1 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:51,921 Speaker 1: School of Humans. Helen Got Murder Line actively investigates cold 2 00:00:52,001 --> 00:00:55,361 Speaker 1: case murders in an effort to raise public awareness invite 3 00:00:55,401 --> 00:00:58,761 Speaker 1: witnesses to come forward and present evidence that could potentially 4 00:00:58,840 --> 00:01:02,961 Speaker 1: be further investigated by law enforcement. While we value insights 5 00:01:03,001 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: from family and community members, their statements should not be 6 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:09,961 Speaker 1: considered evidence and point to the challenges of verifying facts 7 00:01:10,041 --> 00:01:14,041 Speaker 1: inherent in cold cases. We remind listeners that everyone has 8 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 9 00:01:17,961 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: Nothing in the podcast is intended to state or imply 10 00:01:21,041 --> 00:01:23,601 Speaker 1: that anyone who has not been convicted of a crime 11 00:01:24,161 --> 00:01:27,121 Speaker 1: is guilty of any wrongdoing. Thanks for listening. 12 00:01:28,200 --> 00:01:31,121 Speaker 2: I had info on the Cass County three triple Black 13 00:01:31,161 --> 00:01:35,681 Speaker 2: child murder case out of Atlanta, Texas, which is Cass County. 14 00:01:36,401 --> 00:01:39,081 Speaker 2: Three little black girls were murdered about a year ago 15 00:01:39,321 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: to cold case right now has some documentation from the 16 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,801 Speaker 2: police and a judgment. Texas also appoints at him and 17 00:01:46,881 --> 00:01:49,201 Speaker 2: I have some information with the family, the mother and 18 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:52,481 Speaker 2: some other witnesses to the murders of these three girls. 19 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:56,921 Speaker 3: It was July twenty ninth, twenty twenty two, just another 20 00:01:57,081 --> 00:02:00,921 Speaker 3: quiet summer night in Atlanta, Texas. A tiny town in 21 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:05,441 Speaker 3: East Texas. Atlanta is about a twenty five minute drive 22 00:02:05,481 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 3: from Texarkana, which is right on the border with Arkansas. 23 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,921 Speaker 3: The sun had just gone down when twenty eight year 24 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:16,641 Speaker 3: old Shamanique Oliver got a panicked phone call. Shamanique is 25 00:02:16,641 --> 00:02:19,681 Speaker 3: a single mom and a certified nurses aid. She works 26 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,841 Speaker 3: at a nursing home in Texarkana. She later told Nancy 27 00:02:23,921 --> 00:02:27,561 Speaker 3: Grace that it had been a totally normal day. She 28 00:02:27,641 --> 00:02:30,441 Speaker 3: was hanging out with her six children between the ages 29 00:02:30,481 --> 00:02:33,401 Speaker 3: of one and ten years old at home. They watched TV, 30 00:02:33,721 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 3: played and ate a meal together while Shamanique got ready 31 00:02:36,721 --> 00:02:40,800 Speaker 3: for a shift. When Shamanique went to work that afternoon, 32 00:02:41,041 --> 00:02:43,641 Speaker 3: she left her children in the care of their babysitter, 33 00:02:44,121 --> 00:02:47,881 Speaker 3: a thirty one year old cousin of hers named Paris Props. 34 00:02:48,601 --> 00:02:51,161 Speaker 3: She and the kids lived in a very rural area. 35 00:02:53,041 --> 00:02:57,281 Speaker 3: The one story home is pretty secluded. There are neighbors around, 36 00:02:57,521 --> 00:03:00,121 Speaker 3: but it's the kind of home where you can't really 37 00:03:00,161 --> 00:03:04,241 Speaker 3: see the neighbors, and it's pretty wild out there. There 38 00:03:04,241 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 3: are woods and fields behind the house, and the fields 39 00:03:07,521 --> 00:03:11,761 Speaker 3: are blocked by barbour fences. Shamanique was helping change a 40 00:03:11,841 --> 00:03:15,201 Speaker 3: patient later that evening. She was called to the nurses 41 00:03:15,201 --> 00:03:19,481 Speaker 3: station a little after nine pm, and that's when her 42 00:03:19,561 --> 00:03:23,841 Speaker 3: nightmare began, because that's when she found out that three 43 00:03:23,921 --> 00:03:27,960 Speaker 3: of her children, her three middle daughters, nine year old 44 00:03:28,041 --> 00:03:32,161 Speaker 3: Zayariel Robinson Oliver, eight year old a Maya Hughes, and 45 00:03:32,281 --> 00:03:35,641 Speaker 3: little five year old to mari Robinson Oliver, were all missing. 46 00:03:36,961 --> 00:03:41,801 Speaker 3: Law enforcement found the little girls a few hours later. Unfortunately, 47 00:03:41,841 --> 00:03:46,321 Speaker 3: though this was not a half in. Divers dragged their 48 00:03:46,361 --> 00:03:51,841 Speaker 3: lifeless little bodies out of a neighboring pond. Initially, this 49 00:03:52,041 --> 00:03:55,281 Speaker 3: was described as a drowning in the local media, but 50 00:03:55,441 --> 00:03:59,121 Speaker 3: months later law enforcement in Texas said these three little 51 00:03:59,121 --> 00:04:03,321 Speaker 3: girls had been murdered. The cause of death was exphyxiation. 52 00:04:04,401 --> 00:04:08,001 Speaker 3: All three of these little girls had been strangled. There 53 00:04:08,001 --> 00:04:10,801 Speaker 3: seemed to be a lot of misconceptions about this case. 54 00:04:11,561 --> 00:04:14,881 Speaker 3: Some of them involved local rumors. Some of them involved politics, 55 00:04:15,241 --> 00:04:18,641 Speaker 3: charges of racism, and of police not doing their jobs. 56 00:04:19,361 --> 00:04:22,521 Speaker 3: If you listen to this podcast, you'll know that these 57 00:04:22,561 --> 00:04:24,481 Speaker 3: are a lot of the things that often come with 58 00:04:24,561 --> 00:04:29,521 Speaker 3: investigations in small towns. But once you look past all that, 59 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,561 Speaker 3: at the heart of this case, you have three dead 60 00:04:32,601 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 3: little girls whose lives were over before they even started, 61 00:04:36,361 --> 00:04:39,881 Speaker 3: and you have a family and an entire town crying 62 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:43,921 Speaker 3: out for justice and answers. I said back at the 63 00:04:43,961 --> 00:04:48,241 Speaker 3: beginning that Shaumnik's nightmare began on July twenty ninth, twenty 64 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:52,601 Speaker 3: twenty two, but she never woke up. It's still going on, 65 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:57,200 Speaker 3: and in East Texas there's a child killer still out 66 00:04:57,241 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 3: there and this person could strike again at any time. 67 00:05:02,601 --> 00:05:08,241 Speaker 3: I'm Catherine Townsend. This is Helen Gone Murder Line. Over 68 00:05:08,281 --> 00:05:10,921 Speaker 3: the past five years of making my true crime podcast, 69 00:05:10,921 --> 00:05:14,001 Speaker 3: Helling Gone, I've learned that there's no such thing as 70 00:05:14,001 --> 00:05:17,921 Speaker 3: a small town where murder never happens. I have received 71 00:05:18,041 --> 00:05:21,321 Speaker 3: hundreds of messages from people from all around the country 72 00:05:21,361 --> 00:05:24,041 Speaker 3: asking for help with an unsolved murder that's affected them, 73 00:05:24,401 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 3: their families, and their communities. If you have a case 74 00:05:28,241 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 3: you'd like me and my team to look into, you 75 00:05:30,921 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 3: can reach out to us at our Helen Gone Murder 76 00:05:33,001 --> 00:05:36,601 Speaker 3: Line at six seven eight seven four four six' one four. 77 00:05:36,801 --> 00:05:40,881 Speaker 3: Five that's six seven eight seven four four six one 78 00:05:41,161 --> 00:06:31,681 