1 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:10,119 Southern for a true crime covers cases that are not suitable for young listeners, 2 00:00:10,839 --> 00:00:16,399 and there may also be some explicit language used. Listener discretion is advised. 3 00:00:18,879 --> 00:00:23,719 Jasper, Alabama, is a charming little city nestled in the foothills of the 4 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:29,399 Appalachian Mountains. Incorporated in eighteen eighty seven, Jasper is the seat of Walker 5 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,920 County, with a population that has hovered around fourteen thousand. The town doesn't 6 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,439 seem to have changed that much in the last thirty or so years. It's 7 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:41,880 a tight knit community where folks wave at each other at stop signs, bring 8 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:46,520 baked goods over to new neighbors, and wrap their grieving friends in hugs, 9 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:51,479 prayers, and casseroles. No small town is complete without tree lined streets and 10 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:57,119 a picturesque town square, and Jasper's historic square almost looks frozen in time. 11 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:02,799 Imagine store signs with loopy cursive writing and red brick facades. There's even an 12 00:01:02,799 --> 00:01:07,439 old timmy rotary street clock. Jasper still has a drive in restaurant that opened 13 00:01:07,439 --> 00:01:11,439 in nineteen fifty called the Frosty Mug, where you can get the best cheeseburger 14 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:15,000 in town, as well as milkshakes and banana splits. You may also have 15 00:01:15,079 --> 00:01:19,519 heard an urban legend that Walker County is the place to go to hire a 16 00:01:19,599 --> 00:01:23,400 hitman in the South. And while that is as silly as it sounds, 17 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:29,079 there is undoubtedly real world problems caused by the opioid epidemic in the foothills of 18 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:34,040 Appalachia. And yeah, there might be meth and trailer parks, but there 19 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:38,239 are also many low key blue bloods who have lived and prospered in Jasper for 20 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:42,480 generations. Famed actress to Lula Bankhead was from a rich political family with an 21 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:48,599 a state called Sunset in Jasper in nineteen ninety one. The Lawsons were a 22 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:53,239 prominent family in Jasper, so even though a kidnapping for ransom seemed like something 23 00:01:53,280 --> 00:02:00,599 straight out of a bad nineties thriller, the family was targeted. Fortunately, 24 00:02:00,239 --> 00:02:09,039 the mystery lingers to this day. Where is Carrie Lawson? Welcome to episode 25 00:02:09,039 --> 00:02:19,879 two eighteen, The Kidnapping of Carrie Lawson. Carolyn Elizabeth Smith Lawson was born 26 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,639 on April twenty second, nineteen sixty six, to David and Harriet Smith in 27 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:29,919 Cleveland, Tennessee. She went by Carrie. Her little sister, Margaret, 28 00:02:30,159 --> 00:02:34,080 was only eighteen months younger than her, So the girls grew up close, 29 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,479 and, as Carrie later wrote in a letter to her parents, they had 30 00:02:38,479 --> 00:02:44,800 the best time growing up. Carrie's family was very rich. In nineteen fifty 31 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:49,759 six, her father, David, graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree 32 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:55,000 in textile engineering. In nineteen sixty one, David Smith married Harriet Hill, 33 00:02:55,520 --> 00:03:00,360 and not long after he founded a company called Permna Color Ink in Cleveland, 34 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:07,280 Tennessee. While you may not have heard of Permana Color, you've probably seen 35 00:03:07,319 --> 00:03:12,159 their work. They pioneered the process for stone washing blue jeans, and that 36 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:16,439 process is exactly what it sounds like. They put pumice, stones and blue 37 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:23,159 jeans in an industrial washing machine and voila. Genes that would normally be a 38 00:03:23,159 --> 00:03:28,479 bright, solid blue now look more worn and faded. Insta vintage, and 39 00:03:28,599 --> 00:03:34,280 people loved them, especially in the nineteen seventies. Carrie's father, David was 40 00:03:34,360 --> 00:03:38,520 instrumental in creating the process for stone washing blue jeans, and as president of 41 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:45,439 Permana Color, David became a wealthy industrialist. While we don't know his exact 42 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:49,960 net worth, reporters estimated that it was in the millions. Keep in mind, 43 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:53,479 even one million back in the seventies and eighties would have been somewhere between 44 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:59,919 two point five and eight million today, So the Smith family was well off 45 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:04,159 to say the least, and they were also well respected by the Cleveland community. 46 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:11,000 Carrie's parents were known for their philanthropy and volunteer work, and they were 47 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:16,399 both active leaders at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church. Carrie was also well respected and 48 00:04:16,639 --> 00:04:20,759 liked. Her sister, Margaret, explained that everyone was drawn to Carrie. 49 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:27,879 She had an innate kindness that people were just drawn to. Carrie graduated from 50 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:31,560 Cleveland High School in nineteen eighty four. Then she got her bachelor's degree in 51 00:04:31,639 --> 00:04:39,800 communications from Alabama's Auburn University before graduating from the University of Alabama School of Law 52 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:44,879 in the spring of nineteen ninety one. By that time, Carrie had been 53 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:51,079 married for a year to another UA law student named Earl Lawson. Earl Howard 54 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:57,319 Lawson Junior was born in May nineteen sixty five to Earl and Farah Lawson in 55 00:04:57,439 --> 00:05:01,839 Jasper, Alabama. Earle was a only child. His family, much like 56 00:05:01,920 --> 00:05:06,360 Carrie's, was also well to do. His mother owned a real estate company 57 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:14,040 and Earl Senior owned an auto parts store. The Lawsons were described as fixtures 58 00:05:14,079 --> 00:05:18,399 of the Jasper community. They were well off, though not ostentatious, and 59 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:24,839 lived in a nice