Several witnesses have claimed her body was found . The Page/Kincaid community responded admirably to the crime against one of its favorite sons. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. . Someone had hit Eddie hard and more than once. Near Oak Hill (Fayette Co) WV August 15, 1999 . He said that later he had removed the ash and debris from the fire, along with other household debris, and disposed of these ashes and trash on his grandmothers property. Determined to find justice, they posted reward notices all over the county and contacted authorities regularly. We felt the best thing for the victim and for justice was to dismiss the indictment without prejudice.. "They were terrified of him" the prosecutor said. As the investigation unfolded, State Police collected 13 body parts flung over the hillside. However, police were ever able to prove any involvement in the disappearance of Sue Roop. Everyone rested peacefully in the knowledge that no one was out there at this time of night but good old Eddie, headed to work. The answer was one that Detective Tanner would hear several times over the next few years - "Results inconclusive." You must log in or register to reply here. UNSOLVED: The Murder of Theresa Woods; A West Virginia Cold Case Mysterious WV 83.9K subscribers Subscribe 258K views 3 years ago PLEASE SHARE: Theresa Ann Woods disappeared from in front. DISAPPEARANCE OF JONATHAN SKAGGS Near Oak Hill (Fayette Co) WVAugust 15, 1999. His arms had been severed at the shoulders and elbows. When the children returned home from school they found a note signed "Mommy" telling them "to go to Carol`s." JavaScript is disabled. Detectives searched the property with the help of the WV Medical Examiner`s Office, Kanawha County Sheriff`s Office and a team of Archeologists and Forensic Anthropologists from the Smithsonian Institute in Washing DC. . John had little more than a short glimpse of the man and could only describe him as a tall, slender male wearing blue jeans and a dark jacket. Apparently, the school teacher put a load of clothes in the basement washer and returned to work on her Avon orders because she telephoned her Avon manager around 9:00 to discuss some problems with the orders. Where was she going that she thought she might not return before the children came home from school? The second Black male was described to be only about 5`6" in height and more stocky. The Sheriff s department began retracing Jonathans steps on the day before his disappearance. Mrs. Holstein had no way of knowing that she might be the last person to see Sue Roop alive. By the summer of 1981, Gary and Cynthia had decided to make the ultimate commitment throughmarriage. . Mountain Murders takes a look at two unsolved cases in West Virginia. And Toney continued to change his story to blame anyone and everyone for Skaggs death but himself. Only 5`1" tall and 120 pounds with long sandy colored hair, Sue looked like a child herself. Since then, about 7,472 of these cases have been settled, leaving law enforcement with approximately 2,837 unresolved homicides in West Virginia. The day Nicoles body was found, on February 1, 2003, would also be marked by a major disaster. At 12:26 a.m. on Sunday, August 15, 1999, a woman reported that she had observed a man lying in the road near the intersection of Route 61 and Dempsey Branch Road. Naturally quiet and reserved, the two brothers forced themselves to respond to newspaper interviews and pose for photos by Eddies grave. The records indicated that Deputy Feltner transported Jonathan to the residence of Alfred Clinton Toney shortly after midnight on August 15th. It was obvious from the letters that Sue deeply feared her ex-husband. Prosecutors dropped the charges against Hammond five months later. They thought little of the incident until hearing about thebody of Patricia Sue Richmond beingfound. Several of the rapes had been committed in the area surrounding Beaver where she had been abducted as well as at the mall where she worked. Family members recalled that Sue wore a gold ring with a small diamond. Henry Lee Lucas spent 10 years in prison for the murder of his mother, before he was released in 1970 because of prison overcrowding. The Unsolved Ohio Murder of Patsy Sparks Gets Fresh Look In 1992, Patsy Sparks, then 18, went to a bar in Parkersburg, West Virginia, about 15 miles from her home. According to the girlfriend's testimony, both bodies were decapitated and dismembered in the bathtub and their body parts were placed in plastic garbage bags, and left in trash dumpsters around Franklin County. They