Speaker 3: four or. Five so to find out what happened To shamanique's, 79 00:06:31,721 --> 00:06:35,161 Speaker 3: daughters we have to make sense of the. Timeline we 80 00:06:35,281 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 3: need to go back and find out exactly what was 81 00:06:37,681 --> 00:06:41,041 Speaker 3: going on and who was around that. Day in her 82 00:06:41,081 --> 00:06:44,561 Speaker 3: interview With Nancy Grace, Shaw manique said that while she 83 00:06:44,601 --> 00:06:47,841 Speaker 3: was getting dressed and preparing for her, shift the kids 84 00:06:47,881 --> 00:06:51,121 Speaker 3: were behaving totally. Normally she made sure they had something 85 00:06:51,161 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 3: to eat and they were playing and WATCHING, tv just 86 00:06:54,161 --> 00:06:59,081 Speaker 3: generally messing. Around shamanique said that all of her children were, 87 00:06:59,121 --> 00:07:03,161 Speaker 3: close but that her three middle, Daughters, Syaril, amaya And 88 00:07:03,161 --> 00:07:07,001 Speaker 3: tamari were the best of. Friends they liked to do 89 00:07:07,481 --> 00:07:09,721 Speaker 3: things that all little girls like to. Do they like 90 00:07:09,801 --> 00:07:13,041 Speaker 3: to play outside and ride bikes. Together they also loved 91 00:07:13,081 --> 00:07:15,521 Speaker 3: to hang out in the house and make TikTok. Videos 92 00:07:16,041 --> 00:07:19,681 Speaker 3: in the interview With Nancy, Grace shamanique clarified that the 93 00:07:19,801 --> 00:07:22,401 Speaker 3: last time that she spoke to her children was when 94 00:07:22,441 --> 00:07:25,801 Speaker 3: she called, them and that was sometime between five and six. 95 00:07:25,881 --> 00:07:29,041 Speaker 3: Pm she asked them what they were going to. Do 96 00:07:29,641 --> 00:07:31,241 Speaker 3: they said they were going to stay in the house 97 00:07:31,281 --> 00:07:35,121 Speaker 3: and finish eating and take a. Bath Sha monique was 98 00:07:35,161 --> 00:07:38,321 Speaker 3: adamant about the fact that they would not go. Outside she, said, 99 00:07:38,401 --> 00:07:41,081 Speaker 3: quote they know not to go outside when it gets 100 00:07:41,121 --> 00:07:45,761 Speaker 3: dark because there's no lights outside end. Quote this is 101 00:07:45,761 --> 00:07:48,641 Speaker 3: an important point because at least in the beginning of the, 102 00:07:48,721 --> 00:07:53,241 Speaker 3: investigation everything that came out about these little girl's disappearance 103 00:07:53,321 --> 00:07:56,761 Speaker 3: made it sound like just a horrific, accident like the 104 00:07:56,801 --> 00:08:00,041 Speaker 3: three little girls had gone, outside maybe for a summertime 105 00:08:00,081 --> 00:08:03,601 Speaker 3: swim or, something and then somehow gotten into. Trouble But 106 00:08:03,641 --> 00:08:06,801 Speaker 3: shamanique insists it would have been totally out of character 107 00:08:06,921 --> 00:08:09,201 Speaker 3: for any of her children to go outside in the 108 00:08:09,321 --> 00:08:12,521 Speaker 3: dark to a dark. Field she's been saying that to 109 00:08:12,601 --> 00:08:16,521 Speaker 3: anyone who would listen from the very. Beginning shamanique said 110 00:08:16,561 --> 00:08:20,281 Speaker 3: her shift normally ended at around TEN, pm and her 111 00:08:20,361 --> 00:08:23,601 Speaker 3: normal routine was that after she got off, work she 112 00:08:23,641 --> 00:08:26,201 Speaker 3: would drive from the nursing home from work back To. 113 00:08:26,241 --> 00:08:30,521 Speaker 3: Atlanta and, again just to clarify, here we're talking about 114 00:08:30,521 --> 00:08:34,521 Speaker 3: a small town In, Texas, Atlanta, texas Not, Atlanta. Georgia 115 00:08:35,160 --> 00:08:38,521 Speaker 3: it was only about twenty five minutes, away so normally 116 00:08:38,641 --> 00:08:41,721 Speaker 3: she would have gotten home at around ten thirty. Pm 117 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,881 Speaker 3: but that night she got that, call and when the 118 00:08:45,961 --> 00:08:50,281 Speaker 3: call came, in it was from her neighbour's home. Phone 119 00:08:50,361 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 3: When shamanique picked up her Cousin, paris who had been 120 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,361 Speaker 3: staying with her at her house and helping her out with, 121 00:08:55,401 --> 00:08:59,440 Speaker 3: babysitting while she, worked told her that her kids were. 122 00:08:59,441 --> 00:09:04,121 Speaker 3: Missing shamanique didn't get many details at that. Point she 123 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,401 Speaker 3: Said paris didn't specify which kids were missing or exactly 124 00:09:07,441 --> 00:09:10,361 Speaker 3: what had. Happened once she heard that her kids were, 125 00:09:10,401 --> 00:09:13,241 Speaker 3: missing she jumped in the car and said she started driving. 126 00:09:13,441 --> 00:09:17,681 Speaker 3: Fast shamnique was. Panicking she called nine to one one 127 00:09:17,721 --> 00:09:20,081 Speaker 3: and at the same time she was trying to call her, 128 00:09:20,121 --> 00:09:22,961 Speaker 3: aunt who she said live. Nearby she was trying to 129 00:09:22,961 --> 00:09:24,881 Speaker 3: see if her aunt could meet her at her. House 130 00:09:25,721 --> 00:09:28,481 Speaker 3: shamanique said at that point she was. Terrified she was 131 00:09:28,521 --> 00:09:30,801 Speaker 3: trying to hold it, together trying to get home as 132 00:09:30,881 --> 00:09:33,481 Speaker 3: quickly as she, could and through it, all she really 133 00:09:33,561 --> 00:09:36,361 Speaker 3: had no idea what was going. On she made it 134 00:09:36,401 --> 00:09:38,641 Speaker 3: sound like the next events were kind of a. Blur, 135 00:09:40,721 --> 00:09:43,721 Speaker 3: now as we know from listening to this, podcast sometimes 136 00:09:43,881 --> 00:09:47,521 Speaker 3: when people go, missing police don't come right. Away sometimes 137 00:09:47,601 --> 00:09:50,001 Speaker 3: even when small children go, missing there's a. Delay but 138 00:09:50,121 --> 00:09:53,761 Speaker 3: fortunately that was not the case. Here by the Time 139 00:09:53,881 --> 00:09:57,361 Speaker 3: shamanique made it, home law enforcement was already there on the. 140 00:09:57,401 --> 00:10:02,241 Speaker 3: Scene there were rangers from The Texas Wildlife, Department Emergency services, 141 00:10:02,241 --> 00:10:06,761 Speaker 3: personnel and detectives from The Cass County sheriff's. Department all 142 00:10:06,841 --> 00:10:09,721 Speaker 3: of these people in law enforcement were scouring those dark. 143 00:10:09,761 --> 00:10:14,601 Speaker 3: Woods they were looking everywhere for those little. Girls When 144 00:10:14,641 --> 00:10:17,161 Speaker 3: shamanique got, home the first thing she did was check 145 00:10:17,201 --> 00:10:20,921 Speaker 3: on her three other, children who were fine and. Safe 146 00:10:21,001 --> 00:10:23,521 Speaker 3: The Texas Game wardens got the call at around ten. 147 00:10:23,561 --> 00:10:26,601 Speaker 3: Pm they knew there were three children missing from a, 148 00:10:26,641 --> 00:10:29,481 Speaker 3: residence so when they got, there they brought the canine 149 00:10:29,561 --> 00:10:34,481 Speaker 3: unit with. Them the dog alerted and started walking through 150 00:10:34,601 --> 00:10:38,161 Speaker 3: those backwoods toward a. Pond it was a pond that 151 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:41,401 Speaker 3: was back through the woods about two hundred yards away 152 00:10:41,801 --> 00:10:45,201 Speaker 3: near a neighboring. Property, again this is where it's so 153 00:10:45,441 --> 00:10:48,521 Speaker 3: important to try and clarify a, location and this is 154 00:10:48,521 --> 00:10:51,401 Speaker 3: why it's so important to understand both the dynamics of 155 00:10:51,441 --> 00:10:54,601 Speaker 3: the small town and of the crime, scene because just 156 00:10:54,641 --> 00:10:57,561 Speaker 3: hearing the details on the, news you might think this 157 00:10:57,681 --> 00:11:00,601 Speaker 3: was a local swimming hole or. Something BUT i took 158 00:11:00,681 --> 00:11:02,881 Speaker 3: a look at the footage that was filmed from local news, 159 00:11:02,881 --> 00:11:07,081 Speaker 3: stations and that footage tells a very different. Story Sha 160 00:11:07,161 --> 00:11:09,961 Speaker 3: monique said she had lived in that spot pretty much 161 00:11:09,961 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 3: her whole, life and she never knew there was a 162 00:11:11,961 --> 00:11:14,881 Speaker 3: pond back. There to get to, it you had to 163 00:11:14,921 --> 00:11:18,001 Speaker 3: go through a barbed wire fence and through a pretty 164 00:11:18,161 --> 00:11:22,201 Speaker 3: dense wooded. Area looking at the pictures that looked more 165 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:25,761 Speaker 3: like a, Swamp shamanique said her kids would not have 166 00:11:25,841 --> 00:11:29,441 Speaker 3: known about that. Pond as it got later and, later 167 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,001 Speaker 3: Sha minique became more and more. Frantic she was focused 168 00:11:33,041 --> 00:11:35,641 Speaker 3: on one thing and that was finding her. Daughters she 169 00:11:35,761 --> 00:11:38,641 Speaker 3: was out back in her yard while law enforcement continued their, 170 00:11:38,681 --> 00:11:42,401 Speaker 3: search and then one of the canine dogs alerted and 171 00:11:42,441 --> 00:11:47,601 Speaker 3: they saw something an overturned. Bike in pictures in the news, 172 00:11:47,601 --> 00:11:50,481 Speaker 3: reports you can see that it's a purple kid's bike 173 00:11:50,521 --> 00:11:53,321 Speaker 3: with pink. Petals next to the bike was what looked 174 00:11:53,361 --> 00:11:56,561 Speaker 3: like a blue scooter kind of tipped, over leaning in 175 00:11:56,601 --> 00:12:00,721 Speaker 3: on the. Bike after the dog alerted and the police 176 00:12:00,721 --> 00:12:05,001 Speaker 3: found the, bike they saw something. Else the dogs were 177 00:12:05,041 --> 00:12:08,641 Speaker 3: pulling toward that pond and police saw a pair of 178 00:12:08,681 --> 00:12:12,761 Speaker 3: tennis shoes next to the. Waterline then they saw footprints 179 00:12:12,761 --> 00:12:17,001 Speaker 3: in the mud leading down to the water and the 180 00:12:17,041 --> 00:12:20,441 Speaker 3: family confirmed a law enforcement that that pair of little 181 00:12:20,441 --> 00:12:23,681 Speaker 3: tennis shoes belonged To shamaniqu's five year old, daughter To, 182 00:12:23,761 --> 00:12:27,921 Speaker 3: maury and there was something else that was very strange 183 00:12:27,961 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 3: about those. Shoes On Nancy Grace shamanique said To mari's 184 00:12:32,681 --> 00:12:36,161 Speaker 3: shoes quote were found out, there stacked on top of each, 185 00:12:36,161 --> 00:12:39,121 Speaker 3: Other Chris, crossway like you would pack them in a. 186 00:12:39,121 --> 00:12:44,841 Speaker 3: Suitcase end. Quote she said, Emphatically, mike kids never do. 187 00:12:45,001 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 2: That. 188 00:12:45,561 --> 00:12:51,201 Speaker 3: Never divers went into the, water and then in the 189 00:12:51,280 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 3: early morning hours Of july, thirtieth at around two, am 190 00:12:55,361 --> 00:13:01,361 Speaker 3: they Found shamanique's eight year old, Daughter. Amaya amaya was the, 191 00:13:01,441 --> 00:13:06,721 Speaker 3: first but unfortunately not the. Last in the, end investigators 192 00:13:06,761 --> 00:13:11,201 Speaker 3: found all three girls dead in that. Pond they pulled 193 00:13:11,201 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 3: their little bodies out of the water one by one 194 00:13:14,001 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 3: and sent them for. Autopsies after hearing That amaya's body 195 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:23,161 Speaker 3: had been, Found shamanique had to be taken to the. 196 00:13:23,161 --> 00:13:27,281 Speaker 3: Hospital she later learned that she was having a heart. 197 00:13:27,321 --> 00:13:30,761 Speaker 3: Attack she had already had one hard episode after her 198 00:13:30,761 --> 00:13:34,321 Speaker 3: mother died FROM, covid and now she had lost three 199 00:13:34,441 --> 00:13:40,761 Speaker 3: daughters in one. Night After shamanique's three daughters were found 200 00:13:40,801 --> 00:13:44,961 Speaker 3: dead in that, pond the story made local. News at, 201 00:13:45,001 --> 00:13:48,401 Speaker 3: first the media reports indicated that these deaths were being 202 00:13:48,441 --> 00:13:52,841 Speaker 3: investigated as a, drowning, which while, horrific is something that 203 00:13:53,401 --> 00:13:55,841 Speaker 3: made it sound like it might have been an unavoidable, 204 00:13:55,881 --> 00:14:00,281 Speaker 3: accident but that's not what happened. Here looking back in, 205 00:14:00,361 --> 00:14:03,161 Speaker 3: HINDSIGHT i think that these reports might have come out 206 00:14:03,521 --> 00:14:06,081 Speaker 3: because of some comments made early on by The Cass 207 00:14:06,121 --> 00:14:10,681 Speaker 3: County sheriff's. Office Cass County Sheriff Larry rowe told a local, 208 00:14:10,681 --> 00:14:14,041 Speaker 3: Newspaper The, gazette quote we have no idea what the 209 00:14:14,081 --> 00:14:17,601 Speaker 3: girls were doing there end. Quote and then a lieutenant 210 00:14:17,601 --> 00:14:20,801 Speaker 3: game warden Named Jason jones told a local news STATION 211 00:14:21,121 --> 00:14:24,601 Speaker 3: ktl that it was unknown whether the little girls were 212 00:14:24,601 --> 00:14:29,121 Speaker 3: swimmers or. Not there was another comment made by someone 213 00:14:29,161 --> 00:14:31,601 Speaker 3: in law enforcement about none of the little girls having 214 00:14:31,641 --> 00:14:35,481 Speaker 3: life jackets. On so all of those comments taken, together, 215 00:14:36,361 --> 00:14:39,961 Speaker 3: definitely in my, opinion led toward the story being reported 216 00:14:40,001 --> 00:14:44,841 Speaker 3: as a, drowning at least. Initially very, quickly this case 217 00:14:44,961 --> 00:14:48,241 Speaker 3: was turned over from the local police department to The Texas. 218 00:14:48,361 --> 00:14:52,481 Speaker 3: Rangers the officer assigned to that case was Named Josh. Mason, 219 00:14:53,841 --> 00:14:58,561 Speaker 3: now The Texas rangers are unique. Organization, officially they're The 220 00:14:58,601 --> 00:15:01,841 Speaker 3: Texas state law enforcement. Units so Like arkansas has The 221 00:15:01,921 --> 00:15:05,361 Speaker 3: Arkansas State, police In, texas they're a little bit unique 222 00:15:05,401 --> 00:15:10,961 Speaker 3: because they have The. Rangers The Texas rangers originally actually 223 00:15:11,001 --> 00:15:14,441 Speaker 3: defended the frontier back in the eighteen, hundreds and they 224 00:15:14,481 --> 00:15:19,121 Speaker 3: do have a complicated and sometimes brutal. Legacy Author Doug 225 00:15:19,201 --> 00:15:22,401 Speaker 3: swanson wrote about the alleged war crimes that The Texas 226 00:15:22,481 --> 00:15:25,521 Speaker 3: rangers committed back in the day in his, book which 227 00:15:25,561 --> 00:15:30,161 Speaker 3: is Called cult Of, glory and he TOLD npr that 228 00:15:30,401 --> 00:15:32,761 Speaker 3: back in the day they did murder a lot Of 229 00:15:32,841 --> 00:15:37,561 Speaker 3: mexicans And Mexican americans and had a strange idea of frontier. 