WEBVTT - Hell and Gone Murder Line: Christina Pipkin Part 4 (Archive Episode) 0:00:46.480 --> 0:00:51.921 School of Humans. Helen Got Murder Line actively investigates cold 0:00:52.040 --> 0:00:55.361 case murders in an effort to raise public awareness invite 0:00:55.401 --> 0:00:58.761 witnesses to come forward and present evidence that could potentially 0:00:58.840 --> 0:01:02.961 be further investigated by law enforcement. While we value insights 0:01:03.001 --> 0:01:06.160 from family and community members, their statements should not be 0:01:06.200 --> 0:01:09.961 considered evidence and point to the challenges of verifying facts 0:01:10.041 --> 0:01:14.041 inherent in cold cases. We remind listeners that everyone has 0:01:14.080 --> 0:01:17.160 presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 0:01:17.961 --> 0:01:20.840 Nothing in the podcast is intended to state or imply 0:01:21.041 --> 0:01:23.601 that anyone who has not been convicted of a crime 0:01:24.121 --> 0:01:27.121 is guilty of any wrongdoing. Thanks for listening. 0:01:30.001 --> 0:01:32.520 As a lot of you probably already know. While I've 0:01:32.520 --> 0:01:35.680 been working on the Christina Pipkin case, I've also been 0:01:35.721 --> 0:01:40.481 exploring other unsolved deaths in Arkansas. Right now, I'm looking 0:01:40.520 --> 0:01:44.121 at an article from the Commercial Appeal newspaper came out 0:01:44.161 --> 0:01:48.001 on Thursday, June third, nineteen ninety three. The title of 0:01:48.041 --> 0:01:51.761 the article is Authorities wonder if six kids deaths in 0:01:51.800 --> 0:01:55.961 East Arkansas are related. Those children in the article referred 0:01:55.960 --> 0:01:59.281 to were Christina Pipkin, who, as we know, went missing 0:01:59.281 --> 0:02:02.561 in May of nineteen ninety one. And also Steve Branch, 0:02:02.680 --> 0:02:05.801 Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers, the three eight year old 0:02:05.800 --> 0:02:08.441 boys who were murdered in West Memphis in nineteen ninety three. 0:02:09.641 --> 0:02:14.321 It also includes sixteen year old Guardinia Cross and thirteen 0:02:14.361 --> 0:02:19.400 year old Geneva Smith. Guardina and Geneva's bodies were found 0:02:19.441 --> 0:02:22.801 near Wynn, Arkansas, just a few miles from Hickory Ridge. 0:02:24.041 --> 0:02:27.201 To be honest, I haven't seen any obvious connections between 0:02:27.201 --> 0:02:30.561 these children in East Arkansas. As we said before, these 0:02:30.641 --> 0:02:34.121 children were different ages, some were different races, and they 0:02:34.161 --> 0:02:38.641 had very different life circumstances. The boys in West Memphis 0:02:38.641 --> 0:02:43.121 and Guardinia Cross had been brutalized, while in Christina's case 0:02:43.240 --> 0:02:45.761 there didn't it appear to be any outward signs of violence. 0:02:46.561 --> 0:02:50.041 So just on the surface, it does not seem like 0:02:50.121 --> 0:02:52.161 this was the work of a single serial killer. 0:02:53.001 --> 0:02:56.761 But there are a lot of weird coincidences in these cases. 0:02:57.321 --> 0:03:00.761 In fact, in three of the four cases, suspects were 0:03:00.841 --> 0:03:05.281 arrested but ultimately released. All of these children were found 0:03:05.321 --> 0:03:08.441 in or near bodies of water, and all of them 0:03:08.601 --> 0:03:09.761 are unsolved. 0:03:11.841 --> 0:03:12.961 I'm Catherine Townsend. 0:03:13.481 --> 0:03:16.681 Over the past five years of making my true crime podcast, 0:03:16.721 --> 0:03:19.560 Helen Gone. I've learned that there is no such thing 0:03:19.681 --> 0:03:23.401 as a small town where murder never happens. I've received 0:03:23.521 --> 0:03:26.841 hundreds of messages from people all around the country asking 0:03:26.881 --> 0:03:30.441 for help with an unsolved murder that's affected them, their families, 0:03:30.481 --> 0:03:31.481 and their communities. 