Sueann Ray's Husband Accepts Plea Deal for Her 2005 Muder

Late Monday afternoon I received a phone call from the family of Sueann Ray. I was told that Tuesday morning @ 9 a.m. Quinton Ray would be accepting a plea deal in order to avoid the death penalty he was facing. In this plea deal, Quinton Ray would be given two life sentences with the possibility of parole after he serves 20 years.

For those of you who have followed my blog entries and my cases, you will recall the urgency of Sueann Ray since the very beginning. Sueann was the first cousin on Heather Teague who has been missing since August 1995. In fact, Sueann Ray vanished on the 10th anniversary of her first cousin. It all began as a weird coincidence, but would end this past Tuesday (May 22nd) with many of our questions being answers as to why it happened on that date.

Upon the arrival to the court house, I met with the family and we headed up to the main court room where Quinton Ray was being led into the room just as we were. He showed no emotion on his face, just as all other occasions we've seen him. The proceeding began and then District Attorney, Joe Hendricks, Jr. began to read over the wire tap transcripts where Quinton Ray made a stunning confession of how he methodically planned Sueann's murder some six months before he actually killed her. In the transcripts we heard how Sueann arrived at his house on what turned out to be the date Quinton Ray planned for her to die. In his transcripts he revealed that he'd planned a date that would impact the family, especially Sueann's father, Danny Jenkins that he hated. He said that August 26, 2005 just happened to fall on a Friday when he knew Sueann would more than likely be at his residence. This particular date was also close to Fall of the year and after she was buried in the ground, the leaves and twigs would fall onto the grave in the woods and help cover it up. After determining the date, and after Sueann Ray avoided his advances toward her that late August afternoon, Quinton Ray stated that he went into his bedroom and changed into a long sleeve shirt and took out his latex gloves that he'd set aside. He detailed how he choked Sueann to death and then lay her lifeless body on his bed. He'd then go onto detail how he'd trained for nearly five months so his body would be in perfect shape to carry her body into the woods to bury her.

All the months we searched for Sueann and after all the discussions of how we thought he'd planned and carried out Sueann's death, so many of our questions were answered. His conversation was so matter of factly that it was disgusting. I knew that somehow we had to remain calm otherwise we'd have to leave the courtroom and that was not what I wanted.

Then it was time for the judge to go over all of Quinton Ray's rights and make sure he understood that he was pleading GUILTY to murdering Sueann and that he was accepting this sentence. I was so amazed how someone who thought they were so big and bad in the end decided to take that plea deal because he was scared he was going to die. Not for a second did he wonder if Sueann was scared that night as she was dieing. He totally didn't care about anything but saving his own life. When it came time for him to say something to the court and to the family, he didn't want to speak - nor look at anybody. This just shows me of what a coward he really is. Part of me thinks that his hell will begin once he is confined to a facilty where he is not allowed any freedom or to laugh in the faces of any more police officers or others. If I could say one thing to Quinton Ray, I'd like to ask him, "was it really worth it"? Did he really think that in the midst of all of his anger, jealousy, and misplaced hatred over a failed relationship, that murdering Sueann would ever be tolerated by our justice system? Is it really going to be worth spending the rest of his life beind bars? He could've accepted the fact it was over, and possibly met someone else and just let Sueann go on living, but he couldn't. So now, his life will be dictated by somebody else all day long forever.

While we will never really understand the mind of a killer, we can find comfort in the fact that we were able to find Sueann and bring her home. We were able to bring her killer to justice and maybe now, part of this nightmare can gain some sort of closure.

Sueann's family became my family after all the searching we did, and after all the 100's of phone calls we shared throughout this case. We still have one other loved one missing in this family who needs to be found (Heather Teague). It will be two years since Sueann was murdered this August, and 12 years since Heather was abducted. Hopefully by the grace of God Heather's case will be solved soon and this family can begin to heal. There will not be a day that passes that I do not think about Sueann and all the stories I heard about her and what a wonderful person she was. I'll have to imagine what she was like from photos and stories because sadly I'll never know her personally because of what happened. With one of my cases closed, and with a fairly decent sentence to the one responsible, I can feel better about the case of Sueann Ray.

Now we just need to remember Sueann and continue to write letters deligently to the parole board to ensure Quinton Ray stays behind bars.

Information from 11Alive News - Includes Video Link:

A Pickens County man described how he methodically planned his wife's murder for six months. That evidence was revealed Tuesday in court when Quinton Ray pled guilty to murder and kidnapping.Ray was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in a Jasper court room. He admitted strangling his wife Sue Ann Ray in August of 2005. She was missing for six months until her body was found in a shallow grave in a wooded area of northern Cherokee County. In court, Pickens County District Attorney Joe Hendricks read a transcript from an audio-taped conversation ray had with a confidential informant. In that conversation, Ray detailed a six month plan to kill his wife. He also talked about how he worked out for five months so that he would be strong enough to carry her body into the woods.The plea avoids a trial. If he had gone to trial, prosecutors would have sought the death penalty. District Attorney Hendricks said after the plea and sentencing "It was not a situation where he was upset about his wife's infidelity and lost it, he had clearly been planning this for a period of time."Sue Ann Ray's sister Sandy Chasm said "It's kind of hard to hear him just laughing and cutting up about what he did to my sister." Ray told the informant that it took him 90-seconds to kill Sue Ann. He said he told her "You can fight, but it won't do no good." He then placed his arm around her neck and pulled every time she let out a breath.Ray told the informant he dug the grave five months before he murdered his wife. He said he had no regrets and no conscience. When the informant asked him if he felt guilty, Ray responded "I wouldn't have spent six months planning if I was gonna feel guilty about it."Ray's attorney Douglas Ramseur said "Those statement were made while he was intoxicated, while he was under the influence of alcohol." Ramseur said his client is remorseful. Sandy Chasm said "He planned it for six months; he worked out for five months so he could carry her body, that’s not someone who cares."Quinton Ray will be eligible for parole in twenty-years. He will be 48-years old. Sue Ann Ray's family said they will do everything possible to make sure he doesn't get it. Sandy Chasm said she will start a letter-writing campaign to the parole board this week. Quinton Ray's father Daniel Ray also entered a plea in court Tuesday. He was charged with hindering the apprehension of a suspect. Daniel Ray was sentenced to five years probation. Investigators said he helped his son dump his wife's car in a Woodstock shopping center to divert police.

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_news.aspx?storyid=97438&provider=top

Sueann Ray's Website:

www.FindSueann.Org - Website now Memorial and Information Site

Find Carrie - Angel Garden of Hope Wins Award For Keeper of the Flame

Nearly three weeks ago our group attended the third annual CUE Conference for the Missing in Wilmington, North Carolina. Each year, law enforcement, advocates, and families of those missing and murdered attend this conference to learn about missing person issues and to connect with others. This year the title of the conference was titled "Bridging the Gap" and I thought the title was so appropriate.

This year, unlike last year, was very warm and beautiful outside. It was picture perfect weather outside for having the second annual vigil and missing person wall that was held on the second day of the conference.

To my suprise, our group was given an award by CUE Center for "Keeper of the Flame" for our efforts to assist those the families of those missing and lost. At first, I didn't think I should write about this in our blog because I didn't want to appear as if we were bragging about this, but the more I thought about this, the more I realized that this award was not about me or my group, it was about Carrie Culberson and how she's changed our lives. So, with that being said, I wanted to share with you the highlights of why our group was at this meeting and what winning that award really meant to all of us.

This year some people I've been communicating with for a few months online decided to attend this conference. They were first timers and didn't know what to expect. The first family was that of Patty Brightwell Vaughan who vanished on Christmas day 1996. Even though there has been a mountain of evidence, there has yet to be a conviction to the last person to see her alive. I will not name him. Patty's sister traveled 18 hours from Texas to be at the conference and I'm so very glad she did. After months of talking online and building the website for Patty, I felt as if she was family already.