area of town, and they regularly attended the North Side 60 00:05:24,879 --> 00:05:30,639 Baptist Church. The mayor of Jasper, Penn Woods, told the Birmingham Post, 61 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:35,759 Harold, everybody knows the family, and everybody likes them. Earl Junior 62 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:42,360 graduated from Walker High School now known as Jasper High in nineteen eighty three, 63 00:05:42,879 --> 00:05:46,600 before attending college and law school. Then, on March tenth, nineteen ninety, 64 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:51,639 twenty four year old Earl married twenty two year old Carrie Smith. After 65 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:58,319 that, Earl began his law career at an esteemed Jasper law firm. Senator 66 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:02,120 Bob Wilson, who served fourteen terms in the House of Representatives, held from 67 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:08,680 that Jasper firm. Earl and Carey's marriage looked like something out of a story 68 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:14,480 book. They were bright, young and in love, both embarking on successful 69 00:06:14,519 --> 00:06:18,759 careers in the law. Great families to support them, not just in wealthy 70 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:26,360 pedigrees, but loving, supportive parents and siblings. It's no wonder Earl and 71 00:06:26,439 --> 00:06:31,720 Carrie counseled high school students at their chosen church. First United Methodist. They 72 00:06:31,759 --> 00:06:39,399 probably seemed like they were living most people's ideal future. Earl and Carrie built 73 00:06:39,439 --> 00:06:44,040 a two story brick home in North Jasper. The house was located on a 74 00:06:44,079 --> 00:06:49,839 cul de sac in an exclusive subdivision known as Heritage Hills. Two twenty somethings 75 00:06:49,879 --> 00:06:55,560 straight out of law school building their own home is impressive, though I'm sure 76 00:06:55,600 --> 00:07:00,399 they could have had some help from their folks. Carrie had taken the Bar 77 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:04,360 exam in nineteen ninety one after graduation, and while she was awaiting her Bar 78 00:07:04,439 --> 00:07:10,120 exam results, she secured a job at a Jasper law firm. This firm 79 00:07:10,319 --> 00:07:15,639 was located just a few blocks away from Earl's practice, and later on in 80 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:20,319 nineteen ninety one, Carrie's results from the Bar exam arrived in the mail. 81 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:26,959 She had passed after years of hard work. She would have been ready to 82 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:31,560 become an accredited lawyer in her firm, but by the time that exciting letter 83 00:07:31,759 --> 00:07:39,600 arrived in the mail, Carrie was long gone. I'm going to pause now 84 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:49,519 for a short commercial break. On Tuesday, September tenth, nineteen ninety one, 85 00:07:50,079 --> 00:07:54,920 Carrie and Earle got ready for bed and drifted off to sleep as usual, 86 00:07:56,240 --> 00:08:00,360 but in the wee hours of the morning. The phone rang Aman was 87 00:08:00,399 --> 00:08:03,000 on the line. She said she was a nurse at the Walker Regional Medical 88 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:09,439 Center. Her tone was urgent. According to her, Earle's dad was really 89 00:08:09,519 --> 00:08:13,000 sick, so sick that he might not make it through the night. She 90 00:08:13,079 --> 00:08:18,720 said Carrie and Earle needed to get to the Walker hospital right away. Earle's 91 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:24,439 father had had a few medical scares recently. While the phone call was a 92 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:28,360 surprise, it wasn't exactly shocking that something serious had happened to Earle Senior. 93 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:35,639 Frantic, Carrie and Earle leapt out of bed and made themselves decent. Carrie 94 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:39,279 threw on her glasses, a red T shirt, khaki shorts, white socks, 95 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:46,600 and rebuck sneakers. Earl and Carrie drove a nineteen ninety one Beijian blue 96 00:08:46,759 --> 00:08:52,919 Eddie Bauer Addition Ford Explorer. It was parked in their carport. They climbed 97 00:08:52,919 --> 00:08:56,200 inside the suv to head to the hospital, but before Earle could turn the 98 00:08:56,240 --> 00:09:01,840 key in the ignition, a man suddenly appeared next to the vehicle. He 99 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:07,639 was white and was five foot eleven inches tall with a medium build. He 100 00:09:07,799 --> 00:09:11,639 was wearing a mask, He had a gun, and he ordered the couple 101 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:16,799 out of the explorer. Earle immediately realized that his father wasn't sick. It 102 00:09:16,879 --> 00:09:22,879 had been a ruse to lure him and carry out of the house. In 103 00:09:22,919 --> 00:09:28,200 the moment, Earle was beside himself. It felt surreal, he later told 104 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:33,879 al dot com. I couldn't believe we felt for this. Earle explained that 105 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,519 he initially thought he and his wife were getting robbed and nothing more. The 106 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,679 assailant forced Earle to the ground, and then he made Carrie bind Earl with 107 00:09:41,799 --> 00:09:48,840 duct tape. Then he forced Carrie back into the suv, and the masked 108 00:09:48,879 --> 00:09:52,919 man drove the Ford Exploer off into the night, with twenty five year old 109 00:09:52,919 --> 00:09:58,919 Carrie Lawson in the passenger seat. Now it was clear this wasn't a robbery. 110 00:10:00,519 --> 00:10:05,600 Carrie had been kidnapped. This shook Earle to his core. Jasper just 111 00:10:05,679 --> 00:10:09,559 wasn't the kind of town where you had to worry about kidnapping or any violent 112 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:15,000 crime for that matter. Earle later told Ale dot com back in nineteen ninety 113 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,159 one, nobody got kidnapped. I'd never heard of a car jacking. There 114 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:24,240 weren't a lot of murders in Jasper. Having somebody kidnapped was the last thing 115 00:10:24,279 --> 00:10:30,159 you could ever think of. After Carrie was abducted, Earle managed to escape 116 00:10:30,159 --> 00:10:33,320 his duct tape bindings, but of course his keys were in the ignition of 117 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,720 the explorer, so Earle had to kick in his back door and called his 118 00:10:37,799 --> 00:10:43,320 dad and then called nine one one. Then he called Carrie's parents. I 119 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:48,039 can't imagine what it was like to have to tell them what happened. They 120 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:52,320 had just seen Carrie a little over a week before on Labor Day, and 121 00:10:52,399 --> 00:10:56,679 now she was missing. Earle would recall that this phone call to Harriet and 122 00:10:56,799 --> 00:11:01,720 David Smith was one of the hardest things he'd had to do in his life. 123 00:11:01,759 --> 00:11:07,720 After hearing the news, Carrie's parents visited their priest before making the three 124 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:13,720 hour journey from Cleveland, Tennessee, to Jasper, Alabama. Carrie's father and 125 00:11:13,879 --> 00:11:18,200 other Smith family members notified Carrie's sister, Margaret, of her sister's abduction. 