230 00:15:37,721 --> 00:15:41,921 Speaker 3: Justice but over the, years The Texas rangers have. Modernized 231 00:15:42,361 --> 00:15:46,161 Speaker 3: they've actually become one the country's most elite detective. Units 232 00:15:46,641 --> 00:15:49,401 Speaker 3: The Texas rangers have solved a lot of cold. Cases 233 00:15:50,121 --> 00:15:52,721 Speaker 3: it was actually A Texas ranger who got the notorious 234 00:15:52,721 --> 00:15:56,601 Speaker 3: serial Killer Samuel little to, Confess but there have also 235 00:15:56,681 --> 00:16:00,001 Speaker 3: been allegations over the years that in some cases they 236 00:16:00,041 --> 00:16:04,281 Speaker 3: have coerce. Confessions Samuel little did confess to a lot of, 237 00:16:04,361 --> 00:16:07,601 Speaker 3: murders but some of those murders were based on very little, 238 00:16:07,641 --> 00:16:11,561 Speaker 3: evidence and a lot of people believe that The rangers 239 00:16:11,641 --> 00:16:15,641 Speaker 3: let him confess to crimes even when there was not 240 00:16:15,681 --> 00:16:18,041 Speaker 3: necessarily evidence to back it, up because they wanted to 241 00:16:18,041 --> 00:16:21,161 Speaker 3: close those. Cases i'm not going to go too far 242 00:16:21,201 --> 00:16:23,761 Speaker 3: into the weeds on. This if you're interested In Texas ranger, 243 00:16:23,841 --> 00:16:26,601 Speaker 3: history you can see they've had a lot of successes 244 00:16:26,641 --> 00:16:30,761 Speaker 3: and some, controversies just like many law enforcement. Organizations i'm 245 00:16:30,761 --> 00:16:33,121 Speaker 3: bringing this up to make the point, that unlike some 246 00:16:33,201 --> 00:16:35,961 Speaker 3: of the CASES i, cover this was not a case 247 00:16:36,041 --> 00:16:39,080 Speaker 3: of just some small town police department with no resources 248 00:16:39,161 --> 00:16:42,481 Speaker 3: doing everything. Themselves they did do the right. Thing they 249 00:16:42,561 --> 00:16:45,321 Speaker 3: called for outside. Help they brought in The. Rangers The 250 00:16:45,361 --> 00:16:48,321 Speaker 3: Texas rangers were there from day one when those bodies 251 00:16:48,321 --> 00:16:52,561 Speaker 3: were pulled out of the. Water On august, second The 252 00:16:52,601 --> 00:16:56,881 Speaker 3: Texas rangers released a. Statement they, said quote at the 253 00:16:56,961 --> 00:17:00,321 Speaker 3: request of The Cass County sheriff's, office The Texas rangers 254 00:17:00,321 --> 00:17:04,241 Speaker 3: are investigating the drowning deaths of the three, juveniles ages, five, 255 00:17:04,441 --> 00:17:08,441 Speaker 3: eight and. Nine the drowning Occurred july thirtieth around two 256 00:17:08,481 --> 00:17:11,880 Speaker 3: am at a private pond Off State highway seventy. Seven 257 00:17:12,441 --> 00:17:15,400 Speaker 3: the three siblings had been reported missing around ten pm 258 00:17:15,481 --> 00:17:19,321 Speaker 3: the previous. Night this is an ongoing investigation and additional 259 00:17:19,321 --> 00:17:24,281 Speaker 3: information will be released when it's. Available end. Quote police 260 00:17:24,281 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 3: did not give out much, information which is totally normal 261 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:31,161 Speaker 3: in cases like. This and remember this was two days 262 00:17:31,201 --> 00:17:35,001 Speaker 3: after the girl's bodies had been, found and that statement 263 00:17:35,041 --> 00:17:39,361 Speaker 3: did two. Things Number, one it reinforced the public perception 264 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:43,001 Speaker 3: that these had been. Drownings and, Also i'm, noticing in my, 265 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:47,401 Speaker 3: opinion the word wordings seemed. Strange they said the drowning 266 00:17:47,481 --> 00:17:50,440 Speaker 3: occurred rather than saying the bodies were recovered at two, 267 00:17:50,521 --> 00:17:54,121 Speaker 3: am and whether it was on purpose or. Not this 268 00:17:54,201 --> 00:17:58,201 Speaker 3: later caused a lot of. Confusion this statement seemed to 269 00:17:58,321 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 3: assume a cause of death and also a time of, 270 00:18:00,881 --> 00:18:05,721 Speaker 3: death which is not normally standard protocol in these. Investigations 271 00:18:07,561 --> 00:18:11,640 Speaker 3: for the next few, months there was basically nothing on 272 00:18:11,681 --> 00:18:14,721 Speaker 3: the news about these. Deaths it was not until eight 273 00:18:14,761 --> 00:18:18,481 Speaker 3: months later that The Cass County District, Attorney Courtney, shelton 274 00:18:19,041 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 3: announced that they were investigating the deaths as a. Homicide 275 00:18:23,441 --> 00:18:27,001 Speaker 3: On march twenty, nine twenty twenty, Three Courtney shelton said 276 00:18:27,041 --> 00:18:31,360 Speaker 3: in a, statement, quote autopsy reports concluded the manner of 277 00:18:31,401 --> 00:18:35,001 Speaker 3: death for all three girls with, homicide indicating evidence of. 278 00:18:35,041 --> 00:18:40,601 Speaker 3: Strangulation the girls also suffered lacerations to their. Faces multiple 279 00:18:40,601 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 3: witness statements have been, OBTAINED dna testing is ongoing and 280 00:18:44,481 --> 00:18:50,041 Speaker 3: the investigation will. Continue. Quote so now everyone knew the 281 00:18:50,041 --> 00:18:53,001 Speaker 3: three young girls had been strangled and put into that. 282 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:57,360 Speaker 3: Pond the rangers were now investigating the case as a, 283 00:18:57,361 --> 00:19:01,401 Speaker 3: homicide and there was a child killer on the loose In, Atlanta. 284 00:19:01,441 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 3: Texas it had been eight months since the all of 285 00:19:08,121 --> 00:19:11,600 Speaker 3: her sister's bodies were found in a. Pond the district 286 00:19:11,641 --> 00:19:14,481 Speaker 3: attorney had announced that the girls had not drowned as 287 00:19:14,561 --> 00:19:18,160 Speaker 3: everyone initially thought that their deaths were being investigated as, 288 00:19:18,201 --> 00:19:23,401 Speaker 3: homicides and after months of, Silence shamanique started speaking. Out 289 00:19:24,161 --> 00:19:27,160 Speaker 3: she Told The Daily beasts that strangers on social media 290 00:19:27,201 --> 00:19:30,561 Speaker 3: had put horribly abusive. Things they were writing that she 291 00:19:30,641 --> 00:19:32,801 Speaker 3: was a deadbeat, mom some of them writing that her 292 00:19:32,921 --> 00:19:36,401 Speaker 3: kids were better off. DEAD i think at this point 293 00:19:36,441 --> 00:19:39,921 Speaker 3: a lot of people were wondering why she had been 294 00:19:39,921 --> 00:19:43,161 Speaker 3: silent all this, Time but it turned out according To. 295 00:19:43,161 --> 00:19:47,441 Speaker 3: Shamnique she Told The Daily, beast she suspected foul play 296 00:19:47,641 --> 00:19:51,080 Speaker 3: from the. Jump she also, said quote fuck everyone else's. 297 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:55,840 Speaker 3: FEELINGS i want answers end. Quote she, wondered just like 298 00:19:55,881 --> 00:19:59,761 Speaker 3: everyone else, did why investigators had waited so long to 299 00:19:59,840 --> 00:20:03,681 Speaker 3: tell the public about these. Homicides it's possible that they 300 00:20:03,721 --> 00:20:06,360 Speaker 3: held information back in the beginning because they were focusing 301 00:20:06,521 --> 00:20:09,120 Speaker 3: on a suspect trying to make a case against, someone 302 00:20:09,801 --> 00:20:12,321 Speaker 3: and then after several, months maybe they hit a dead. 303 00:20:12,441 --> 00:20:15,201 Speaker 3: End maybe they thought that they were going to get 304 00:20:15,241 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 3: MORE dna or other types of physical evidence from the, 305 00:20:17,921 --> 00:20:21,481 Speaker 3: pond and because the little girl's bodies had been there 306 00:20:21,521 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 3: for several, hours they weren't able. To this is all just, 307 00:20:24,881 --> 00:20:28,481 Speaker 3: speculation but the bottom line is that there had been 308 00:20:28,561 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 3: months with no, arrest months where a child killer was 309 00:20:32,641 --> 00:20:38,521 Speaker 3: on the loose and the public was totally. Unaware at 310 00:20:38,561 --> 00:20:41,880 Speaker 3: the end of the press, release the District attorney asked 311 00:20:41,961 --> 00:20:44,360 Speaker 3: anyone with new information that would help lead to an 312 00:20:44,441 --> 00:20:48,681 Speaker 3: arrest to contact The Texas. Rangers so to, me the 313 00:20:48,761 --> 00:20:51,041 Speaker 3: fact that THE da issued this press release and that 314 00:20:51,121 --> 00:20:53,640 Speaker 3: the police made a point of asking the public for 315 00:20:53,721 --> 00:20:58,201 Speaker 3: information means that somewhere there's a missing piece and they 316 00:20:58,321 --> 00:21:02,001 Speaker 3: know someone knows. Something so now that we know that 317 00:21:02,041 --> 00:21:04,201 Speaker 3: those little girls did not walk out of that house 318 00:21:04,241 --> 00:21:07,721 Speaker 3: into that pond by, themselves we know