The second family who came to the conference was the family of Christie Wilson from California who just won a conviction this last October 2005 against a man that Christie was last seen leaving a casino with when she vanished forver. Chrisitie's murderer was convicted without her body and taken OFF the streets. Her parents Pat and Debbie Boyd flew from Southern California to join the CUE Conference and it was their first time. I was glad to see them there. Surely we have something in common with both Christie and Carrie missing, and winning a conviction without their bodies.

Some of the classes that were taught this year were regarding GPS, Crime Scene Preservation, and most everyone's favorite teacher, David Van Norman of the San Berdino California Coroner's Office who taught us about missing and unidentifieds.

What I want everyone to understand is that with each visitor to this conference all the others that are happening throughout the year, is that we are searching for something important. For our group, we are searching for Carrie and we cannot give up until find her. Our duty will not end once she's located, but a great burden will be lifted once she's found and brought home. Carrie is the driving force behind all of the miles we travel, all the interviews we give, and all the assistance we give to help others. We cannot forget about the one person who changed everything for me and my family. She's the reason that brought us to know all these wonderful people and she's the reason that we developed the knowledge to help others when somebody they love turns up missing.

I thank the CUE Center for recognizing our efforts to help others, but actually this award wasn't for us, it was for Carrie, who changed everything for me and my family. I'll never stop looking until I find you.

Related Links:

See Additional Photos From the Conference HERE

Cue Center For the Missing

The Discovery of Shawn Hornbeck

Friday I spent most of the day in bed feeling under the weather. I had not been online very much at all when my cell phone began to ring. It was Karen Jo Smith's mom - Patti Bishop calling me as she does periodically. As the conversation began, Patti says, "Jill where have you been"? I said, "here at home, just resting". Patti says, "you haven't seen the news or been on Court TV have you"? Well no....
Patti then says, "you know they found Shawn Hornbeck, don't you". My responce was oooh nooo, where'd they find his body? Patti said, NO JILL, he's ALIVE!!! I said, "but Patti... Shawn has been gone for four years"!!! I was in complete shock from the news and then Patti went on to tell me that the other young man who had been kidnapped from the bus stop earlier this week was found with Shawn in the same house, being held by a sex offender. Shawn Hornbeck had been missing since early October of 2002.
I really don't recall much of the conversation after that but I told Patti I had to tell my mom and some others because They just were not going to believe this wonderful news.

As I began sending out the email to everyone and my cell phone started ringing off the hook, DID YOU HEAR THE NEWS? SHAWN HORNBECK IS ALIVE...., my thoughts started to go back to this past October when Shawn's age progressed photo was released by National Center for Missing Children and we were passing it around to help circulate it. In the back of my mind, I believed Shawn was not alive when all along he was not dead. Looking back at the age-progressed photo of Shawn, it doesn't really look like him and after seeing him on TV, I would not have recognized him had I seen him out in public. Apparenly some local people had seen him but didn't call the police because they obviously didn't realize it was "Shawn Hornbeck".

There's obviously many unaswered questions surrounding the disappearance of Shawn and hopefully in good time he will talk to the media so those of us who have followed his case since he vanished can learn more about what happened.
(age-progressed photo of Shawn Hornbeck - released Oct. 2006 - Far Left)

In the missing person arena, we seldom have good news of someone being recovered alive and well. Usually the phone calls we receive are those that someone has been found deceased and the search is then on for the person or person who caused their death. It was a great day to have this happen.
Shawn and cases like his, give searchers hope that there are some cases where you have absoletly NOTHING to work with, that there's a possibility that these people are out there and they are being held against their will. Some of the cases, you just don't know. I wish that I could know with all of them and those who are not coming home alive, well, we need to have them back as well.

My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the family of Shawn Hornbeck and Ben Ownby. Here's one for the good guys. I wish this could happen always with all cases.

See Also:

www.ShawnHornbeck.Com

Revisiting the Day Patrice Endres Was Located

Tomorrow afternoon (Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006) will mark the one year anniversary that two men working behing a small church in rural Dawson County Georgia discovered Patrice Endres' body. They stumbled upon her by accident after being drawn to the location after seeing vultures flying near a deceased deer that had died just a few feet away from where Patrice's body had been disposed of nearly two years earlier by an unknown assailant.

For those of you who don't know, Patrice was the second missing person case I ever worked on. Carrie was obviously the first and the reason I began working with the missing. Patrice Endres vanished on April 15, 2004 just miles away from my home and my family sprung into action with the local police to help try to find her. Patrice was abducted from her private owned and operated hair salon in between her scheduled appointments. Her disappearance was mysterious and it almost seemed that someone had to know her schedule in order to pull off something like that. The abductor left behind nothing but Patrice's handbag turned over on the counter, a microwave cut off midway through heating up lunch, and a cash register open with no money left inside. Months would pass and no sign of Patrice could be found. We held fundraisers, to raise her reward in hopes that someone would come forward, but to no avail, Patrice was still missing.

As a year has passed with Patrice's case, I wanted to share with the viewers of this blog some of the personal aspects of my personal journey to find Patrice. You may find these interesting.

Six months into Patrice's disappearance, authorities claimed that a possible suspect by the name of Jeremy Jones claimed he abducted and killed Patrice. He told authorities he disposed of Patrice in a nearby river and massive searches turned up nothing. After Patrice's discovery, it appeared that Jones had lied about the whole thing, or did he? Will we ever know for sure?

Aside from the total shock of the two construction workers finding Patrice last year, my memory goes back to one of the nights that is now forever etched in my memory. That night was Sept. 18, 2004 to be exact. Just a few months after Patrice had been missing. Georgia was going through a massive blackout from winds and rain from a hurricane that was passing over land that had just hit Mobile, Alabama. It was rainy, hot and stuffy inside my apartment but I couldnt sleep. As the rain continued to fall at a steady pour outside, all I could think about was that odds were that Patrice was lieing somewhere in the woods needing to be found, because after a stranger abduction, chances are the abductor does not travel far with them. The longer the rain and wind continued, the more upset I became. Although I had no idea where Patrice was or no proof she was even deceased, my heart raced with anxiety.

As the night drug on, I began physically ill and had to go up the street to my relatives house to where there was power. The night passed and the rain finally went away. Patrice was still missing.

What I would come to learn later on was that the exact night I was having the panic attack, another woman, by the name of Lisa Nichols in Alabama had been raped and set on fire by Jeremy Jones inside her home. Lisa Nichols' case would later be the one case that sent Jeremy Jones to trial for a murder charge. Jeremy Jones would be sentenced to death nearly a year later for killing Lisa, and just seven days after that, Patrice's body would be found by accident by the hunters. As it turns out Patrice had been just where I suspected she was that very night -- all alone in the woods, needing to be found.

As authorities continue to work on Patrice's case, I have to wonder if Jeremy Jones was actually connected to Patrice because of the personal issues I felt but maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me? I'll never forget the impact Patrice's case had on my life and the continued need to bring her killer to justice. I think about Patrice just about every time I see something purple because that was her color. I think about how her favorite perfume was White Diamonds and how much she loved Brighton just like me. She would've been a great friend had I known her through more than just a missing person report.

Through the loss of Patrice, I was able to get to know all of the alleged victims of Jeremy Brian Jones and their families. They were all wonderful people that woke up just having a normal day and it ended in a blink of an eye to unnecessary violence. Although he'll never be able to harm anyone again, I have to wonder if he'll just come clean and tell us if he did indeed murder Patrice that fateful day.

I'll pray that God reveals all those questions that we still have. At least Patrice is no longer out there waiting for us to locate her. She's finally home.

If you have ANY information regarding the unsolved murder of Patrice Tamber Endres, you are asked to contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at their toll free tip line 1-800-597-TIPS. There is now a $30,000 REWARD in place. You may remain anonymous if needed.

