1 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:48,001 Speaker 1: School of Humans. 2 00:00:49,241 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 2: Helen Got Murder Line actively investigates cold case murders in 3 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,200 Speaker 2: an effort to raise public awareness invite witnesses to come 4 00:00:56,241 --> 00:01:00,121 Speaker 2: forward and present evidence that could potentially be further investigated 5 00:01:00,121 --> 00:01:03,761 Speaker 2: by law enforcement. While we value insights from family and 6 00:01:03,801 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 2: community members, their statements should not be considered evidence and 7 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 2: point to the challenges of verifying facts inherent in cold cases. 8 00:01:12,321 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 2: We remind listeners that everyone has presumed innocent until proven 9 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 2: guilty in a court of law. Nothing in the podcast 10 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 2: is intended to state or imply that anyone who has 11 00:01:22,161 --> 00:01:25,601 Speaker 2: not been convicted of a crime is guilty of any wrongdoing. 12 00:01:26,241 --> 00:01:27,121 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening. 13 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: On September one, nineteen ninety five, a police officer in 14 00:01:35,681 --> 00:01:39,241 Speaker 1: Fort Smith, Arkansas, pulled over a vehicle. A man named 15 00:01:39,321 --> 00:01:42,680 Speaker 1: Jerry Cogan was driving and his girlfriend, twenty four year 16 00:01:42,721 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: old Laurie Murchis, was the passenger. Laurie worked at a 17 00:01:47,001 --> 00:01:49,481 Speaker 1: local nursing home. She had a four year old daughter 18 00:01:49,561 --> 00:01:53,721 Speaker 1: named Brittany, and she adored her little girl. But Laurie 19 00:01:53,761 --> 00:01:57,001 Speaker 1: had been battling an addiction to drugs, according to what 20 00:01:57,041 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: her friends told police, mainly to crank or methamphetamines and 21 00:02:01,441 --> 00:02:05,840 Speaker 1: Laurie also drank alcohol. Because of that, Laurie had been 22 00:02:05,881 --> 00:02:08,561 Speaker 1: moving around a little. She had been living on and 23 00:02:08,601 --> 00:02:12,561 Speaker 1: off with her mother, Nancy Murchison, and also sometimes staying 24 00:02:12,561 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 1: at different local motels. Her mother, Nancy, had been taking 25 00:02:17,121 --> 00:02:20,561 Speaker 1: care of Laurie's daughter. Laurie and Jerry were out at 26 00:02:20,601 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: a bar that night when the officer pulled them over. 27 00:02:23,561 --> 00:02:26,241 Speaker 1: He believed that both of them had been drinking, so 28 00:02:26,321 --> 00:02:30,161 Speaker 1: he placed Jerry under arrest for DUI and Laurie for 29 00:02:30,201 --> 00:02:34,761 Speaker 1: suspicion of public intoxication. Laurie was taken to the Sebastian 30 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:38,561 Speaker 1: County Jail. She was released some time after five am 31 00:02:38,601 --> 00:02:42,641 Speaker 1: on September second. She told detectives that she planned to 32 00:02:42,641 --> 00:02:46,240 Speaker 1: get money and come back to bail Jerry out. Jerry 33 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:50,001 Speaker 1: had given her fifty dollars, but Laurie needed more. Another 34 00:02:50,201 --> 00:02:54,721 Speaker 1: inmate later told detectives that she heard Laurie talking to 35 00:02:54,801 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: other women in the holding cells about finding a bail 36 00:02:57,601 --> 00:03:02,441 Speaker 1: bond place. Laurie also specifically told jailers she was going 37 00:03:02,521 --> 00:03:04,881 Speaker 1: to pick up her paycheck from the Oaks Lodge nursing 38 00:03:04,881 --> 00:03:07,921 Speaker 1: home where she had been working, cash it, and come 39 00:03:07,961 --> 00:03:12,361 Speaker 1: back to bail Jerry out. Most recently, Laurie had been 40 00:03:12,441 --> 00:03:15,321 Speaker 1: staying with Jerry at the Continental Motel in Fort Smith. 41 00:03:16,041 --> 00:03:19,481 Speaker 1: Between two and four pm on September second, Laurie went 42 00:03:19,481 --> 00:03:21,481 Speaker 1: to the office of the Continental Motel to get a 43 00:03:21,561 --> 00:03:24,201 Speaker 1: key to her room. This is according to an April 44 00:03:24,241 --> 00:03:28,721 Speaker 1: two thousand and five Times Record report. Laurie's mother said 45 00:03:28,761 --> 00:03:31,921 Speaker 1: that she last talked to Laurie on September second. She 46 00:03:32,041 --> 00:03:33,961 Speaker 1: said that when she talked to her on the phone, 47 00:03:34,401 --> 00:03:36,881 Speaker 1: Laurie told her that she and Jerry were planning on 48 00:03:36,921 --> 00:03:39,441 Speaker 1: moving out of Nancy's house, that they had found a 49 00:03:39,521 --> 00:03:43,041 Speaker 1: room at a local motel. Laurie said that she would 50 00:03:43,081 --> 00:03:46,321 Speaker 1: come to NaN's house the next day to pick Brittany up, 51 00:03:47,161 --> 00:03:50,401 Speaker 1: but she never returned to the jail, and she did 52 00:03:50,441 --> 00:03:53,361 Speaker 1: not pick up her paycheck at the nursing home. The 53 00:03:53,561 --> 00:03:56,441 Speaker 1: last time she was seen alive was at the Continental 54 00:03:56,481 --> 00:03:59,161 Speaker 1: Motel when she picked up a key to her room. 55 00:04:00,081 --> 00:04:03,561 Speaker 1: After that, she left that motel. None of her close 56 00:04:03,601 --> 00:04:07,481 Speaker 1: friends or family ever heard from Laurie Murchison again. Her 57 00:04:07,521 --> 00:04:10,641 Speaker 1: family had no way of knowing where she was, or 58 00:04:10,921 --> 00:04:14,481 Speaker 1: that the hunt for this missing mother would eventually involve 59 00:04:14,641 --> 00:04:18,001 Speaker 1: charges of corruption at the highest levels of State government. 60 00:04:19,241 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: I'm Catherine Townsend. Over the past five years of making 61 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:25,521 Speaker 1: my true crime podcast, Helling Gone, I've learned that there 62 00:04:25,601 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 1: is no such thing as a small town where murdered 63 00:04:28,281 --> 00:04:32,081 Speaker 1: never happens. I've received hundreds of messages from people all 64 00:04:32,121 --> 00:04:35,121 Speaker 1: around the country asking for help with an unsolved murder 65 00:04:35,121 --> 00:04:39,641 Speaker 1: that's affected them, their families, and their communities. If you 66 00:04:39,801 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: have a case you'd like me and my team to 67 00:04:41,521 --> 00:04:43,961 Speaker 1: look into, you can reach out to us at our 68 00:04:43,961 --> 00:04:47,121 Speaker 1: Helen Gone Murder Line at six seven eight seven four 69 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,681 Speaker 1: four six one four five that's six seven eight seven 70 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:54,001 Speaker 1: four four six one four or five, or you can 71 00:04:54,041 --> 00:04:58,801 Speaker 1: send us a message at Helen gonpod. This is Helen 72 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 1: Gone Murder Line. Days went by, Laurie Murchison never showed 73 00:05:46,881 --> 00:05:49,841 Speaker 1: up to pick up her daughter, Brittany. According to media 74 00:05:49,881 --> 00:05:54,241 Speaker 1: reports at the time, Laurie had been making regular trips 75 00:05:54,361 --> 00:05:58,601 Speaker 1: back and forth to