves up before ending it all.
To come to this conclusion, investigators had to ignore many details. No one took into account the strange text messages that her mother received in the days leading up to her death. Nobody took into account the fact that she was trying to kick someone out of her camper because she didn’t want them to live there anymore.
No one wants to take into account the strange behavior of her husband, who was nowhere to be found when the body was discovered. Why was he online selling all of her stuff within days of her death? While that is not a criminal offense, it does seem strange for a grieving husband to sell all of his wife’s belongings within days.
You would think all of these questions would make the police want to investigate the strange crime. From the research I have found, there was no investigation. Did they do DNA swabs under her fingernails? No. Somebody beat her up before she died. I guarantee you she didn’t do that to herself. How much evidence was lost when the police determined this was self-inflicted without doing a thorough investigation
Will Ashley Lunsford ever receive the justice she deserves? Will her five children ever know the truth about what happened to their mother?
Chaos rules in a small Southeastern Missouri County. Madison County spans 500 square miles and has a population of approximately 13,000 people. The county seat is Fredericktown with a population of approximately 4,000 people. This rural county should be a safe place in beautiful Americana, but it hides a dark secret. Fredericktown is one of the most dangerous places to live in America. Check out this quote from neighborhoodscout.com.
“With a crime rate of 31 per one thousand residents, Fredericktown has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 32.”
I started researching one case sent to me by a desperate grandmother. That case led me to fifteen more. Then I realized this county has had murder, corruption, and chaos since before the Wild West days. This book will start with a lynching by a Fredericktown mob in 1844. Hold onto your seats when you read this one. You’re in for a wild, chaotic ride through rural Missouri.
21-year-old Leon Moncer was last seen leaving his residence in Bellaire, Ohio. His car would be found on the side of the road a couple of days later. His wallet, cigarettes, and spare key were still in the car, but Leon was nowhere to be found.
The Times Leader reported on his case 10 days after his disappearance and said he was a helpful, caring man. While some people remember him that way, the women in his life had a different perspective. He was known to abuse and cheat on every woman he had been with. To make matters worse, he was a drug dealer in the community, so when he vanished, there were a few people in town who turned a blind eye. It seems this may have included some of the original investigators.
His soon-to-be ex-wife Irene still spoke of him politely despite the abuse she had suffered at his hands. She had a three-year-old daughter with this man, who deserved to know what happened to her father. Unfortunately, 43 years have passed, and no one knows for sure what happened to Leon Moncer.
The Relationships:
Leon was still currently married to Irene, although their divorce would be finalized shortly. They were struggling to try to co-parent their child despite the crumbling of their relationship. While many couples go through this ordeal, Moncer’s abuse of substances didn’t make things easier. Although they had been separated for quite a while, their divorce wasn’t quite final at the time of his disappearance.
Leon had started a new relationship with a woman who has been named GG to protect her identity. He had been dating her long enough that he had proposed. She agreed, but he had recently hit her and broken her nose in an argument. This wasn’t a smart move because GG had Brothers who were furious, and justified in being so.
Leon was known to cheat on every woman he dated, so when he told his brother that he couldn’t attend his birthday party because he had a “hot date,” no one really thought anything about it. No one knew who the woman was either.
The Bar Fights:
Leon was known to be rowdy when he was under the influence, which caused many bar fights. One notable fight happened a short time before he disappeared. It took place at Tin Pan Alley, which was a known gathering place for mobsters at the time.
The Note: “Leave It Alone, Or You Are Dead.”
The week before Leon disappeared, he received a death threat by mail. It was a letter without a stamp that consisted of letters cut from magazines. It read, “Leave it alone, or you are dead.”
If this note was legitimate, it didn’t seem to faze Leon. He simply shrugged it off and threw it away. There is no evidence of this note left behind. It would be nice to have it for reference and to take DNA samples from it.
The Disappearance:
Leon was last seen on the night of February 18th, 1982. He told his brother Raymond that he couldn’t make it to his birthday party because he had a date. No one was sure it was, and no one thought to ask. To this day, no one has figured out if he actually had a date that night or if it was a joke.
According to Irene, Leon left his parents’ house, which was across the street, then stopped by his boss’s house tomorrow $20, and then drove to his friend’s house in Wheeling. She believed his first name was Ted, but had no idea what his last name was. Several friends placed Leon at Ed’s Lounge in Lloydsville later that evening, but nobody mentioned his mystery date.