Website for Patrice - Justice For Patrice

For Lisa Nichols - Victim of Jeremy Brian Jones

More Clues Deliberately Destroyed In Culberson Case?

As you already know, there are many parts to Carrie's case that are not posted on her website or any message forum because we do not want to take any chances on the leads being damaged or destroyed. No matter how small or insignificant they may seem, they simply cannot go live until they've been gone over and are found to be safe for publication. There are even things that I am not even aware of and I can accept that if it leads to locating Carrie.

With that being said, I go back to this past August --- August 26, 2006 to be exact. My group was in route to Ohio to join several others for the weekend to remember Carrie who would be missing on that Monday the 28th for a full decade. What I didn't know on the 26th was that something very eerie and out of place was going down just down the road from where the mystery all began. You'll want to keep reading if you've been following this case.

Fast forward to Mid day on the 28th the anniversary of Carrie's disappearance. The day we all were not looking forward to but had to prepare for. The day was spent going over the last day of Carrie's life with her mother Debra Culberson and the members of the Midwest Coalition. We drove out to the places were Carrie was last known to be seen just before Vincent Doan murdered her and hid her body along with his co-conspirators.
At the end of our tour, we ended up at a location I requested to see because of the AETV presentation "Where Is Carrie Culberson". It was the "other" barn that Doan's mother took American Justice TV producers out to and claimed that it needed to be searched but nobody would check it out. I wanted to see this location because I have a video and photo log of every point of interest in the Culberson case. As we drove closer to the location, we were SHOCKED to see that "other" barn was BURNT to the ground.

Following directly behind me, Carrie's mom and the others were looking and wondering ---- WHY was this barn burnt down and when? I can clearly remember the burnt smell nearby and the weak feeling I had come over me standing in the clearing. It was so strong I had to go back to car and sit down I was so upset. At the time I thought that my emotions were all out of control because we'd just been near the junkyard where Carrie's body was but now that these reports have come out that this barn was burnt just two days before we arrived, I believe my feeling was something more. It was a feeling of pure out evil and someone trying to stop us from ever finding Carrie.

We left the barn's location and the photos and information we had was to be given to the police department ASAP. I made no mention of it and nobody discussed it, although we found it very odd. We've waited and now, it appears that our suspicians are becoming ever so clear. Somebody is continuing to toy with the community and those who continue to quest to location Carrie Culberson. What was at the barn that made it so necessary to burn it down right before the anniversary of her 10 year disappearance? Did you know we'd be out there? Was there something that we could've found?

It appears that there is more to Carrie's disappearance than what most of us can really understand. I believe that there are some people who don't really know anything but like to think they do, and like to stir up painful memories for kicks. Then there are the ones who really know, and they like to do a little something here and there just to let some us know that they have the leverage of this whole situation.

It appears this is a very diabolical situation that only a doctor can understand. It is what it is, and why we cannot just get her back, is beyond me.

One thing is for sure. We are not ready to give up and we will find Carrie.

See related article from Channel 12 News below:


Potential Clues May Have Burned In Culberson Case
LAST UPDATE: 11/29/2006 6:24:24 PM
Video
The murder of Carrie Culberson has been one of the Tri-State's most talked about crimes for the past decade. Culberson's abusive boyfriend, Vince Doan, is spending his life in prison for murder, even though Carrie's body has never been found. New talk about where her remains might be had detectives asking lots of questions in recent months. Then something strange happened that Local 12's Deborah Dixon tells us has cops more curious than ever. The F.B.I. helped dig up the floor of a barn in Brown County two springs ago because of information Carrie Culberson was killed and buried there. It was during this dig, that people started talking. Different people were saying the same thing. Debbie Culberson still lives in Blanchester. So, people can tell her what they hear and what they know. Recently, the information about the right barn got hot...really hot. That's exactly what Penn was doing, and people in town knew it, when something very curious happened. The barn owned by the same family as the other barn burned to the ground in the middle of the night. It was two days before the tenth anniversary of Carrie's disappearance.Wayne township responded. They determined the barn burning is suspicious. Detective Penn said a burned out barn won't keep him away. Deborah Dixon, Local 12. The Messer family filed suit against the police departments that dug up the barn floor two years ago. Since the F.B.I. was involved and the dig was ordered by a judge, the suit is not expected to go far.
http://www.wkrc.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=022D4C0C-1333-40EE-B609-E25251A20244

When a Disappearance Causes Positive Changes

Often times when we think of a disappearance, it's surrounded by all the sad and negative aspects. We think of the pain and suffering the family goes through and we should. Having a loved one vanish is something that is very traumatic and it's very difficult to understand and accept. There's no goodbye in most cases and most of the time, there's always constant questions and many sleepless nights.

Last October 2005, Tara Grinstead vanished from her home in Ocilla, Georgia after arriving home from a night out with friends. To date her disappearance remains unsolved and there just does not seem to be any resolve to this case in sight. Numerous message forums and websites have sprung up and most of them are posts of inaccurate information and defamatory comments towards the family and aquaintances of Tara. Tara's case seems to have caused some major divides both online and in the general community where she disappeared from. It's baffling to see the way some people have presented themselves.

As an advocate of the missing, my family went down to Ocilla to aid in the search for Tara on two occasions. During that time, I became familiar with some of the people who were geniune in their search for Tara. One of those people I met was Brett Walker, who at the time was a student of Tara's at the school where she taught.

Every time I was at the command post, Brett was there, just working away. Walker and another person from that same group of youth drove the 250 plus miles from Ocilla to Cartersville, Georgia for Sueann Ray's funeral that we had in March shortly after her body was discovered. When I first met Brett, Sueann Ray was still currently missing.

As time drug on, I stayed in contact with Brett and he told me on several occasions that he felt like he needed to begin doing something for the missing and was serious about it. Shortly after he decided he wanted to help, I learned that he had enrolled in classes to become a paramedic and a K9 handler which assists in the search and recovery of missing people. His story was something I wanted to share with my viewers here on this blog. There's been so many negative things that have come out of this mystery surrounding Tara's disappearance. I felt like we needed to show something positive on how Tara has changed somebody's life in a positive way.

Below is a small interview I did with Brett Walker and with his permission, I'm going to post this for all of you to learn more about him.
We can all learn something about Tara and while she remains missing, we need to remain focused on our search for her. We need to put more positive and less negative towards this search. Fighting amongst ourselves, posting things that hold no backing, are simply unnecessary. All the energy that is misplaced, could come together and build a large team to help find her. Have a look at the information this young man gave me and how he's changed with this disappearance of Tara Grinstead.

Explain how you knew Tara Grinstead and the impact she sad on your life up until she vanished last October 2005

Brett Walker: I knew Tara Through school, and through her father and stepmom. My mom works at the same school she worked at. I knew her from her Father and My grandfather working together. She made a impact on my life, by just being herself she was a wonderful teacher, friend, and a sholder to lean on, know matter what you needed she would make sure you got it. She made learning fun, many problem students who had failed all other classes who come out on top in her's she just made learning fun!

After Tara mysteriously disappeared, what was it that made you decide to step forward to assist to help with the command center?

Brett Walker: I was actually there from night 1 helping go door to hand out filers and see if anyone knew anything assisting the command center came later. The reason i helped was because I wanted her found she was my teacher and friend and I just wanted to help get her back!

How soon after Tara’s disappearance did you realize that you’d been called to do something in the missing person field and why?

Brett Walker: Well I guess you would say i didn't realize i was called to this field I kinda FELL in so to speak. I had always been interested in K9 search and rescue and the dirctor of the Tara Center at the time got me in touch with Angie Batten from Dog South, and from then on I was hooked! I just want to help bring some peace and mind to families of missing loved ones..

Describe how Tara’s disappearance has impacted your life and do you think your life would’ve taken a different course had Tara not disappeared?

Brett Walker: In the beginning it was really hard. I still miss her and still want to find her. I feel that I probably wouldn't have taken the path in live I am taking now if she had not disappeared. I probably wouldn't have been introduced to Dog South.