0:03:32.081 --> 0:03:33.361 If you have a case. 0:03:33.121 --> 0:03:35.441 You'd like me and my team to look into, you 0:03:35.481 --> 0:03:37.241 can reach out to us at our Hell and Gone 0:03:37.321 --> 0:03:40.721 Murder line at six seven eight seven four four six' 0:03:40.881 --> 0:03:44.641 one four. Five that's six seven eight seven four four 0:03:45.041 --> 0:03:49.041 six one four or. Five this Is Helen Gone Murder. 0:03:49.081 --> 0:04:36.401 Line i'm making my way through all these freedom of 0:04:36.481 --> 0:04:40.121 information Requests i've done over the past few. Weeks, obviously 0:04:40.200 --> 0:04:43.001 we Have Christina pipkins case, file though there do appear 0:04:43.041 --> 0:04:46.241 to be some doctor Kim it's, missing including crime scene. 0:04:46.281 --> 0:04:50.320 Photos The Arkansas State police told me they believe The 0:04:50.401 --> 0:04:53.361 Genevas smith case is still, open so they were not 0:04:53.521 --> 0:04:55.961 able to provide me with any information from that case. 0:04:56.001 --> 0:05:01.001 File and they weren't able to Find Guardina cross's case at. 0:05:01.001 --> 0:05:03.521 All they said they had no record of it at 0:05:03.521 --> 0:05:06.801 The Arkansas State. Police, now this could just mean that 0:05:06.841 --> 0:05:09.361 this case file is with the. COUNTY i filed a 0:05:09.401 --> 0:05:11.161 request In Cross county And. 0:05:11.041 --> 0:05:11.961 I'll let you all know what. 0:05:12.001 --> 0:05:16.241 Happens but even though the circumstances of all these children's 0:05:16.241 --> 0:05:19.400 deaths were so, DIFFERENT i want to take a look 0:05:19.481 --> 0:05:22.841 at some of the seemingly odd similarities. 0:05:23.881 --> 0:05:25.001 In Christina pipkins. 0:05:25.001 --> 0:05:29.320 Case remembered there was a, Suspect Robbie. Tubbs he was 0:05:29.441 --> 0:05:33.001 arrested years later in nineteen ninety, nine and then he 0:05:33.121 --> 0:05:36.361 was later released due to some pretty catastrophic mistakes with 0:05:36.441 --> 0:05:42.481 the hair fiber evidence that was. Found in nineteen ninety. 0:05:42.521 --> 0:05:46.320 Two Geneva's smith was thirteen years. Old she left home 0:05:46.361 --> 0:05:48.241 to get on the school, bus and she never came. 0:05:48.281 --> 0:05:51.801 BACK a few days, later her body was found floating 0:05:51.801 --> 0:05:55.681 in The Saint Francis. River her remains were badly, decomposed 0:05:55.841 --> 0:05:59.161 so much that it was hard to identify. HER i 0:05:59.281 --> 0:06:01.921 was struck by the fact that there is very little 0:06:01.961 --> 0:06:05.681 About Geneva smith's murder out. There the theories about who 0:06:05.761 --> 0:06:09.001 killed her if you look on online, forums ranged from 0:06:09.001 --> 0:06:11.601 a serial killer to THE kkk to a member of 0:06:11.641 --> 0:06:14.801 her extended. Family, basically it's a mixed bag and no 0:06:14.841 --> 0:06:18.761 one seems to have any real. Answers there was an 0:06:18.841 --> 0:06:22.561 arrest In geneva's, case but like In Christina pipkins, case 0:06:22.961 --> 0:06:24.161 the arrest came years. 0:06:24.241 --> 0:06:26.961 Later In november of nineteen ninety. 0:06:27.041 --> 0:06:29.400 Nine the same year when police were building a case 0:06:29.441 --> 0:06:34.121 Against Robbie tubbs For Christina pipkins, murder two men Named 0:06:34.201 --> 0:06:37.640 Johnny key And Freddie jones were arrested and charged With 0:06:37.681 --> 0:06:41.640 Geneva smith's. Murder police did not say much at the, 0:06:41.681 --> 0:06:44.880 time but apparently the case depended on the cooperation of 0:06:44.921 --> 0:06:49.441 a key. WITNESS i found this from a local newspaper 0:06:49.441 --> 0:06:52.880 back in the. Day it, read Quote Freddy, jones twenty 0:06:52.881 --> 0:06:55.841 six Of earl And Johnny, key thirty six Of parkin 0:06:56.361 --> 0:06:59.321 appeared Before Judge RICHARD. L proctor On monday and were 0:06:59.321 --> 0:07:02.561 bound over To Cross County Circuit court to stand trial 0:07:02.721 --> 0:07:06.081 on one count of capital. Murder the article goes on 0:07:06.161 --> 0:07:10.281 to Say Sheriff Ronnie baldwin Said rinne page twenty two 0:07:10.441 --> 0:07:13.361 of when was also arranged on a charge of hindering 0:07:13.401 --> 0:07:15.961 apprehension of a suspect in connection with The smith. 