WEBVTT 1 00:00:10.240 --> 00:00:14.320 On today's special Update episode, we'll look back on five 2 00:00:14.519 --> 00:00:18.559 previously covered cases which have had major or important updates 3 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:21.160 in the past year, as well as a handful of 4 00:00:21.239 --> 00:00:25.800 other cases with minor updates that still warrant coverage. We'll 5 00:00:25.839 --> 00:00:28.920 discuss a case changing discovery made in what is now 6 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:33.240 confirmed to be a double homicide, a long awaited discovery 7 00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:36.159 in one of true crime's most famous cases of the 8 00:00:36.240 --> 00:00:41.119 last fifteen years, a new theory and potential suspect in 9 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:45.200 an unsolved disappearance, a possible person of interest in a 10 00:00:45.520 --> 00:00:49.159 very strange disappearance out of Michigan, and the results of 11 00:00:49.159 --> 00:00:52.840 a hotly debated murder trial, and just where exactly law 12 00:00:52.960 --> 00:00:57.320 enforcement has left to go in the aftermath. This is 13 00:00:57.439 --> 00:01:10.959 Trace Evidence Major Case Updates. Welcome to Trace Evidence. I'm 14 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:15.680 your host, Steven Pacheco. Today we're diving into some major 15 00:01:15.799 --> 00:01:19.319 case updates, some going back as far as the first 16 00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:23.359 year of the podcast. Before jumping in, though, just a 17 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:26.480 quick reminder to those of you attending Crime Con in 18 00:01:26.599 --> 00:01:30.200 Colorado that if you haven't purchased your pass yet, you 19 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:34.000 can use code trace at crimecon dot com to save 20 00:01:34.159 --> 00:01:37.920 ten percent. We've also added some new shirt designs in 21 00:01:37.959 --> 00:01:43.719 two hour shops, which you can visit at shoptepod dot com. Finally, 22 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:47.319 if you aren't following Trace Evidence on social media, you 23 00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:51.120 can visit follow tepod dot com for a link to 24 00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:55.400 all official social counts. As always, these links are below 25 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:59.599 in the show notes. Without further ado, let's get to 26 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:11.800 these updates. Episode two hundred and thirty three, The murder 27 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:16.719 of Paul Jones and the Disappearance of Melody Jones. On 28 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:22.520 Thursday May fifth, nineteen eighty three, Potawatamie County, Oklahoma law 29 00:02:22.599 --> 00:02:26.759 enforcement began an investigation into the disappearance of nineteen year 30 00:02:26.840 --> 00:02:30.599 old Melody and Jones after she failed to show up 31 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:34.319 for her shift at the local dairy queen. A family 32 00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:37.560 member went to Melody's home, where she lived with her husband, 33 00:02:37.599 --> 00:02:42.439 Paul Jones, and found a grizzly scene. Paul was lifeless 34 00:02:42.479 --> 00:02:45.960 on the bedroom floor, the victim of multiple stab wounds, 35 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:50.039 and there was no sign of Melody. Investigators quickly called 36 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:54.120 for assistance from the OSBI, but little, if anything, was 37 00:02:54.199 --> 00:02:58.719 really uncovered. For nearly forty years, that case grew cold 38 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:07.960 until this last summer case update. On Wednesday, August seventh, 39 00:03:08.039 --> 00:03:12.400 twenty twenty four, officials from the Patawatami County Sheriff's Office 40 00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:17.159 publicly announced that they had positively identified human remains as 41 00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:21.360 those of the missing Melody Anne Jones. However, they noted 42 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:25.479 the actual collection and recovery of melodies remains was not 43 00:03:25.719 --> 00:03:29.120 a recent process, but one which had occurred more than 44 00:03:29.199 --> 00:03:34.120 twenty years earlier. According to a statement issued on social 45 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:37.400 media channels for both the Sheriff's office as well as 46 00:03:37.400 --> 00:03:41.000 the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, they had been in 47 00:03:41.039 --> 00:03:44.800 possession of the missing women's remains since approximately October of 48 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:50.000 nineteen ninety eight. At that time, human remains described only 49 00:03:50.039 --> 00:03:54.319 as a partial skull, were found in a yet undisclosed section. 50 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:55.680 Of rural Seminole County. 