Wilburton, Oklahoma. This was happening for 76 00:05:58,801 --> 00:06:02,161 Speaker 1: some time prior to her disappearance. A friend of hers 77 00:06:02,201 --> 00:06:05,921 Speaker 1: told police that Laurie had disappeared before and that she 78 00:06:05,961 --> 00:06:08,761 Speaker 1: had stayed gone for as long as a month at 79 00:06:08,761 --> 00:06:12,841 Speaker 1: a time. But Laurie's mother, Nancy, was worried because she 80 00:06:13,041 --> 00:06:17,881 Speaker 1: told detectives even if Lourie didn't come by, she always 81 00:06:18,001 --> 00:06:20,761 Speaker 1: checked in, and Nancy believed she would never stay out 82 00:06:20,801 --> 00:06:24,921 Speaker 1: of communication with her daughter for that long. Nancy officially 83 00:06:24,961 --> 00:06:28,961 Speaker 1: reported Lourie missing on September fifth, nineteen ninety five. Police 84 00:06:29,081 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 1: talked to people who claimed they had seen Laurie walking 85 00:06:32,361 --> 00:06:36,601 Speaker 1: around in different locations. They confirmed she was released from 86 00:06:36,681 --> 00:06:41,281 Speaker 1: jail at approximately five forty am on September second. In 87 00:06:41,321 --> 00:06:45,201 Speaker 1: the day's following Laurie's disappearance, missing posters went up describing 88 00:06:45,281 --> 00:06:48,161 Speaker 1: Laurie and the last clothes. She was seen in a 89 00:06:48,201 --> 00:06:52,801 Speaker 1: white sleeveless cotton shirt cut off blue denim shorts, white socks, 90 00:06:52,841 --> 00:06:56,441 Speaker 1: black sandals, a gold oval shaped knuckle ring on her 91 00:06:56,481 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: left index finger, and a cross necklace on a black ribbon. 92 00:07:01,681 --> 00:07:04,641 Speaker 1: Laurie was white, with brown hair that was bleached blonde, 93 00:07:04,761 --> 00:07:09,321 Speaker 1: and brown eyes. She did have several distinctive tattoos, including 94 00:07:09,321 --> 00:07:11,801 Speaker 1: a tattoo of a unicorn on her left shoulder, a 95 00:07:11,841 --> 00:07:14,081 Speaker 1: tattoo of a heart with an arrow piercing it on 96 00:07:14,081 --> 00:07:17,921 Speaker 1: her left breast, and a rose tattoo on her left ankle. 97 00:07:18,001 --> 00:07:23,281 Speaker 1: Laurie also wore dentures and had several teeth missing. Police, 98 00:07:23,281 --> 00:07:26,361 Speaker 1: of course had to consider the possibility that Lurie had 99 00:07:26,401 --> 00:07:31,121 Speaker 1: gone missing voluntarily, but this seemed unlikely given the fact 100 00:07:31,161 --> 00:07:35,561 Speaker 1: she never picked up her last paycheck from work. Detective Barrows, 101 00:07:35,801 --> 00:07:39,401 Speaker 1: one of the investigators on the case, met with Laurie's mother, Nancy. 102 00:07:40,081 --> 00:07:43,721 Speaker 1: Nancy gave detectives information about some of Laurie's close friends. 103 00:07:44,761 --> 00:07:48,401 Speaker 1: Nancy later told The Times Record that Laurie was scared 104 00:07:49,041 --> 00:07:51,881 Speaker 1: worried about something that she had seen or heard in 105 00:07:51,961 --> 00:07:55,401 Speaker 1: the weeks before her disappearance. A few weeks before her 106 00:07:55,481 --> 00:07:59,081 Speaker 1: daughter went missing, Nancy told police that Laurie came home 107 00:07:59,601 --> 00:08:02,561 Speaker 1: afraid that someone was going to come after her, saying 108 00:08:02,601 --> 00:08:06,801 Speaker 1: things like they're gonna off me. Nancy said she didn't 109 00:08:06,801 --> 00:08:09,841 Speaker 1: know who or what Laurie was talking about or what 110 00:08:09,921 --> 00:08:13,121 Speaker 1: could have scared her, and police weren't getting much from 111 00:08:13,161 --> 00:08:15,841 Speaker 1: Laurie's friends. None of them had heard from her, and 112 00:08:15,881 --> 00:08:18,921 Speaker 1: no one seemed to know where she had gone. Laurie 113 00:08:19,081 --> 00:08:21,961 Speaker 1: had been talking to some female prisoners in jail before 114 00:08:21,961 --> 00:08:26,241 Speaker 1: she was released. They told police they heard Lurie talking 115 00:08:26,241 --> 00:08:30,161 Speaker 1: about a local bonding agency, so it seemed like Laurie 116 00:08:30,281 --> 00:08:32,881 Speaker 1: had been planning on getting out of jail, picking up 117 00:08:32,881 --> 00:08:35,560 Speaker 1: her paycheck, and bailing out her boyfriend, but there were 118 00:08:35,601 --> 00:08:38,641 Speaker 1: a lot of dead ends. We did a Foyer request 119 00:08:38,641 --> 00:08:41,680 Speaker 1: for Laurie's case file, but we only got part of 120 00:08:41,680 --> 00:08:45,441 Speaker 1: it covering the first few weeks of the investigation. An 121 00:08:45,481 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: officer from the Fort Smith Police Department went to the 122 00:08:48,121 --> 00:08:51,841 Speaker 1: Midland Motel, the motel where Laurie was living before she 123 00:08:51,881 --> 00:08:54,601 Speaker 1: moved to the Continental, but no one had seen her there. 124 00:08:55,401 --> 00:08:58,121 Speaker 1: Police were able to figure out that on the night 125 00:08:58,201 --> 00:09:01,161 Speaker 1: Laurie was arrested, she and her boyfriend Jerry, went to 126 00:09:01,201 --> 00:09:04,121 Speaker 1: a bar called Shooters. They were hanging out there from 127 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:07,961 Speaker 1: around seven to around eleven PM or midnight, right before 128 00:09:08,001 --> 00:09:13,041 Speaker 1: they were pulled over by police. Police checked local hospitals, motels, 129 00:09:13,121 --> 00:09:17,160 Speaker 1: and rehabs, but no one had seen Laurie Murchison. Police 130 00:09:17,201 --> 00:09:21,241 Speaker 1: also talked to Laurie's boyfriend, Jerry. He said he had 131 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,481 Speaker 1: no idea where his girlfriend had gone. Police did say 132 00:09:24,561 --> 00:09:28,641 Speaker 1: he was cooperative and they cleared him pretty quickly. Nancy 133 00:09:29,001 --> 00:09:32,721 Speaker 1: did tell police that Jerry had told her that since 134 00:09:32,761 --> 00:09:34,681 Speaker 1: he and Laurie had been together, they hadn't been to 135 00:09:34,721 --> 00:09:39,321 Speaker 1: any bars. Now obviously this wasn't true because Laurie and 136 00:09:39,401 --> 00:09:42,281 Speaker 1: Jerry were at shooters and they were intoxicated when they 137 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,401 Speaker 1: were picked up. But there are a lot of reasons 138 00:09:45,521 --> 00:09:48,481 Speaker 1: why Jerry might have told this small white lie to 139 00:09:48,641 --> 00:09:52,521 Speaker 1: Laurie's mother. Jerry Cogan was working at a glass plant 140 00:09:52,521 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: in Midland. He came in and talked to detectives, and 141 00:09:55,361 --> 00:09:58,721 Speaker 1: apparently he was very cooperative. He said he was as 142 00:09:58,761 --> 00:10:01,201 Speaker 1: shocked as anyone else when Laurie never showed up to 143 00:10:01,201 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: come bail him out. During this time, detectives did get 144 00:10:04,801 --> 00:10:07,881 Speaker 1: a report that a body was found a white female 145 00:10:07,921 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 1: in Salasaw Creek in Oklahoma, but it was not Laurie. 146 00:10:13,041 --> 00:10:15,961 Speaker 1: Laurie had been at work at the nursing home on Friday. 