0:07:16.001 --> 0:07:17.601 Case she was. 0:07:17.561 --> 0:07:20.641 Being held in The Cross county Jail monday on unrelated 0:07:20.721 --> 0:07:23.281 charges when she was arrested in connection with the. 0:07:23.361 --> 0:07:24.121 Murder end. 0:07:24.201 --> 0:07:30.081 Quote so the newspaper brings up two male suspects and 0:07:30.121 --> 0:07:33.041 one female who they believe were involved In Geneva smith's. 0:07:33.081 --> 0:07:37.641 Murder the newspaper also talked to the, sheriff and the 0:07:37.801 --> 0:07:41.281 article mentioned that the sheriff said that he had worked 0:07:41.281 --> 0:07:45.001 with The Arkansas State police Investigator dale One. Arnold remember 0:07:45.081 --> 0:07:48.761 that's the same investigator who also worked On Christina pipkin's. 0:07:48.801 --> 0:07:51.601 Case the sheriff said that he And. 0:07:51.601 --> 0:07:54.721 Dale arnold felt they finally had enough information to make 0:07:54.801 --> 0:07:58.881 some arrest and the article said that all three of these, 0:07:58.921 --> 0:08:03.001 Suspects Johnny, Key Freddie, jones And Irene, page had all 0:08:03.041 --> 0:08:05.561 been interviewed by police back in nineteen ninety two When 0:08:05.601 --> 0:08:11.041 Geneva smith originally went. Missing police seemed fairly confident that 0:08:11.081 --> 0:08:15.361 they had a, case but then something. Happened apparently their 0:08:15.441 --> 0:08:19.241 key witness had a change of. Heart the, Sheriff Ronnie, 0:08:19.241 --> 0:08:23.801 baldwin later confirmed. This he told the newspaper the case 0:08:23.841 --> 0:08:29.761 had fallen apart when that witness backed. Out So i'm 0:08:29.801 --> 0:08:33.361 wondering about the woman who was. Arrested if she was 0:08:33.401 --> 0:08:35.881 the witness and was twenty two years old in nineteen ninety, 0:08:35.961 --> 0:08:38.481 nine that would mean that she would have been around 0:08:38.521 --> 0:08:41.121 sixteen years, old just three years older. 0:08:40.961 --> 0:08:43.040 Than geneva back When geneva was. 0:08:43.121 --> 0:08:47.121 Killed so Now i'm wondering who was this, woman what 0:08:47.280 --> 0:08:50.920 was her connection To Geneva? Smith and it's been years 0:08:51.001 --> 0:08:54.361 since these suspects were questioned and later. Released is law 0:08:54.401 --> 0:08:57.481 enforcement planning on building that case any? Further have they 0:08:57.521 --> 0:09:00.961 developed any new, suspects do they have any new leads at? 0:09:00.961 --> 0:09:03.761 All and if, not would they consider turning over this 0:09:03.841 --> 0:09:06.441 case file and making it public like they have With 0:09:06.521 --> 0:09:10.401 Christina pipkins's. CASE i am not sure what the decision 0:09:10.481 --> 0:09:13.800 will be In Geneva smith's. CASE i do Know arkansas 0:09:13.841 --> 0:09:17.441 has made new rules to classify cases as officially cold 0:09:17.681 --> 0:09:19.601 when they've been unsolved for two years or. 0:09:19.601 --> 0:09:22.521 More maybe they will release part of the case. 0:09:22.561 --> 0:09:25.881 FILE i do hope they'll consider it because In christina's 0:09:25.921 --> 0:09:26.920 case it has. 0:09:27.001 --> 0:09:29.041 Helped i've only been. 0:09:28.921 --> 0:09:31.001 Working on this case for a few, weeks and even 0:09:31.041 --> 0:09:34.561 though it has been almost thirty years Since Christina pipkin 0:09:34.641 --> 0:09:37.241 went missing and her body was, Found we've been able 0:09:37.280 --> 0:09:40.241 to find a lot of people who've never been interviewed 0:09:40.241 --> 0:09:42.761 by the. Police we've also gotten a lot of names 0:09:42.801 --> 0:09:44.521 out of the case file and we were able to 0:09:44.601 --> 0:09:45.241 find a lot of. 0:09:45.280 --> 0:09:48.801 Them as a result of, that we are filling in the. 0:09:48.801 --> 0:09:51.441 BLANKS i would love to be able to do the 0:09:51.481 --> 0:09:52.841 same thing For Geneva smith's. 