51 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:59.960 After excavation of the site, the remains were transported to 52 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:03.960 the office of the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner to determine 53 00:04:03.960 --> 00:04:06.439 the cause and manner of death, as well as an 54 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:11.520 identity for the unknown victim. According to authorities, multiple attempts 55 00:04:11.599 --> 00:04:14.400 to obtain an identification of the body were made over 56 00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:19.480 the passage of nearly twenty six years, but all were unsuccessful. However, 57 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:22.519 in the summer of twenty twenty four, staff at the 58 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:27.240 Medical Examiner's office obtained the quote unquote necessary resources for 59 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:33.000 additional testing on Wednesday, August seventh. These new resources resulted 60 00:04:33.000 --> 00:04:38.360 in a positive identification of Melody and Jones. Multiple articles 61 00:04:38.360 --> 00:04:42.560 have noted that the additional testing, which ultimately confirmed her identity, 62 00:04:43.000 --> 00:04:46.079 was paid for by a grant issued to the OSBI. 63 00:04:47.240 --> 00:04:51.800 Her body was officially recovered fourteen years after her husband Paul, 64 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:55.600 was murdered in their home and she had mysteriously disappeared 65 00:04:56.120 --> 00:04:58.800 for the next two decades. Her body remained in the 66 00:04:58.839 --> 00:05:02.639 possession of the Medical Liak Examiner until it was finally identified. 67 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:06.879 This revelation came as quite a shock to Melody's siblings, 68 00:05:06.879 --> 00:05:09.879 who for more than forty years have wondered not just 69 00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:13.639 what became of their sister, but who was ultimately responsible 70 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:17.000 for the crime. In hopes of honoring her memory and 71 00:05:17.160 --> 00:05:21.160 welcoming her home, the family organized a funeral service, which 72 00:05:21.240 --> 00:05:25.560 was held on Sunday, August twenty fifth at Dale Baptist Church. 73 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:30.920 Asked about the shocking news, Melody's sister, Rebecca Cox, spoke 74 00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:35.720 to Oklahoma City Fox twenty five, saying, quote, I actually 75 00:05:35.720 --> 00:05:36.120 got to. 76 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:37.240 See her remains. 77 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:40.439 I had a long discussion with her telling her she 78 00:05:40.600 --> 00:05:43.079 was finally here, She's finally home. 79 00:05:43.560 --> 00:05:45.399 She'll never be lost again. 80 00:05:46.920 --> 00:05:50.000 Cox, along with her three siblings and their parents, while 81 00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:53.279 they were still alive, endured so much pain and agony 82 00:05:53.319 --> 00:05:56.480 in the unknowing of Melody's fate, let alone all of 83 00:05:56.480 --> 00:05:59.160 the questions about why someone would have done this to 84 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:02.439 her and her husband. It was a search they didn't 85 00:06:02.439 --> 00:06:08.600 believe would end with Cock saying, quote, desperation, miserable, everybody 86 00:06:08.639 --> 00:06:10.639 and bone you compare to her? 87 00:06:11.279 --> 00:06:12.160 Is it going to be her? 88 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:16.639 While the family were grateful for the discovery and to 89 00:06:16.720 --> 00:06:20.399 have the opportunity to lay Melody to rest properly, they 90 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:22.959 see this as only one half of the story having 91 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:28.839 been completed. Melody's brother, Randall Garton, explained saying, quote, you 92 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:32.199 walk down the street, you see people and think, man, 93 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:35.279 does she look familiar or not? Is she going to 94 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.439 walk on the doorsteps someday and knock on my door? 95 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:41.759 But that's all over. I don't have to worry about 96 00:06:41.759 --> 00:06:42.480 that anymore. 