What do you think Tara Grinstead would want the community of Ocilla and others to remember about her since this tragic event?

Brett Walker: Just what a wonderful person she was and how she made such an inpact on her students and anyone she came into contact with, I mean you could be all down and out and she would just bring out a smile in you.

What do you think about all the negative publicity and negativity surrounding facts, fiction that has clouded around the area of Ocilla Georgia since the disappearance of Tara?

Brett Walker: I don't really like it, I have found myself many times attempting to defend her honor when I hear something negative about her, and have corrected many people who have spreaded rumours.
Do you believe that there are some facts and material surrounding the disappearance of Tara that could help solve this case that have intentionally hid by those who have the ability to do so?

Brett Walker: Yes Definatly!

What do you hope others can learn from your deciding to take a stand for those lost and missing because of this one particular case?

Brett Walker: I used to think This can never happen in my town a small town in southern Georgia, but the truth is it can happen anywhere. I wish more people would take a stand for the missing. I am 20 years old and when i first started it was a month before my 18th birthday. Some people say I am too busy to get involved with stuff like this, when it first started I was going to high school, college, and working a monday-friday job and still found time to dedicate my life to helping find Ms. Tara.
Is there anything else that you’d like to let our blogging community know that you feel is important?

Brett Walker: Please pray for Tara, and rember rumours only hurt the search for Tara!

Related Links:

www.MissingTara.Com

Update in Rachel Cooke Disappearance Mystery

Just days ago news broke that a man by the name Michael Moore had confessed to the Jan. 10, 2002 disappearance and then murder of Rachel Louise Cooke. Many of us in the missing person arena were stunned to see this man's face and the news because many of us have followed Rachel's case from the beginning and have all come to know her dad, Robert Cooke because he's such a strong advocate for the missing.

With all missing person mysteries, it always takes you back a few feet when you finally see the person that is believed to be responsible for the disappearance of these loved ones. No matter how you picture these evil people, it's always so strange to see them.

Michael Moore's stunning confession came after he was already serving time for the 2003 murder of another young woman by the name of Christina Moore. His confession and the details of Rachel's murder were gruesome and hard to hear. Michael Moore claimed that bored and needing someone to rob, he went down the road when he ran across Rachel Cooke out jogging that fateful day.

With the confession, Rachel's family had the understanding that Moore was going to plead "guilty" to Rachel's murder, but that is not what happened.
The day Moore was to appear in court along with Rachel Cooke's family and attorney's Michael Moore reneged his guilty plea and changed his plea to "innocent". This added more devastation and disgust to the already suffering family of Rachel Cooke who has been waiting for nearly five years to learn their daughter's fate, and now to bring justice.

Just days after Michael Moore changed his plea, the District Attorney's office temporarily dropped the murder charges against Michael Moore for Rachel Cooke's murder. They claim that they will seek a Grand Jury's indictment for Rachel's murder because they believe he is responsible for her death.

While Rachel's family believe they'll never see Rachel alive again, at this point, they would like to be able to find Rachel and bring her home for a proper burial. They have gone far beyond the call of duty to educate other young women and men on the dangers out there. They are one of the kindest families anyone will ever meet. They did not deserve this to happen to them, nor has any family who has been victimized.

I'm sure there will be a long hall ahead of the Cooke family. This man appears to be toying with their emotions regardless of his involvement with Rachel's disappearance, and for that, I think he needs to be treated like the animal he is. There's some sick people in this world, and I'm just glad this one is off the streets.

I just hope that no matter what happens that Rachel can be found and brought home. This has gone on too long and she needs to be found. As painful as it may be, the truth is better than waiting with not answers at all. May God help the Cooke family through this ordeal.

Related Link:

Cooke's Parents Talk About Moore's Plea
By Rebecca Taylor

(CBS 42) GEORGETOWN Two Georgetown parents are being victimized again, they told CBS 42's Rebecca Taylor -- ever since convicted killer Michael Moore was brought into court with the expectation that he would plead guilty to the murder of Rachel Cooke. Instead he plead not guilty.Cooke disappeared while jogging near her parents' northwest Georgetown home in 2002.Last week convicted killer Michael Moore, already in prison for murdering a Round Rock woman in her home in 2003, reneged on a plea deal after police say he confessed to killing Rachel Cooke.Janet Cooke said she wakes up every day and talks to the daughter who isn't there anymore."I say good morning," she said. "And every night before I go to bed, I say good night. And it's hard for her not to be there anymore."Rachel Cooke went missing nearly five years ago. Her parents now believe she is dead. But, they said, they need to know if convicted killer Michael Moore is to blame."My plea to him is, tell the truth," said her father.But Moore has reportedly retracted a prior confession to killing the 19-year-old -- throwing prosecutors last week into a tailspin, and giving Rachel's mother and father more heartache."I know he has a son, and I'd like him to think what if it was his son -- that somebody was taking advantage of," Robert Cooke said.Robert Cooke doesn't know if Michael Moore killed his daughter. If he did?"I don't want him ever on the streets again," Rachel's father insisted. "He's doesn't belong here. He's not a human being. He needs to stay behind bars."While he waits for answers, he embraces the memories of his little girl."She was a daddy's girl," he said.But he can't stop the thoughts that come to him in the night -- just what might have happened to his little girl."You wake up to it," he said. "In fact, sometimes you have a nightmare and you wake up, you realize that the nightmare was not as scary as your real life."Still, they are holding out hope that they might find answers, so that Rachel -- in some way -- might finally come home."It would mean everything," said her mother. "It would give me that closure that I so dearly want."Until then, Janet Cooke will continue to talk to her daughter -- hoping she'll lead them to her killer."I've told her," she said. "'Let us know -- find some way. -- Let us know.""He's trying to victimize us a second time," said Robert Cooke.Janet Cooke said she would let a jury decide, but she said she has her suspicions."It would not surprise me in the least," she said, "if (Moore) just kills for the killing..."Moore was convicted in February of killing Christina Moore in her Round Rock home. She was 14 weeks pregnant. The two are not related

http://keyetv.com/topstories/local_story_316182308.html

Shouldn't We Be Combing the Landfills for Stacey & Amy Too?

Last November some of you may recall a post on this blog called "All She Wanted, the Disappearance of Stacey Lynn Balas". It was a detailed description of the 1996 disappearance of a young woman from Northern Ohio who vanished without a trace after closing the local Subway shop where she was employed.
At the time it was going on nine years that Stacey had been missing and suspicion had fallen a long time earlier on the last person to see Stacey that night --- Larry Wade. Larry Wade was later arrested and charged with a violent rape and attempted murder of another woman less than three months after Stacey vanished, but up until last year (2005) he was never cooperative in the investigation into the disappearance of Stacey.
Friends, family members, and others were left with only memories and the haunting mystery of what happened to Stacey on that fateful Novemeber night in 1996, as they never believed she would leave on her own accord.

Just as the anniversary of Stacey's disappearance was to come and go as it does every year, the District Attorney's office announced that they were charging Larry Wade with Stacey Balas' 1996 murder although her remains have never been located. Immediately Larry Wade claimed he was innocent and it appeared he was going to fight the charges. He was due for parole from his current prison sentence in June 2007. Apparently the State of Ohio realized just what a threat Wade was and had more information regarding this case than many of us knew about and they decided to move on this just at the right time.

In May of 2006, Larry Wade changed his plea of NOT GUILTY to GUILTY and I believe this was done to avoid facing any possible death penalty. Wade told authorities what I had feared along with many others who had silently searched for Stacey all along. Larry Wade claimed that he had disposed of Stacey's body in a landfill. This makes it difficult if not impossible to ever locate Stacey. Which brings me to the purpose of this blog entry today..........