0:09:52.881 --> 0:09:54.960 Case so if. 0:09:54.721 --> 0:09:58.601 Someone out there knows someone who Knew Geneva, smith anyone 0:09:58.641 --> 0:10:01.761 in her, family her, friends or anyone who saw, ANYTHING 0:10:02.041 --> 0:10:05.881 i would love to hear from these. PEOPLE i did 0:10:05.921 --> 0:10:08.841 some very preliminary online sleuthing to try and find the 0:10:08.881 --> 0:10:11.721 people who were charged With geneva's murder and what happened to. 0:10:11.761 --> 0:10:16.361 THEM i Found Freddie. Jones it wasn't too hard because 0:10:16.401 --> 0:10:20.280 he's now in. Prison Freddie jones has a fairly long criminal, 0:10:20.321 --> 0:10:25.280 record according to court. Records in twenty, seventeen he was 0:10:25.361 --> 0:10:28.721 sentenced to forty years for aggravated robbery of A valero 0:10:28.881 --> 0:10:32.561 gas station In. Fayetful he also got an additional five 0:10:32.641 --> 0:10:35.041 years for carrying a firearm because he was a. Felon 0:10:36.280 --> 0:10:39.321 according to court, documents this length of, sentence which does 0:10:39.321 --> 0:10:42.321 seem very, long was due to his status as an habitual. 0:10:42.361 --> 0:10:48.561 Offender so let's go back to the newspaper article for a. 0:10:48.561 --> 0:10:50.481 Minute the ONE i talked about at the top of the, 0:10:50.481 --> 0:10:54.001 episode the one that talked about potential connections in these 0:10:54.081 --> 0:10:59.761 child death. Cases the Reporter Rob johnson talked about sixteen 0:10:59.841 --> 0:11:03.001 year Old Guardina, cross who was murdered in nineteen ninety. 0:11:03.041 --> 0:11:07.121 Two guardina was sixteen years old and in tenth grade 0:11:07.161 --> 0:11:10.481 At Wynn High school On october fourteenth in nineteen ninety, 0:11:10.521 --> 0:11:14.280 two she disappeared that same day On More, road right 0:11:14.321 --> 0:11:17.961 outside of when a guy was collecting. Cans when he 0:11:18.041 --> 0:11:21.481 found her body on the side of the, Road guardina 0:11:21.601 --> 0:11:25.121 was naked except for a Bra her skull had been 0:11:25.201 --> 0:11:29.161 pierced and punctured with a small. Object police thought it 0:11:29.161 --> 0:11:32.201 could be some type of, tool maybe something like a. 0:11:32.201 --> 0:11:36.440 Screwdriver forensic testing later revealed that at the time of her, 0:11:36.481 --> 0:11:40.160 Death guardina was around five months pregnant. 0:11:41.401 --> 0:11:42.481 And then there were. 0:11:42.481 --> 0:11:45.321 Crickets there was nothing more THAT i could find really 0:11:45.361 --> 0:11:49.361 ever reported about this, case BUT i think the Reporter 0:11:49.521 --> 0:11:53.281 Rob johnson got some crucial. Information he went to Interview 0:11:53.321 --> 0:11:57.881 guardinia's great, Grandmother Hattie. Cross he found out That guardina 0:11:58.001 --> 0:12:01.401 already had a two year old. Daughter that means That 0:12:01.921 --> 0:12:05.160 guardania's daughter must have been born around the Time guardania 0:12:05.201 --> 0:12:08.961 was around fourteen years. Old he was also the person 0:12:09.001 --> 0:12:11.160 who reported that she was five months pregnant at the 0:12:11.201 --> 0:12:11.481 time for. 0:12:11.601 --> 0:12:14.521 Death, NOW i don't want to rush to. 0:12:14.601 --> 0:12:17.561 Conclusions the killer could have been a, stranger this could 0:12:17.601 --> 0:12:20.801 have been a random. Attack but we also know that, 0:12:21.001 --> 0:12:24.841 sadly pregnancy can be one of the most dangerous times 0:12:24.881 --> 0:12:25.441 of a woman's. 0:12:25.481 --> 0:12:26.881 Life one of. 0:12:26.841 --> 0:12:30.040 The leading cause of death of pregnant women In america is. 0:12:30.121 --> 0:12:33.401 Homicide SO i want to know where that baby's father, 0:12:33.561 --> 0:12:38.160 is if that person was ever, questioned maybe there was 0:12:38.201 --> 0:12:40.680 someone who was not happy about her, pregnancy and these 0:12:40.681 --> 0:12:48.321 are all things that we have to. Consider coming back 0:12:48.361 --> 0:12:51.121 to