97 00:06:42.959 --> 00:06:45.600 We need to find the guy that did this, hold 98 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:51.040 them accountable for what they've done. No official information has 99 00:06:51.079 --> 00:06:54.000 been released about a cause or manner of death. If 100 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.560 in fact, the medical Examiner's office was able to make 101 00:06:56.600 --> 00:07:01.240 any determination. The investigation into Paul's death and now melodies 102 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:06.279 confirmed homicide remains open and investigators would very much appreciate 103 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:11.399 anyone coming forward with additional information. To date, no suspects 104 00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:15.079 have been named and no arrests have been made. If 105 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:19.040 you have any information about this case, please contact the 106 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:26.560 OSBI via email at tips at OSBI dot ok dot gov. 107 00:07:27.319 --> 00:07:31.480 You can also call them at one eight hundred five 108 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:36.920 two two eight zero one seven. Just a quick aside, 109 00:07:37.279 --> 00:07:40.959 I've had several people contact me about this case, encouraging 110 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:43.120 me and asking me to do an update on it. 111 00:07:43.560 --> 00:07:46.399 I held back for a while because I was involved 112 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:49.959 in communication with one of the families connected to this case. 113 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:53.319 They wanted to talk to me about specific details and 114 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:55.920 their own theories of what may have happened and who 115 00:07:55.920 --> 00:07:59.439 may have been involved. However, just as our back and 116 00:07:59.480 --> 00:08:03.839 forth to be building towards a fevered pitch, communications stopped 117 00:08:03.879 --> 00:08:07.399 on their end. I've reached out several times since, but 118 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:10.879 have received no reply, so I've decided to move forward 119 00:08:10.920 --> 00:08:14.399 with this update. If, however, you're still out there and 120 00:08:14.439 --> 00:08:18.360 you're still interested in talking, you've got my contact information. 121 00:08:31.000 --> 00:08:37.720 Episode seventeen the disappearance of Brandon Lawson. On Thursday August eighth, 122 00:08:37.879 --> 00:08:41.840 twenty thirteen, twenty six year old Brandon Lawson got into 123 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:45.240 an argument with his longtime girlfriend, Ledessa Lofton. 124 00:08:46.039 --> 00:08:47.919 Frustrated and wanting some time. 125 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:50.240 To cool off, he made a call to his father 126 00:08:50.519 --> 00:08:54.320 over three hours away in Crowley, Texas and asked if 127 00:08:54.320 --> 00:08:57.080 he could spend the night. His father tried to talk 128 00:08:57.120 --> 00:08:59.799 him out of it. It was very late, but Brandon 129 00:09:00.039 --> 00:09:05.200 would not be deterred. He began his drive. Forty miles later, 130 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:08.120 he ran out of gas and called his brother Kyle 131 00:09:08.240 --> 00:09:12.559 for help. What transpired in the next thirty minutes is unknown, 132 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:16.679 but when his brother arrived, Brandon was nowhere to be found. 133 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:20.879 After searching for hours, there was no trace of him. 134 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:24.919 The family would later learn that shortly after calling his brother, 135 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:28.240 Brandon had made a call to nine to one pint one. 136 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:32.440 In the call, Brandon is clearly frantic and talking fast 137 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:37.120 and upset about something. The interpretation of what he said 138 00:09:37.159 --> 00:09:41.799 would become hotly debated amongst the family, police and online investigators. 139 00:09:42.200 --> 00:09:45.000 The Coke County Sheriff's Department was hesitant to treat it 140 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:48.320 as a missing person's case and instead approached it from 141 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:52.080 the perspective that Brandon had chosen to run off to 142 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:55.639 avoid a warrant that had been issued for his arrest 143 00:09:55.879 --> 00:10:01.240 eight years earlier. While the family searched aga exhaustively, believing 144 00:10:01.240 --> 00:10:05.000 that Brandon would never abandon his children, authorities would not 145 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:08.799 begin their first search until a week later. Over the 146 00:10:08.799 --> 00:10:12.720 course of the next ten years, Brandon's disappearance would become 147 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:15.919 one of the most discussed, covered and debated both by 148 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:20.759 traditional media as well as online journalists and investigators, many 149 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:24.720 of whom would utilize this disturbing and mysterious case as 150 00:10:24.759 --> 00:10:28.840 the foundation from which to construct their true crime podcasts. 151 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:30.840 All these years. 