147 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,441 Speaker 1: A friend of hers named Ronda had seen her there, 148 00:10:19,201 --> 00:10:21,561 Speaker 1: but Ronda said that was the last time that she 149 00:10:21,641 --> 00:10:26,841 Speaker 1: saw Laurie. Laurie never came back. Police wondered could someone 150 00:10:26,881 --> 00:10:32,641 Speaker 1: at the nursing home have wanted to hurt Laurie. During 151 00:10:32,681 --> 00:10:36,241 Speaker 1: this time, Captain J. C Ryder, one of the investigators 152 00:10:36,241 --> 00:10:39,521 Speaker 1: on the case, interviewed a confidential informant. This was someone 153 00:10:39,521 --> 00:10:42,801 Speaker 1: who was in jail in Ozark. Now. This person told 154 00:10:42,841 --> 00:10:46,201 Speaker 1: him Laurie had been having a sexual relationship with a 155 00:10:46,241 --> 00:10:48,280 Speaker 1: married man who worked with her at the nursing home, 156 00:10:48,801 --> 00:10:51,601 Speaker 1: and that the married man's wife was violent and it 157 00:10:51,721 --> 00:10:55,721 Speaker 1: threatened to kill Laurie. J. C. Rider interviewed the married man. 158 00:10:56,161 --> 00:10:59,841 Speaker 1: This person denied having a relationship with Laurie. They said 159 00:10:59,961 --> 00:11:02,961 Speaker 1: they had never had more than a casual conversation with her. 160 00:11:03,881 --> 00:11:06,801 Speaker 1: When Captain Rider asked who would have a reason to 161 00:11:06,881 --> 00:11:09,721 Speaker 1: make up a story like that, this person gave the 162 00:11:09,801 --> 00:11:11,481 Speaker 1: name of someone who was married to one of his 163 00:11:11,521 --> 00:11:15,001 Speaker 1: family members, someone with a grudge against him. He said 164 00:11:15,081 --> 00:11:16,681 Speaker 1: he didn't know if this guy would know about the 165 00:11:16,681 --> 00:11:20,401 Speaker 1: disappearance of Laurie since this person was in jail in Ozark. 166 00:11:21,280 --> 00:11:25,361 Speaker 1: Captain Rider said after reviewing the information, he believed that 167 00:11:25,401 --> 00:11:28,241 Speaker 1: the married man was being truthful about not having a 168 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:32,721 Speaker 1: relationship with Laurie. Captain Rider also spoke to the man's wife. 169 00:11:32,761 --> 00:11:35,321 Speaker 1: She said she had no knowledge of an affair between 170 00:11:35,401 --> 00:11:39,201 Speaker 1: him and Laurie, so that possibility of Laurie having an 171 00:11:39,201 --> 00:11:41,241 Speaker 1: affair with a married man that led to her death 172 00:11:41,641 --> 00:11:46,601 Speaker 1: was apparently ruled out. Police investigated another man, someone with 173 00:11:46,641 --> 00:11:51,280 Speaker 1: a long criminal record, including aggravated robbery, burglary, assault and battery. 174 00:11:51,801 --> 00:11:56,121 Speaker 1: This person was one of Lurie's acquaintances, but apparently this 175 00:11:56,280 --> 00:12:00,721 Speaker 1: was another dead end. Nancy told police about some friends 176 00:12:00,721 --> 00:12:04,401 Speaker 1: of Lourie's, a man named Floyd who was nicknamed Corky, 177 00:12:04,761 --> 00:12:10,361 Speaker 1: and his wife Sue. Nancy Murchison said Sue told someone 178 00:12:10,481 --> 00:12:12,721 Speaker 1: that one night Laurie showed up at her house with 179 00:12:12,801 --> 00:12:16,801 Speaker 1: two men in a red car. Sue denied telling Nancy 180 00:12:16,801 --> 00:12:19,761 Speaker 1: this when police asked her about it, but Corky said 181 00:12:20,001 --> 00:12:24,201 Speaker 1: Sue had told him that same story. So who were 182 00:12:24,241 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: these two men, what did they want? And could they 183 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:31,121 Speaker 1: have had anything to do with Lurie's disappearance. Another detective, 184 00:12:31,121 --> 00:12:35,361 Speaker 1: Detective Reese, called the Razorback cab company, trying to retrace 185 00:12:35,441 --> 00:12:39,241 Speaker 1: Lori's steps after she was released from jail. He figured 186 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:41,641 Speaker 1: out that a driver had picked her up at a 187 00:12:41,641 --> 00:12:45,241 Speaker 1: local bonding company. The driver told police he took Lurie 188 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: to a local Taco bell to pick up her car, 189 00:12:48,721 --> 00:12:51,601 Speaker 1: but the driver said that Lourie's car was not there. 190 00:12:52,361 --> 00:12:55,121 Speaker 1: The cab driver said at this point, Laurie was upset 191 00:12:55,161 --> 00:12:58,521 Speaker 1: and surprised because she said the police had told her 192 00:12:58,681 --> 00:13:01,001 Speaker 1: they were not going to tow the car, so the 193 00:13:01,081 --> 00:13:04,161 Speaker 1: driver told police that after that, Laurie had him drive 194 00:13:04,201 --> 00:13:08,481 Speaker 1: her to a local apartment complex. The Weregond Courts, so 195 00:13:08,681 --> 00:13:12,721 Speaker 1: detectives went to that apartment complex they found a man 196 00:13:12,801 --> 00:13:16,401 Speaker 1: named Billy Aaron. Billy told them that he knew someone 197 00:13:16,561 --> 00:13:20,401 Speaker 1: who may have information about Loriie. This person's name was Jimmy. 198 00:13:20,841 --> 00:13:23,841 Speaker 1: He was living in an apartment in that complex, and 199 00:13:23,961 --> 00:13:25,881 Speaker 1: Jimmy was living on and off with a woman named 200 00:13:25,881 --> 00:13:30,001 Speaker 1: Mary Chipman who went by the nickname Cricket. Jimmy's exact 201 00:13:30,001 --> 00:13:33,081 Speaker 1: address was kind of a mystery. He said. He stayed 202 00:13:33,121 --> 00:13:35,521 Speaker 1: sometimes in Van Buren with a woman, some of the 203 00:13:35,521 --> 00:13:37,641 Speaker 1: time with his mom, and part of the time in 204 00:13:37,681 --> 00:13:41,961 Speaker 1: another house. Billy said Jimmy and Cricket fought a lot, 205 00:13:42,601 --> 00:13:44,881 Speaker 1: that Cricket had kicked you out of his house from 206 00:13:44,881 --> 00:13:48,241 Speaker 1: time to time, and that at that point Jimmy ended 207 00:13:48,321 --> 00:13:51,401 Speaker 1: up crashing with Billy. In fact, a lot of what 208 00:13:51,601 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: unfolded next would center on that apartment complex, the Ragon Court, 209 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:59,921 Speaker 1: and on apartment number eighty seven, where Billy said Jimmy 210 00:13:59,961 --> 00:14:03,041 Speaker 1: and Cricket were living, and according to Billy, they also 211 00:14:03,241 --> 00:14:06,521 Speaker 1: all hung out regularly at Shooters, the bar where Laurie 212 00:14:06,641 --> 00:14:10,641 Speaker 1: and Jerry were last seen before they got arrested. Billy's 213 00:14:10,721 --> 00:14:13,601 Speaker 1: story was that Jimmy had come over to his place 214 00:14:13,721 --> 00:14:16,481 Speaker 1: and that they were drinking one night. Billy said they 215 00:14:16,481 --> 00:14:19,081 Speaker 1: happened to be watching TV and a news story about 216 00:14:19,121 --> 00:14:22,841 Speaker 1: Lourie's disappearance came on. Billy said Jimmy told him that 217 00:14:22,921 --> 00:14:27,161 Speaker 1: he recognized Laurie. Billy said Jimmy had seen Laurie at 218 00:14:27,161 --> 00:14:30,201 Speaker 1: a party at Cricket's place, which he said was apartment 219 00:14:30,281 --> 00:14:33,401 Speaker 1: number eighty seven, where they were doing drugs. He said 220 00:14:33,481 --> 00:14:36,641 Speaker 1: Kirky was there too that night, and at that party, 221 00:14:37,041 --> 00:14:41,241 Speaker 1: Laurie was sitting in a chair. Laurie overdosed and died. 222 00:14:42,241 --> 00:14:45,961 Speaker 1: Billy said, quote, Cricket went ape, shit, started throwing shit, 223 00:14:46,041 --> 00:14:49,201 Speaker 1: throwing everybody out, flipping out and all this. That's when 224 00:14:49,241 --> 00:14:52,481 Speaker 1: they picked her up and carried her outside. He said 225 00:14:52,561 --> 00:14:55,121 Speaker 1: that they carried her out like she was drunk, put 226 00:14:55,121 --> 00:14:57,201 Speaker 1: her in the vehicle like she was drunk, and he 227 00:14:57,321 --> 00:15:01,361 Speaker 1: drove off end quote. He is in reference to Corky, 228 00:15:01,401 --> 00:15:05,121 Speaker 1: by the way, because according to Jimmy's story, Corky drove 229 00:15:05,201 --> 00:15:09,161 Speaker 1: off somewhere and buried the body. Billy said that Jimmy 230 00:15:09,201 --> 00:15:11,561 Speaker 1: told him he didn't know where they went and that 231 00:15:11,641 --> 00:15:14,961 Speaker 1: he didn't have a lot of other details. Billy said, quote, 232 00:15:15,521 --> 00:15:17,601 Speaker 1: he said, at least you ought to have the decency 233 00:15:17,641 --> 00:15:20,801 Speaker 1: to tell somebody or just let somebody know. That's what 234 00:15:20,881 --> 00:15:24,441 Speaker 1: he said there in my house end quote. Later, the 235 00:15:24,481 --> 00:15:28,041 Speaker 1: Fort Smith Police Department interviewed Cricket, but they said she 236 00:15:28,121 --> 00:15:31,441 Speaker 1: was actually living in apartment number ninety nine. At first, 237 00:15:31,521 --> 00:15:35,561 Speaker 1: police said Cricket seemed uncooperative, but she eventually told police 238 00:15:35,601 --> 00:15:38,121 Speaker 1: that on the night Laurie was arrested, she was out 239 00:15:38,161 --> 00:15:41,081 Speaker 1: with her boyfriend. She said Laurie had stopped by her 240 00:15:41,121 --> 00:15:43,681 Speaker 1: residence while she was out and talked to her babysitter, 241 00:15:43,721 --> 00:15:48,641 Speaker 1: then Laurie left. Cricket said she never saw Laurie that night. 242 00:15:49,361 --> 00:15:52,761 Speaker 1: Then Cricket changed her story. This time she said she 243 00:15:52,841 --> 00:15:56,961 Speaker 1: was out with another guy. Police said she never mentioned 244 00:15:57,001 --> 00:15:59,041 Speaker 1: this other guy before, and they were asking her a 245 00:15:59,081 --> 00:16:01,801 Speaker 1: lot of questions about her story and why it changed. 246 00:16:02,601 --> 00:16:06,681 Speaker 1: They searched Cricket's room and seized items described as drug paraphernalia, 247 00:16:07,321 --> 00:16:10,841 Speaker 1: but Cricket was never arrested or charged in connection with 248 00:16:10,921 --> 00:16:14,681 Speaker 1: Laurie's death, and after the initial few weeks it seemed 249 00:16:14,721 --> 00:16:18,521 Speaker 1: like Laurie's case went cold. No trace of Laurie was 250 00:16:18,521 --> 00:16:23,641 Speaker 1: found and no body. But then Lourie Murchison made headlines 251 00:16:23,641 --> 00:16:27,121 Speaker 1: again because there was a big development in the case 252 00:16:27,161 --> 00:16:32,001 Speaker 1: from a very unexpected source. News broke that the FBI 253 00:16:32,121 --> 00:16:36,321 Speaker 1: was investigating the prosecutor for Sebastian County, Ron Fields, of 254 00:16:36,401 --> 00:16:40,681 Speaker 1: dealing drugs and of ordering the murder of Lorie Murchison, 255 00:16:41,641 --> 00:16:45,201 Speaker 1: and that the person who ron Fields allegedly ordered to 256 00:16:45,281 --> 00:16:49,121 Speaker 1: murder Laurie Murchison was one of the investigators on the case, 257 00:16:49,681 --> 00:17:04,601 Speaker 1: the police captain j c Ryder. In the weeks following 258 00:17:04,801 --> 00:17:09,001 Speaker 1: Laurie Murchison's disappearance, police were questioning people at a nearby 259 00:17:09,041 --> 00:17:12,881 Speaker 1: apartment complex. They found a man named Billy, who claimed 260 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,921 Speaker 1: that Laurie overdosed at the residence of a woman named 261 00:17:15,921 --> 00:17:19,801 Speaker 1: Cricket in a room at the Ragencourt apartment complex, and 262 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:22,480 Speaker 1: that they carried her lifeless body out in a vehicle. 263 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:26,400 Speaker 1: Billy claimed that Jimmy was afraid to tell the authorities 264 00:17:26,921 --> 00:17:29,920 Speaker 1: because Jimmy was afraid that he would be charged with 265 00:17:29,961 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: her death and disposal of her body. Then the case 266 00:17:33,761 --> 00:17:38,120 Speaker 1: went quiet for years, but then all of a sudden. 267 00:17:38,281 --> 00:17:42,441 Speaker 1: Around two thousand and five, Laurie Murchison made headlines again 268 00:17:43,120 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 1: because there was a huge development in the case from 269 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: a very unexpected source. News broke that the FBI was 270 00:17:50,121 --> 00:17:54,441 Speaker 1: investigating the prosecutor for Sebastian County, Ron Fields, of dealing 271 00:17:54,521 --> 00:17:58,761 Speaker 1: drugs and of ordering the murder of Lorie Murchison, and 272 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:02,801 Speaker 1: that the person Ron Fields allegedly ordered to murder Laurie 273 00:18:03,201 --> 00:18:05,841 Speaker 1: was one of the investigators on the case, the police 274 00:18:05,881 --> 00:18:09,521 Speaker 1: Captain J. C. Rider. I want to back up a 275 00:18:09,521 --> 00:18:12,241 Speaker 1: minute and talk about ron Fields, because there is a 276 00:18:12,401 --> 00:18:17,001 Speaker 1: massive controversy about ron Fields that is still unresolved. We've 277 00:18:17,041 --> 00:18:19,881 Speaker 1: talked about him briefly before when we were talking about 278 00:18:19,881 --> 00:18:23,881 Speaker 1: the unsolved murder of Melissa Witt. Ron Fields was close 279 00:18:23,961 --> 00:18:26,721 Speaker 1: to Captain J. C. Rider of the Fort Smith Police Department, 280 00:18:27,281 --> 00:18:30,481 Speaker 1: and Captain J. C. Rider later made news for becoming 281 00:18:30,521 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 1: involved in the Melissa Witt cold case. 282 00:18:33,481 --> 00:18:33,721 Speaker 2: J C. 283 00:18:33,921 --> 00:18:37,521 Speaker 1: Rider and Ron Fields have a lot of history. Ron 284 00:18:37,601 --> 00:18:41,400 Speaker 1: Fields served as the Sebastian County prosecutor for eighteen years. 285 00:18:41,921 --> 00:18:44,961 Speaker 1: In nineteen ninety, he was a point by then Arkansas 286 00:18:45,041 --> 00:18:49,360 Speaker 1: Governor Bill Clinton to become Arkansas Attorney General. During the 287 00:18:49,441 --> 00:18:52,761 Speaker 1: time ron Fields was the prosecutor. He was very publicly 288 00:18:52,801 --> 00:18:56,840 Speaker 1: anti drug He helped write laws that required longer prison 289 00:18:56,881 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: sentences for drug abusers. He led the twelfth Judicial Drug 290 00:19:00,881 --> 00:19:05,801 Speaker 1: Task Force in Western Arkansas. Ron Fields actually started in 291 00:19:06,041 --> 00:19:11,041 Speaker 1: Arkansas the practice of requiring prosecutors rather than police to 292 00:19:11,121 --> 00:19:14,681 Speaker 1: get search warrants in drug cases. This meant that ron 293 00:19:14,721 --> 00:19:17,880 Speaker 1: Fields or one of his deputies actually went on drug 294 00:19:17,961 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 1: raids with the police. Now, his supporters said that this 295 00:19:21,201 --> 00:19:23,521 Speaker 1: made sure the evidence was all gathered by the book, 296 00:19:24,121 --> 00:19:27,721 Speaker 1: and to be fair, the conviction rate in Arkansas for 297 00:19:27,761 --> 00:19:31,161 Speaker 1: drug offenses did go up under ron Fields. His critics 298 00:19:31,201 --> 00:19:33,801 Speaker 1: said the fact that he personally went on those drug 299 00:19:33,881 --> 00:19:37,561 Speaker 1: raids was a massive red flag for other reasons which 300 00:19:37,561 --> 00:19:41,201 Speaker 1: we'll get to a little later. Ron Fields was also 301 00:19:41,361 --> 00:19:44,441 Speaker 1: a close friend of Republican Congressman A. SA SA Hutchinson. 302 00:19:45,001 --> 00:19:48,401 Speaker 1: ASA Hutchinson, of course, served as US Attorney and later 303 00:19:48,441 --> 00:19:50,801 Speaker 1: went on to become the forty six governor of Arkansas. 