Just weeks ago we learned that Joanna Rogers who had been missing for two years was located in a landfill in Texas. An in depth search began for Joanna after her suspected killer confessed to her murder and told authorities pretty much where he disposed of Joanna. The county was able to set aside special funds to begin a massive excavation for Joanna and this search went on for at least two or possibly three months until she was found. The search was tedious and I'm sure it was unpleasant.

My question here is if we have a case like Stacey Balas and that of Amy Derewitz where these killers have confessed to the murders of these young women, and they've pretty much given the location of where these people were disposed of, how can it ever be acceptable to just tell the family, "we know what happened, but the chances of locating your loved one is probably never going to happen" when we've had a clear example of how it can be done?


The Derewitz family have told me that they pretty much know the area where Amy is located, but this place has been closed down or condemned, and therefore no searching will take place. How on earth could anybody deal with driving past a place knowing their loved one's body is lost in that pile of trash, murdered at the hands of some sicko and they cannot even have one piece of them back? I just don't understand.

We have had Lori Hacking located, John Fiocco, and Joanna Rogers that massive excavations were done until they were found. People this should be available for every single person because these cases do not end just when somebody is arrested and put behind bars. Although the family knows their loved one is dead and they'll never be home again, they need to have that physical body they used to hold back for a proper burial. This eats away at me to think that this is happening. There has to be a way to find funding for this.

Read All She Ever Wanted - Last November's Story on Stacey

Joe Mammana Puts Up Rewards For Missing & Unsolved Cases

The first time I had ever heard of Joe Mammana was this past July when I was in Indiana for a meeting and weekend to remember Niqui McCowan. Patti and Ed Bishop (along with some others who were present at this meeting) educated Debbie Culberson and I on just who this man is.


Joe Mammana is a businessman who is best known for his high profile crime advocacy and putting up high rewards for missing and unsolved cases. Mammana's most well-known case is the Natalee Holloway case in which he supplied the million dollar reward for.

Mammana turned from a life of crime and violence to begin assisting families and victims in a time of need and in my opinion, he's doing a wonderful thing.

In the last few weeks Joe Mammana has turned up the heat on some of these missing person cases to help find resolve along with the founder(s) of the Midwestern Coaliton for the Missing - Patti Bishop and Darlene Pitts. Mammana has chosen 20 missing person cases from the Midwest to have a $100,000 reward that is in effect for 20 days. The twenty cases for twenty days at $100,000 totals 2 million dollars and Joe believes that this sum of money may quite possibly bring resolve to several of these cases within this time frame.

I believe that this is a great idea and I want to tell you why. This is a lot of money at stake and if someone has information that could give them amount of money, they'd be nuts to continue not give up that information. I support what Joe is doing and although my communication with him was brief because I was working to connect him with Debra Culberson, I believe this man is smart and his tactics work.

See article below:

Seven families of missing Hoosiers have rekindled hope of finding their loved ones -- or at least finding out what happened to them -- thanks to a Philadelphia businessman who is putting up big rewards.
Family members of six of the seven gathered Downtown on Thursday at the Omni Severin Hotel to plead for information and to dangle the lure of $100,000 -- in each case -- to anyone who offers information that locates the missing person or leads to arrests and convictions in the cases.
The Indiana seven are among 20 missing persons cases nationwide tagged with rewards totaling $2 million put up by Joe Mammana, who owns an egg farm and is a former Marine. He has a degree in criminal justice and a police record for charges of aggravated assault, drugs, fraud and theft.
In recent years, however, he has become a crime fighter, putting up sizable rewards in high-profile cases, including that of Natalee Holloway, the Alabama high school student who vanished last year in Aruba.
Last month, Patti Bishop, stepmother of Karen Jo Smith, who disappeared in Indianapolis on Dec. 27, 2000, contacted Mammana about her vision for a "Squeaky Wheel Tour'' to draw attention to missing persons cases.
Mammana liked the idea and agreed to fund rewards to try to draw out information. In short order, he and Bishop devised a plan to offer $2 million for 20 cases for 20 days -- Sunday through Nov. 24 -- with $100,000 dedicated to each case.
Thanks to Bishop's involvement and her knowledge of Indiana cases, the state is heavily represented on the list. The other 13 cases are from Missouri, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Alabama and Arkansas.
"Someone knows something,'' said Kristin Hensley, Plainfield. Her husband, Harold "Brad'' Hensley, was 29 when he went missing Jan. 11. "We just need to get the story out there.''
Hensley is the most recent to go missing of the Indiana cases; Shannon Sherrill has been gone the longest -- she was 6 years old when she disappeared Oct. 5, 1986, from Thorntown.
"There hasn't been a day go by that I haven't hoped that she's found,'' her father, Mike Sherrill, said. "I just hope somebody somewhere comes forward and helps me find my daughter.''
Some of the cases previously have included rewards, but none as large as $100,000 or the cumulative $2 million the families hope will buy them attention. Some investigators share that hope.
"It's my hope that this money will bring someone forward,'' said Lt. Donald Bender of the Indianapolis Police Department's missing persons division. The concept regularly works with the CrimeStoppers program, he noted.
Bishop quoted Mammana, the benefactor: "People will turn in their own family for money.''
Family members and investigators often are frustrated in the belief that people have information but are afraid to come forward. The reward money, they said, might be just the incentive those folks need, said Darlene Pitts, sister of Lola Katherine Fry, Greenwood, missing since Nov. 14, 1993.
"This might shake the right bush,'' she said.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061103/LOCAL/611030488/1006


Patti Bishop's Missing Step-Daughter Karen Jo
www.MissingKarenJo.Com

Two High Profile Georgia Disappearances One Year Later

Friday, October 21, 2005 40 year old Leslie Marva Adams seemed to have vanished into thin air in Lilburn, Georgia. In the days leading up to Leslie's disappearance, she had filed a restraining order against her boyfriend Billy Cook for continued harassment and domestic violence.

Just one day later, in Southern Georgia, Tara Faye Grinstead, a former beauty queen and popular high school teacher, vanished from her home. The only clues that were left behind was a broken lamp in Tara's bedroom and an alarm clock that had fallen off the night stand.
In the days, and weeks following Tara's disappearance, massive searches would follow. At one point, Texas Equusearch who led the search for the missing Aruba teen - Natalee Holloway were stationed in Ocilla, Georgia along with other organizations from Florida and Georgia trying to find any sign of Tara. After several in depth searches, the volunteers and Equusearch had no choice but to leave Ocilla and go home. Tara Grinstead remained missing.

As months would drag on in the Grinstead disappearance, it seemed as if there'd be no new developments, but there would be with the Adams case.
Authorities would release that inside Leslie Adams' apartment there had been a gun shell casing found on the floor and traces of blood that led them to believe that Leslie could have possibly been a victim of foul play. Leslie's boyfriend would be charged with violating his probation and contacting Leslie against the restraining order but, he was not charged in connection with Leslie's disappearance. This only left the family of Leslie Adams even more frustrated and angry.



There has been much speculation that Tara Grinstead was a victim of foul play at the hands of boyfriend as well. Prior to Tara's disappearance, she and her boyfriend of six years had just ended their relationship, but it was "supposidly" an amicable split. There are some people in Ocilla who will tell you otherwise. Their reports state that Marcus Harper was obcessive, jealous and had often called Tara some very nasty names on occasion when seeing her out with another man in public. To date, Harper has never been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Tara Grinstead and he claims he has been "hounded to death" by everyone who thinks he is involved. With only name calling, that is simply not enough for GBI (Georgia Bureau of Investigation) to make an arrest.

While it is known that Leslie Adams and Tara Grinstead are only connected because they vanished on the same weekend, it's a painful reminder for residents of North and South Georgia. Residents here like simple safe living. We do not like to think that there could possibly be a killer roaming the streets that has caused two innocent women to vanish off the face of the earth. We know that nobody really vanishes into thin air. I know that these two are probably very close to the area where they vanished, and it's simply a matter of us finding the clues to lead us to them. It's very difficult to think of these two every day and wonder when and if we will ever know just what happened and where they were placed.
Because from what these families have told me, I know these two did not leave on their own accord. Someone knows what happened.