that the crime 319 00:21:07,881 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 3: could have begun somewhere, else possibly inside the. Home so 320 00:21:12,281 --> 00:21:17,041 Speaker 3: what could have happened inside that one story. House let's 321 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:19,321 Speaker 3: go back again to the night that the kids went 322 00:21:19,361 --> 00:21:23,201 Speaker 3: Missing july twenty. Ninth Shaw monique is at, work she's 323 00:21:23,321 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 3: changing a. Patient she goes to the nursing, station she 324 00:21:26,001 --> 00:21:29,161 Speaker 3: gets a call from her Cousin. Paris and Now i'm 325 00:21:29,241 --> 00:21:32,041 Speaker 3: just going to point out something else that she Told Nancy, 326 00:21:32,041 --> 00:21:35,640 Speaker 3: grace because it seemed like even at this, point she 327 00:21:35,881 --> 00:21:39,121 Speaker 3: wonders why he's just now letting her know about. This 328 00:21:40,441 --> 00:21:44,641 Speaker 3: she also wondered why he was calling her from the neighbor's, 329 00:21:44,641 --> 00:21:47,521 Speaker 3: house why he hadn't first called nine to one. One 330 00:21:48,001 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 3: On july twenty, Ninth according to the historical DATA i 331 00:21:50,641 --> 00:21:55,001 Speaker 3: found on the, internet on that date In, texarcana sunset 332 00:21:55,041 --> 00:21:58,080 Speaker 3: was at eight EIGHTEEN. Pm remember this is the middle 333 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,521 Speaker 3: of the, summer so it didn't get fully dark until 334 00:22:00,561 --> 00:22:04,801 Speaker 3: about thirty minutes after. That, still it raises red flags 335 00:22:04,801 --> 00:22:07,921 Speaker 3: for me that a babysitter in a small house didn't 336 00:22:07,961 --> 00:22:13,241 Speaker 3: notice three kids were missing until after. Dark, later a 337 00:22:13,281 --> 00:22:16,601 Speaker 3: local news station interviewed a, neighbor a woman Named Josephine. 338 00:22:16,601 --> 00:22:21,201 Speaker 3: Webster she told this local news STATION ktla that the, 339 00:22:21,281 --> 00:22:24,881 Speaker 3: guy presumably Meaning, paris who was staying In shamanique's, house 340 00:22:25,561 --> 00:22:29,721 Speaker 3: came over and asked her for her. Housephone So i'm 341 00:22:29,761 --> 00:22:32,481 Speaker 3: wondering the same thing that it sounds Like shamanique was 342 00:22:33,241 --> 00:22:35,640 Speaker 3: why did he get the neighbor to call nine one? 343 00:22:35,721 --> 00:22:38,041 Speaker 3: One did he not have a cell? Phone because the 344 00:22:38,161 --> 00:22:40,001 Speaker 3: first thing THAT i would have done IF i was 345 00:22:40,041 --> 00:22:43,681 Speaker 3: babysitting and someone's children were missing was called their mind 346 00:22:43,961 --> 00:22:47,201 Speaker 3: right that. Second by the, Way josephine said she was 347 00:22:47,321 --> 00:22:50,921 Speaker 3: driving home at around nine point thirty when she Saw. Paris, now, 348 00:22:50,921 --> 00:22:53,921 Speaker 3: Remember shamanique said she got the call a little after 349 00:22:54,001 --> 00:22:56,761 Speaker 3: nine p. M just a few minutes time. Difference but 350 00:22:56,881 --> 00:23:00,281 Speaker 3: as we, know in cases like, this those few, minutes 351 00:23:00,321 --> 00:23:04,880 Speaker 3: those tiny details can be. Crucial there are some indications 352 00:23:04,921 --> 00:23:08,001 Speaker 3: that very early on in the investigation police were asking 353 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:11,281 Speaker 3: some of the same questions That shamanique, was and that 354 00:23:11,441 --> 00:23:15,400 Speaker 3: rather than focusing on sex offenders who were passing through the, 355 00:23:15,441 --> 00:23:18,360 Speaker 3: area they might be focusing on someone much closer to. 356 00:23:18,401 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 3: Home shamanique Gave Nancy grace some more details THAT i 357 00:23:23,201 --> 00:23:26,681 Speaker 3: believe could be crucial to this. Case she said that 358 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:29,561 Speaker 3: right after the authorities told her they found her little 359 00:23:29,601 --> 00:23:34,441 Speaker 3: eight year Old amaya's, body she saw something. Else she 360 00:23:34,561 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 3: said that the divers pulled some tangled clothes out of the. Pond, 361 00:23:39,441 --> 00:23:43,120 Speaker 3: later investigators showed her photos of what they. Found she 362 00:23:43,321 --> 00:23:46,561 Speaker 3: recogniz that clothing as jackets that belonged to her. Children 363 00:23:47,601 --> 00:23:51,481 Speaker 3: but the strange thing, was according To, shamanique these jackets 364 00:23:51,641 --> 00:23:54,600 Speaker 3: were ones that her kids had. Outgrown she said they 365 00:23:54,601 --> 00:23:57,640 Speaker 3: had thrown them into the trash at. Home this again 366 00:23:57,881 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 3: raises a huge red flag because that suggests that someone, 367 00:24:01,641 --> 00:24:05,001 Speaker 3: else probably the, killer had been inside the house because 368 00:24:05,001 --> 00:24:07,200 Speaker 3: someone had to fish those jackets out of the. TRASH 369 00:24:07,681 --> 00:24:09,521 Speaker 3: i don't think that's something the little girls would have 370 00:24:09,521 --> 00:24:12,801 Speaker 3: done on their. Own shamanique said something else that was 371 00:24:12,921 --> 00:24:16,881 Speaker 3: chilling to. Me she said the jackets were quote tied 372 00:24:16,921 --> 00:24:22,161 Speaker 3: together like a rope end. Quote this is getting really, 373 00:24:22,241 --> 00:24:24,761 Speaker 3: dark but this, is unfortunately where my mind has to 374 00:24:24,801 --> 00:24:26,561 Speaker 3: go to try and figure out what happened those little. 375 00:24:26,601 --> 00:24:31,121 Speaker 3: Girls what were those jackets. For were they put there 376 00:24:31,241 --> 00:24:34,001 Speaker 3: to tie the girls, up or to tie them together 377 00:24:34,121 --> 00:24:38,081 Speaker 3: so their bodies would? Sink or did whatever bad thing 378 00:24:38,161 --> 00:24:40,801 Speaker 3: happen to them happen first in the house and then 379 00:24:40,881 --> 00:24:44,601 Speaker 3: somehow the killer dragged the bodies out to the using those. 380 00:24:44,681 --> 00:24:50,721 Speaker 3: Jackets the Cass county DA's press release referred to the 381 00:24:50,801 --> 00:24:54,360 Speaker 3: fact that the little girl's injuries were much more extensive 382 00:24:54,521 --> 00:24:59,681 Speaker 3: than had been initially. Reported local news stations had reported 383 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:02,801 Speaker 3: that the little girl's faces were bruised and that they 384 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:08,481 Speaker 3: had lacerations on their, faces deep cuts and. Bruises shamanique 385 00:25:08,521 --> 00:25:13,721 Speaker 3: Gave Nancy grace more disturbing. Details she said that investigators 386 00:25:13,761 --> 00:25:18,120 Speaker 3: had showed her photos of her daughter's. Bodies shamanique said 387 00:25:18,241 --> 00:25:21,601 Speaker 3: That tamari had what she described as a busted, lip 388 00:25:22,441 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 3: but that her nine year old had extensive injuries and 389 00:25:26,001 --> 00:25:29,241 Speaker 3: were not just talking about a few. Cuts she said that, 390 00:25:29,361 --> 00:25:32,961 Speaker 3: they presumably meaning the people who prepared her daughter for, 391 00:25:33,001 --> 00:25:37,400 Speaker 3: burial had to quote reconstruct one side of her. Face 392 00:25:38,161 --> 00:25:40,481 Speaker 3: it looked like she took a beating on one side 393 00:25:40,521 --> 00:25:44,481 Speaker 3: of her face and it pulled her skin. Off. Quote 394 00:25:47,681 --> 00:25:51,481 Speaker 3: when the investigators talked To, shamanique they also broke the 395 00:25:51,641 --> 00:25:54,961 Speaker 3: devastating news to her that they believed that all three 396 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:59,721 Speaker 3: of her girls had been. Molested, now at this, point 397 00:25:59,761 --> 00:26:02,761 Speaker 3: a lot of people wondered why it took so long 398 00:26:02,801 --> 00:26:06,761 Speaker 3: to release autopsy. Results there was some confusion, here AND 399 00:26:06,801 --> 00:26:09,880 Speaker 3: i think it's really important to differentiate between what was 400 00:26:09,921 --> 00:26:12,321 Speaker 3: being told to the family and what was being made. 401 00:26:12,401 --> 00:26:16,481 Speaker 3: Public Revolt Black News weekly has been doing a lot 402 00:26:16,521 --> 00:26:21,041 Speaker 3: of reporting on this. CASE urbn said they contacted the 403 00:26:21,080 --> 00:26:24,761 Speaker 3: Cass county DA's. Office they said that they were told 404 00:26:24,801 --> 00:26:28,281 Speaker 3: the autopsy had been, delayed but then when the press 405 00:26:28,321 --> 00:26:31,841 Speaker 3: release came, out it made it clear that authorities had 406 00:26:31,881 --> 00:26:34,521 Speaker 3: known from the beginning that homicide was the cause of, 407 00:26:34,521 --> 00:26:36,921 Speaker 3: death that they never thought this was some kind of accidental. 