126 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:24,480 At the time, Margaret was in Cincinnati on a business trip. Upon hearing 127 00:11:24,519 --> 00:11:28,679 the news, she felt like this didn't make any sense, like she was 128 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:33,639 in a movie, not real life. Her uncle, who lived in Nebraska, 129 00:11:33,759 --> 00:11:39,360 flew his plane to Cincinnati. From there, he took Margaret to Jasper. 130 00:11:39,759 --> 00:11:45,399 Margaret told a journalist, I fully expected when we got down there they 131 00:11:45,399 --> 00:11:50,519 would have found her and it would be over. But sadly she was wrong. 132 00:11:52,639 --> 00:11:56,720 From the jump, the FBI took control of Carrie's case. I imagine 133 00:11:56,759 --> 00:12:01,159 local cops called them in quickly because of the ransom. It was just so 134 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:07,799 unusual. Nobody had heard about kidnapping for ransom in Jasper, Alabama, or 135 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:13,879 even in Walker County. The federal agents set up their headquarters at Earl and 136 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:18,559 Carey's home, and they waited for the inevitable, the kidnapper's phone call demanding 137 00:12:18,559 --> 00:12:24,440 a ransom for Carrie's safe return. According to the Birmingham Post Harold's interviews with 138 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:30,679 Carrie's family, a man telephoned Earl at around eight pm on the same day 139 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:35,480 Carrey was abducted. They assumed it had to be the same masked man who 140 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:41,039 had kidnapped Carrie. The caller demanded that Earl have his father deliver three hundred 141 00:12:41,039 --> 00:12:46,440 thousand dollars to a drop off location. That's almost seven hundred thousand and today's 142 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:52,440 money. The abductor wanted the money left in Coleman, Alabama. It's about 143 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:58,120 forty five miles northeast of Jasper. The FBI said it would be best to 144 00:12:58,159 --> 00:13:03,200 comply with the kidnappers demands, and Earl agreed. He later said to reporters, 145 00:13:03,679 --> 00:13:05,960 I was convinced as soon as we got him the money, we were 146 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:11,240 going to get carried back and nail this bastard. I had every hope in 147 00:13:11,279 --> 00:13:15,879 the world there was going to be a good ending to this. So his 148 00:13:16,039 --> 00:13:20,960 father, Earl Senior, brought three hundred thousand dollars in cash to Coleman. 149 00:13:20,879 --> 00:13:26,080 But when he arrived at the drop off site, five police cars were nearby. 150 00:13:26,639 --> 00:13:31,320 That was completely unplanned. Local law enforcement just happened to be in the 151 00:13:31,399 --> 00:13:37,080 area. The FBI had failed to warn them to stay away. The Coleman 152 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:43,720 officers didn't know anything about the kidnapping. I hate to go ahead and start 153 00:13:43,759 --> 00:13:46,879 criticizing the FBI, but you might as well get used to it. Their 154 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:54,080 involvement in this case will be very controversial. But notifying local law enforcement of 155 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:58,720 a ransom drop seems like it would be in the ABC's of the Kidnapping Handbook, 156 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:05,200 But in fact, very few parties officially knew about the kidnapping. Newspapers 157 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:09,960 and TV stations had been asked to keep any mention of it under wraps, 158 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:15,759 though why or how they would have learned of it is beyond me. Unless 159 00:14:15,799 --> 00:14:20,840 the cops leaked it, the FBI was concerned it would compromise the investigation. 160 00:14:22,039 --> 00:14:26,279 So it makes sense why these Coleman officers were in the wrong place at the 161 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:31,000 wrong time. They didn't know any better, but the kidnapper didn't know that. 162 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,919 All he saw were police cruisers flooding his drop off location, and upon 163 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:41,519 seeing the authorities everywhere, the kidnapper called the whole thing off. This is 164 00:14:41,600 --> 00:14:48,039 the first of several unfortunate events surrounding Carrie's kidnapping, events that many believed the 165 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:54,120 FBI could have taken steps to avoid. Later, when there were so many 166 00:14:54,279 --> 00:14:58,080 what ifs in this case, you had to wonder how might one phone call 167 00:14:58,200 --> 00:15:03,000 from the FBI to the Coleman authorities saying, Hey, make sure y'all aren't 168 00:15:03,039 --> 00:15:11,159 in this area might have changed the outcome of this case. I'm going to 169 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:16,320 pause now to hear a word from our sponsors. We are officially in vacation 170 00:15:16,519 --> 00:15:20,120 season, y'all, but before you pack your bags, be sure to protect 171 00:15:20,159 --> 00:15:24,759 your home with simply safe home security. The only system I use and recommend. 172 00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:30,679 With simply Safe. You can enjoy peace of mind knowing your home is 173 00:15:30,679 --> 00:15:33,759 guarded twenty four to seven against break ins, fires, floods, and other 174 00:15:33,799 --> 00:15:41,000 threats. And only simply Safe offers fast Protect monitoring with live guard protection that 175 00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:46,039 enables agents to see and speak to intruders, deterring crime and real time. 176 00:15:46,799 --> 00:15:52,559 Simply Safe is advanced home security that puts you first. When my family leaves 177 00:15:52,639 --> 00:15:56,799 town for a getaway, I admit I'm a bit paranoid, so I love 178 00:15:56,840 --> 00:16:00,279 that I feel connected with the simply Safe app anytime, any way where, 179 00:16:00,519 --> 00:16:03,440 with all my cameras right at my fingertips. For less than a dollar a 180 00:16:03,519 --> 00:16:07,320 day, Simply Safe blankets your home and safety every door, window and room. 181 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:12,120 By partnering with simply Safe, I've finally gotten real peace of mind. 182 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:17,320 I want you to have it too. Get an exclusive twenty percent off any 183 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:22,320 new simply Safe system when you sign up for fast Protect monitoring. Just visit 184 00:16:22,360 --> 00:16:27,240 simplysafe dot com slash Southern Friud. That's simplysafe dot com slash Southern Friud. 