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Leslie Marva Adams, you are asked to call Detective Marcus Head at 770-513-5300. There is a $25,000 REWARD for Infomration leading to the exact location of Leslie. You remain anonymous if needed.

Leslie Adams Website:
www.Geocities.Com/FindLeslieAdams

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Tara Grinstead, you are asked to call the Georgia Bureau of Investigation @ GBI - (478) 987-4545. There is a $200,000 REWARD. You may remain anonymous if needed.

Tara Grinstead Website
www.MissingTara.Com


Related Articles

Loved Ones March for Leslie Adams

Georgia town moves on, but still wants to mystery solved

Finding Neil Sr. & Neil Jr.(2003 Boat Disappearance Mystery)

Three years ago (October 17, 2003), a mystery began to unfold in Southern Florida when Neil Wayne Eddleman Sr. and his teenage son boarded a boat with Gary Lisk for an overnight fishing trip. The three men were to return by the following day by 6 p.m., but did not. When the boat was still missing on October 19th, Neil Alan’s mother, and ex-wife of Neil Wayne called authorities. It appeared something had clearly gone wrong with the boat excursion and three men were now missing without a trace.
(Pictured left - Neil Alan Eddleman Jr. and Neil Wayne Eddleman Sr.)


On November 3, 2003, what appeared to be boat wreckage washed ashore near NASA’s launch pad (nearly 450 miles from where it was last seen), and it would later be identified as that same boat that the Eddleman’s and Gary Lisk had left in on October 17th. Intertwined in the wreckage authorities would find Gary Lisk’s body. An autopsy could not determine his cause of death, only deepening the mystery surrounding what may have happened to the Eddlemans.

There has been much speculation that something more sinister may have been connected to the disappearance mystery in that the following day after the three men vanished, Gary Lisk’s computer files were all mysteriously corrupted, and all the locks on his residence were changed without warning. Why would somebody do all of this and was it connected to the disappearance(s)?

With Gary Lisk being the only known person to have definitely perished in the boating trip on October 17, 2003, one would have to wonder, did the Eddlemans die as well because of something they witnessed by accident? When would the questions surrounding this mystery ever be answered?

Two years after the mysterious disappearance of the two Neils, Karen Eddleman, ex-wife of Neil Wayne Eddleman, Sr., filed a lawsuit against the boats pilot claiming that they were negligent in the incident that took place in 2003. The suit claims that Eddleman Sr. and Gary Lisk knowingly took Neil Alan out on the open waters without safe guarding the boat’s passengers. In the lawsuit it states that nothing in the weather reports stated that there could be a possible weather change to cause damage to the boat and it goes onto state that the father and son never were found, but it does say the boat's damaged condition suggests "great bodily injury and possible death to the occupants."

While Karen’s lawsuit may cause some people to answer for their careless actions on that fateful day, I wonder if it’ll answer the burning question she still has? That being, “What happened to Neil Alan and will he ever be found”?

Could Gary Lisk been involved in a business deal that went sour? Could Gary have been targeted at a time when he was with two people that could have been potential witnesses to his death and they were taken out as well?
With so many questions and few answers, there’s only one fact that still remains. The two Neils are both still missing without a trace. If they died that same day as Gary Lisk, one has to wonder why they were not discovered as well?

If you have ANY information regarding the disappearances of the Eddlemans, you are asked to call the Naples Police Department (Florida) @ 1-239-213-4844. Please see links provided below for more in depth case information and photos.

Related Links:

Finding the Eddlemans

Finding Neil Alan - Website By His Mom - Includes Disappearance Timeline

Missing Pieces Radio Station for Missing & Unsolved Cases

If you have ever browsed the Doenetwork website, you’ve probably ran across the name “Todd Matthews” at some point. Todd became known for his identification of the “Tent Girl” a.k.a., Barbara Hackman in 1998 who had been missing and unidentified since 1967. While some people in the general community could not understand the importance of what Todd Matthews did for the family of Barbara Hackman, other families who have similar situations think he’s an angel from above.

After the identification of Barbara, Todd’s work did not end there. He felt as if he could not stop with this one case. There were too many others out there who were waiting for identification and their family would never rest until they were given answers.

In Todd’s quest for helping others, he’s started a new radio show with the help of Eric Meadows of WCAN Radio called “Missing Pieces”. This show speaks to families and organizations that deal directly with missing and unsolved cases every Tuesday night at 8 PM EST. This show is something that I feel like has been a long time coming, but probably bypassed by several networks because it touches on something that our communities would like to forget about. In this hour, you’ll hear the cold hard facts about what a family goes through, the efforts to find these people, and just where we’ve come and fallen short in times passed with various cases.
The shows are always different every week so it’s not repetitious. The information that is on there is easy to follow and the listeners can call in and communicate if they want.

If you are just now coming into the missing and unsolved arena and you want to learn more, this is your opportunity to do it. You can learn from the comfort of your own home and you can become more aware of this ongoing problem. We see the stories on Nancy Grace, Greta, Larry King and the other shows. It’s getting worse and as a community we feel like we want to get involved but don’t know where to start.

There’s positive ways to make a difference. Start by listening to this show and supporting Missing Pieces. To view the show schedule, archives of past shows, and more information, visit – www.MissingPieces.Info

Related Information on Todd Matthews:

www.TentGirl.Com
Raising the Dead

Vigil Remembers Elaine Nix - Unsolved Murder Victim

On September 29, 1999 Elaine Nix's lifeless nude body was discovered in an industrial park area. Elaine vanished eight days earlier after going to pay phone to call her boyfriend. Her car was found abandoned and it appeared that nothing had been taken. Since the disappearance and murder of Elaine, there have been few clues and no answers as to what happened that fateful night.

Her family and friends have been left with far too many questions and very little answers. They try daily to find new ways to keep Elaine's case from turning cold, and from being just another cold case.

Every year on the anniversary of the discovery of Elaine's body, family, friends, and others gather at her gravesite located at the Memorial Park Cemetary. They hold a candle lit ceremony and release balloons in Elaine's memory. So far, they leave the vigil without answers and without the closure they need in order for this horrible wound to heal. They wonder if the next year will be the year for justice to be found? As temperatures dropped way down for residents in Georgia today, many people still came out late Friday afternoon to be a part of Elaine's annual vigil. They wanted to remember her, and to let others know that this is unacceptable that a person can be murdered and that a killer can still remain at large.

Our group is always in attendance at the vigil for Elaine. With Elaine being a local case, we have become all too familiar with the police departments working with her case, as well as the family who is still searching for answers. It seems so surreal that something like this could happen this close to our own back yard. You always think that a violent crime will happen someplace other than your own immediate area, but then something changes that.

Somewhere, there is someone that has information regarding the disappearance and murder of Elaine Nix. They've possibly talked to someone about this crime, and if that person who has that vital information could just come forward, then that's all it takes. There is a $5,000 REWARD --- Whoever has committed this crime is still out there. They could be ready to strike again, or probably have done so already.

If you have ANY information regarding the disappearance and death of Elaine Nix, please do the right thing and call Gwinnett County Police Department of Criminal Investigation Division at 770-513-5300.