408 00:26:37,001 --> 00:26:41,561 Speaker 3: Drowning Rolling stone reached out to The District attorney's office 409 00:26:41,921 --> 00:26:45,281 Speaker 3: and THE. Da Courtney shelton clarified a few things for 410 00:26:45,361 --> 00:26:50,120 Speaker 3: A Rolling, stone including the. Timeline Courtney shelton said that 411 00:26:50,241 --> 00:26:53,721 Speaker 3: at least since Early august of twenty twenty, two just 412 00:26:53,761 --> 00:26:56,201 Speaker 3: a few days after the little girl's bodies were pulled 413 00:26:56,241 --> 00:26:59,961 Speaker 3: out of that, pond the DA's office had the autopsy 414 00:26:59,961 --> 00:27:02,880 Speaker 3: results and they knew this had been a. Homicide she 415 00:27:03,161 --> 00:27:06,400 Speaker 3: said that investigators had Told shamanique that it was a 416 00:27:06,401 --> 00:27:11,081 Speaker 3: homicide from the beginning. Too Courtney shelton said that On august, 417 00:27:11,121 --> 00:27:14,481 Speaker 3: Fourth Josh, mason The texas ranger in charge of the, 418 00:27:14,481 --> 00:27:18,600 Speaker 3: investigation quote met With Shamanique, oliver the mother of the, 419 00:27:18,681 --> 00:27:21,681 Speaker 3: children and her father and notified them that the deaths 420 00:27:21,681 --> 00:27:26,001 Speaker 3: of all three children were not. Accidents anne provided both 421 00:27:26,041 --> 00:27:30,001 Speaker 3: of them with details from the preliminary autopsy. Report stating 422 00:27:30,041 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 3: that the cause of death was homicide end. Quote police 423 00:27:34,921 --> 00:27:38,201 Speaker 3: got a lot of criticism after that press release because 424 00:27:38,201 --> 00:27:40,281 Speaker 3: a lot of people wondered why it took them so 425 00:27:40,481 --> 00:27:43,401 Speaker 3: long to make their manner of death public and failed 426 00:27:43,401 --> 00:27:45,840 Speaker 3: to war in the community that there was a dangerous 427 00:27:45,881 --> 00:27:49,561 Speaker 3: sexual predator and a child killer at, large and a 428 00:27:49,601 --> 00:27:52,681 Speaker 3: lot of, people Including shamanique and the Local Black panther, 429 00:27:52,761 --> 00:27:56,921 Speaker 3: chapter wondered if the investigation would have unfolded differently if 430 00:27:56,961 --> 00:28:00,961 Speaker 3: police were investigating the death of three little white. Girls 431 00:28:03,201 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 3: let's go back, Again let's look at the victim's pattern 432 00:28:06,681 --> 00:28:09,121 Speaker 3: of life and start with the last people to see 433 00:28:09,161 --> 00:28:13,121 Speaker 3: these little. Girls we cannot overlook the fact that these 434 00:28:13,241 --> 00:28:17,561 Speaker 3: children were being looked after By Paris. Props paris Was shamanique's. 435 00:28:17,561 --> 00:28:22,401 Speaker 3: Cousin her mother And paris's mother are. Sisters paris is 436 00:28:22,441 --> 00:28:26,360 Speaker 3: a male cousin in his early. Thirties shamanique said he 437 00:28:26,401 --> 00:28:28,641 Speaker 3: had been staying with her at her house and regularly 438 00:28:28,721 --> 00:28:33,321 Speaker 3: babysite the. Children. Now shamanique Told urbin she had never 439 00:28:33,361 --> 00:28:36,001 Speaker 3: had a problem With paris before when he was babysitting, 440 00:28:36,121 --> 00:28:40,321 Speaker 3: kids but she also shared something else THAT i found. 441 00:28:40,441 --> 00:28:44,761 Speaker 3: Shocking something she later repeated To Nancy. Grace she said 442 00:28:44,761 --> 00:28:47,601 Speaker 3: that her four year old daughter told her and told 443 00:28:47,641 --> 00:28:52,041 Speaker 3: police that her three sisters walked into the woods With Paris. 444 00:28:52,041 --> 00:28:56,321 Speaker 3: Props Yet shamanique said police talked To paris the day 445 00:28:56,321 --> 00:28:59,761 Speaker 3: after the girls went missing and never questioned him. Again 446 00:29:00,441 --> 00:29:03,401 Speaker 3: Now i'm just being logical. Here i'm not trying to imply. 447 00:29:03,481 --> 00:29:07,681 Speaker 3: Anything i'm literally just following the investigation's logical. Threat we 448 00:29:07,841 --> 00:29:12,521 Speaker 3: know that investigators Told shamanique that they believed her daughters 449 00:29:12,521 --> 00:29:15,401 Speaker 3: had been, molested and we know that children are much 450 00:29:15,441 --> 00:29:17,921 Speaker 3: more likely to be molested by someone they know or 451 00:29:17,921 --> 00:29:22,601 Speaker 3: by relative than a. Stranger so any, male whether they 452 00:29:22,601 --> 00:29:25,081 Speaker 3: were relative or, not any male who was staying in 453 00:29:25,161 --> 00:29:28,681 Speaker 3: that home with those children would need to be closely 454 00:29:28,721 --> 00:29:32,361 Speaker 3: looked at by law. Enforcement so let's take a closer 455 00:29:32,441 --> 00:29:35,761 Speaker 3: look At Paris props because there's been very little said about. 456 00:29:35,801 --> 00:29:39,401 Speaker 3: Him most news reports don't mention his. Name there weren't 457 00:29:39,441 --> 00:29:42,121 Speaker 3: any other males there that. Night we don't know a 458 00:29:42,161 --> 00:29:46,281 Speaker 3: lot about the children's, fathers But shamanique has said that 459 00:29:46,401 --> 00:29:49,161 Speaker 3: she was a single mom and that the children's fathers 460 00:29:49,201 --> 00:29:52,561 Speaker 3: had no contact with her or with their. CHILDREN i 461 00:29:52,721 --> 00:29:57,001 Speaker 3: don't know If chamanique was ever suspicious of her Cousin, 462 00:29:57,121 --> 00:30:01,881 Speaker 3: paris but it definitely seems like by what she said. 463 00:30:01,921 --> 00:30:05,041 Speaker 3: Publicly once The Texas rangers talked to her and her, 464 00:30:05,041 --> 00:30:07,641 Speaker 3: father once they laid out the case for her in Early, 465 00:30:07,641 --> 00:30:13,481 Speaker 3: august it seems clear that something changed her. Mind we 466 00:30:13,521 --> 00:30:16,361 Speaker 3: don't know exactly what the rangers told, her but we 467 00:30:16,481 --> 00:30:20,241 Speaker 3: do know that after they Told chamanique what they believed 468 00:30:20,441 --> 00:30:22,841 Speaker 3: was going, on she tried to run out the. Door 469 00:30:23,601 --> 00:30:26,081 Speaker 3: she said she remembers thinking she was going to go 470 00:30:26,121 --> 00:30:30,681 Speaker 3: out and hurt her, cousin Meaning. Paris shamanique also had 471 00:30:30,721 --> 00:30:34,001 Speaker 3: said something else that's. Crucial she Said paris has not 472 00:30:34,081 --> 00:30:37,681 Speaker 3: been cooperative with the. Investigation she Said paris has not 473 00:30:37,721 --> 00:30:40,281 Speaker 3: talked to her about, it and that he moved out 474 00:30:40,281 --> 00:30:42,041 Speaker 3: of her house and went to live with his, Mom. 475 00:30:42,521 --> 00:30:45,961 Speaker 3: Lemisha she said he won't talk to her and he 476 00:30:46,001 --> 00:30:50,081 Speaker 3: won't talk to the. Police Neither paris nor his mother 477 00:30:50,481 --> 00:30:53,521 Speaker 3: have spoken publicly about, this but if you look through 478 00:30:53,521 --> 00:30:56,921 Speaker 3: his mother's social, media it's obvious that she and her 479 00:30:56,961 --> 00:31:00,321 Speaker 3: son have had issues before with law. Enforcement back in 480 00:31:00,361 --> 00:31:04,801 Speaker 3: twenty twenty, One Lemisha paris's mom was posting comments On 481 00:31:04,841 --> 00:31:07,881 Speaker 3: facebook that are public, comments and she was talking about 482 00:31:07,881 --> 00:31:11,041 Speaker 3: an incident in which she referred To paris having an 483 00:31:11,081 --> 00:31:14,081 Speaker 3: altercation with the police and getting his teeth knocked. Out 484 00:31:14,481 --> 00:31:18,601 Speaker 3: his mom said they meaning the police Hid paris in another, 485 00:31:18,641 --> 00:31:22,201 Speaker 3: county and she talks about wanting to file a lawsuit against. 