The Christina pipkin, Case i've been going through the 0:12:51.121 --> 0:12:53.561 case file and trying to reach out to people the police, 0:12:53.601 --> 0:12:58.441 interviewed and WHEN i, did as you probably already, know 0:12:58.601 --> 0:13:01.761 there were a lot of. Discrepancies not only THAT i 0:13:01.801 --> 0:13:04.401 saw something in this Case i've never had happened before 0:13:04.441 --> 0:13:09.121 in Anything i've ever. Investigated one of the biggest issues 0:13:09.161 --> 0:13:11.401 we've had in trying to review this case file is 0:13:11.441 --> 0:13:14.801 the fact that basically none of the interviews were. Transcribed 0:13:14.881 --> 0:13:18.601 everything is just these, brief typed, reports so there are 0:13:18.601 --> 0:13:22.160 a lot of mistakes in. Those i've seen errors made 0:13:22.201 --> 0:13:26.161 in police reports, before But i've seen mistakes In christina's 0:13:26.161 --> 0:13:30.641 case unlike Anything i've ever. Seen in our last, EPISODE 0:13:30.761 --> 0:13:34.561 i talked To Donna. King now in the case, file 0:13:35.081 --> 0:13:37.841 there is a police report where an investigator said he 0:13:37.961 --> 0:13:40.961 spoke To Donna. King she told them that on the 0:13:41.041 --> 0:13:45.321 Night Christina pipkin went, missing she Saw Charles cotton's, Wife Rebecca, 0:13:45.401 --> 0:13:47.641 cotton walking on the side of the, road and That 0:13:47.761 --> 0:13:51.161 Charles cotton was approaching her on a three. Wheeler this 0:13:51.321 --> 0:13:55.040 was a very detailed description of what. Happened, apparently according to. 0:13:55.081 --> 0:14:00.401 Police donna said she Observed Rebecca cotton, crying looking annoyed 0:14:00.441 --> 0:14:03.321 At charles and not getting on the three. Wheeler Then 0:14:03.641 --> 0:14:06.281 Charles cotton apparently left and came back in a. Vehicle 0:14:07.081 --> 0:14:10.241 this was a few minutes, later and he Picked Rebecca 0:14:10.280 --> 0:14:14.761 cotton up and they left together in the. Car the 0:14:14.801 --> 0:14:19.201 only problem Is Donna king said that this was absolutely 0:14:19.281 --> 0:14:22.001 not what she said to the. Police she is insistent 0:14:22.081 --> 0:14:24.841 that she never Saw Rebecca cotton on the Night Christina 0:14:24.881 --> 0:14:29.161 pipkin went. Missing Donna king said that part of the 0:14:29.201 --> 0:14:32.641 story was. Correct she was out of town that. Day 0:14:32.721 --> 0:14:34.881 she and her husband had gone To, memphis but she 0:14:34.961 --> 0:14:36.841 said as soon as she got back in, town she 0:14:36.921 --> 0:14:37.361 met up with. 0:14:37.361 --> 0:14:37.801 A friend of. 0:14:37.801 --> 0:14:41.121 Hers the friend Of donna's who she met up with 0:14:41.641 --> 0:14:44.921 is actually someone else we've spoken. To there were two 0:14:45.041 --> 0:14:48.121 cashiers at The bearcat who we've talked to so. Far 0:14:48.961 --> 0:14:52.881 the woman all Call cashier number one served the mysterious 0:14:52.881 --> 0:14:55.161 stranger who came in at around five point forty. Five 0:14:55.241 --> 0:14:57.361 she's the one who worked on the composite drawing with. 0:14:57.441 --> 0:15:01.601 Police there was another, cashier we'll call Her cashier number 0:15:01.601 --> 0:15:05.441 two now cashier. Too was working in the back section 0:15:05.521 --> 0:15:08.441 of the store where the video rentals happened for most 0:15:08.441 --> 0:15:10.881 of the, night but between seven and nine pm she 0:15:11.081 --> 0:15:15.481 worked the main. Register After donna came back to, town 0:15:15.761 --> 0:15:20.001 she met up With cashier number. Two, together they rode 0:15:20.041 --> 0:15:23.441 around and looked For Christina, pipkin and they both confirmed 0:15:23.481 --> 0:15:26.761 each other's. Stories they said they never Saw Rebecca cotton that. 0:15:26.881 --> 0:15:30.801 Night WHEN i Asked donna what she thinks, happened she 0:15:30.961 --> 0:15:34.201 believes that maybe the police officers got her story mixed 0:15:34.281 --> 0:15:40.441 up with someone. Else's this