View All Photos From Elaine's 2006 Vigil

Websites for Elaine Nix

Justice For Elaine

Friends Remember Elaine

Related Article from Gainesville Times - Earlier This Week -----


In a little less than three months, Elaine Nix would have turned 25 years old. But six years ago, someone or something saw to it that she would never reach her 19th birthday. On Sept. 29, 1999, Nix was found dead in a wooded area at an industrial park in Buford, two miles from the Hall County line. Her body showed no signs of rape or torture. Family members and friends plan to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Park Funeral Home to hold a candlelight vigil in her memory, an annual gathering since the teenager's mysterious death. "Elaine was and still is one of my best friends and this year marks six long years since her murder," Jennifer Boyd, one of Nix's closest friends, said in an e-mail. "Family and friends still don't know anything surrounding her (death)." Nix disappeared after midnight Sept. 21, 1999. She was seen last at a pay phone at Zack's Food Rack on Candler Road in South Hall. Authorities say phone records indicate she spent nearly an hour on the phone with her former boyfriend, Bobby Millwood of Cleveland. Elaine's 1986 Toyota Celica was found later that night at the convenience store with the keys in the ignition and the engine still warm. After her body was found, an autopsy revealed no obvious injuries or signs of sexual assault. Nix's cause of death still is undetermined. "How can we go on?" asked Elaine's father, David Nix, three years ago. "Part of us is gone." Six years have passed and no solid information has turned up to lead investigators to a possible suspect or cause of death. Sgt. E.T. Edkin with the Gwinnett County criminal investigations division still takes calls on the case to date, but says there has been nothing significant in recent years. "No new leads," he said with a sigh. "I still take sporadic calls on it but they haven't helped us any." Edkin said the last call came in some time in July. He even got a Teletype on a possible serial killer from LaGrange, but he hasn't heard anything about that recently. "We've had plenty of suspects, but there are no new ones," he said. "It's considered a cold case now. When leads come in we will look into it, but it's not an everyday investigation." That hasn't stopped Becky and David Nix in the search for their daughter's alleged killer. A reward fund was created soon after Elaine's death, reaching $10,000 at one point. But as years passed and the investigation became almost stagnant, some foundations pulled money out of the reward fund. Boyd said $5,000 is left in the fund for anyone with information that leads to an arrest in Elaine's death. "Elaine's family and friends have had a really hard time dealing with all of this," Boyd said. "Her parents have almost lost everything they have and they don't have the money to hire a private investigator or put any more money up for the reward fund." Hal Lowder, a private investigator with Eagle Watch Investigations in Gainesville, has volunteered to assist with the case. Lowder, a former fire investigator with Hall County, was returning from Louisiana last week and could not be reached for comment. Boyd and Becky Nix also attended the "Montel Williams Show" last November looking for answers from psychic Sylvia Browne. Becky Nix said following the show that Browne gave her a description and name of the man who may have killed her daughter, but she said she didn't know the name. Edkin said last week that Browne's information did not lead to anything new, but he said another psychic e-mailed him after the show aired with his own theory of what happened. Although there have been no answers to Elaine's death, family members and friends still hold on to the fact that somebody may know something. "Awareness is vital and we want to let everyone know that Elaine is important to us," Boyd said.

Ray Pleads NOT GUILTY to Murdering his wife Sueann Ray

On Wednesday, September 20, 2006 I headed to a Pickens County courthouse to appear on behalf of Sueann Ray's family who were unable to attend the court proceedings for the formal arraignment for Quinton Ray who was finally arraigned for the charges of murdering Sueann Ray on August 26, 2005.
It was an hour drive for me to the courthouse where the media was waiting ready for any reaction for either side of what is going to one of the biggest murder cases that Jasper Georgia has probably ever seen.

As the charges were read by District Attorney, Joe Hendricks, I glanced across the court room to Quinton and something I noticed that has never happened before, he began to shake his head back and forth "NO". At that point I knew what the plea was going to be once the charges were all handed down. Of course, one of the capital defense attorneys stood up and read NOT GUILTY on all charges and we were not suprised at all by this. Then came the legal jargon by the defense.

It became more of a concern for the defense attorney that Quinton Ray was being led into the court wearing a prison jumpsuit and having to wear leg shackles and handcuffs than the issue at hand --- that being he was being arraigned for a murder charge. As this went on for about 10 or 15 minutes, it was finally decided that he would be able to wear normal clothing at the next hearings, however he would be handcuffed and shackled (if I remember correctly) due to security concerns).

After we cleared this hurdle and set the next hearing, the suspect was removed from the court room and I was glad he was gone, because I was sick of looking at him. Then came a bombshell of an event I've never seen before, especially at an arraignment. The defense requests private investigator John Seay to enter the court room. At this time, Judge Weaver has to stop these conversations because Quinton Ray has been taken out of the court room and he's headed back to the jail. They have to radio back to the police and bring him BACK to the court and START the hearing process all over again. I was like ----- oooook. Quinton is then seated back in the court room and then the defense restates their request for private investigator John Seay. John then enters the two double doors looking sharp as a tack and walks to the front of court. John has been served with a subpoena and has no other choice but to appear and he is there :)
He is then asked if has an attorney present and his answer is "no". From there, Quinton Ray's defense attorney's ask to put John Seay on the stand to discuss information he has in his file regarding his investigation that was done during the investigation he did for the family of Sueann Ray while she was missing. The judge WILL NOT allow this. She says that John Seay can appear back on October 18th with his attorney at the next scheduled hearing and no person will be put on the stand today.
I was not believing this ridiculous attempt by these attorney's. What the HELL where they thinking. This was an arraignment hearing. We are not even at trial yet!

This was a day packed full of twists, turns and suprises. As I told FOX 5 News, 11 Alive News Atlanta, Channel 2 Action News, and others, we expected this, and we are prepared for whatever is lieing ahead. This is going to be a long hall and we are just going to have to stick this out at all cost. We really do not have a choice in the matter. Read the following article from the Cherokee Tribune.

By Angela M. Jones
Cherokee Tribune Staff WriterThe estranged husband of murdered Woodstock mother Sueann Ray on Wednesday afternoon made his first appearance in court in almost six months.Quinton Ray of Jasper was formally arraigned before Judge Brenda Weaver at the Pickens County Courthouse and charged with malice and felony murder, kidnapping, concealing the death of another and tampering with evidence. His attorney, Douglas Ramseur of the Georgia Capital Defenders office, pleaded not guilty to all charges on his behalf.Judge Weaver denied a request from Ramseur to waive Ray's formal arraignment just before the indictment was read by Pickens County District Attorney Joe Hendricks.
Ray was arrested Feb. 8 shortly after GBI agents discovered the remains of his 26-year-old estranged wife buried in a shallow grave off Cherokee Gold Trail in northern Cherokee earlier that morning. He was indicted by a grand jury Feb. 20 on the same charges.If convicted, Ray could face the death penalty.Mrs. Ray's family reported her missing Aug. 29, 2005, three days after she went to Jasper to visit Ray. Her 1999 Ford Windstar was found in the parking lot of the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Canton that night.Dressed in an orange-and-white Pickens County prison uniform, shackled and handcuffed, Ray was escorted into the courtroom by two officers and sat silently through the arraignment.At both Ray's April 12 court appearance and Wednesday afternoon's proceedings, Ramseur objected to his client appearing in court dressed in prison clothes, shackles and handcuffs. He requested Ray be allowed to appear wearing civilian attire and without shackles and handcuffs."These proceedings are being covered by the media, and the images of Mr. Ray as he is attired now have a very damaging effect on my client and his case," he said.Judge Weaver granted the request for Ray to appear in civilian clothes at all future court appearances but denied Ramseur's requests the handcuffs and shackles be removed, calling them a standard security procedure. She denied his request to delay Wednesday's arraignment so Ray could change into civilian clothes.
Ray will return to court Oct. 18 for a hearing on the option of reciprocal discovery, or sharing of evidence, and whether the defense wants to participate.The judge asked both the state and the defense to file all motions related to the form of the indictment within the next 30 days and any other motions they already plan to file within the next 60 days, so a hearing to discuss the first of them can be held Feb. 1 or 2. She granted both sides the right to file additional motions later, as needed.Friends and family of Mrs. Ray attended the arraignment and sat attentively during the proceedings, some crying quietly into tissues."We're here to support Sueann on behalf of the family, who couldn't be all be here today," said family friend Jill Bennett of Gainesville. "It's going to be a long haul for us, but we'll be here as long as it takes to find justice for her.Several members of the Ray's family also attended the arraignment but declined to comment on the advice of his attorney.Quinton's father, Harold "Danny" Ray, 54, of Ball Ground also was named in the indictment Feb. 20, charged with concealing the death of another, hindering the apprehension of a criminal and tampering with evidence. He allegedly helped Ray drive Mrs. Ray's minivan from Jasper to Canton.He was released Feb. 22 on a $60,000 bond, with the conditions he waive his Fourth Amendment rights, be monitored by a GPS tracking device at all times and have no contact with the victim's family, including his 8-year-old granddaughter.

www.CherokeeTribune.Com

Link with Video of Court Appearance

Toddler Missing - Nancy Grace Not Responsible For Mom's Suicide

August 27, 2006 Melinda Duckett sits down to watch some movies with two gentleman in her apartment in Leesburg, Florida. Two hours later she supposidly goes to check for her two year old son, Trenton Duckett and he's missing from his bed. Mom then calls police and the search begins.