185 00:16:27,639 --> 00:16:33,639 There's no safe lake. Simply Safe flavored air is quickly becoming the leading alternative 186 00:16:33,679 --> 00:16:38,080 to vaping and smoking. It's a whole new movement towards better habits, led 187 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:42,600 by today's sponsor, Fume. With flavored air, you can satisfy your oral 188 00:16:42,639 --> 00:16:48,120 fixation without vapor, combustion or electronics. Fume is an award winning device that 189 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:52,960 draws flavored air into your mouth. Fume is not a vape, so you 190 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:56,960 can use it anywhere, also filling the void of having something to reach for. 191 00:16:56,279 --> 00:17:00,600 There's no nicotine, so it's not addictive, with non toxic flavors so 192 00:17:00,679 --> 00:17:04,599 there's no guilt, and there's no batteries so you'll never need to charge it. 193 00:17:04,960 --> 00:17:10,759 I love Fume's sleek wooden design. It's weighted with satisfying snaps, clicks 194 00:17:10,759 --> 00:17:15,079 and magnets to fidget with, and the weighted magnetic stand is super cool to 195 00:17:15,160 --> 00:17:18,799 hold your device and keep spinning to your heart's content. My latest favorite flavors 196 00:17:18,839 --> 00:17:25,000 are crisp mint and cinnamon Hearts. Fume has served over three hundred thousand customers 197 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:29,039 and you can be the next success story for a limited time. Use my 198 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:33,359 code SFTC to get a free gift with your journey pack. Head to try 199 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:40,920 fume dot com. That's try fum dot com and use code SFTC to get 200 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:45,640 a free gift with your order today. Between the late hours of Wednesday the 201 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:51,359 eleventh and the early morning hours of Thursday the twelfth, Earl and Carrie's family 202 00:17:51,519 --> 00:17:56,240 demanded that the kidnapper let them talk to Carrie. They wanted to confirm that 203 00:17:56,279 --> 00:18:00,920 she was still alive and the kidnapper he did allow Carrie to speak briefly with 204 00:18:02,000 --> 00:18:06,160 her husband on the phone, and she also spoke with her mother in law. 205 00:18:07,079 --> 00:18:11,039 During these phone calls, Carrie expressed that she feared for her life. 206 00:18:11,279 --> 00:18:15,160 She told Earle that he needed to go to the home of one of his 207 00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:21,519 law partners to await the kidnapper's next phone call. Before letting Earle go to 208 00:18:21,559 --> 00:18:26,319 his law partner's house, federal agents insisted that he wear a wire. It 209 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:32,359 then took the FBI thirty minutes to prepare Earl with that wire. In those 210 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:37,880 thirty minutes, Earle missed six calls from Carrie. Thirty minutes might not sound 211 00:18:37,920 --> 00:18:41,559 like a big deal, but it is when a kidnapper tells you to get 212 00:18:41,599 --> 00:18:45,880 to a certain place right away to expect a call. That was strike two 213 00:18:45,960 --> 00:18:52,640 for the Feds. Later on Thursday, the kidnapper called Earl once more he 214 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:56,079 wanted to attempt the ransom drop again. This time it was set for three 215 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:02,400 thirty am on Friday, September thirteenth. Earl was to leave the cash at 216 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:07,920 a payphone near a gas station on the western edge of Jasper. To prepare, 217 00:19:07,400 --> 00:19:14,000 the FBI put a directional beeper on Earl. They put a second directional 218 00:19:14,039 --> 00:19:18,640 beeper in the bag containing the three hundred thousand. The idea here was that 219 00:19:18,680 --> 00:19:23,039 federal agents could track the beepers to follow both Earl and the bag of money. 220 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:29,799 That way, if Earl was abducted to they could find him. Unfortunately, 221 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:34,680 both beepers were transmitting on the same radio frequency, which means that when 222 00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:40,440 Earle delivered the cash and left the scene, the federal agents were only able 223 00:19:40,599 --> 00:19:45,519 to track Earle, not the bag of money, and consequently not the kidnapper. 224 00:19:47,599 --> 00:19:52,279 This would be mistake number three for the FBI. Okay, well, 225 00:19:52,319 --> 00:19:56,640 you might be thinking that surely the FBI planted a few agents to watch the 226 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,680 kidnapper pick up the money. Right THEBI I knew exactly where the kidnapper was 227 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:06,240 going to be and approximately when he would be there. Surely they could do 228 00:20:06,319 --> 00:20:11,160 something with that information. Well, heard the Birmingham Post Harold. The FBI 229 00:20:11,279 --> 00:20:15,799 did assign several agents to watch the ransom money get picked up, but these 230 00:20:15,839 --> 00:20:19,799 agents were actually late to the drop, and the money was already gone when 231 00:20:19,839 --> 00:20:26,200 they arrived. Late to a mother truck and ransom drop. The Feds are 232 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:30,759 now zero to four and we're not done yet. Despite these blunders, Earle 233 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:37,759 was optimistic that Carrie would be home safe and sound soon enough. He told 234 00:20:37,839 --> 00:20:41,599 al dot Com. I guess that I was overly hopeful that the minute I 235 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:45,720 got back to my house, the word was going to be that he released 236 00:20:45,759 --> 00:20:51,039 her and we'd find her. But that call just never came. Earle, 237 00:20:51,160 --> 00:20:56,480 his family, and Carrie's family waited patiently at Earl's kitchen table, but the 238 00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:03,160 phone never rang, and Carrie's family wasn't able to listen to Carrie's previous phone 239 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:07,319 calls she had made to Earle and her mother in law. The SBI was 240 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:14,440 supposed to be recording them, but there was an unexpected malfunction. Somehow the 241 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:21,759 audio tapes were corrupted. The Smiths would never hear Carrie's last words, which 242 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,640 seemed to be the last straw for the family. Because the morning after the 243 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:30,359 money drop off, at about nine thirty am, Carrie's family held a news 244 00:21:30,359 --> 00:21:37,119 conference. They held nothing back explaining their daughter's abduction. They insisted that they 245 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:41,759 followed all the kidnappers' demands, and they made a public plea for the kidnapper 246 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:48,440 to release Carrie. This press conference was the catalyst that allowed newspapers and other 247 