152 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:35.519 Gone by, while many have moved on from Brandon's case, family, friends, 153 00:10:35.679 --> 00:10:39.039 and law enforcement were still determined to find the truth 154 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:43.120 and to bring Brandon home. This year, it appears at 155 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:46.159 least one of those goals has been accomplished, as it 156 00:10:46.200 --> 00:10:49.480 was announced that Brandon will finally be going home. 157 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:53.120 Case update. 158 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:59.480 In February of twenty twenty two, nearly a decade after 159 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:03.759 brandons Its mysterious and haunting disappearance, a small search party 160 00:11:03.879 --> 00:11:07.000 looking in an area not far from his last known location, 161 00:11:07.519 --> 00:11:10.559 came upon a pile of clothing which was consistent with 162 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:14.000 what he was wearing the night of his disappearance. Those 163 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:17.600 clothes would ultimately be confirmed to be those of Brandon, 164 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:21.240 and at that point the small search immediately halted their 165 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:27.240 progress and contacted law enforcement, including the Texas Rangers. Law 166 00:11:27.279 --> 00:11:30.279 enforcement took the clothing into their possession for testing, while 167 00:11:30.320 --> 00:11:33.799 the Rangers organized a large search, focusing in on the 168 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:37.000 area near to where the clothes were found and spinning 169 00:11:37.039 --> 00:11:40.639 out from that central location. Not long into the search, 170 00:11:41.039 --> 00:11:44.480 rangers came upon human remains in the same general area. 171 00:11:45.159 --> 00:11:48.360 A post was officially made on the Help Find Brandon 172 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:53.200 lass And Facebook page on Friday, February fourth. The post read, 173 00:11:53.360 --> 00:12:00.159 in part quote, the Texas Rangers conducted a search which 174 00:12:00.200 --> 00:12:03.279 that ultimately led them to discover human remains in this 175 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:07.720 same area. Although DNA tests are needed to confirm identification 176 00:12:08.200 --> 00:12:12.039 in our hearts, we know that it is branding. Our 177 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:15.360 main focus throughout this entire ordeal has been to bring 178 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:18.559 Brandon home so that he can finally rest in peace 179 00:12:18.919 --> 00:12:21.840 and our family can have the answers we have prayed for. 180 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:25.120 I know that many of you will have questions, but 181 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:28.399 at this time we do not have those answers. 182 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:29.559 We will keep. 183 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:35.600 Everyone notified of all new developments. Thirty four months later, 184 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:39.639 in late December of twenty twenty four, an update about 185 00:12:39.679 --> 00:12:44.080 the remains was finally posted. This update noted that DNA 186 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:47.879 testing had officially confirmed that the remains found that afternoon 187 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:51.320 in February of twenty twenty two were in fact those 188 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:56.440 of Brandon Lawson. This post, made on Christmas Day, read, 189 00:12:56.519 --> 00:13:00.799 in part quote, we can, finally, after a seven years, 190 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:04.240 bring Brandon home and lay him to rest with his family. 191 00:13:04.960 --> 00:13:08.399 While the news does bring heartbreak, it also does bring 192 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:09.720 a small amount of peace. 193 00:13:10.440 --> 00:13:12.559 On this day, twenty twenty. 194 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:15.559 Four years ago, our Lord and Savior Jesus entered this 195 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:20.480 world to save us Luke chapter two, verse ten through eleven, 196 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:25.159 and we smile knowing that Brandon is celebrating this day 197 00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:29.000 watching over us. We want to thank each and every 198 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:32.600 single one of you for your love, prayers, and support 199 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:36.679 over these past eleven years. You have helped carry us 200 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:41.279 through this journey. A lot of people have asked me 201 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:44.399 over the years why I've never officially released an update 202 00:13:44.440 --> 00:13:48.480 on Brandon's case, And there's one really specific reason, a 203 00:13:48.600 --> 00:13:52.480 lack of information. I've always been waiting to learn a 204 00:13:52.559 --> 00:13:55.279 little more, to find out a cause and manner of 205 00:13:55.320 --> 00:13:58.919 death if known, to get a confirmed specific location at 206 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:01.759 which his remains were found and the distance from that 207 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:04.720 spot to where his truck was the night of his disappearance. 