486 00:31:22,201 --> 00:31:27,841 Speaker 3: Police my, source the person who called into this podcast 487 00:31:27,841 --> 00:31:30,681 Speaker 3: to tell me about the, case said that he believed 488 00:31:30,761 --> 00:31:33,881 Speaker 3: That paris had filed a lawsuit against. Police But i've 489 00:31:33,921 --> 00:31:36,241 Speaker 3: been looking through court records AND i haven't found any 490 00:31:36,281 --> 00:31:38,361 Speaker 3: record of, that SO i don't know if the suit 491 00:31:38,441 --> 00:31:40,601 Speaker 3: was ever filed or if it's something they thought about. 492 00:31:40,641 --> 00:31:43,721 Speaker 3: Doing his mom's comments just seemed to indicate they were 493 00:31:43,841 --> 00:31:46,521 Speaker 3: looking for a, lawyer but they hadn't found one. Yet 494 00:31:47,601 --> 00:31:51,881 Speaker 3: shamanique said that Since paris me back with his, mother 495 00:31:52,681 --> 00:31:56,081 Speaker 3: that his mother and he are both actively trying to 496 00:31:56,161 --> 00:32:00,521 Speaker 3: keep a police away and they are not. Talking paris 497 00:32:00,561 --> 00:32:03,721 Speaker 3: does have a criminal. RECORD i found some gun charges 498 00:32:03,761 --> 00:32:06,801 Speaker 3: and drug. Charges they were mainly for small amounts of, 499 00:32:06,841 --> 00:32:10,361 Speaker 3: marijuana meaning less than two, Ounces and of COURSE i 500 00:32:10,441 --> 00:32:13,641 Speaker 3: must point out none of these things indicate that he's a. Murderer, 501 00:32:14,281 --> 00:32:18,561 Speaker 3: obviously everyone is innocent until proven. Guilty i'm just trying 502 00:32:18,601 --> 00:32:22,201 Speaker 3: to Understand paris and the family dynamics since there's been 503 00:32:22,241 --> 00:32:25,641 Speaker 3: so little reporting out there about. It paris did have 504 00:32:25,721 --> 00:32:30,241 Speaker 3: a brother Named Kevin, shepherd And Kevin shepherd is a convicted. Killer, 505 00:32:31,161 --> 00:32:33,281 Speaker 3: Again i'm not going to go too far into the 506 00:32:33,321 --> 00:32:36,841 Speaker 3: details On kevin's, case, because of, course anyone's family members 507 00:32:36,921 --> 00:32:40,601 Speaker 3: crimes are not a reflection of. Them it's a completely separate. 508 00:32:40,601 --> 00:32:45,641 Speaker 3: Issue BUT i think it's important because it might explain 509 00:32:46,561 --> 00:32:48,561 Speaker 3: a Why paris might not want to talk to the 510 00:32:48,561 --> 00:32:51,921 Speaker 3: police and beat some of his Mother lasha's comments on 511 00:32:51,921 --> 00:32:56,641 Speaker 3: social media and her general attitude towards law. Enforcement in 512 00:32:56,641 --> 00:33:01,441 Speaker 3: twenty twenty, Two parris's, Brother Kevin, shepherd got life in 513 00:33:01,521 --> 00:33:05,121 Speaker 3: prison for Killing Donny coombs And Cynthia, arnold a couple 514 00:33:05,161 --> 00:33:09,481 Speaker 3: who went missing In september of twenty. Eighteen cynthia was 515 00:33:09,521 --> 00:33:12,201 Speaker 3: a mother, who at the age of, forty had a 516 00:33:12,281 --> 00:33:14,361 Speaker 3: run of bad. Luck she lost her, job she got a, 517 00:33:14,401 --> 00:33:18,401 Speaker 3: divorce and she started getting into. Methamphetamines that's when she 518 00:33:18,401 --> 00:33:21,841 Speaker 3: met her Boyfriend Donnie, coombs he was also into. Drugs 519 00:33:22,481 --> 00:33:26,281 Speaker 3: In september of twenty, eighteen A sheriff's office investigator in 520 00:33:26,281 --> 00:33:29,641 Speaker 3: a neighboring. County Marion county said that she responded to 521 00:33:29,681 --> 00:33:32,041 Speaker 3: a call and found a burning red truck on a 522 00:33:32,081 --> 00:33:35,241 Speaker 3: remote county. Road by the time the flames had been, 523 00:33:35,241 --> 00:33:39,081 Speaker 3: extinguished that fire had burned so hot the truck rims 524 00:33:39,201 --> 00:33:42,881 Speaker 3: had melted to the. Road that truck belonged To Kevin. 525 00:33:42,881 --> 00:33:46,561 Speaker 3: Shepherd inside the, truck police found the bodies Of donnie And. 526 00:33:46,561 --> 00:33:52,321 Speaker 3: Cynthia when this first, happened it seemed like the police 527 00:33:52,761 --> 00:33:56,281 Speaker 3: had suspicions That kevin might have been, involved but they 528 00:33:56,281 --> 00:33:59,481 Speaker 3: didn't have enough evidence until an eyewitness came forward in twenty. 529 00:33:59,601 --> 00:34:02,881 Speaker 3: Nineteen this witness said she was hanging out With kevin 530 00:34:02,921 --> 00:34:06,121 Speaker 3: in Late september of twenty. Eighteen she Said kevin took 531 00:34:06,161 --> 00:34:09,000 Speaker 3: her to an area with no running water or. Electricity 532 00:34:09,761 --> 00:34:14,001 Speaker 3: donnie And cynthia were there, too and this person said 533 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:17,241 Speaker 3: that all of them were doing. Drugs, then she said 534 00:34:17,401 --> 00:34:22,080 Speaker 3: she was horrified When kevin basically said watch. This, then 535 00:34:22,201 --> 00:34:26,040 Speaker 3: according to this, Witness kevin shot both victims in the 536 00:34:26,080 --> 00:34:29,921 Speaker 3: head and then dragged their bodies to a fire pit 537 00:34:30,121 --> 00:34:34,000 Speaker 3: and burned. Them THE fbi and local law enforcement went 538 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:36,921 Speaker 3: to that. Location they checked the fire pit and they 539 00:34:36,921 --> 00:34:40,801 Speaker 3: found traces of human. Bone kevin got life without the 540 00:34:40,841 --> 00:34:44,440 Speaker 3: possibility of. Parole he's currently behind ball serving out a, 541 00:34:44,520 --> 00:34:48,721 Speaker 3: sentence and prosecutors said the motive in that case was 542 00:34:48,921 --> 00:34:52,281 Speaker 3: the fact That, donnie one of the, victims was supposedly 543 00:34:52,321 --> 00:34:55,200 Speaker 3: going to testify Against kevin's, uncle a man Named Gary, 544 00:34:55,241 --> 00:34:59,041 Speaker 3: shepherd in a felony theft. Case gary is also facing, 545 00:34:59,121 --> 00:35:03,080 Speaker 3: charges but his trial has not started. Yet according TO, 546 00:35:03,481 --> 00:35:08,481 Speaker 3: ksla When, Lemisha paris's mother was asked about the jury's, 547 00:35:08,481 --> 00:35:12,000 Speaker 3: decision she, said, QUOTE i kind of figured it was 548 00:35:12,041 --> 00:35:14,121 Speaker 3: going to go this way because we live In Cass 549 00:35:14,161 --> 00:35:19,321 Speaker 3: county and that's how they. Operate end. Quote lemisha said 550 00:35:19,321 --> 00:35:22,960 Speaker 3: that the family planned to appeal the jury's. Verdict i've 551 00:35:23,041 --> 00:35:28,321 Speaker 3: not spoken To lemisha or To, paris and obviously anyone 552 00:35:28,761 --> 00:35:31,321 Speaker 3: has the right to not speak to police without an. 553 00:35:31,321 --> 00:35:34,000 Speaker 3: Attorney in, fact that's WHAT i would advise most people to. 554 00:35:34,041 --> 00:35:37,761 Speaker 3: Do BUT i can say that it's a red flag 555 00:35:37,801 --> 00:35:41,281 Speaker 3: to me That lemisha seems to put all the blame 556 00:35:41,361 --> 00:35:45,161 Speaker 3: on law. ENFORCEMENT i WAS i was looking through criminal 557 00:35:45,201 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 3: records AND i found something else THAT i thought was 558 00:35:47,481 --> 00:35:51,921 Speaker 3: interesting In paris's criminal. Record in another, case he pleaded 559 00:35:51,921 --> 00:35:55,161 Speaker 3: guilty to possession of a dangerous drug Called gaba. Pinton 560 00:35:55,960 --> 00:35:59,321 Speaker 3: it's an anti epilepsy, drug but it's a drug that 561 00:35:59,481 --> 00:36:02,480 Speaker 3: has been used in some cases as a date rape. 562 00:36:02,521 --> 00:36:06,001 Speaker 3: Drug so obviously my mind goes back to that dark, 563 00:36:06,041 --> 00:36:08,641 Speaker 3: place back to that, house and to the dark things 564 00:36:08,641 --> 00:36:11,641 Speaker 3: that could have happened. There if the house was the 565 00:36:11,681 --> 00:36:14,000 Speaker 3: real crime scene and the bike was put by the 566 00:36:14,041 --> 00:36:17,881 Speaker 3: pond to stage, something then we have to ask. Ourselves 567 00:36:18,681 --> 00:36:20,841 Speaker 3: could the killer have tried to put the girls to? 568 00:36:20,881 --> 00:36:24,361 Speaker 3: Sleep was one of them more badly injured than the 569 00:36:24,361 --> 00:36:30,001 Speaker 3: others because she tried to wake up and. Intervene Remember, 570 00:36:30,121 --> 00:36:33,121 Speaker 3: josephine the neighbor who the local news station talked to 571 00:36:34,041 --> 00:36:37,681 Speaker 3: the reporter who interviewed. Her Rating edwards really seemed to 572 00:36:37,721 --> 00:36:41,921 Speaker 3: care deeply about this. Case rating, said, QUOTE i would 573 00:36:41,960 --> 00:36:44,361 Speaker 3: like to see it come to an. End needs to 574 00:36:44,401 --> 00:36:47,801 Speaker 3: go to jail for this. End. Quote we see this 575 00:36:47,960 --> 00:36:51,641 Speaker 3: story over and. Over the news organization contacts law, enforcement 576 00:36:51,721 --> 00:36:54,561 Speaker 3: they ask for a. Comment law enforcement, says we're not 577 00:36:54,561 --> 00:36:57,841 Speaker 3: giving out any, details and often the news reports stopped. 578 00:36:57,841 --> 00:37:00,921 Speaker 3: There but in this, case the reporters did a good. 579 00:37:00,960 --> 00:37:03,401 Speaker 3: Thing they went that extra. Step they drove out to 580 00:37:03,440 --> 00:37:06,921 Speaker 3: that area and they obviously started canvassing and knocking on. 581 00:37:07,001 --> 00:37:12,801 Speaker 3: Doors that's When raydin Interviewed, josephine the. Neighbor josephine confirmed 582 00:37:12,921 --> 00:37:16,321 Speaker 3: what had already been reported on the. News she talked 583 00:37:16,321 --> 00:37:20,001 Speaker 3: About paris coming to her house using her phone and Calling. 584 00:37:20,081 --> 00:37:25,721 Speaker 3: Shamanie but then she added another crucial, detail one that 585 00:37:25,801 --> 00:37:29,921 Speaker 3: threw a lot more shade On paris. Props josephine told 586 00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:33,361 Speaker 3: the news channel, quote he was, wet AND i noticed 587 00:37:33,361 --> 00:37:36,401 Speaker 3: that it looked like all the way, down not, sweat 588 00:37:36,921 --> 00:37:42,960 Speaker 3: it looked like. Water end. Quote so, THIS i have to, 589 00:37:42,960 --> 00:37:46,561 Speaker 3: say blows. Me the sours who have been talking to 590 00:37:46,641 --> 00:37:49,321 Speaker 3: about the, case the one who called the podcast says 591 00:37:49,321 --> 00:37:51,560 Speaker 3: That shamanique is wondering the same thing that a lot 592 00:37:51,641 --> 00:37:55,761 Speaker 3: of people. Are why Hasn't paris been questioned more thoroughly 593 00:37:55,801 --> 00:38:01,000 Speaker 3: and why hasn't there been an. Arrest paris's mother has 594 00:38:01,081 --> 00:38:04,761 Speaker 3: posted something else that's interesting on social. Media she put 595 00:38:04,801 --> 00:38:08,561 Speaker 3: a photo of a warrant the police had Compelling paris 596 00:38:08,561 --> 00:38:11,241 Speaker 3: to give HIS dna to law enforcement and allowing them 597 00:38:11,281 --> 00:38:16,321 Speaker 3: to use force to get THE dna if. NECESSARY i 598 00:38:16,321 --> 00:38:18,481 Speaker 3: would love to know what happened with that, warrant because 599 00:38:18,561 --> 00:38:21,761 Speaker 3: my source says they believe that the search warrant was never, 600 00:38:21,841 --> 00:38:25,401 Speaker 3: executed But paris's mother claimed in her post That paris 601 00:38:25,481 --> 00:38:30,120 Speaker 3: has voluntarily given HIS. Dna so if the authorities were 602 00:38:30,161 --> 00:38:32,681 Speaker 3: able to do, testing and if they Have PARIS'S, dna 603 00:38:33,481 --> 00:38:37,601 Speaker 3: why haven't they ruled anyone in or. Out OBVIOUSLY i 604 00:38:37,601 --> 00:38:39,641 Speaker 3: don't have access to the case, file but there could 605 00:38:39,641 --> 00:38:43,040 Speaker 3: be a few reasons. Why one thought again is that 606 00:38:43,041 --> 00:38:45,361 Speaker 3: because the girl's bodies were in the water for several, 607 00:38:45,361 --> 00:38:49,520 Speaker 3: hours THE dna may have. Degraded maybe police didn't have 608 00:38:49,601 --> 00:38:51,641 Speaker 3: quite enough for an arrest and they needed to push 609 00:38:51,641 --> 00:38:56,080 Speaker 3: for a. Confession But paris and the people around him 610 00:38:56,121 --> 00:39:00,600 Speaker 3: are not. Talking The Daily beast Asked Da shelton About. 611 00:39:00,681 --> 00:39:03,801 Speaker 3: Paris she said that he had been questioned and that, 612 00:39:03,881 --> 00:39:06,321 Speaker 3: quote he was the last person known to be with 613 00:39:06,361 --> 00:39:09,921 Speaker 3: the children prior to their. Deaths, however all possible leads 614 00:39:09,960 --> 00:39:15,520 Speaker 3: are being followed end. Quote The New Black panthers Leader 615 00:39:15,601 --> 00:39:20,201 Speaker 3: Kwan lex Told Rolling, stone, quote we do believe that 616 00:39:20,241 --> 00:39:24,161 Speaker 3: the route is. Racism if these were three, beautiful, little blonde, 617 00:39:24,201 --> 00:39:27,441 Speaker 3: haired blue, eyed white children from a suburban community In Cass, 618 00:39:27,440 --> 00:39:32,201 Speaker 3: county they would have handled this entire investigation completely different end. 619 00:39:32,281 --> 00:39:37,441 Speaker 3: Quote whatever has happened up to. Now in my, opinion 620 00:39:37,481 --> 00:39:41,201 Speaker 3: the focus should be on what happens next Because shamanique's 621 00:39:41,201 --> 00:39:44,601 Speaker 3: neighbors and everyone else In Cass county is right. Terrified 622 00:39:45,041 --> 00:39:48,081 Speaker 3: there could be a sexual predator and child serial killer 623 00:39:48,601 --> 00:39:54,321 Speaker 3: hiding and playing. Sight someone out there knows. Something The Texas, 624 00:39:54,440 --> 00:39:57,521 Speaker 3: rangers The Cass County Sheriff's, office and The Cass County 625 00:39:57,521 --> 00:40:00,801 Speaker 3: District Attorney's office are asking for any new information that 626 00:40:00,841 --> 00:40:03,881 Speaker 3: would lead to an interest in this. Case if you know, 627 00:40:04,001 --> 00:40:07,041 Speaker 3: something if you have any, detail no matter how, small 628 00:40:07,401 --> 00:40:10,361 Speaker 3: that could help this mother learn what happened to her three, 629 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:14,881 Speaker 3: children please Call Texas Ranger Josh. Mason at NINE o 630 00:40:15,041 --> 00:40:19,600 Speaker 3: three two five five five seven two, Seven shamanique told 631 00:40:19,601 --> 00:40:23,241 Speaker 3: The Daily beast, quote ALL i want is justice for my. 632 00:40:23,321 --> 00:40:34,881 Speaker 3: Babies end. Quote Helen Gone Murder line is a production 633 00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:38,401 Speaker 3: Of School humans And iHeart. Podcasts it's written and narrated 634 00:40:38,440 --> 00:40:42,281 Speaker 3: by Me Catherine townsend and produced By Gabby. Watts music 635 00:40:42,321 --> 00:40:45,520 Speaker 3: contributed By Ben sale and this episode was scored and 636 00:40:45,641 --> 00:40:50,601 Speaker 3: mixed By Miranda. Hawkins executive producers Are Virginia, Prescott Brandon, 637 00:40:50,641 --> 00:40:53,640 Speaker 3: barr AND Lc. Crowley if you have a case you'd 638 00:40:53,681 --> 00:40:55,761 Speaker 3: like me and my team to look. Into you can 639 00:40:55,801 --> 00:40:57,681 Speaker 3: reach out to us at Our hell And Gone murder 640 00:40:57,721 --> 00:41:01,401 Speaker 3: line at six seven eight seven four four sixty one four. 641 00:41:01,561 --> 00:41:05,281 Speaker 3: Five that's six seven eight seven four four six' one. 642 00:41:05,361 --> 00:41:09,841 Speaker 3: Four five please subscribe and leave us a review wherever 643 00:41:09,921 --> 00:41:11,081 Speaker 3: you listen to, Your podcast 644 00:41:17,601 --> 00:41:18,521 Speaker 1: School of humans