304 00:19:51,041 --> 00:19:54,881 Speaker 1: He served from twenty fifteen to twenty twenty three. In 305 00:19:54,921 --> 00:19:58,360 Speaker 1: two thousand and one, ASA Hutchinson took ron Fields with 306 00:19:58,441 --> 00:20:02,160 Speaker 1: him to Washington, d C. Ron Fields became A. SA 307 00:20:02,241 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: Hutchinson's special assistant at the Drug Enforcement Agency and later 308 00:20:06,361 --> 00:20:10,121 Speaker 1: worked with Hutchinson in the Department of Homeland Security. According 309 00:20:10,121 --> 00:20:13,361 Speaker 1: to The Arkansas Times, this position that ron Fields had 310 00:20:13,401 --> 00:20:17,360 Speaker 1: with DA was very powerful. He worked on a coalition 311 00:20:17,601 --> 00:20:22,120 Speaker 1: that battled terrorism and drug trafficking, and then in around 312 00:20:22,161 --> 00:20:24,841 Speaker 1: two thousand and four two thousand and five, these accusations 313 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,121 Speaker 1: surfaced about J. C. Ryder and ron Fields that according 314 00:20:28,161 --> 00:20:31,681 Speaker 1: to media reports, these two men were allegedly involved in 315 00:20:31,801 --> 00:20:35,441 Speaker 1: Lourie Murchison's murder. On May second, two thousand and five, 316 00:20:36,080 --> 00:20:39,561 Speaker 1: officials at the Department of Homeland Security pulled ron Fields 317 00:20:39,601 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: security clearance and then he was suspended from his position 318 00:20:43,441 --> 00:20:47,041 Speaker 1: at the Department of Homeland Security. He appealed that decision 319 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:52,481 Speaker 1: but lost. Suddenly, ron fields days in Washington were numbered 320 00:20:53,281 --> 00:20:57,681 Speaker 1: the FBI continued their investigation. Ron Fields went back to 321 00:20:57,721 --> 00:21:01,880 Speaker 1: Fort Smith ASA. Hutchinson also left Washington at around that time. 322 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:07,281 Speaker 1: This connection between ron Fields and Lori Murchison was allegedly 323 00:21:07,441 --> 00:21:11,401 Speaker 1: JC Rider. J. C. Rider was also a powerful figure 324 00:21:11,441 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 1: in Arkansas. He had been in the Department since nineteen 325 00:21:14,481 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: seventy five and was head of the Department's Major Crimes 326 00:21:16,921 --> 00:21:19,961 Speaker 1: Unit until his retirement in two thousand and two. So 327 00:21:20,041 --> 00:21:23,881 Speaker 1: suddenly the FBI have announced they were investigating claims that 328 00:21:24,001 --> 00:21:27,120 Speaker 1: ron Fields had allegedly been involved in drug dealing and 329 00:21:27,121 --> 00:21:29,801 Speaker 1: that he ordered J. C. Rider to kill Laurie Murchison 330 00:21:29,961 --> 00:21:34,120 Speaker 1: and to dump her body. J C. Rider was subpoena 331 00:21:34,281 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: to Washington, d c. To appear in front of a 332 00:21:36,881 --> 00:21:40,400 Speaker 1: grand jury convened by the Public Corruption Section of the 333 00:21:40,401 --> 00:21:44,401 Speaker 1: Department of Justice. Now, in the end, no charges were 334 00:21:44,401 --> 00:21:47,761 Speaker 1: filed against J. C. Rider or Ron Fields, but it 335 00:21:47,881 --> 00:21:51,001 Speaker 1: is hard to find any information out about exactly what 336 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:54,921 Speaker 1: went down during this investigation. We have made a Foyer 337 00:21:55,001 --> 00:21:57,681 Speaker 1: request to the FBI for any and all case files 338 00:21:57,761 --> 00:22:03,761 Speaker 1: involving investigations into ron Fields, but our request has been denied. Meanwhile, 339 00:22:04,041 --> 00:22:08,161 Speaker 1: ron Field's lawyer Eddie Christian said the FBI investigation into 340 00:22:08,241 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: ron Fields was the biggest witch hunt he'd ever seen. 341 00:22:11,961 --> 00:22:15,561 Speaker 1: Eddie Christian was also J. C. Rider's attorney. He later 342 00:22:15,681 --> 00:22:20,041 Speaker 1: told The Arkansas Times that the investigators were absolutely nuts. 343 00:22:21,241 --> 00:22:24,880 Speaker 1: Eddie Christian told the Southwest Times Record in April two 344 00:22:24,921 --> 00:22:28,601 Speaker 1: thousand and five, quote, I've known this guy, meaning ron Fields, 345 00:22:28,761 --> 00:22:31,561 Speaker 1: for a long damn time. Let me tell you he's 346 00:22:31,641 --> 00:22:34,921 Speaker 1: one of the most impoverished lawyers. I know he wears J. C. 347 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,281 Speaker 1: Penny suits. He does not live high on the hog. 348 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:40,840 Speaker 1: This boy's never made any money. I mean, he's been 349 00:22:40,881 --> 00:22:43,241 Speaker 1: a public servant and that's been about it, except for 350 00:22:43,281 --> 00:22:47,041 Speaker 1: a short stant in private practice. It's crazy to accuse 351 00:22:47,121 --> 00:22:50,761 Speaker 1: ron Fields of selling drugs or doing drugs end quote. 352 00:22:51,681 --> 00:22:55,441 Speaker 1: Eddie Christian also claimed that FBI agents had harassed ron 353 00:22:55,521 --> 00:23:00,721 Speaker 1: Fields and J. C Ryder's families. Ron Fields had other supporters. 354 00:23:01,201 --> 00:23:04,321 Speaker 1: Jack Moseley, the former editor of the Times Record, wrote, 355 00:23:04,601 --> 00:23:07,761 Speaker 1: I would sooner believe mother Teresa was an axe murderer 356 00:23:07,881 --> 00:23:10,281 Speaker 1: than think Ron Fields could be guilty of using and 357 00:23:10,321 --> 00:23:13,641 Speaker 1: trafficking in illegal drugs. I've never known a more straight 358 00:23:13,721 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: error fellow than Fields, and the idea of him ordering 359 00:23:17,121 --> 00:23:19,441 Speaker 1: a police officer to kill a missing woman in Fort 360 00:23:19,481 --> 00:23:22,881 Speaker 1: Smith to keep her quiet about his alleged drug activities 361 00:23:23,041 --> 00:23:26,801 Speaker 1: is even more ridiculous. End quote. But it's interesting because 362 00:23:26,881 --> 00:23:31,400 Speaker 1: in that same column, Jack Moseley wrote, quote, Fields or 363 00:23:31,401 --> 00:23:34,721 Speaker 1: one of his deputies personally went on almost every local 364 00:23:34,761 --> 00:23:38,081 Speaker 1: drug rate in order to guarantee that evidence was properly gathered, 365 00:23:38,201 --> 00:23:41,521 Speaker 1: protected and kept for use in criminal trials. En quote. 366 00:23:42,041 --> 00:23:45,360 Speaker 1: But the Arkansas Times reported that they had spoken to 367 00:23:45,441 --> 00:23:48,361 Speaker 1: a lawyer. They didn't name this person, but they said 368 00:23:48,441 --> 00:23:51,561 Speaker 1: the source had been interviewed by the FBI and that 369 00:23:51,641 --> 00:23:54,921 Speaker 1: the FBI were asking about money that was forfeited as 370 00:23:54,921 --> 00:23:57,561 Speaker 1: a result of drug arrests. Now, this source said the 371 00:23:57,641 --> 00:24:01,080 Speaker 1: DOJ threatened to pull the lawyer's license if he didn't 372 00:24:01,080 --> 00:24:04,041 Speaker 1: give them the information they wanted about ron Fields. The 373 00:24:04,121 --> 00:24:06,801 Speaker 1: source said they didn't have any information on ron Fields. 