sounds, crazy but it's actually 0:15:40.441 --> 0:15:44.201 not that hard to, believe because even more to disturbing 0:15:44.281 --> 0:15:47.201 than the wrong, Information donna, said the police included in 0:15:47.241 --> 0:15:51.081 that report was what she said they left. Out donna 0:15:51.161 --> 0:15:54.481 said that the next day After christina went, missing she 0:15:54.681 --> 0:15:58.281 saw a stranger in a brown car near the area 0:15:58.401 --> 0:16:02.321 Where christina's body was. Found she is adamant she said 0:16:02.361 --> 0:16:04.961 she described that person and that vehicle to the, Police 0:16:05.481 --> 0:16:08.481 but there's no record of that brown car anywhere in 0:16:08.521 --> 0:16:13.081 the case. File so the question is where did the 0:16:13.121 --> 0:16:16.401 police get the information about the person who supposedly Saw 0:16:16.441 --> 0:16:18.401 Rebecca cotton on the side of the road that, Night 0:16:19.081 --> 0:16:22.441 and if that person Wasn't Donna, king who was. It 0:16:32.161 --> 0:16:35.561 in the last, episode we talked about a couple of. 0:16:35.441 --> 0:16:39.121 The names who keep coming up in this, case AND 0:16:39.161 --> 0:16:39.961 i want to give you all an. 0:16:40.001 --> 0:16:43.441 Update we have gotten more information about a friend Of Robbie, 0:16:43.441 --> 0:16:47.281 tuff the man Named, jackie the person WHO i referred 0:16:47.281 --> 0:16:49.441 to As jackie Question mark in last week's. 0:16:49.441 --> 0:16:52.641 Episode because we didn't know his last, name we were 0:16:52.801 --> 0:16:53.881 able to get his last. 0:16:53.921 --> 0:16:57.241 Name i've been exchanging messages with a couple of different 0:16:57.281 --> 0:17:00.961 young women who told me That jackie, was in their, 0:17:01.001 --> 0:17:03.801 words creepy and that he made her and several other 0:17:03.881 --> 0:17:08.041 young women very. UNCOMFORTABLE i wanted to Track jackie. DOWN 0:17:08.521 --> 0:17:11.281 i wanted to ask him questions About Robbie tubbs. 0:17:11.161 --> 0:17:13.640 And about what went on around the time When christina went. 0:17:13.681 --> 0:17:17.080 MISSING i wanted to know Word jackie And robbie in 0:17:17.400 --> 0:17:21.120 or Near Hickory ridge that, day BUT i found out 0:17:21.201 --> 0:17:24.321 That jackie passed away in two thousand and. Eight, sadly 0:17:24.840 --> 0:17:33.761 this is another dead. End the second cashier at The 0:17:33.761 --> 0:17:37.400 bearcat who we talked to in the last, episode told 0:17:37.481 --> 0:17:40.600 us about the fear and panic that broke out in 0:17:40.640 --> 0:17:42.120 the town After christina went. 0:17:42.161 --> 0:17:45.961 Missing she described what the atmosphere was like the next. 0:17:46.041 --> 0:17:51.841 Day i'm at work at twelve At bearcat and it 0:17:51.921 --> 0:17:58.801 was just, horrific, uh seeing it was it was horrific 0:17:58.921 --> 0:18:06.600 and how awesome at the sun time that so many 0:18:06.681 --> 0:18:10.681 people we're, There we're on the, street we're in the parking, 0:18:10.761 --> 0:18:13.681 lot we're you, know gathered together to try to you, 0:18:13.721 --> 0:18:17.041 know set up. Teams you, know the community really came. 0:18:17.080 --> 0:18:20.241 Together and she noticed the same thing THAT i. 0:18:20.281 --> 0:18:23.361 Noticed she noticed That Charles cotton seemed to have been 0:18:23.481 --> 0:18:26.881 very involved in the search For Christina. Pipkins she also 0:18:26.961 --> 0:18:29.721 found it out she said he wasn't someone who appeared 0:18:29.721 --> 0:18:33.600 to know the family, well And james had said he 0:18:33.801 --> 0:18:37.161 just Met Charles cotton through his neighbors she. 0:18:37.361 --> 0:18:40.481 MAY i, MEAN i, thought is he really trying to 0:18:40.521 --> 0:18:44.600 make an? Incursion and it was just like glaved in the, 0:18:44.641 --> 0:18:45.401 family it seem. 0:18:45.641 --> 0:18:46.681 Like AND. 0:18:48.201 --> 0:18:51.641 I was just, like you, know of course we were 0:18:51.641 --> 0:18:55.441 all wanting to search and look, absolutely. 