208 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:09.679 Waiting for that information, time just kept passing, and eventually 209 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:12.039 it came to a point where I was beginning to 210 00:14:12.080 --> 00:14:15.440 believe that we might never have more answers. As it 211 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:18.960 turned out, there was a reason why so little information 212 00:14:19.080 --> 00:14:23.320 had come out in the aftermath of the discovery. On Tuesday, 213 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:26.840 June twenty fourth of this year, the help Find Brandon 214 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:30.120 laws In Facebook page made a new post, this time 215 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:35.240 addressing some previously unreleased details and asking for assistance from 216 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:38.919 the public. The page posted a link to a change 217 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:46.000 dot org petition entitled demand da Palmer release Brandon Lawson's remains. 218 00:14:46.840 --> 00:14:51.240 The post noted that, for unknown reasons, despite being positively 219 00:14:51.320 --> 00:14:55.200 identified back in December of twenty four, Brandon's body had 220 00:14:55.240 --> 00:14:59.519 not yet been released to his family. In explaining the situation, 221 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:04.840 the petition noted, quote, despite the lengthy and painful process, 222 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:08.919 we are left in limbo. The DA in San Angelo, 223 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:14.039 Alison Palmer is withholding the release of Brandon's remains. Our 224 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:17.919 countless attempts to reach her seeking an explanation or resolution 225 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:21.679 have gone unanswered. Not only is this an agony for 226 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:24.960 the family who wishes to lay Brandon to rest, but 227 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:29.200 it also raises concerns about transparency and fairness in handling 228 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:35.159 such sensitive matters. Simultaneously, our private investigator's request under the 229 00:15:35.159 --> 00:15:38.840 Freedom of Information Act revealed a very short ten pages 230 00:15:38.879 --> 00:15:44.240 regarding Brandon's case since his disappearance. These actions leave us 231 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:48.159 once again questioning the thoroughness and fairness of the investigation 232 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:53.159 into his disappearance and death. We acknowledge and depreciate the 233 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:57.440 professionalism exhibited by the new sheriff, Billy, who has shown 234 00:15:57.559 --> 00:16:03.679 understanding and cooperation. However, we demand accountability and action from 235 00:16:03.759 --> 00:16:10.480 Da Palmer. Just a few days ago, on Saturday, July nineteenth, 236 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:14.600 there came a new update the official post credited to 237 00:16:14.720 --> 00:16:17.480 Ledessa Reid's quote, good. 238 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:19.919 Evening, everyone, I just want to give you an update. 239 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:24.279 After four three hundred and sixty two days, we finally 240 00:16:24.320 --> 00:16:27.399 get to bring Brandon home. I just want to thank 241 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:29.879 all of you from the bottom of our heart that 242 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:33.480 helped with calling and sharing, even praying for us during 243 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:38.039 these difficult times. There is so many emotions. We were 244 00:16:38.039 --> 00:16:42.240 all feeling happy but sad at the same time. Let 245 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:45.200 me tell my soul it can finally rest, but there 246 00:16:45.240 --> 00:16:49.480 will always be pain and questions what happened to him 247 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.039 that night. 