followed up with him once again that same evening and he said that he still hadn`t seen her. Eddie didnt keep working at the service station because he was an automobile enthusiast. All three were the best criminal investigators in the state. A brief summary of each case is provided. Each of the cases listed on this page are regularly being worked by detectives. The 1981 murder of Cynthia Miller is an example of how Charleston murders DNA,as well as DNAfrom crimes in other regions of West Virginia, was utilized to solve or provide new information to cold cases. So loud, in fact, that Boland would probably have heard them even if she were asleep. . Gary left around 8:20 and told Cynthia to expect him home at 11:30. Since then, the case has become one of Singapore's most infamous unsolved crimes. Chances of solving the crime appeared very good. . When thinking about famous West Virginia murders, not many notable names come to mind. The periodical was Master Detective and billboarded the infamous Mad Butcher mystery that haunted law enforcement agencies over a three-year span in Fayette County. Theresa was said to have had a crush on a boy, Allan at school. The time itself was confusing. Life had not been kind to the 29-year-old mother of three young children (Suzie 9, Jessica 7 and Raymond, Jr. "Scooter"2). His final words, "May tomorrow see the courts shaped by more wisdom and less politics.". To save the confusion of explaining the name change to her students in the middle of the year, Cynthia wanted to get married before school started. "In October 2006, you told investigators that Eddie Queen was the one. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Sue`s father hired a private investigator, Eric E. Edwards, of Charleston to help with the search for his daughter, however, he developed no leads. Sandy and Elly were immediately concerned because they knew that Sue would never abandon the children. If you have information concerning the murder of Eddie Brown, please contact the Fayette County Sehriff`s Department at 304-574-4126 or Crime Stoppers at 304-255-STOP (7867) Crime Stoppers will pay a reward up to $5,000.00to theTipster who provides information that leads to the arrest of the person(s) who murdered Eddie Brown. Finally, investigators from various investigative and law enforcement agencies around the state will continue to investigate the remaining unsolved cases until all of West Virginias true crimes are solved. . Screaming in panic, he turned her body over and attempted to administer CPR but it was too late. Initially, like in so many other cases, the police believed her to be a runaway but her family knew better than that. Unemployment was up. Although the early 1980s were a time when many young people her age were experimenting with drugs or alcohol, Cynthia seemed to harbor no such curiosity. Jaromir Chalabala/Shutterstock Steven Fisher, 20, and his girlfriend Melisa Gregory, 17, were bludgeoned to death on a ranch northwest of Newton, Iowa, in 1983. That victim, headless and minus his feet and hands, turned up in a lonely spot in Pineville. Was it possible that Cynthia was killed later than they believed? Investigators spent the next few months conducting interviews of everyone who had any connection to the case. Police theorized that Hendree had gained his knowledge of West Virginia through talking with a former cellmate from Charleston. Your identity will never be known. For the back of Cynthias head was covered in blood. Abundant sunshine. "He really knew what he was doing said police. . More people got interested. For those who remained, the battle was far from over. The only sign of Sue`s leaving was the note on the door. 4. It was the day of the space shuttle Columbia explosion that killed all seven crew members. Sherry said its the simple absence of her daughter that hurts the most. . Russ Miller and Bill Rhodes, then police chief of Parkersburg. . CLUES, CLUES: There were even clues of a supernatural source. The Black male passenger had a broad face and was wearing a black hat with fur around it and no bill. Today, Sheriff Steve Tanner continues his battle to bring closure to the family of Sue Roop and justice to her murderer. Beard's lawyers petitioned the state, presenting both Franklin's original confession and new eyewitness testimony that placed Beard elsewhere on the day of the murders. For months after the disappearance flyers peppered the town of Oak Hill and everywhere you went there was a picture of the young girls face. UNANSWERED QUESTIONS Investigators began an intense search of the