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:52,119 media outlets to begin reporting on Carrie's case. The cat was out of the 248 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:57,440 bag, but Jasper, being a small town, news travel fast. The 249 00:21:57,480 --> 00:22:03,279 news about Carrie Lawson had spread like wildfire. By the time the papers hit 250 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:08,599 the printers, nearly every Jasper resident was aware that Carrie Lawson had been kidnapped 251 00:22:08,599 --> 00:22:14,599 for ransom. Folks even knew that the ransom amount was between three hundred and 252 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:21,200 four hundred thousand dollars. A pharmacist named Sharon at since Discount Pharmacy, with 253 00:22:21,319 --> 00:22:25,640 no known connection to the Lawsons or Smith's or reason to have insider knowledge on 254 00:22:25,680 --> 00:22:30,480 this case, told the Birmingham Post Harold when it was finally reported in the 255 00:22:30,519 --> 00:22:34,359 news, they didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. It's not much 256 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:40,519 of an exaggeration to say that every single person in Jasper was following Carrie's kidnapping. 257 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:45,119 The mayor of Jasper pen Woods told the Birmingham Post Harold, I don't 258 00:22:45,119 --> 00:22:49,920 go anywhere now, the store or restaurant anywhere that this isn't the first thing 259 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:56,720 that people mention, and al dot com described Carrie Lawson as the most talked 260 00:22:56,720 --> 00:23:03,079 about missing person in Alabama history. Sharon at the pharmacy also said they had 261 00:23:03,079 --> 00:23:07,359 a television set on the counter. She told the Birmingham Post Harold that all 262 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:12,000 the customers would gather around the TV when anything about Carrie came on. Even 263 00:23:12,039 --> 00:23:19,400 local broadcasts were interrupted for live updates and press conferences. Anything and everything about 264 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:26,400 Carrie was breaking news, but no media outlet would report the one sentence that 265 00:23:26,519 --> 00:23:32,440 everyone wanted to hear that Carrie Lawson had been found. Instead, the kidnapper 266 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:38,039 had the money he had Carrie, and there were no more communications, nothing 267 00:23:38,079 --> 00:23:42,200 to say that she would be released. So the search for Carrie and her 268 00:23:42,279 --> 00:23:49,000 kidnapper continued. Carrie's family and friends flocked to Jasper to help look for her. 269 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:55,839 Her parents set up shop and a local Best Western motel. Her sister, 270 00:23:55,960 --> 00:23:59,519 Margaret, stayed in the guest room at Earl and Carey's home for a 271 00:23:59,559 --> 00:24:03,839 while. Margaret told a reporter that she would watch Carrie's driveway from her bedroom 272 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:11,240 window. She expected that eventually Carrie would walk up that driveway, but days 273 00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:15,799 passed and Carrie never came home. I'm going to pause now to hear a 274 00:24:15,799 --> 00:24:25,440 word from our sponsors. This show is sponsored by Betterhelp. A great philosopher 275 00:24:25,519 --> 00:24:29,240 once said life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once 276 00:24:29,279 --> 00:24:33,039 in a while, you could miss it. Just kidding. Ferris Bueller said 277 00:24:33,079 --> 00:24:37,079 that, but he wasn't wrong, and therapy can really help you take stock 278 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:41,079 of your progress and set achievable future goals. As someone who works on deadline, 279 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:45,279 I feel like I'm always stressed. It can make me forget to stop 280 00:24:45,319 --> 00:24:48,480 and appreciate the good things happening in my life. While I have often used 281 00:24:48,559 --> 00:24:52,480 therapy to deal with major life traumas, I also use it to help me 282 00:24:52,559 --> 00:24:56,599 keep my life balanced. I fine tune my coping skills so I can manage 283 00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:00,160 any new stresses thrown at me. If you're at the thinking of starting therapy, 284 00:25:00,319 --> 00:25:04,400 give Better Help a try. It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, 285 00:25:04,440 --> 00:25:08,359 flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire 286 00:25:08,400 --> 00:25:12,559 to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists at any time for 287 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:18,039 no additional charge. Take a moment visit Betterhelp dot com slash Southern today to 288 00:25:18,079 --> 00:25:22,920 get ten percent off your first month. That's better Help h e LP dot 289 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:30,480 com slash Southern. It's officially vacation season, which means I'm already mentally packing 290 00:25:30,519 --> 00:25:33,880 my suitcases. Usually it's stressful because I need a new size or my favorites 291 00:25:33,920 --> 00:25:37,279 are worn out. But then I discovered Quints. It's my go to for 292 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:44,240 high quality vacation essentials like premium European linen dresses, blouses and shorts from thirty 293 00:25:44,279 --> 00:25:48,519 dollars, washable silk tops, premium luggage options, and so much more. 294 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:52,000 The best part, all Quint's items are priced fifty to eighty percent less than 295 00:25:52,039 --> 00:25:56,640 similar brands. Quin's partners directly with top factories, cutting out the middleman, 296 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:02,119 and those factories are safe, ethical, and only use the best premium fabrics. 297 00:26:02,319 --> 00:26:07,119 I'm obsessed with my Midnight blue vintage washed tinsel mini dress. It's perfect 298 00:26:07,200 --> 00:26:10,759 to throw on over a swimsuit or dress up a bit for a nice dinner. 299 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:15,000 It's wrinkles, shrink and static resistant, perfect to throw in a suitcase 300 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:18,519 and the most important part, it has pockets. Pack your bags with high 301 00:26:18,599 --> 00:26:23,839 quality essentials from Quin's. Go to Quins dot com slash sftc for free shipping 302 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:29,839 on your order and three hundred and sixty five day returns. That's qui Ncee 303 00:26:30,279 --> 00:26:34,480 dot com slash sftc for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty 304 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:44,319 five day returns Quins dot com slash sftc. Carrie's kidnapping was a top priority 305 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:49,440 for the FBI and other investigating authorities. Detectives worked around the clock trying to 306 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:56,880 find her. A local police chief told the Birmingham Post Herald that officers were 307 00:26:56,880 --> 00:27:00,279 on the phones twenty four hours a day to collect leads from the public. 