248 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:53.559 The most recent posts from. 249 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:56.960 Yesterday noted that the process of returning Brandon has begun, 250 00:16:57.399 --> 00:17:00.080 but the family could use some assistance in covering the 251 00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:02.960 cost of laying him to rest. They've set up an 252 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:06.039 official go fundme, the link to which I'll place in 253 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:09.039 the show notes. If you would like to contribute, the 254 00:17:09.119 --> 00:17:12.119 link is available, and you can always visit the help 255 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:16.119 Find Brandon Loss and Facebook page for additional information and 256 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:19.079 to keep yourself updated on this case and what is 257 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:22.680 planned to be a very public memorial. I'll put a 258 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:25.000 link to the page in the show notes as well. 259 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:29.160 While Brandon's remains have indeed been found, the question of 260 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:32.960 what happened that night still remains. Though the hope is 261 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:36.200 that someday all of the puzzle pieces will be located 262 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:39.680 and the story will be fully understood. Life doesn't often 263 00:17:39.720 --> 00:17:44.559 provide such solid and direct answers. The investigation will continue. 264 00:17:44.799 --> 00:17:48.400 The search for truth never ends. I did want to 265 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:52.400 provide one important detail. I haven't seen elsewhere, which was 266 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:55.519 given to me directly by Jason Watts, a friend of 267 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:58.880 the show and private investigator who was closely involved in 268 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:02.359 the searches for Brand. A lot of news programs in 269 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:05.880 podcasts that covered this update have stated that the owners 270 00:18:05.880 --> 00:18:09.200 of the land on which Brandon's body were found were 271 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:12.200 difficult to deal with and had fought to not allow 272 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:16.079 searches on the land. According to Jason Watts, that is 273 00:18:16.279 --> 00:18:19.759 entirely false. The owners of the property don't live in 274 00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:23.119 the county and only use the land for hunting once 275 00:18:23.160 --> 00:18:26.519 in a great while. They had no knowledge of Brandon's 276 00:18:26.599 --> 00:18:30.079 case and were not trying to keep anyone out. In fact, 277 00:18:30.240 --> 00:18:33.759 Jason explained that once he managed to track them down, 278 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:39.000 they were extremely gracious and kind. They immediately granted Jason 279 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:42.079 permission to search the property and also noted that if 280 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:45.240 additional searches would be necessary, they would be more than 281 00:18:45.319 --> 00:18:50.359 happy to oblige. For whatever reason, people often prefer to 282 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:54.759 make up nasty stories instead of simply telling a banal truth. 283 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:59.799 My thoughts and prayers are with Brandon's family and friends 284 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:02.519 the release of his body and the ability to lay 285 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:05.920 him to rest. They've lost an important part of themselves 286 00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:11.000 and their family, a brother, a son, a father. Should 287 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:14.079 there come any additional updates on this case, I will 288 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:17.079 of course supply them as soon as all relevant. 289 00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:18.079 Information can be gathered. 290 00:19:18.920 --> 00:19:23.359 If you have any information about Brandon Lawson, his disappearance, 291 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:26.839 or what happened to him that night, please contact the 292 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:31.480 Texas Department of Public Safety at five one two four 293 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:36.319 two four five zero seven four where he is Case 294 00:19:36.440 --> 00:19:42.000 number M one three zero eight zero zero five. 295 00:19:53.720 --> 00:19:59.720 Episode ninety one, The Disappearance of Dale Dinwiddie, twenty three 296 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:03.920 years old. Dale Dinwiddie attended a U two concert in Columbia, 297 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:07.640 South Carolina with friends on the night of Wednesday, September 298 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:11.759 twenty third, nineteen ninety two. After the show, Dale and 299 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:15.000 her friends decided to swing through the Five Points area 300 00:20:15.039 --> 00:20:18.599 of the city and ultimately stopped at a former nightclub 301 