No one was concerned about his absence until he missed work the next day, which was out of character for him. Despite all of his other problems, he was a hard worker who never missed work unless he was sick.
The family filed a missing person’s report with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department. That night, Leon’s mother received a strange phone call. She was talking on the phone at about 9:00 p.m. when the phone operator interrupted her and asked her to hang up because an emergency phone call was coming through from Leon Moncer. The mother eagerly hung up the phone and sat waiting all evening for a call from her missing son. It was a cruel prank to pull on a grieving mother.
The next day, the family drove around trying to find any trace of Leon. They spotted his gray Dodge Aspen parked off the side of Anco Mining Road. He wasn’t there, but all of his belongings were still inside, along with empty beer cans and an empty bottle of wine.
Conflicting reports have come in about the state of the abandoned car. Some reports said that it was left idling, and a neighbor shut the car off. Again, there’s nothing to verify this part of the story. We do know that his wallet, his spare key, and his cigarettes were still in the car. We do know that there was mud in the car, but this was a muddy time of year, so that is not necessarily pointing towards a struggle. It is strange, however, that his main car keys were not in the car. Instead, a spare key was found in the console of the car. What does all of this mean? Does this mean he simply stepped out of the car for a moment and never made it back? Or was he drug from the car?
The family reported the car, and the police told them to have it towed and get it out of the way. The police did not come out and take pictures or investigate the car as far as anyone can tell. Instead, the car was towed to Leon’s parents’ house, where it sat in the yard for 10 years without investigation.
The Cold Case team that is currently working on this case is surprised by the lack of interest the original police force showed in this case. The car should have been detailed and searched for forensic evidence, but it was not done, and that evidence has been lost to time.
Reported Sightings:
Like with a lot of missing person cases, there have been some reported sightings of Leon after his disappearance. While sometimes these sightings give the family hope, they also tend to derail the investigation. People don’t realize how unreliable Eyewitness statements really are, especially when you add emotional trauma into the mix, you will find that eyewitness statements are rarely accurate.
For a short time after the disappearance, a few people around town thought they had seen Leon in a local bar, but they were never sure. One person even saw him walking down the road, but wasn’t sure. After these so-called sightings, it seems like the investigation stalled out completely.
There is one disturbing sighting that was reported repeatedly by Irene herself. She claimed that for nearly 2 years after Leon disappeared, a strange man would stand in the shadows outside of her house. She would call the police. But they would never arrive in time to catch the man. She even moved a few miles away, but instead of calling her local police department, where they might arrive on time, she would call the original investigators, and of course, they would never make it before the man disappeared.
I find this strange considering the fact that someone could be stalking her and her child, and she’s not more panic-stricken about it, but we all grieve differently. Was she actually seeing anyone out there in the shadows?
Declared Dead:
Leon was declared dead on November 16th, 1988, on what would have sadly been his 28th birthday. His parents never stopped looking for him, and unfortunately passed away without getting the answers they needed. His daughter is still looking for answers to this day.
Investigation Over the Years:
While the initial investigation seemed to be lacking in enthusiasm, a Cold Case team has picked up this case and has tried to find answers for the family. Unfortunately, the original case file was lost for years and was recently found after an extensive search in an old storage unit. That was back in 2007.
Since the original car was not investigated, it makes it hard to know who was with Leon on that so-called hot date. Was anyone in that car with him at all? Did somebody ambush him on the side of the road? Did he have a girlfriend that night, but she was a plant to set him up?
We may never know unless somebody comes forward. All of the forensic evidence was lost long ago.
The Ohio Valley Cold Case task force is still taking calls and following leads on this case. It even led them to dig up a basement in Columbus, Ohio. As far as anyone knows, nothing came of that lead. At least the public hasn’t been notified of anything by the police.
Sadly, this family has dealt with scams like so many others. You have so-called psychics calling family members and giving them false hope. You have people calling pretending to be family. But then, when you call back, they don’t exist. Unfortunately, there are predators out there who prey on victims’ family members. They have no empathy whatsoever and will steal millions of dollars from the families if it’s possible. Beware of scammers, especially in cold cases.