374 00:24:07,161 --> 00:24:09,441 Speaker 1: They didn't know why this investigation was happening at all. 375 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:12,881 Speaker 1: But The Arkansas Times talked to other sources who said 376 00:24:12,921 --> 00:24:16,640 Speaker 1: that ron Fields quote ran the police department and that 377 00:24:16,681 --> 00:24:19,641 Speaker 1: the fact that he carried a gun and accompanied police 378 00:24:19,681 --> 00:24:23,001 Speaker 1: on drug raids was in fact a massive red flag 379 00:24:23,161 --> 00:24:27,041 Speaker 1: and a conflict of interest. The source told the Times 380 00:24:27,241 --> 00:24:31,001 Speaker 1: that he had seen statements from witnesses people who claimed 381 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:35,001 Speaker 1: that they had seen ron Fields use drugs. So what 382 00:24:35,121 --> 00:24:38,361 Speaker 1: does any of this have to do with Lourie Murchison. Well. 383 00:24:39,001 --> 00:24:41,920 Speaker 1: One of the allegations that federal investigators were looking into 384 00:24:42,401 --> 00:24:46,001 Speaker 1: was whether ry Murchison may have had knowledge about ron 385 00:24:46,041 --> 00:24:50,241 Speaker 1: Field's alleged drug activities and whether j. C Ryder went 386 00:24:50,281 --> 00:24:53,920 Speaker 1: to question Laurie Murchison. The allegation was that he and 387 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:58,681 Speaker 1: ron Fields may have gone together to question Laurie. This 388 00:24:58,761 --> 00:25:03,120 Speaker 1: federal investigation went on for two years. During that time, 389 00:25:03,201 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 1: a lot of rock Field's supporters stated it was ridiculous 390 00:25:06,121 --> 00:25:09,721 Speaker 1: to believe that Ronfield's impeccable character could ever be questioned 391 00:25:10,201 --> 00:25:13,321 Speaker 1: and that his activities could be covered up. But later 392 00:25:13,761 --> 00:25:17,721 Speaker 1: in two thousand and seven, very ugly allegations surfaced again 393 00:25:17,881 --> 00:25:22,121 Speaker 1: about ron Fields, allegations that he sexually assaulted his mentally 394 00:25:22,121 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 1: disabled daughter, twenty six year old Bridget Dollar, and that 395 00:25:25,681 --> 00:25:30,281 Speaker 1: the prosecutor's office declined to prosecute. On June twenty second, 396 00:25:30,401 --> 00:25:33,481 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven, Bridget told the police in Fort 397 00:25:33,521 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 1: Smith that her stepfather, ron Fields, had raped her. She 398 00:25:37,801 --> 00:25:41,081 Speaker 1: came to police after first confessing the alleged sexual assault 399 00:25:41,121 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 1: to a relative. The officer who interviewed Bridget, Christine Deeson, 400 00:25:45,361 --> 00:25:48,761 Speaker 1: was quoted in The Arkansas Times. Bridget said she was 401 00:25:48,801 --> 00:25:51,360 Speaker 1: sitting on the couch watching The Prices Ride on TV 402 00:25:51,801 --> 00:25:54,961 Speaker 1: when ron Fields came in and quote pulled her off 403 00:25:54,961 --> 00:25:57,281 Speaker 1: of the couch by her arm and took her to 404 00:25:57,361 --> 00:26:00,201 Speaker 1: her mom's bedroom. He took off her clothes and put 405 00:26:00,201 --> 00:26:02,601 Speaker 1: her on the bed. She said she knew what he 406 00:26:02,641 --> 00:26:05,961 Speaker 1: was doing was wrong. She also told me it was painful. 407 00:26:06,601 --> 00:26:09,441 Speaker 1: I asked her what made him stop. She said she 408 00:26:09,521 --> 00:26:11,801 Speaker 1: thought his cell phone rang and he stopped to answer it. 409 00:26:12,241 --> 00:26:15,081 Speaker 1: When asked what happened next, Bridget said that he put 410 00:26:15,121 --> 00:26:18,801 Speaker 1: on his clothes and left. Bridget said that after that 411 00:26:19,201 --> 00:26:21,561 Speaker 1: he would come on Tuesdays and do the same thing. 412 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,600 Speaker 1: She couldn't tell me how many times this happened, but 413 00:26:24,921 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 1: said it was more than two. She said he told 414 00:26:27,641 --> 00:26:30,400 Speaker 1: her not to tell or he would get in big trouble. 415 00:26:30,801 --> 00:26:35,401 Speaker 1: End quote. Now this became a big story because not 416 00:26:35,441 --> 00:26:38,920 Speaker 1: only did it involve a powerful politician and his former stepdaughter, 417 00:26:39,481 --> 00:26:43,281 Speaker 1: but her mother, ron Field's ex wife, Claire, was at 418 00:26:43,281 --> 00:26:46,241 Speaker 1: the time the prosecuting attorney for the city of Fort Smith. 419 00:26:47,481 --> 00:26:50,081 Speaker 1: Bridget lived at home with her mother. She had never 420 00:26:50,121 --> 00:26:53,481 Speaker 1: held a job and had an intellectual development disorder. She 421 00:26:53,721 --> 00:26:57,561 Speaker 1: is described in court documents as a disabled and incapacitated adult. 422 00:26:58,201 --> 00:27:00,801 Speaker 1: She has always had a family member appointed as a 423 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:05,441 Speaker 1: permanent guardian. Despite that, and despite the fact that police 424 00:27:05,481 --> 00:27:08,521 Speaker 1: reviewed phone records and voice mails and said they believe 425 00:27:08,561 --> 00:27:13,801 Speaker 1: Bridget ron Fields was never interviewed. The Arkansas Times kind 426 00:27:13,801 --> 00:27:15,721 Speaker 1: of summed up the case progress in two thousand and 427 00:27:15,721 --> 00:27:19,801 Speaker 1: eight by quoting an investigator who said of Ron Fields, quote, 428 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:22,120 Speaker 1: if he had been a janitor, he would have been 429 00:27:22,201 --> 00:27:26,761 Speaker 1: arrested the next day end quote. According to the police 430 00:27:26,801 --> 00:27:29,041 Speaker 1: record of the rape investigation that was quoted in the 431 00:27:29,121 --> 00:27:32,840 Speaker 1: Arkansas Times, Claire boy and Gasser, ron Fields X's wife 432 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:35,881 Speaker 1: told police that ron was drinking heavily when he came 433 00:27:35,881 --> 00:27:37,961 Speaker 1: back from Washington, d c. In two thousand and five, 434 00:27:38,681 --> 00:27:41,681 Speaker 1: but she told investigators they were on good terms even 435 00:27:41,681 --> 00:27:45,241 Speaker 1: after the divorce. She said the accusations had shocked her, 436 00:27:45,641 --> 00:27:48,801 Speaker 1: but that she believed her daughter Bridget. She was willing 437 00:27:48,881 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: to put herself and her daughter through whatever police and 438 00:27:51,961 --> 00:27:55,360 Speaker 1: prosecution and cross examination they would need to go through 439 00:27:55,481 --> 00:27:59,721 Speaker 1: to get justice. The investigators also believed that Bridget was 440 00:27:59,761 --> 00:28:05,281 Speaker 1: telling the truth. So why wasn't Ronfields prosecuted or even questioned? 441 00:28:06,161 --> 00:28:09,360 Speaker 1: According to Arkansas law, it's a crime to have sexual 442 00:28:09,401 --> 00:28:12,881 Speaker 1: intercourse with a person who is incapable of consent because 443 00:28:12,881 --> 00:28:16,120 Speaker 1: she is mentally defective. That would mean a person who 444 00:28:16,201 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 1: is incapable of understanding the nature and consequences of sexual acts. 445 00:28:21,161 --> 00:28:24,881 Speaker 1: But in the memo quoted in the Times, the prosecutors wrote, 446 00:28:25,161 --> 00:28:28,321 Speaker 1: Bridget understood what sex was. She knew that she did 447 00:28:28,361 --> 00:28:31,360 Speaker 1: not want to go upstairs with Ron. But the memo 448 00:28:31,481 --> 00:28:34,961 Speaker 1: stated this meant that mentally defective does not apply because 449 00:28:34,961 --> 00:28:39,161 Speaker 1: she kind of understood what was happening. So apparently, because 450 00:28:39,241 --> 00:28:43,481 Speaker 1: Bridget understood the concept of sex, the prosecutors believe she 451 00:28:43,521 --> 00:28:46,161 Speaker 1: was not mentally defective, at least according to the law 452 00:28:46,201 --> 00:28:49,361 Speaker 1: at the time. So the next question was if she 453 00:28:49,481 --> 00:28:52,841 Speaker 1: understood what was