home as soon as the body was removed for transport to the State Medical Examiners office. Ministers expressed concern that someone would be hurt by mistake. Anyone having information on this case is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 304-255-STOP (or submit tip via this website) or call the Raleigh County Sheriff`s Office Detective Bureau at 304-255-9300. Police and friends agree on one point about him, his intelligence set him apart from the run-of-the- mill criminal. To their surprise, their father came. 1. You are using an out of date browser. Two men - 21-year-old Howard Sampson and his 57-year-old father Andrew Sampson - were arrested on murder charges. It appeared as if Margie and her abductor(s) had vanished into thin air. The victim knew her killer very well. There was one unusual clue found in the car, being a partially scorched gold wedding band with the brand name of Gold Circle. Eddie was left-handed and he always kept his money in his right shirt pocket. He had tried repeatedly throughout the evening to reach her. "He was found in a cave in Lobelia. (now a city judge in Ripley) He also noted appreciation for Sgt. It could be someone struck by an automobile,it could be someone seriously injured in a crime,or it could merely be someone too intoxicated to find his way home. Remember, you will be anonymous through any contact with Crime Stoppers, whether by telephone or website tip!! When she did not answer the telephoneby 11:35, his concern deepened. Another said Wickline threatened her on at least two occasions but she still loved him. In their heydays, they were places where neighbors knew and looked out for each other. One was wearing army pants and carrying an army jacket and was wearing a square-faced diver`s watch with a wide band. WestVirginiaNews@gmail.com . On impulse, he wrote down the license plate number of the Volkswagen as it passed by and headed north on US 21 toward Mount Hope. According to Unsolved Murders author Bragg, Morris told the Sodders that he had recovered a body part from the site of the fire and buried it in a box there. Theresas mother, Betty, urged her to finish out the school year at Collins and had made arrangements for she and Theresa to return to Powellton at the end of the year. 3. . It is here that we find ourselves on the morning of February 20, 1986. . This testing could compare the DNA of the skeletal remains to the DNA of Sue Roop`s mother and daughters to determine whether the body was in fact Sue Roop. Bragg soon expanded his career, using his spare time away from photography duties, to investigate and research other baffling murder cases. These include the 1969 murder of Amelia Wilson, the 1980 double-murder of Vicki Durian and Nancy Santomero, and the 2016 murder of Ivan Vanya Perlis, as well as the disappearances of Lisa Crouse in 1997 and Morten Aigeltinger in 2015. There was no evidence of any disturbance at the station other than that caused by Brown himself as he stumbled confused and bleeding in the darkness. Officers were increasingly impressed by the accuracy of the information given by the psychics, at this point they became involved in another phase of the investigation involving the FBI in Ohio. On June 6, 1987, Tammy was still missing. In addition, the clothing found with the body indicated a person dressed for cold weather. When women answered the ads, he killed them and stole their money. Knowing that she expected him home by 11:30, it was unlike her to be gone at that time. . Sheriff Riffle was a roadway deputy at the time, but remembers the impact the case had on the community. No information proved to be relevant. The one who took my childs life is out there running around free. 6 Mysterious Unsolved Mysteries In West Virginia That Will Haunt You Thank for watching! At 5:30pm, Betty called the West Virginia State Police to report Theresa missing. In 1992, Eddie was a familiar sight at Vias Service Station where he had helped people for the past 14 years. If you have ANY information pertaining to the aforementioned facts or circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Cherice Gwinn, even background information that you may not think is important, her family urges you to contact CRIME STOPPERS at 304-255-STOP (7867). Where Facts And Controversy In The News Come Together In Truth. . Theresa excelled academically, loved playing the saxophone and was a member of the school band. And what of the blouse that Eddie was pressingagainst his scalp in a vain attempt to staunch the flow of blood? A neighbor stated that she had seen Clint Toney at 