0:18:56.321 --> 0:19:01.361 BUT i mean THEN i you, know came. Down there 0:19:01.401 --> 0:19:04.840 was a lot of, pubblists AND i just put it 0:19:04.881 --> 0:19:08.080 as you, know he was just want attention AND i didn't. 0:19:07.840 --> 0:19:10.441 Really you, know thinkko much more about. 0:19:10.441 --> 0:19:16.121 It with help from some sources in, TOWN i have 0:19:16.281 --> 0:19:19.921 mapped out the rest Of christina's neighborhood and there are 0:19:20.041 --> 0:19:24.321 other people WHO i would like to. LOCATE i have 0:19:24.561 --> 0:19:27.521 verified through multiple sources who were living in the neighborhood 0:19:27.561 --> 0:19:30.521 at the, time That Charles cotton and his family, were 0:19:31.080 --> 0:19:34.241 contrary to what his Wife rebecca told the, police living 0:19:34.281 --> 0:19:36.201 in a house just a couple of doors down from The. 0:19:36.201 --> 0:19:42.120 Pipkins there was also another young family. There they lived 0:19:42.161 --> 0:19:45.001 in a, Trailer they had several, children and according to the, 0:19:45.041 --> 0:19:48.561 neighbors they were only there for a few. Months apparently 0:19:48.601 --> 0:19:51.561 the family was from Around, bedeville the area near Where 0:19:51.641 --> 0:19:55.640 christina's body was. Found now people say this family was 0:19:55.681 --> 0:19:57.840 not around for a long time they weren't sure of 0:19:57.840 --> 0:20:00.481 the exact. Dates BUT i would like to know who 0:20:00.481 --> 0:20:02.201 those people, were AND i would like to talk to 0:20:02.241 --> 0:20:05.880 them because if they left abruptly After christina went, missing 0:20:06.801 --> 0:20:09.721 that's something we need to check. Out we know from 0:20:09.761 --> 0:20:12.481 past cases that people who show up in town and 0:20:12.601 --> 0:20:15.600 leave shortly after a suspicious death need to be thoroughly. 0:20:15.681 --> 0:20:18.121 Vetted AND i want. 0:20:17.961 --> 0:20:20.721 To go back and ask something that may seem, Obvious 0:20:21.321 --> 0:20:24.641 but since part of this is investigating the investigation, itself 0:20:25.201 --> 0:20:26.201 we have to double check. 0:20:26.241 --> 0:20:28.080 Everything we need to. 0:20:28.161 --> 0:20:32.681 Know how can we be sure That Christina pipkin drowned 0:20:33.361 --> 0:20:36.601 and how can we be sure that it was definitely 0:20:36.801 --> 0:20:44.561 not an accidental. DROWNING i want to take a step 0:20:44.561 --> 0:20:46.241 back for a, minute because there's been a lot of 0:20:46.281 --> 0:20:49.721 discussion During christina's case about what we can learn from 0:20:49.721 --> 0:20:52.360 the limited facts we have without an autopsy. 0:20:52.401 --> 0:20:55.001 Report so let's talk about. 0:20:55.080 --> 0:21:00.121 Drowning according to report ON Nbc, news deaths by drowning 0:21:00.161 --> 0:21:03.561 are super. Challenging they're among the hardest for investigators to. 0:21:03.641 --> 0:21:07.241 Prove the way that medical examiners figure out that a 0:21:07.321 --> 0:21:10.241 death is by drowning is basically by the process of, 0:21:10.281 --> 0:21:13.161 elimination they have to rule out everything. 0:21:13.201 --> 0:21:18.081 ELSE a lot of children drown in The United states every. 0:21:18.161 --> 0:21:21.400 Year according to a twenty twenty three article In The New, 0:21:21.481 --> 0:21:24.721 yorker The centers For Disease control And prevention has listed 0:21:24.761 --> 0:21:27.441 drowning as the number one cause of death for young, 0:21:27.521 --> 0:21:31.400 children which they define is age one to, four And 0:21:31.641 --> 0:21:34.761 arkansas has one of the highest rates of childhood drowning 0:21:34.801 --> 0:21:37.561 in the, country according to a study done By Quote, 0:21:37.561 --> 0:21:41.640 wizard the third highest in the. Nation between twenty eighteen 0:21:41.881 --> 0:21:45.281 and twenty, twenty that were twenty five fatal drownings In. 0:21:45.361 --> 0:21:49.160 Arkansas thirteen of those were children under the age of. 0:21:49.201 --> 0:21:54.441 Five so how do we know if a body found 0:21:54.441 --> 0:21:58.201 in water did drown and if that drowning was intentional or? 0:21:58.241 --> 0:22:02.360 Accidental in, water bodies tend to sink first and then 0:22:02.441 --> 0:22:05.680 rise to the surface in, warm shallow water like At 0:22:05.681 --> 0:22:09.721 Cawlake ditch as gases in the body accumulated from the decomposition. 