308 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:06,599 Meanwhile, the FBI was in close contact with Earl and the rest of Carrey's 309 00:27:06,599 --> 00:27:14,759 family. Federal agents made sure that Carrie's family had realistic expectations. Earle later 310 00:27:14,839 --> 00:27:18,680 told al dot com, They're pretty direct on what you can expect. On 311 00:27:18,799 --> 00:27:25,519 day one, they told us the statistical probabilities of someone being found alive and 312 00:27:25,599 --> 00:27:30,880 well, and then on day two they told you again. You didn't want 313 00:27:30,920 --> 00:27:36,279 to hear it, but you appreciated it. A few days after Carrie's kidnapping, 314 00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:41,640 investigators searched an abandoned house. It was near the location where Earle had 315 00:27:41,720 --> 00:27:48,119 dropped off the ransom money. Inside this house, authorities found feminine hygiene products. 316 00:27:48,319 --> 00:27:52,920 Those were sent to the FBI headquarters in Washington, d C. For 317 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:59,799 forensic testing. FBI Agent in charge Alan P. Whittaker told the Birmingham Post 318 00:28:00,160 --> 00:28:04,400 Old that determining if Carrie had been in that house would be important to narrow 319 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:10,240 down the investigation. He said that gives us a point to focus some of 320 00:28:10,240 --> 00:28:15,079 our energy and thought processes. Right now. We have literally a million places 321 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:19,920 to go. By September fifteenth, nineteen ninety one, five days after Carrie's 322 00:28:19,960 --> 00:28:26,240 kidnapping, few clues had been found. It appears that the feminine hygiene products 323 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:30,000 from the abandoned house hadn't panned out. No one knew where Carrie was, 324 00:28:30,559 --> 00:28:36,319 No one knew where her kidnapper was. Even carl and Carrey stolen Ford Explorer, 325 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:41,759 had seemingly vanished into thin air. That Sunday, the Smith family gave 326 00:28:41,759 --> 00:28:47,480 another press conference at Jasper City Hall. Carrie's father, David told the crowds, 327 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:52,160 pardon my appearance, I've kicked through half of the buildings that are vacant 328 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:56,359 and Jasper. I'd like for all of you to start kicking a few looking 329 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:02,119 for Carrie. Also, David asked anyone within information about Kerrie's location to call 330 00:29:02,160 --> 00:29:07,400 the Jasper Police or the FBI Birmingham office to help incentivize the search for Carrie. 331 00:29:07,839 --> 00:29:14,160 The Smith family also announced a one hundred thousand dollars reward that's about two 332 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:18,319 hundred and twenty seven thousand today. But even before David's call to action, 333 00:29:19,039 --> 00:29:26,200 hundreds of Jasper residents were already searching for Carrie. They had scoured empty buildings, 334 00:29:26,279 --> 00:29:30,640 farms, and stripmonds. In fact, so many people had been looking 335 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:34,519 for Carrie that the FBI had to rein them in. At this press conference, 336 00:29:36,039 --> 00:29:41,759 FBI agent Whittaker reminded the public that they weren't allowed to trespass, even 337 00:29:41,799 --> 00:29:48,400 in the name of finding Carrie. Following this, searchers began wearing yellow ribbons 338 00:29:48,440 --> 00:29:53,400 to help identify themselves for law enforcement. But the issues with over zealous searchers 339 00:29:53,799 --> 00:30:00,119 must have persisted, because within the week, FBI agent Roy Long was but 340 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:03,920 in charge of advising the volunteers. His job was to make sure that they 341 00:30:03,960 --> 00:30:12,119 operated within the law Mayor Penwoods said Jasper citizens prided themselves on their helping nature. 342 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:17,000 He told the Birmingham Post, Harold, I think it could be a 343 00:30:17,039 --> 00:30:19,640 clerk in a store that nobody's heard of, and folks around here would be 344 00:30:19,839 --> 00:30:23,759 just as concerned. Were just used to doing for ourselves, and when folks 345 00:30:23,759 --> 00:30:27,079 are in trouble, we all help. That's just the way we were brought 346 00:30:27,160 --> 00:30:33,359 up. Many Jasper residents held on to the hope that Carrie would be found 347 00:30:33,599 --> 00:30:37,799 safe and well. Some told the papers that they thought she was tied up 348 00:30:37,839 --> 00:30:44,200 somewhere, that the kidnapper had merely abandoned her After the successful money exchange, 349 00:30:45,039 --> 00:30:49,519 it was simply a matter of finding her. But Monday passed with no notable 350 00:30:49,559 --> 00:30:56,920 progress in the investigation, then Tuesday still nothing. At this point, Agent 351 00:30:56,960 --> 00:31:02,799 Whittaker told the Birmingham Post Harold realistic. Time is not our ally. Whittaker 352 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:07,480 knew that with every passing day the chances of finding Carrie alive were dwindling quickly. 353 00:31:08,839 --> 00:31:14,359 As you know from any given TV crime show or podcast, the first 354 00:31:14,440 --> 00:31:18,839 forty eight hours are crucial. The odds of finding someone alive dropped seriously each 355 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:25,480 passing day. On Wednesday, September eighteenth. It was one week after Carrie 356 00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:30,400 had been taken. On that day, Alabama Governor Guy Hunt offered the National 357 00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:36,400 Guard services to help search for Carrie. His office said that they could furnish 358 00:31:36,480 --> 00:31:42,720 the FBI with needed resources, but FBI agent Whittaker turned them down. Whittaker 359 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:48,640 told the Birmingham Post Harold that he hadn't identified a mission for the National Guard, 360 00:31:48,759 --> 00:31:55,319 but he would consider the offer as the investigation continued. In my head, 361 00:31:55,640 --> 00:32:00,759 find Carrie Lawson is a pretty damn good mission. I understand in that 362 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:06,799 coordinating multiple agencies is probably complicated, but once you're a week in and have 363 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:13,359 had a failed ransom drop, why not use every resource? And to be 364 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,200 blunt, it's not like the National Guard, or for that matter, so 365 00:32:16,319 --> 00:32:24,119 many local agencies usually jump to help with missing persons. There are thousands of 366 00:32:24,200 --> 00:32:30,519 missing persons in this country with only one sheriff's department or police agency looking for 367 00:32:30,559 --> 00:32:35,480 them, while their families are begging for help. And don't get me started 368 00:32:35,519 --> 00:32:38,799 on the media. To be fair, a kidnapping for ransom is much more 369 00:32:38,880 --> 00:32:45,880 dramatic than usual missing persons cases. But to be blunt, again, the 370 00:32:45,920 --> 00:32:52,000 carry loss and investigation benefited from missing white woman syndrome. It's why newspapers, 371 00:32:52,079 --> 00:32:58,000 radio stations in the local TV news were breathlessly reporting every move. It's why 372 00:32:58,039 --> 00:33:05,279 the governor was publicly pledged assistance. Don't get me wrong, it is wonderful 373 00:33:05,400 --> 00:33:09,960 so many people outside of her small community cared, and a radio station wound 374 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:15,720 up being very crucial in this case. I just feel sad for the families 375 00:33:15,720 --> 00:33:21,359 of missing people who beg for attention from the media and don't get it anyway. 