Theories:
Mob Hit:
There are a ton of theories out there on this case, and one of them is that it was a mob hit after Leon got into that fight with some mob Associates down on Tin Pan Alley. If there was a silent Watcher on the house like Irene claims, that might be a thin string to point towards a mob hit. Mobsters live by a strange moral compass. They might take out the father, but then watch over the child later. I’m still not convinced that there was a silent Watcher in this case.
GG’s Revenge:
The theory that most people like to go with is the fact that GG’s brothers took out the man who abused their little sister. This is a story of vengeance and makes perfect sense to anyone who has been abused. However, that is the obvious answer, and I have a hard time believing that the police wouldn’t have figured that one out in 43 years. There must be a reason why GG’s brothers haven’t been labeled as Persons of Interest in this case.
Unknown Revenge:
This unknown avenger is a theory that somebody else took Vengeance on Leon that night. Who in his life had the most motive to take him out? I contend somebody closer to him actually had more motive than GG’s brothers. Once the police can figure this out, then they will have their lead suspect. Unfortunately, Leon’s lifestyle opened the door to too many theories.
He was known to sleep around with many women. Could he have gotten hold of somebody’s wife or daughter? He was also known to fight at local bars regularly. Did he fight with one person who just happened to be more violent than him? He sold drugs. Did he step on another drug dealer’s territory? Somebody in Leon’s life wanted him out of the way. The question is, after 43 years, who had the means to do it and pull it off and get by with it for all these years?
Simple Accident:
The last theory is that he got out of his vehicle that night to pee and stumbled off into the rugged wilderness of Ohio. In his inebriated state, he may have fallen, hit his head, and died in the woods. If this is the case, I am sure somebody would have found him by now, or animals would have dragged up pieces of his clothing… something. Unfortunately, nothing has ever been found.
What do you think happened to Leon Moncer? Whatever your opinions of him are, we must remember that his poor daughter deserves answers, and his parents died without ever having the answers they needed.
This Case is Brought To You by Bones Coffee Company & my latest book titled, “Madhouse Madison County.” Please check out the links below. Every purchase you make, helps me make more videos for you, and spread awareness about more cases. Thank you in advance.
Chaos rules in a small Southeastern Missouri County. Madison County spans 500 square miles and has a population of approximately 13,000 people. The county seat is Fredericktown with a population of approximately 4,000 people. This rural county should be a safe place in beautiful Americana, but it hides a dark secret. Fredericktown is one of the most dangerous places to live in America. Check out this quote from neighborhoodscout.com.
“With a crime rate of 31 per one thousand residents, Fredericktown has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 32.”
I started researching one case sent to me by a desperate grandmother. That case led me to fifteen more. Then I realized this county has had murder, corruption, and chaos since before the Wild West days. This book will start with a lynching by a Fredericktown mob in 1844. Hold onto your seats when you read this one. You’re in for a wild, chaotic ride through rural Missouri.
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After shooting down a prominent businessman, the killer looked up and gazed at the people in the factory windows. Why would a hitman do this? Was he confident, arrogant, or was he backed by the Mafia and knew he was untouchable? Whatever the case, Wolf Rimann lay dying in his car, and the killer got away. Seventy years later we have a full description of the killer, but no arrests.
Wolf Rimann, 43 was a marked man. He had been warned. Perhaps he thought he was too powerful in Kansas City to be taken out so easily. Rimann was a Deputy Sherriff in Jackson County. He was neck deep in corruption and thrived. Rimann was a golf professional and the manager of the Hillcrest Country Club. He also owned the Western Speciality Company which supplied jukeboxes and pinball machines to area businesses. Rimann was known to slip a few strategically placed slot machines in as well. It was a well-known fact that Rimann would use his badge to force tavern owners to install his slot machines. If the bar owner refused, Rimann would decide to enforce the county’s “dry” laws and shut the bar down. At one point there were four other officers on Rimann’s payroll for this sole purpose.
The local Mafia kingpin, John Blando had exclusive rights to the Schenley Liquor products and was making a boat-load of money on the deal. Rimann decided he wanted a piece of the action and bypassed Blando. He went directly to New York and was given permission to sell Schenley liquor. This obviously upset Blando, so he sent word for Rimann to back off, but Rimann refused and continued to stock a warehouse full of the product.