6:30 AM on the morning of Sunday, August 15th. It appears that Margie turned off her car and removed the keys from the ignition, took her purse from the seat beside her, stepped out of her car and walked toward the vehicle parked behind her. Officers also smelled the same charred flesh odor that had been present at the dumpsite. But during a decade spent more inside prison than out, Wickline became more and more deeply involved with what one friend of his called the "prison mainstream. This is a group of inmates who use fear and violence to control most of the illicit activities within prison populations. A person digging for arrowheads uncovered a human skull last Tuesday in a wooded area of Kanawha Falls and notified law enforcement. . The fact that nothing had spilled out in her automobile implied that she had removed the purse from her car herself before leaving it. . Where would the children wait for the bus if the station wasnt open? Innocence Lost: The Tragic Murder of Teresa Woods. They watched for their mother out the store window. The report also confirmed that the remains were those of Jonathan Wesley Skaggs. Scooter had spent the weekend with his father. If she continued at a steady pace, it should have only taken her around 20 minutes to get from Collins Middle School to the B & B Offices. Yet he had no defensive wounds at all. Tory Gainer was well-known to police as being heavily involved in illegal gambling operations in central and southeastern Ohio. Part One.. Like every other state in the country, WV has its own share of violent crimes, including murders and missing persons believed to be dead, that date back as far as this states birth in 1863. That is the last definite fact that anyone has been able to establish concerning Margie Dodd on that fateful day. There's little information available about the case, but no one was ever convicted of the crimes. Sherry said they hope keeping Nicoles memory alive will also fuel their never-ending fight for justice. +6 featured top story. Toney maintained that he went to bed but was awakened at approximately 4:00 AM by the sounds of people arguing. for the information and pictures provided in this article. This was not the case on February 20th, on this day, Theresa would make the less than a mile (.8 mile) walk alone. Ahmed stated that in his opinion, Cynthia had died at approximately 9:30 p.m.Chief Medical Examiner in Charleston, Irvin Sopher, agreed with Dr. Ahmed that the shooting probably occurred around 9:30 and that Cynthia fell immediately into a coma and then died within 30 minutes of that time. At the hospital, Eddies clothes were turned over to his family. The Tragic Murder of Teresa Woods. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations 2019 Uniform Crime Report (UCR), the violent crime rate in West Virginiawas about 316.6 per 100,000 people. Kincaid residents, Reba Sayers and Patty Miavitz, found Eddies flashlight lying on the ground about 75 feet from the Brown property within sight of the house. William Gardiner, a preacher of the Primitive Methodist Chapel, was suspected due . The 208-page book is filled with one sensational crime after another such as the West Virginia University coed murder, the disappearance of the Sodder children in a Christmas Eve fire in 1945, the slaying of Montgomery city clerk Cathy Carroll, the Rand-Bailey mystery, the fatal shooting of a popular Beckley police officer. We believe the more resources we can provide to digital volunteers and citizen solvers mean more citizen detective communities. Investigators were forced to make their own determinations. At this time, Toney told West Virginia State Police Sergeant Scott Vanmeter a completely different version of the death of Skaggs. . Skaggs was unwilling to go to either of his parents residences. The area was immediately secured as a crime scene. . More than 200,000 unsolved cases have gone cold since 1980, and murder clearance rates continue to drop. Toney stated that Jason Rinehart, Nicole Thomas, Sean Andrews and several others were at his home when Officer Feltner dropped Jonathan Skaggs off there. Terry decided to go on to bed and wash her clothes in the morning. Eddie told Dick that he had fallen on the railroad tracks and did not need to go to the hospital. Carol contacted Sue`s sisters to tell them that Sue was missing. `NOBODY CARES ANYMORE" In 1979 two psychics made a trip to Raleigh County in an attempt to find Margie Dodd`s body. Pages 56-59. Donald Woods closed his store in Kimberly and immediately came down to Oak Hill to begin re-tracing his daughters steps.