happening, did she consent? The memo reads 454 00:28:52,921 --> 00:28:56,001 Speaker 1: quote this question is very difficult to answer at this time. 455 00:28:56,441 --> 00:28:59,121 Speaker 1: Victim is stated that the defendant would come to her home, 456 00:28:59,281 --> 00:29:01,401 Speaker 1: grab her arm, pull her off the couch, and take 457 00:29:01,441 --> 00:29:05,481 Speaker 1: her upstairs to perform sexual intercourse. How much force was 458 00:29:05,521 --> 00:29:10,761 Speaker 1: exerted end quote. So in this memo they talk about 459 00:29:10,801 --> 00:29:14,001 Speaker 1: a nineteen ninety five case and that it involved a 460 00:29:14,081 --> 00:29:16,761 Speaker 1: fourteen year old in her stepfather. And apparently the Arkansas 461 00:29:16,841 --> 00:29:20,441 Speaker 1: Supreme Court found that when an assailant has an in 462 00:29:20,601 --> 00:29:25,081 Speaker 1: loco parenthous relationship to a victim, that the law regarding 463 00:29:25,201 --> 00:29:27,601 Speaker 1: force is a little bit different. When someone is acting 464 00:29:27,641 --> 00:29:31,761 Speaker 1: as a parent, the victim does not have to display 465 00:29:31,921 --> 00:29:36,721 Speaker 1: what they call utmost physical resistance. Now, this would definitely 466 00:29:36,761 --> 00:29:40,481 Speaker 1: seem to apply to Ronfield's and bridget dollar And yet 467 00:29:40,641 --> 00:29:44,441 Speaker 1: six months after this alleged assault was reported, the prosecutor's 468 00:29:44,441 --> 00:29:48,481 Speaker 1: office notified the police charges would not be filed. And 469 00:29:48,561 --> 00:29:52,601 Speaker 1: this blows my mind. In the explanation letter, the prosecutor wrote, 470 00:29:52,921 --> 00:29:55,921 Speaker 1: Bridget's mental deficiencies do not rise to the level of 471 00:29:56,001 --> 00:29:59,681 Speaker 1: charging rape under the law. While in the prosecutor's opinion, 472 00:29:59,761 --> 00:30:03,601 Speaker 1: Bridget was not lying, the office believed she would have 473 00:30:04,241 --> 00:30:07,721 Speaker 1: perhaps insurmountable problems if she was cross examined if the 474 00:30:07,721 --> 00:30:10,961 Speaker 1: case went to trial, and one of the main issues 475 00:30:10,961 --> 00:30:14,441 Speaker 1: they kept debating was the question of force. Prosecutor's office 476 00:30:14,441 --> 00:30:17,361 Speaker 1: stated the only force that Bridget talked about was when 477 00:30:17,441 --> 00:30:19,561 Speaker 1: ron Fields grabbed her arm when she was on the 478 00:30:19,561 --> 00:30:22,601 Speaker 1: couch and took her upstairs. Bridget did say she said 479 00:30:22,641 --> 00:30:26,481 Speaker 1: no and slapped at him. However, the prosecutor's office believed 480 00:30:26,921 --> 00:30:31,041 Speaker 1: she did have an opportunity to leave while ron Fields 481 00:30:31,041 --> 00:30:36,201 Speaker 1: was undressing. Bridget's family were outraged. They believed the prosecutors 482 00:30:36,201 --> 00:30:41,121 Speaker 1: were saying basically that Bridget wasn't mentally capable of testifying, 483 00:30:41,201 --> 00:30:46,121 Speaker 1: but she was mentally capable of consenting sex. Claire's sister, 484 00:30:46,441 --> 00:30:51,001 Speaker 1: Sarah Estraat, wrote to the prosecutor about Ron Fields. She wrote, quote, 485 00:30:51,361 --> 00:30:53,881 Speaker 1: Ron Fields is a cunning lawyer who is accustomed to 486 00:30:53,961 --> 00:30:57,881 Speaker 1: kicking indoors during drug raids. A terrified, mentally impaired young 487 00:30:57,921 --> 00:31:01,481 Speaker 1: woman is no match for him. End quote. So no 488 00:31:01,641 --> 00:31:05,161 Speaker 1: action was taken against ron Fields in the sexual assault case, 489 00:31:05,801 --> 00:31:10,401 Speaker 1: and the FBI never conclusively linked him to Laurie Murchison's disappearance. 490 00:31:11,241 --> 00:31:15,161 Speaker 1: The FBI investigation was ended with no progress on Laurie's case. 491 00:31:19,041 --> 00:31:22,281 Speaker 1: Over the years, Nancy Murchison told The Times Record she 492 00:31:22,321 --> 00:31:25,401 Speaker 1: would get anonymous calls from people claiming they knew what 493 00:31:25,481 --> 00:31:28,361 Speaker 1: happened to Laurie. They would tell her that Laurie had 494 00:31:28,401 --> 00:31:31,121 Speaker 1: been burned into stove or put through a wood chipper, 495 00:31:31,721 --> 00:31:35,081 Speaker 1: or that she had been fed to pigs. In two thousand, 496 00:31:35,641 --> 00:31:38,841 Speaker 1: a new detective named Ron Lockhart was put on Laurie's case, 497 00:31:39,681 --> 00:31:50,881 Speaker 1: and he started digging for answers. According to news reports, 498 00:31:51,081 --> 00:31:54,361 Speaker 1: the new detective assigned to Laurie's case, Ron Lockhart, and 499 00:31:54,401 --> 00:31:58,441 Speaker 1: his team, conducted interviews and they went under cover wearing wires. 500 00:31:59,321 --> 00:32:02,681 Speaker 1: Ron Lockhart did not believe that the investigation into Ron 501 00:32:02,721 --> 00:32:06,241 Speaker 1: Fields and J. C. Rider were justified. He said he 502 00:32:06,241 --> 00:32:08,601 Speaker 1: found no evidence that either of them were involved in 503 00:32:08,681 --> 00:32:13,081 Speaker 1: Laurie Murchison's disappearance. He called this investigation a waste of 504 00:32:13,121 --> 00:32:17,761 Speaker 1: taxpayers money and a waste of time. He said he 505 00:32:17,881 --> 00:32:21,081 Speaker 1: believed that the allegations against ron Fields had come from 506 00:32:21,121 --> 00:32:24,081 Speaker 1: someone with a grudge. Others have suggested it could be 507 00:32:24,161 --> 00:32:27,761 Speaker 1: someone Ron prosecuted in the past. Obviously, in a job 508 00:32:27,841 --> 00:32:30,481 Speaker 1: like ron Fields, it goes without saying that you can 509 00:32:30,521 --> 00:32:33,641 Speaker 1: make a lot of enemies. But that person or person's 510 00:32:33,681 --> 00:32:37,761 Speaker 1: were never named. The FBI never filed any charges against 511 00:32:37,841 --> 00:32:41,601 Speaker 1: Ron Fields or J. C. Ryder. The jury in Washington, 512 00:32:41,681 --> 00:32:45,961 Speaker 1: d C. Heard testimony that it led to nothing. Over 513 00:32:46,001 --> 00:32:49,721 Speaker 1: the years, Ron Lockhart developed a theory, one that seemed 514 00:32:49,841 --> 00:32:53,601 Speaker 1: very similar to what Billy had initially told detectives, that 515 00:32:53,721 --> 00:32:57,161 Speaker 1: Laurie had accidentally overdosed and then the person or people 516 00:32:57,201 --> 00:33:00,921 Speaker 1: she was with got rid of her body. Every once 517 00:33:00,921 --> 00:33:03,441 Speaker 1: in a while, Lourie's name pops up in headlines again. 518 00:33:04,081 --> 00:33:07,361 Speaker 1: Back in two thousand and five, n WA News reported 519 00:33:07,361 --> 00:33:10,201 Speaker 1: that someone had tipped off the Fort Smith Police that 520 00:33:10,281 --> 00:33:13,881 Speaker 1: Laurie's body was buried in salvageyard, so they went out 521 00:33:13,921 --> 00:33:18,081 Speaker 1: and dug there. That salvageyard was reportedly less than a 522 00:33:18,121 --> 00:33:22,121 Speaker 1: mile from the motel where Laurie was last seen. Searchers 523 00:33:22,121 --> 00:33:24,881 Speaker 1: were sent in to dig. In the end, they found 524 00:33:24,881 --> 00:33:28,241 Speaker 1: no trace of Lourie. The Times Record did a follow 525 00:33:28,321 --> 00:33:31,681 Speaker 1: up story on Laurie Murchison in twenty fourteen, coming up 526 00:33:31,721 --> 00:33:35,441 Speaker 1: on the twenty year anniversary of her disappearance. They interviewed 527 00:33:35,601 --> 00:33:38,561 Speaker 1: Ron Lockhart and he gave more details about his theory. 