On March 24, 1949, Wolf Rimann was walking towards his car on the corner of 14th & Chestnut when a black Ford peeled around the corner. One man stepped out and stood as a century. Another man stepped out firing a pistol. Rimann was riddled with bullets as he opened the car door. He slumped across the front seat of his car as the shooter approached. The hitman’s final bullet met its mark in Rimann’s skull. Then the killer did something very odd. He turned and looked at the factory windows full of witnesses exposing his face to the crowd. If this were a Hollywood film, he probably would have tipped his hat. After the strange moment passed, the two men jumped back into the Ford and raced away.
The sketch above says the Ford was parked, but early reporting of this case say the Ford never stopped and the two men who exited the car had to jog to catch back up to it. The getaway car was found ten blocks north of the crime scene. The vehicle was traced back to a St. Louis car dealership. It was recently purchased by an Italian man claiming to be from Denver. He paid with cash and asked to borrow a couple of license plates. He never picked up the car title. He apparently had other plans for the car. The mysterious Italian was never found.
After his death, Rimann’s illegal business dealings came to light and exposed how deep the corruption had become in Kansas City. Although the case was never solved, the Kansas City Crime Commission was formed because of the murder of Wolf Rimann. Everyone knows the mob killed Rimann, but the triggerman was never found, and the crime boss of K.C. was never convicted of hiring the hit.
All photos used in this article are from the Kansas City archives or Newspapers.com. I do not own the copyright on any of these and no infringement is intended. This article is for informational purposes only, All photos used in this article are from the Kansas City archives. I do not own the copyright on any of these and no infringement is intended. This article is for informational purposes only,
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Shattered: Behind Every Story Is A Shattered Life (Synova’s Case Files Series)
Follow the heart-rending cases Synova first wrote about on her blog in 2018. Filled with missing persons’ cases, unsolved homicides, and even serial killer cases, this book will give you a greater insight into the shattered lives behind every story. Cases Included in this book: Jayme Closs, Haley Owens, Josh Robinson, Timothy Cunningham, Carol Blades, Pam Hupp, Arthur Ream, Angela Hammond, The Springfield Three, Jennifer Harris, Danny King, Angie Yarnell, Jack Robinson, Madelin Edman, Alexis Patterson, Amber Wilde, Sandra Bertolas, Jennifer Casper-Ross, Crystal Soulier, Jody Ricard, Carmen Owens, Brandon Tyree McCullough & The I-70 Serial Killer
Each week Synova highlights obscure cold cases on her blog as a victim’s advocate. She never charges for her services. If you’d like to help support Synova in this worthy cause please check out the affiliate links below. By purchasing one of her books or using these links, you will be supporting Synova’s work on cold cases and will ensure her ability to continue to give a voice to the victim’s family. Thank you.
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Tyler was a mild-mannered 16-year-old boy from Edmonds, Washington. He left his house at about 6:30 on the night of April 19th, 2016. He told his parents he was going to a youth meeting at a church less than a mile from his house. Sometimes, he would take his bicycle to these meetings, and other times, he would run. This time, he would never make it to the meeting, and he wouldn’t return home.
The family called the police by 3:00 a.m. that morning when they realized he had never come home and something was wrong. He left wearing a T-shirt, shorts, and running shoes. He was not dressed for the weather, and everyone was worried. The youth pastor informed the police that he hadn’t received a text message from Tyler that evening, so he wasn’t looking for him and didn’t realize he was missing. Normally, since he walked or rode his bike, Tyler would text the youth pastor and let him know he was on his way. But that night, he didn’t receive a text message. This was strange. Tyler’s phone was at the house. Later, someone down the road turned over video footage from their home surveillance system. It showed Tyler going in the opposite direction of the church. Did Tyler leave on his own accord? It would seem he did.
Missing person’s flyers go up all over the area, and a couple of weeks later, a man calls in a tip. He said he believed he had picked up Tyler hitchhiking along the road that night. Tyler had gotten off of the ferry and was hitchhiking. Tyler told the man that he was going to go hiking in the Olympic National Park. The man said he had a black backpack with him. (Please note that the backpack was not seen in the surveillance footage from earlier).
A short time later, the backpack was found near High Steel Bridge. Strangely, it had a couple of emergency blankets, a little bit of food, and a pair of sweatpants. We know that Tyler loved camping and hiking; a seasoned camper would have taken better provisions. They also found a ferry receipt in the bag. I contend that the receipt should be suspect. Did someone verify that the backpack was actually Tyler’s? If bought with cash, the receipt could technically belong to anyone.