376 00:33:22,000 --> 00:33:27,200 In Carrie's case, the authorities were obviously fairly certain that she had only 377 00:33:27,240 --> 00:33:31,200 been kidnapped for financial reasons. She came from money, married into money, 378 00:33:31,519 --> 00:33:36,559 and was on her way to being wealthy herself, so she had been targeted. 379 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:40,279 According to Earle, the kidnapper basically said as much in one of their 380 00:33:40,279 --> 00:33:47,440 conversations. However, investigators covered their bases by checking out people who may have 381 00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:54,680 wanted revenge on Carrie or her family, namely business people who had disputes with 382 00:33:54,839 --> 00:34:00,680 Carrie's textile tycoon father, or anyone who may have had an issue with her 383 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:06,920 lawyer husband. It was generally accepted that Carrie didn't have any enemies herself. 384 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:10,000 Her father told the papers. I don't suppose she ever met a soul she 385 00:34:10,039 --> 00:34:16,079 didn't like or have compassion for. I'm going to pause now for a final 386 00:34:16,079 --> 00:34:28,920 commercial break. On Thursday, September nineteenth, the Birmingham Post Harold reported that 387 00:34:29,000 --> 00:34:35,280 officers found evidence pertinent to Carrie's investigation. However, the FBI would not disclose 388 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:38,840 what the evidence was. They just said it was valuable and located near a 389 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:45,719 road in the vicinity of the ransom drop off location. That same day, 390 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:50,800 the FBI also announced a ten thousand dollars reward for information leading to the location 391 00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:55,199 of Carrie and Darl's vehicle. They told the public essentially, when you find 392 00:34:55,199 --> 00:35:00,400 it, don't touch it, because they wanted to preserve as much evidence as 393 00:35:00,440 --> 00:35:05,239 possible. In the state of Alabama, there were nearly two hundred Beige and 394 00:35:05,360 --> 00:35:13,199 Blue nineteen ninety one Ford explorers with University of Alabama tags, and honestly, 395 00:35:13,679 --> 00:35:16,880 the authorities might have received false leads on nearly all of them, but they 396 00:35:16,960 --> 00:35:21,880 encouraged people to keep calling, even though they might not have seen the correct 397 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:28,719 SUV. Investigators were particularly interested in tips from hunters. Dove hunting season had 398 00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:32,920 just begun, so hundreds of outdoorsmen were coming to the area. The FBI 399 00:35:34,039 --> 00:35:37,519 knew that the dense Alabama woods where all the hunters were headed, would be 400 00:35:37,559 --> 00:35:44,480 an ideal place to dump an unwanted Ford Explorer. Within three days of the 401 00:35:44,519 --> 00:35:49,639 ten thousand dollars reward being announced, Carrie and Earl's Fort Explorer was found. 402 00:35:50,119 --> 00:35:54,079 On Saturday, September twenty first. Two people discovered it in the Bankhead National 403 00:35:54,119 --> 00:36:00,480 Forest. The suv was near the Black Pond in Winston County. Authorities examined 404 00:36:00,519 --> 00:36:06,440 the vehicle thoroughly for evidence, but there were no reports that anything significant was 405 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:13,400 discovered. On Tuesday, the reward for information leading to Carrie's whereabouts was raised 406 00:36:13,440 --> 00:36:17,760 from one hundred thousand to four hundred thousand that's close to a million dollars today. 407 00:36:20,199 --> 00:36:23,840 This massive reward was made possible due to donations from Carrie's friends and family 408 00:36:24,199 --> 00:36:30,280 in Alabama and Tennessee. All the while, thousands of missing persons flywers with 409 00:36:30,360 --> 00:36:37,119 Carrie's photo continued to be passed out. Carrie and Earl's church organized and fed 410 00:36:37,639 --> 00:36:44,159 countless search parties, as did both Earl and Carrie's alma mater, the University 411 00:36:44,199 --> 00:36:50,880 of Alabama School of Law. Earl's parents' Church North Side Baptists also contributed. 412 00:36:52,280 --> 00:36:57,639 So far, Carrie had been missing for ten days, but many staunchly believed 413 00:36:57,800 --> 00:37:01,119 that she would be found. She had to be somewhere, and it seemed 414 00:37:01,199 --> 00:37:07,440 like the entire state of Alabama was on the lookout for her. On Wednesday, 415 00:37:07,519 --> 00:37:13,400 September twenty fifth, Carrie had been missing for two weeks. It was 416 00:37:13,440 --> 00:37:17,679 at this point that a gas station employee came forward. His name was Chris 417 00:37:17,719 --> 00:37:22,960 Weldon, and he spoke to the Birmingham Post Herald. Chris explained to journalists 418 00:37:23,119 --> 00:37:29,639 that two FBI agents had recently visited his workplace at the Northwood Lake Chevron near 419 00:37:29,679 --> 00:37:36,159 Tuscaloosa. It's approximately seventy five minutes or about sixty miles south of Jasper. 420 00:37:37,280 --> 00:37:42,039 According to Chris, the officers were looking into the paythone outside the chevron. 421 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:47,159 Apparently, Carrie had used that paythone to call someone at three fifteen am on 422 00:37:47,199 --> 00:37:53,480 September twelfth, That was almost twenty four hours after her abduction. This was 423 00:37:53,519 --> 00:37:58,920 probably one of those calls where Carrie was allowed to briefly speak to Earle and 424 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:04,119 her mother in law. When the FBI agents came to Chris's chevron, they 425 00:38:04,159 --> 00:38:08,800 wanted to know if Carrie had been recorded on an outdoor surveillance camera. When 426 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:14,519 Chris spoke to the paper, he wasn't sure if she had been. In 427 00:38:14,599 --> 00:38:19,679 the same article detailing Chris's interview, the paper reported that Carrie made a phone 428 00:38:19,679 --> 00:38:24,400 call from a payphone at the Northwood Shopping Center on US Highway eighty two. 429 00:38:24,599 --> 00:38:30,239 She supposedly made a third phone call somewhere near there as well. The FBI 430 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:37,519 did not confirm any of this information publicly, but I imagine the Birmingham Post 431 00:38:37,559 --> 00:38:43,519 Harold was pretty confident Chris and the other sources were credible or else It's doubtful 432 00:38:43,559 --> 00:38:49,039 they would have published the information. But considering the appetite for any news on 433 00:38:49,119 --> 00:38:54,679 Carrie