00:20:18.680 --> 00:20:23.319 then called Jungle Gyms. After getting separated from her friends, 302 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:25.960 Dale searched for them, but figured they must have caught 303 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.119 a ride home without her. She was last seen by 304 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:32.480 a bouncer exiting the club and walking north on Hardin 305 00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:36.319 Street sometime between one point fifteen and one thirty am 306 00:20:36.640 --> 00:20:40.880 on what had become Thursday September twenty fourth. Her purse 307 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:43.559 was left behind at the club, and she has never 308 00:20:43.599 --> 00:20:47.920 been seen again. Police have pursued multiple angles and theories, 309 00:20:47.960 --> 00:20:53.039 including one which suggested that perhaps alleged serial killer Raynaldo 310 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:57.559 Javier Ray Rivera may have been involved. He is a 311 00:20:57.599 --> 00:21:00.960 suspect in multiple homicides and at the time of the 312 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:05.400 disappearance was attending school at the University of South Carolina, 313 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:10.279 not far from the Five Points district. However, this was 314 00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:13.680 but one of many possibilities, and for the last three 315 00:21:13.759 --> 00:21:18.680 decades the case has remained actively investigated but growing colder 316 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:29.559 until perhaps now case update. More than thirty years later, 317 00:21:29.799 --> 00:21:32.839 a new theory about what happened to Dale that September 318 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:35.920 night is being considered, and it turns the case on 319 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:40.680 its head. According to Paul c of Irmo South Carolina, 320 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:44.880 the entire alleged abduction and homicide may not have been 321 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:48.799 carried out as a targeted attack, but instead the result 322 00:21:48.920 --> 00:21:53.480 of a bizarre and devious case of mistaken identity. C 323 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:57.160 has already been in conversation with the Richland County Sheriff's 324 00:21:57.160 --> 00:22:01.599 Department as well as the Columbia Police Department. According to him, 325 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:05.000 he has had meetings with these agencies. Since coming forward 326 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:08.920 with new information dating back more than nine months to 327 00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:13.240 October of twenty twenty four, See told reporters that at 328 00:22:13.279 --> 00:22:15.960 each of the two interviews he took part in, there 329 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:18.599 was also a member of the South Carolina State Law 330 00:22:18.680 --> 00:22:25.400 Enforcement Division, also known as SLEDG. According to c his 331 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:28.680 theory begins back in nineteen seventy eight when he was 332 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:32.640 growing up in Irma. That year, the family of Don 333 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:36.119 Michele Adkins moved to town and settled into a home 334 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:39.559 just a few doors down from Sea's family. The two 335 00:22:39.640 --> 00:22:43.000 would become quick friends, and seven years later, in nineteen 336 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:47.680 eighty five, when See graduated from Irmo High School, Atkins 337 00:22:47.799 --> 00:22:52.759 married a man named James Adolph Campbell. Campbell has a 338 00:22:52.960 --> 00:22:55.720 very colorful history when it comes to breaking the law 339 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:59.079 and has served long sentences at different points in time. 340 00:22:59.599 --> 00:23:04.400 Later winding up on North Carolina's Death Row, Campbell ended 341 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:08.440 up being found guilty of assaulting a Richland County school secretary, 342 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:11.000 for which he was sentenced to eight years at the 343 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:14.799 Broad River Correctional Institution. In nineteen eighty. 344 00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:18.640 Nine, Atkins filed for divorce and was granted one from Campbell, 345 00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:22.960 who was behind bars. Two years later, in nineteen ninety one, 346 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:27.319 she remarried, this time to a man named Herbert Branham, 347 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:31.319 with whom she had a daughter. Campbell was released from 348 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:34.680 custody of the South Carolina Department of Corrections in nineteen 349 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:38.559 ninety two and quickly moved to Rowan County, North Carolina, 350 00:23:38.839 --> 00:23:39.920 where he had family. 