Theories abound online as to what could have happened to this child. Most people think he ran away on his own accord and left the backpack by the bridge himself. After writing about 300 cases, my mind goes in a different direction. Did they thoroughly investigate the man who brought this tip? Could he have been a predator? Was the backpack conveniently placed in that location to establish a false narrative?
One online theory says that he may have traveled to this location because he was planning on committing suicide. I have a few questions. Did anyone check his internet search history? Did he show signs of depression online? Was he lured out by a predator? Did he leave a toxic home environment? Sadly, there is no information available online in this case. His Facebook page hasn’t even seen a new post since 2021. Why isn’t someone publicly pushing to solve this? Whatever the case, I don’t think this boy had the wherewithal, the contacts, or the cash to live on the lamb for 8 years. If he is still alive, somebody either has him in an abusive situation or assisted him in a benevolent manner. Whatever the case, somebody knows what happened to this teenage boy that night in April. It’s been 8 years. It’s time to come forward.
For more information on this case, check out Synova’s True Crime Tuesday Video:
If you enjoy this content don’t forget to sign up for Synova’s Weekly True Crime Newsletter. You will receive exclusive content directly in your inbox. As a gift for joining you will also receive the Grim Justice e-book free.
Each week Synova highlights obscure cold cases on her blog as a victim’s advocate. She never charges for her services. If you’d like to help support Synova in this worthy cause please check out the affiliate links below. By purchasing one of her books or using these links, you will be supporting Synova’s work on cold cases and will ensure her ability to continue to give a voice to the victim’s family. Thank you.
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Chaos rules in a small Southeastern Missouri County. Madison County spans 500 square miles and has a population of approximately 13,000 people. The county seat is Fredericktown with a population of approximately 4,000 people. This rural county should be a safe place in beautiful Americana, but it hides a dark secret. Fredericktown is one of the most dangerous places to live in America. Check out this quote from neighborhoodscout.com.
“With a crime rate of 31 per one thousand residents, Fredericktown has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 32.”
I started researching one case sent to me by a desperate grandmother. That case led me to fifteen more. Then I realized this county has had murder, corruption, and chaos since before the Wild West days. This book will start with a lynching by a Fredericktown mob in 1844. Hold onto your seats when you read this one. You’re in for a wild, chaotic ride through rural Missouri.
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Youtube has started restricting my videos because of their true crime content. This hinders my channel’s monetization, sure, but more importantly it makes it hard to get these stories the publicity they need. Please consider following me on Rumble to help avoid these issues and to raise awareness about these unsolved cases.
A trucker was found dead in the cab of his tractor-trailer. Bullet holes riddled the man’s torso and the cab of his truck. John Constant was shot 17 times by a high-powered rifle, but there wasn’t any blood in the cab leading investigators to wonder if the hit was staged. Forty-six years later, a dying witness blows this frozen case wide open. Will the killer finally face justice?
Hollywood may be fond of happy endings, but the reality isn’t as pleasant. In this case, the main suspect was let off the hook because of a technicality. Maybe he did it. Maybe he didn’t, but we will never know because it won’t go to trial.
On April 20, the Knox News reported that prosecutors dismissed the murder charge against Max Calhoun. The witness reportedly contacted the police after talking to the victim’s family over Facebook. These messages were enough to cause concern, and the authorities requested their phones. When the phones were received, the messages weren’t there. Were they intentionally deleted, or were they so old that they had been deleted before the police were ever called? We will never know.
Here’s the problem. If talking to the victim’s family on social media is enough to destroy a murder case, I wonder how many other cases should have been dropped? How many cases? What were in those messages? Were they benign, or were they sinister? Of course, the Knox News article doesn’t dive into the reason why the messages were no longer available, but it’s sad that this 48-yr-old murder won’t receive justice now because of social media. Here’s a glimpse into this legendary murder:
John Raymond Constant, Jr. was found murdered in the cab of his truck on March 16, 1973. The tractor-trailer truck was parked near the Little Tennessee River just off Hwy 411. The driver had suffered seventeen gunshot wounds, but police quickly realized the crime scene was staged. Although the cab was riddled with bullets and Mr. Constant was shot multiple times, there was no blood found at the scene.