528 00:33:39,681 --> 00:33:43,241 Speaker 1: Ron Lockhart said he had a suspect in mind, and 529 00:33:43,321 --> 00:33:46,241 Speaker 1: it was J. C Ryder or Ron Fields or anyone 530 00:33:46,281 --> 00:33:49,641 Speaker 1: connected to them. He told The Times Record it was 531 00:33:49,641 --> 00:33:52,681 Speaker 1: someone who was in prison in Oklahoma. He said that 532 00:33:52,721 --> 00:33:54,881 Speaker 1: he felt that he did have enough to charge this 533 00:33:54,961 --> 00:33:57,641 Speaker 1: person with abuse of a corpse. He said he took 534 00:33:57,681 --> 00:34:00,801 Speaker 1: the information he had to the Sebastian County prosecuting Attorney, 535 00:34:01,281 --> 00:34:04,121 Speaker 1: but unfortunately he found out that it was too late. 536 00:34:05,041 --> 00:34:08,520 Speaker 1: Ron Lockhart told the Times Record quote, back then there 537 00:34:08,641 --> 00:34:11,321 Speaker 1: was enough evidence to file disposing of a corpse, but 538 00:34:11,401 --> 00:34:14,881 Speaker 1: the statute of limitations had run over. But we did 539 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 1: have a strong suspect that we felt like knew what 540 00:34:18,281 --> 00:34:22,080 Speaker 1: happened with her. End quote. He said the detectives did 541 00:34:22,121 --> 00:34:25,841 Speaker 1: interview their suspect in prison, that they asked the person 542 00:34:25,921 --> 00:34:29,041 Speaker 1: where Laurie's body was, but in the end they weren't 543 00:34:29,040 --> 00:34:32,720 Speaker 1: able to find her. At the time, Ron Lockhart said 544 00:34:32,761 --> 00:34:36,600 Speaker 1: he believed someone might have dumped Loriie into the Arkansas River. 545 00:34:37,241 --> 00:34:40,240 Speaker 1: He said, quote, it was a sad deal. We did 546 00:34:40,281 --> 00:34:43,120 Speaker 1: everything we could do, and I feel confident I know 547 00:34:43,201 --> 00:34:48,161 Speaker 1: what happened to her. Ron Lockhart said five different sources 548 00:34:48,201 --> 00:34:50,401 Speaker 1: told him that a man whom you would not name, 549 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:53,801 Speaker 1: said Laurie died of a drug overdose and that this 550 00:34:53,921 --> 00:34:56,761 Speaker 1: man worried about being charged with her death and disposal 551 00:34:56,801 --> 00:35:00,801 Speaker 1: of her body. So my question is, are these the 552 00:35:00,881 --> 00:35:03,480 Speaker 1: same people who were questioned in the early weeks of 553 00:35:03,521 --> 00:35:07,801 Speaker 1: the investigation or someone else? And if this is where 554 00:35:07,841 --> 00:35:10,321 Speaker 1: police have landed, if this is all they're going to do, 555 00:35:10,401 --> 00:35:12,921 Speaker 1: then why won't they release the rest of the case file. 556 00:35:13,881 --> 00:35:18,441 Speaker 1: Nancy Murchison said back then she still believes that Laurie 557 00:35:18,440 --> 00:35:21,321 Speaker 1: was murdered. She can't forget what Laurie said in the 558 00:35:21,321 --> 00:35:24,761 Speaker 1: weeks before she disappeared, especially that one time when Laurie 559 00:35:24,761 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 1: came home and said that someone was planning to offer her. 560 00:35:28,401 --> 00:35:32,041 Speaker 1: But could that have been Laurie's paranoia due to drug 561 00:35:32,161 --> 00:35:35,361 Speaker 1: use or could it have been something more? After all, 562 00:35:35,601 --> 00:35:38,601 Speaker 1: there was a lot that Nancy Murchison admitted she didn't 563 00:35:38,601 --> 00:35:41,401 Speaker 1: know about what was going on with Lourie. She told 564 00:35:41,440 --> 00:35:44,721 Speaker 1: the newspaper she didn't even know that Laurie was on drugs. 565 00:35:45,201 --> 00:35:47,841 Speaker 1: In twenty twelve, she met with a volunteer group called 566 00:35:47,881 --> 00:35:51,281 Speaker 1: the Cold Case Revivors, people whose relatives had been murdered 567 00:35:51,401 --> 00:35:56,040 Speaker 1: or missing. They had regular meetings in Muldrow, Oklahoma. But 568 00:35:56,801 --> 00:35:59,640 Speaker 1: I don't think that group still exists because a link 569 00:35:59,681 --> 00:36:06,721 Speaker 1: to the organization's web page appears to be inactive. The 570 00:36:06,881 --> 00:36:09,921 Speaker 1: latest update about Laurie's case from the Fort Smith Police 571 00:36:09,921 --> 00:36:13,681 Speaker 1: Department came from a news report in twenty fourteen. It 572 00:36:13,801 --> 00:36:16,321 Speaker 1: said a new detective had been assigned to Laurie's case, 573 00:36:16,721 --> 00:36:20,281 Speaker 1: Detective David Williams. This person had been working in the 574 00:36:20,321 --> 00:36:23,721 Speaker 1: Criminal Investigation division for a year and at that time 575 00:36:23,801 --> 00:36:27,241 Speaker 1: in twenty fourteen, he told the newspaper there had been 576 00:36:27,281 --> 00:36:31,201 Speaker 1: nothing new added to Laurie's case file in years. He said, 577 00:36:31,281 --> 00:36:34,960 Speaker 1: quote that things hundreds of pages. I haven't even been 578 00:36:35,001 --> 00:36:39,440 Speaker 1: able to make it through all that end quote. Laurie's mother, 579 00:36:39,641 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 1: Nancy took custody of her daughter Brittany, who would now 580 00:36:43,161 --> 00:36:46,721 Speaker 1: be in her thirdies. Nancy Murchison talked to the media 581 00:36:46,841 --> 00:36:49,960 Speaker 1: several times over the years. She made public police for 582 00:36:50,041 --> 00:36:52,801 Speaker 1: whoever killed Laurie or who was involved in any way 583 00:36:52,841 --> 00:36:55,601 Speaker 1: to come forward. She said, even if it was an accident, 584 00:36:55,841 --> 00:36:58,361 Speaker 1: she would want to know so that the family could 585 00:36:58,401 --> 00:37:01,161 Speaker 1: have some kind of closure and they could put Laurie 586 00:37:01,201 --> 00:37:06,441 Speaker 1: in the family plot. But in twenty seventeen, Nancy passed away, 587 00:37:06,481 --> 00:37:09,721 Speaker 1: never knowing what happened to her daughter Laurie and never 588 00:37:10,081 --> 00:37:14,121 Speaker 1: being able to bring her body home. Anyone with information 589 00:37:14,201 --> 00:37:16,881 Speaker 1: on the disappearance of Laurie Murchison can call the Fort 590 00:37:16,881 --> 00:37:20,761 Speaker 1: Smith Police Departments Criminal Investigation Division at four seven nine 591 00:37:20,841 --> 00:37:24,761 Speaker 1: seven oh nine five one one six, or email Missing 592 00:37:24,841 --> 00:37:32,761 Speaker 1: Persons at Fort SMITHPD dot org. I'm Katherine Townsend. This 593 00:37:33,001 --> 00:37:36,401 Speaker 1: is Helen Gone Murder Line. Helen Gone Murder Line is 594 00:37:36,401 --> 00:37:39,520 Speaker 1: a production of School of Humans and iHeart Podcasts. It's 595 00:37:39,521 --> 00:37:42,681 Speaker 1: written and narrated by me Catherine Townsend and produced by 596 00:37:42,681 --> 00:37:46,281 Speaker 1: Gabby Watts. Special thanks to Amy Tubbs for her research 597 00:37:46,321 --> 00:37:50,921 Speaker 1: assistance and to James Wheaton for Legal Review. Noah camer 598 00:37:51,121 --> 00:37:53,801 Speaker 1: mixed and scored this episode. Our theme song is by 599 00:37:53,801 --> 00:37:58,761 Speaker 1: Ben Sale, Executive producers of Virginia Prescott, Brandon Barr, and L. C. Crowley. 600 00:37:59,401 --> 00:38:01,761 Speaker 1: Listen to Helen Gone ad free by subscribing to the 601 00:38:01,801 --> 00:38:05,440 Speaker 1: iHeart True Crime Plus channel on Apple Podcasts. If you 602 00:38:05,481 --> 00:38:08,161 Speaker 1: were interested in seeing documents and materials from the case, 603 00:38:08,721 --> 00:38:12,241 Speaker 1: you can follow the show on Instagram at Helen gonpot. 604 00:38:12,801 --> 00:38:14,480 Speaker 1: If you have a case you'd like me and my 605 00:38:14,521 --> 00:38:16,721 Speaker 1: team to look into, you can reach out to us 606 00:38:16,761 --> 00:38:19,321 Speaker 1: at our Helen Gone Murder line at six seven eight 607 00:38:19,641 --> 00:38:22,921 Speaker 1: seven four four six one four five. That's six seven 608 00:38:22,960 --> 00:38:25,521 Speaker 1: eight seven four four six' one four or. 609 00:38:25,601 --> 00:38:31,440 Speaker 2: Five school Of humans