0:22:09.801 --> 0:22:14.761 Process this would have taken around seventy two. Hours christina's 0:22:14.801 --> 0:22:18.841 body was found three days after she went. Missing water 0:22:19.001 --> 0:22:21.401 investigations have come a long way in the past three. 0:22:21.441 --> 0:22:26.561 Decades now there are training seminars for investigators who are 0:22:26.601 --> 0:22:30.761 processing homicides that involve a body of. Water there are 0:22:30.801 --> 0:22:33.601 a few different types of scenarios that can occur. Here 0:22:34.161 --> 0:22:36.441 you have people who are killed on land and then 0:22:36.521 --> 0:22:38.561 dumped into the water as they are dead or, dying 0:22:39.161 --> 0:22:43.161 people who actually drowned in the body of, water and accidental. 0:22:43.241 --> 0:22:47.600 Drownings they all have some distinctive. Characteristics we know That 0:22:47.721 --> 0:22:51.201 christina could have accidentally drowned because she couldn't. Swim that 0:22:51.241 --> 0:22:55.841 would have made. Sense but the first question homicide investigators 0:22:55.840 --> 0:22:58.921 are told to ask is if the victim's location makes, 0:22:58.961 --> 0:23:01.921 sense and In christina's, case it did. Not it made 0:23:02.041 --> 0:23:04.561 zero sense that she would suddenly be miles away from 0:23:04.601 --> 0:23:07.521 home right before dark when she had been hanging around 0:23:07.961 --> 0:23:12.201 very close to her house all. Day but even though 0:23:12.321 --> 0:23:17.400 crime scene investigation techniques are, improving killers can still have 0:23:17.641 --> 0:23:23.921 a lot of evidence in pools of dirty. WATER i 0:23:24.080 --> 0:23:26.961 use a textbook for all of my. INVESTIGATIONS i carry 0:23:26.961 --> 0:23:29.200 it around everywhere with, me so at this point it's 0:23:29.281 --> 0:23:33.921 kind of falling. Apart but it's called practical Homicide. Investigations 0:23:33.961 --> 0:23:37.241 i've talked about it. Before it's by a FORMER nypd 0:23:37.321 --> 0:23:42.321 homicide detective Named vernon. Debirth it's become the textbook that 0:23:42.721 --> 0:23:44.640 a lot of police departs and used to train their. 0:23:44.681 --> 0:23:50.521 Detectives in this, book he describes a lot of staged 0:23:50.601 --> 0:23:52.840 crime scenes involving, drowning and he has a lot of 0:23:52.881 --> 0:23:56.961 examples summer cases where the victim was drowned elsewhere like a, 0:23:57.001 --> 0:24:00.080 bathtub and then taken and dumped into the body of. Water, 0:24:00.521 --> 0:24:03.001 remember a lot of people thought this was what could 0:24:03.041 --> 0:24:06.361 have happened To Christina. Pipkin but we know the evidence 0:24:06.401 --> 0:24:09.600 In christina's case indicates the mud and water found In 0:24:09.681 --> 0:24:13.161 christina's lungs did match the water in Cal Lake. Ditch 0:24:14.080 --> 0:24:16.640 i've also talked to a family member and this person 0:24:16.801 --> 0:24:19.281 is attempting to Access christina's autopsy. 0:24:19.321 --> 0:24:22.160 REPORT i hope that we can get. 0:24:22.041 --> 0:24:24.481 Access to that because there are a lot of THINGS 0:24:24.481 --> 0:24:28.440 i think we could potentially. Learn among the QUESTIONS i 0:24:28.481 --> 0:24:30.721 have are THESE i want to know if there was 0:24:30.801 --> 0:24:35.801 any white foam. Present it's called haemorrhagic edema. Fluid this 0:24:35.921 --> 0:24:38.961 foam forms as a result of mucus from the throat 0:24:39.281 --> 0:24:42.840 mixing with water and. Blood it's a major indication the 0:24:42.881 --> 0:24:45.880 person may have, drowned and we don't know from Doctor 0:24:45.921 --> 0:24:48.961