A witness who lived in the area recalled hearing a car with a loud exhaust come by followed by what sounded like gunfire. A few moments later, he heard the vehicle pass again. Was this man ambushed while he rested in his cab, or was the scene staged? Was the car with the loud exhaust filled with the killers, or was it the escape route after staging the scene?
Strange Side Note:
The tractor-trailer truck’s emergency flashers were left blinking. Whoever did this wasn’t too worried about being caught, or they would have hidden the truck and shut off the lights.
Possible Motive:
Why would anyone want to murder this man? It seems Constant was starting to keep records of the shipments he was hauling. These shipments included bootleg cigarettes and black market items shipped by the local chapter of the Dixie Mafia. Family members claim John had been threatened and had decided to go to the FBI with his records.
Within a few months, outside investigators were brought in to form a task force since there were rumors of involvement by prominent citizens in the local community. Investigators wondered if this case could be tied to the Ray Owenby murder in June of 1973. The two men were good friends, and both were murdered three months apart.
Ray Owenby was shot while clearing land for development in Spring City, TN. He was shot four times but still managed to drive the bulldozer a mile down the road to find help. He collapsed upon arrival. No suspects emerged in the case, but the similarities made police wonder if there was a connection.
Investigators believe John Constant was killed the day before his body was found and was transported to the location. Witnesses would emerge early in the investigation that seemed to corroborate this theory. Constant was seen at a garage in Etowah owned by H.B. Calhoun. Another man claimed to have seen John Constant and two men at a car wash in Etowah on March 15. While the witness washed his car, he heard something like firecrackers, and then a truck drove away with someone slumped in the seat. The witness was put under hypnosis, and a few new details emerged. The driver was Marvin Ray “Big John” Pittman, and the other man was supposedly Harold Buckner.
Big John Pittman was a drifter and worked as a hitman for the Dixie Mafia. He would eventually be murdered in his home in Tampa, Florida. His body was found on June 5, 1975. He had been shot once in the temple and left for dead.
Harold Buckner’s story doesn’t have such a quick ending. Buckner would be arrested in September 1982 after a witness came forward on their deathbed. Buckner had just run for Sheriff and lost and claimed it was a politically motivated arrest. It would take a year, but the charges were eventually dropped due to lack of evidence. To this day, Buckner claims he was framed, and the investigation was nothing more than a “witch hunt.”
After the deathbed witness statement and the subsequent events, the case sat dormant for decades. Richar Fisher, former D.A., told reporters that he always believed several people had a hand in the murder plot against John Constant. If something didn’t come up soon, everyone would be dead.
Although the case went cold, the victim’s family believed they knew the murderer from the beginning and fingered Max Calhoun (son of H.B. Calhoun). John’s two brothers threatened the Calhoun family within weeks of the murder, and eventually, a protection order was placed on them.
“I am confident in my mind that you set my brother up to be murdered.” – Harold Constant to Max Calhoun.
Now we may never know if Calhoun was responsible for the death of John Constant. If Calhoun isn’t the killer, hopefully, they will find the ones responsible before this case is forgotten in the annals of history.
THIS LIST OF LINKS IS NOT AN ALL-ENCOMPASSING SOURCE CITING. ALL OF THE INFORMATION USED IN THIS ARTICLE CAN BE EASILY FOUND ONLINE. LINKS BELOW WERE USED AS SOURCES AND ARE RECOMMENDED READING FOR SYNOVA’S READERS. SYNOVA STRIVES TO CITE ALL THE SOURCES USED DURING HER CASE STUDY, BUT OCCASIONALLY A SOURCE MAY BE MISSED BY MISTAKE. IT IS NOT INTENTIONAL, AND NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IS INTENDED.
“The most deadly enemy you will face in the entirety of your career is the Dixie Mafia based out of Phenix City, Alabama.” – Major Cullen O’Conner to General Haggerty
From their birthplace in Phenix City, Alabama to the corruption of today, the Dixie Mafia’s tentacles stretch from coast to coast throughout the south. While most of the world denies their existence, this network of freelance criminals have flown under the radar for the most part since the 1950s. Their structure is completely different than that of La Cosa Nostra so people discount them as rogue bands of individual criminals. In reality it’s one massive web of corruption, lies, and murder.
Check out Synova’s latest book called Dawn of the Dixie Mafia to find out how all of these random crimes fit together.