351 00:23:40.640 --> 00:23:42.480 Over the course of the next four. 352 00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:46.440 Months, though Campbell committed multiple crimes in what one newspaper 353 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:48.119 article described as an. 354 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:50.000 Epic crime binge. 355 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:53.359 It was during this four month period that Sea claims 356 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:56.319 Campbell put into action a plan to get back at 357 00:23:56.400 --> 00:24:00.440 Don Atkins, his ex wife, which may have ultimately led 358 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:03.240 to Dale Dinwiddie being mistakenly. 359 00:24:02.680 --> 00:24:03.960 Caught in the cross fire. 360 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:08.880 According to C, not long after his release, Campbell spoke 361 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:12.200 with another ex KHN who had his own complex history 362 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:17.079 with law enforcement, a man named Terry Lee Huddo. According 363 00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:20.920 to C, Campbell hired Huddo to track down his ex wife. 364 00:24:21.640 --> 00:24:24.720 Huddo was to abduct the woman and return her to Campbell, 365 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:28.039 at which time he likely had nefarious plans for her. 366 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:32.599 According to C, Campbell gave Huddo a photograph of Atkins 367 00:24:32.599 --> 00:24:35.480 so he could identify the woman, as well as having 368 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:38.599 gone into as much detail as he could about her habits, 369 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:43.000 including clubs and bars that she frequented. Of course, by 370 00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:46.160 that time, Atkins had a child and her days of 371 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:49.400 clubbing were behind her, but Campbell didn't know. 372 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:50.880 His information was outdated. 373 00:24:51.799 --> 00:24:57.079 Addressing that particular area, she told Fitnews quote, according to 374 00:24:57.119 --> 00:24:59.880 the former husband, she used to go clubbing in the 375 00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:03.240 Five Points region back in the nineteen eighties, and as 376 00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:06.720 far as he knew, she still did. That's why he 377 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:10.039 instructed Terry Lee Huddo to look for her there with 378 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:13.279 the picture of Dawn that mister Huddo had been provided. 379 00:25:13.960 --> 00:25:17.680 Wednesday and Thursday nights were when she usually went to 380 00:25:17.720 --> 00:25:22.400 the clubs. Campbell had a history of violence against women. 381 00:25:22.880 --> 00:25:25.000 During a trial in which he was charged with the 382 00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:29.319 nineteen ninety two murder of Catherine Price, the prosecution pointed 383 00:25:29.319 --> 00:25:31.720 out that whenever Campbell had a problem with a woman, 384 00:25:32.160 --> 00:25:35.880 he'd turned violent, saying, quote, he was mad at a 385 00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:37.200 girlfriend each time. 386 00:25:37.640 --> 00:25:40.119 That's what compels him to do what he does. 387 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:44.200 See went on to theorize that on the night of 388 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:48.880 Dale's disappearance, she was mistakenly taken by Huddo, who working 389 00:25:48.920 --> 00:25:52.599 off only an outdated photograph, may have thought he grabbed 390 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:56.559 the right person. Don Atkins, at the time, shared a 391 00:25:56.599 --> 00:25:59.839 resemblance with Dale, and she was also known to frequent 392 00:25:59.880 --> 00:26:04.079 the Five Points. Both women were attractive, petite blonds in 393 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:07.279 their twenties, and while side by side under the bright 394 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:10.920 light of day, one would hardly confuse the two. A 395 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:13.759 man who'd never met either and was searching for a 396 00:26:13.799 --> 00:26:17.119 woman with an old picture in dimly lit clubs may 397 00:26:17.160 --> 00:26:19.799 not have known the difference until it was too late. 398 00:26:20.680 --> 00:26:23.799 Then. Of course, there's also the issue of timing. 399 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:27.680 Dale was abducted the night of Thursday, September twenty fourth, 400 00:26:27.759 --> 00:26:32.039 nineteen ninety two. Campbell was arrested for the Wednesday, September 401 00:26:32.119 --> 00:26:38.160