Lawson, you never know. Side note Andrea scoured the Internet and YouTube 434 00:38:54,840 --> 00:39:00,400 for the audio recordings but could not find them. All descriptions of the we 435 00:39:00,519 --> 00:39:06,559 have end quote from came from the Birmingham Post Herald. As a result of 436 00:39:06,599 --> 00:39:14,360 these payphone locations, volunteers began searching the Newport area near Tuscaloosa extensively. These 437 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:19,039 searches were not sanctioned by law enforcement, but law enforcement was still in the 438 00:39:19,119 --> 00:39:24,800 case. FBI Director William Sessions said his agency was putting forth tremendous effort and 439 00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:31,960 using considerable resources to find Carrie. Finally, on Saturday, September twenty eighth, 440 00:39:32,239 --> 00:39:37,159 there was a break in the investigation. Law enforcement had recovered three audio 441 00:39:37,239 --> 00:39:44,880 recordings. These recordings were of the kidnapper using payphones to call Earl on September 442 00:39:44,920 --> 00:39:49,760 eleventh, twelfth, and thirteenth. In them, you can hear a man 443 00:39:49,800 --> 00:39:54,400 with the North Alabama accent speak. According to the FBI dialect experts, this 444 00:39:54,559 --> 00:40:00,320 accident was common for the area near Jasper. They believed the man and was 445 00:40:00,480 --> 00:40:05,679 likely a local. He had probably been born and raised in Jasper's Walker County 446 00:40:06,119 --> 00:40:10,719 or an adjacent one. In the first recorded phone call, the kidnapper said, 447 00:40:10,760 --> 00:40:15,320 Earle, you got the money, all right? Go up to sixty 448 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:19,559 nine Highway to Coleman. You listening. Go to exit three oho eight on 449 00:40:19,639 --> 00:40:23,239 the Interstate Highway, take the Interstate North. Check into the Day's Inn and 450 00:40:23,280 --> 00:40:27,960 I'll call you there. You should be there in an hour and fifteen minutes. 451 00:40:28,239 --> 00:40:32,280 I'll call you then bye. This is when that critical mistake happened. 452 00:40:32,480 --> 00:40:37,880 When local Caleman police happened to be in the area during the money drop off 453 00:40:37,760 --> 00:40:43,360 and the next audio snippet, the kidnapper was clearly upset. He said, 454 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:46,880 listen, Earle, you screwed me around tonight. If you want to see 455 00:40:46,880 --> 00:40:52,079 this woman alive again, you're going to get your acts straight. You jacked 456 00:40:52,079 --> 00:40:54,480 me around all night. I'm going to jack you around for a while. 457 00:40:54,840 --> 00:40:59,800 Understand. You got the police with you, and you got everybody else with 458 00:40:59,840 --> 00:41:04,000 you. Tomorrow today you get rid of everybody. Your mother, the police, 459 00:41:04,079 --> 00:41:08,119 everybody. Your wife is about to have a nervous breakdown. The kidnapper 460 00:41:08,199 --> 00:41:14,039 also up to the ransom amount by one hundred thousand because he was so angry 461 00:41:14,159 --> 00:41:17,679 about being ran around all night long, as he put it. Then, 462 00:41:17,760 --> 00:41:22,960 early in the morning on September thirteenth, the kidnapper called Earl to give the 463 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:27,559 directions to the final drop off location. He said, in clear terms, 464 00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:30,920 if there's any problems and I don't show back up to get your wife released, 465 00:41:31,280 --> 00:41:37,840 they're going to leave her and she'll die. While the kidnapper is clearly 466 00:41:37,920 --> 00:41:42,679 referring to one or more accomplices, to this day, it is unclear who 467 00:41:42,960 --> 00:41:46,239 exactly he is talking about, or, of course, this could have just 468 00:41:46,320 --> 00:41:52,639 been a ruse to imply more people were involved. He did have at least 469 00:41:52,639 --> 00:41:55,400 one accomplice that will get to in just a bit, but they would prove 470 00:41:55,480 --> 00:42:01,599 to be no help in finding Carrie. That Saturday, law enforcement gave the 471 00:42:01,679 --> 00:42:07,599 general public access to all of these audios. They were played on TV news 472 00:42:07,719 --> 00:42:13,920 channels and radio stations repeatedly. The FBI was hoping someone, anyone, would 473 00:42:13,960 --> 00:42:19,760 be able to identify the kidnapper by his voice. After the audios were released, 474 00:42:19,960 --> 00:42:23,000 more than one hundred people called authorities with suggestions of who it might be, 475 00:42:24,519 --> 00:42:30,400 and someone called who was certain they knew who it was. That's how 476 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:35,800 the FBI began looking into a forty nine year old man from right there in 477 00:42:35,880 --> 00:42:45,880 Jasper. A random caller to a radio station recognized his voice. Southern Fried 478 00:42:45,960 --> 00:42:51,119 True Crime is hosted and produced by me Erica Kelly Folks. The rest of 479 00:42:51,159 --> 00:42:53,880 Carrey's story will be out this weekend. I am sorry. I hadn't planned 480 00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:59,000 on making it a two parter, but this episode was ballooning into well over 481 00:42:59,039 --> 00:43:02,199 an hour and a half, but please tune into part two. Not only 482 00:43:02,320 --> 00:43:07,639 is the rest of Carrie's story unbelievable, but you know me, I've got 483 00:43:07,679 --> 00:43:12,159 so much to say about it. This case was researched and written by me 484 00:43:12,320 --> 00:43:16,360 and Andrea Marshbank. As usual, any editorial comments and opinions are my own. 485 00:43:16,679 --> 00:43:21,199 Southern Fred's original music is by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radio and the original 486 00:43:21,199 --> 00:43:24,440 graphic art is by Cooley Horner. Today's episode was edited and mixed by Brendan 487 00:43:24,480 --> 00:43:29,719 schock Snyder of Southern Gothic and Erica Kelly. If you have any case suggestions, 488 00:43:29,719 --> 00:43:32,559 please go to my website, Southernfredruecrime dot com and click on the listener 489 00:43:32,639 --> 00:43:38,400 suggestion tap, or email SFTC Research at gmail dot com. This is the 490 00:43:38,440 --> 00:43:42,639 best way for me to get those little known cases. Y'all always send me. 491 00:43:43,159 --> 00:43:45,920 Please remember that I do not accept suggestions on social media private messages, 492 00:43:46,280 --> 00:43:51,639 but please come join our Facebook group, Southern Friud True Crime Fans Discussion Group, 493 00:43:51,920 --> 00:43:54,760 where we swap recipes, worship Dolly Parton, and share means. We 494 00:43:54,920 --> 00:43:58,599 do, of course discuss true crime, not just Southern Friud, but all 495 00:43:58,679 --> 00:44:01,920 kinds, but it is still very much a Southern lifestyle group. Our group 496 00:44:01,960 --> 00:44:05,079 is a safe and fun corner of Facebook, and by god, we mean 497 00:44:05,079 --> 00:44:07,840 it when we see no shit as is allowed. It's not just a motto, 498 00:44:07,880 --> 00:44:09,519 it's how we run the group. If you enjoyed today's show, don't 499 00:44:09,559 --> 00:44:14,320 forget to subscribe, and please tell a friend or rate and review. I'm 500 00:44:14,360 --> 00:44:19,119 on all large platforms like iTunes, Iheartspotify, Amazon, Audible, and YouTube. 501 00:44:19,800 --> 00:44:22,639 Until next time, thanks so much for listening. Y'all, take care,