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John Brent McGhee was a 42-year-old man trying to get his life together despite a troubled marriage. He was last seen on July 11, 2024, after his wife had an argument with his mother. He spent a few minutes at a cousin’s house and then vanished into oblivion. Strangely, the next day his wife checked herself into a battered women’s shelter and then immediately into a mental health clinic. After being released she moves in with her BFF; a man her husband once trusted.
Why the strange behavior? Why do scent dogs lose the trail in front of this “boyfriend’s” house? Why does the rumor mill point to hideous things involving these people? And, why can’t anyone find McGhee? Was he betrayed by the ones closest to him?
Brent McGee was having trouble in his marriage and felt like his wife was leaving him. They visited his mother on the 11th, but his wife was aloof and didn’t seem to want to be there. When something was said there was an explosion and his wife left in a huff.
Brent would visit a cousin’s house for a few minutes and then vanish. One eyewitness put him in front of his wife’s boyfriend’s house. Scent dogs with be brought in later to verify this. The dogs lost his scent just past the house, but they could not go on to the property because it was posted and they didn’t have a warrant. All of this information was sent to the police department.
Police have an eyewitness statement. The Boyfriend had several people there that day and she said that Brent’s wife came in crying. She didn’t have any physical injuries, but she did come in crying. A short time later the witness said she seen Brent in the road in front of the house and the guys around her said they weren’t going to let him in.
If this is true, this was the last official sighting of Brent McGee. Was he there to confront his wife’s infidelity? Was he there to talk to a lifelong friend who had turned against him? We may never know if the police don’t get around to interrogating anyone.
The next day Brent’s wife checked herself into the Hope Cottage, a battered women’s shelter in Searcy, Arkansas. After she finished their program, she immediately checked herself into a mental health facility. She never showed any concern for her missing husband and never reported him missing. Upon her release, she immediately moved in with her boyfriend. Was she actually abused or was this to establish an alibi?
Her boyfriend is a taxidermist and the rumor mill has run wild with theories about possible ways to dispose of a body. We won’t get into all the hideous tales that this family has had to endure from the local rumor mill. But sadly, those rumors also include Brent’s childhood friend. What happened to Brent? And, was his wife, and two friends involved in his disappearance?
The family has called in a private investigator and some other organizations to help find answers after the local police haven’t been able to provide them. Family, friends, and volunteers have conducted over a dozen searches looking for any clues to where Brent could be. These searches have yielded items of interest and these items were sent to the police. Most of the evidence they dismissed, and some of it sat in an evidence locker for several weeks until it was so deteriorated the crime lab couldn’t get any results from it.
This family needs your help raising awareness about this case. Brent had people around him who should have protected him, but instead, it seems they weren’t the people he thought they were. The Sister had to go into Brent’s house and look for clues. She found spots she thought were blood, so she and the PI did luminol testing. They found quite a bit of blood stains in that room. They told the police and they came and took pictures. Unfortunately, nothing has ever come of this evidence either.
What happened to Brent McGhee? Did he go to his wife’s BF’s house to confront her? Was he kept outside? Why did the scent dogs alert at the BF’s house? And more importantly, Why in Heaven’s Name can’t the police get a search warrant? How much circumstantial evidence do they need?
The family has put together a petition to pressure the local P.D. into pushing this case up to a larger department with more resources. Please follow the link and sign the petition. This case should have been solved within the week if things had been done in a timely manner, but now the longer they wait the less evidence will be found.
This case is brought to you by Bones Coffee Company and my latest book “Madhouse Madison County.”
Madhouse Madison County
Chaos rules in a small Southeastern Missouri County. Madison County spans 500 square miles and has a population of approximately 13,000 people. The county seat is Fredericktown with a population of approximately 4,000 people. This rural county should be a safe place in beautiful Americana, but it hides a dark secret. Fredericktown is one of the most dangerous places to live in America. Check out this quote from neighborhoodscout.com.
“With a crime rate of 31 per one thousand residents, Fredericktown has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes – from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One’s chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 32.”
I started researching one case sent to me by a desperate grandmother. That case led me to fifteen more. Then I realized this county has had murder, corruption, and chaos since before the Wild West days. This book will start with a lynching by a Fredericktown mob in 1844. Hold onto your seats when you read this one. You’re in for a wild, chaotic ride through rural Missouri.
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