Authorities would later discover a sliced window screen outside the baby's bedroom window and it leaves many to wonder how somebody could leave a cut that small and possibly take a child out through the window?

Days later Trenton remains missing and Melinda Duckett and others are frantically searching for the toddler when she decides to come on famous talk show host Nancy Grace's show on Friday, September 8th. Many of you who work in the missing person arena know Ms. Grace as one who is very outspoken and is not afraid to get straight to the point when it comes to these high profile cases. Most people either like her or they don't.

I happened to be at home last Friday night and caught the interview with Melinda Duckett and Nancy Grace. As a skeptic, I thought right off, Melinda Duckett was a little cocky for a mom with a missing child, and somewhat evasive, but as Nancy began to prod closer into the events leading upto Trenton's disappearance, it became very evident that Melinda Duckett was NOT going to answer any questions that Nancy Grace had.
Right off it was looking bad that Melinda Duckett was refusing to answer whether or not she'd taken a lie detector test. It only looked worse when she would not offer Nancy Grace or anybody else on the panel that night any answers as to where she was in the hours leading up to Trenton's disappearance. In my mind, she did not want anybody to know where she'd been and then came the scroll across CNN -----------
MELINDA DUCKETT FOUND DEAD AFTER SHOW WAS TAPED TODAY.
I thought hmmmmmmmm, I smell a big rat here.

Days later it was confirmed that Melinda had committed suicuide and then came the reports that she'd done this after being interviewed on the Nancy Grace show. Some people are beginning to say that Nancy Grace is to blame for this woman going off the deep end and taking her own life. They claim that Melinda should have been handled with kid gloves and she was treated like a caged animal that went over the edge. Let's get real people!

Nancy Grace asked this woman direct questions pertaining to the whereabouts of her son and his disappearance! Nancy Grace did not cause this woman to go off the deep end. I'm sure there was pressure from the FBI and other law enforcement officials on Melinda Duckett's trail much more so than Nancy Grace.

This woman had some major issues judging from the material that is coming out from her blogs, and other writings that have been taken from her house. She was a person that I believe methodically planned to cause the disapearance of her son and at this point, I doubt he'll be found. She had a great amount of hatred for her soon to be ex-husband - Josh Duckett.

Her funeral was today and what she took to her grave was probably more than we will ever be able to learn from a blog or diary. This is a sad sad case, and Nancy Grace is not the scape goat here.

Million Dollar Lawsuit Filed For 2004 Search for Carrie's Remains

As you all will recall, a few days before Carrie Culberson's statue was to be unveiled in Blanchester, Ohio at the Police Department, some over zealous individual called in a tip to the police that her body was buried underneath a pole barn. The call that placed caused the ceremony to be put on hold. It was Victim's Right's week, a very important week to Carrie's family and many others who have lost something they'll never be able to get back.

Carrie's family were out at the excavation site for a total of 14 days where they watched with binoculars as barn was torn to shreds and the ground was dug up searching for Carrie who at the time was missing for nearly eight years. One of those days that passed during the 14 was Mother's Day, a day I'm sure Debra Culberson will never forget. She was greeted with strangers passing on the road giving her well wishes and flowers, telling her that they hoped this would finally be it and that Carrie was finally about to be found. Sadly, that is not what happened.
The search would end and several items were found buried at 15 feet beneath the dirt and rubble that were identified as belonging to Carrie Culberson. If my memory serves me correctly, the items recovered were a t-shirt, sock, panties?, and some garbage bags. The clothing was identified by Carrie's family, as being Carrie's. When the items were found that belonged to Carrie, we were all baffled to say the least. The garbage bags were not suprising because of what we'd already heard from the testimony of Lori Baker back in 1997 of seeing Tracey and Vincent leave the house on Supringer Street in the early morning hours with seven garbage bags to take care of the mess in relation to Carrie's disappearance/murder. While I wasn't so concerned with the garbage bags, I wanted to know - "where's Carrie?"
I never believed that Michael Fogot or Jarrod Messer had murdered Carrie Culberson. However, I believe there's some knowledge of how and why that material was placed under that barn. Vincent Doan or another member of his family is aquainted with Messer in some form. I Maybe not best friends, but in some form. How else did that stuff turn up underneath that barn, because we know factually Carrie Culberson did not know these people - at all - AND it was ON Messer's property!

We left this search with nothing and had to go on about everday life still wondering when and if Carrie would ever be found. Two more years would pass and then the 10 year anniversary would pass without Carrie's body being recovered.

Less than a week after the anniversary of Carrie's 10th disappearance anniversary, a lawsuit was filed against Brown County by Jeanette Spangler and her son, Jerrod Messer, owners of the property on Fayetteville-Blanchester Road where the excavation took place back in May 2004. The lawsuit states that the dig destroyed their property.

I took a look from the road while we were up back in late August and the barn appeared to be caving in from the top. It looked like it had been gone over with a fine tooth comb and destroyed while doing so. Perhaps Brown County should have put the barn back together or something after completing the search for Carrie? I really have no opinion either way on this. I am just ready for Carrie to be found. I know that somebody knows where her remains are and I find it utterly ridiculous and evil that somebody could withhold that.

This story never ends and it never dies down. If you really cut to the core of it. All we really need is for Carrie's body to be returned to her family. The searchers who have taken on this daunting task of trying to find her have been called everything in the book for taking a stand. I'm now being told I'm the female version of John Mark Karr. LOL
I'll be Little Richard if I can bring Carrie home. Just give her back to us, ok? Please see the related article below.

Million dollar mess alleged in Brown County lawsuit
By CARRIE CARLSON Staff Writer
BLANCHESTER, Ohio -- A 2004 property search for the body of Clarissa Ann "Carrie" Culberson in Brown County has prompted the property owners to file a lawsuit naming several parties, including the Brown County sheriff, in the United States Southern District Court of Ohio.Jeanette Spangler and her son, Jerrod Messer, owners of the property on Fayetteville-Blanchester Road, where officials searched for Culberson's body, are suing the Brown County and Clermont County sheriffs, in their official and individual capacities, for executing a search which "led to excessive personal and real property destruction in damages."Spangler and Messer are seeking compensatory and punitive damages in excess of $1 million.Carrie Culberson was 22 years old when she disappeared in 1996, and her body has yet to be located. However, a jury convicted her boyfriend, Vincent Doan, in 1997 of kidnapping and murdering Culberson.The lawsuit names not only the sheriffs, but names Brown County and Clermont County commissioners, as the political and corporate bodies that govern the departments. The suit also names the Ohio FAIR Plan Underwriting Association, an insurance agency.Spangler and Messer claim the search "exceeded the scope of the warrant by digging in an area much larger in geometry than the scope of the warrant allowed."
The complaint also alleges the search was executed with "recklessness and malice," that led to damages in excess of $75,000.Spangler and Messer said many damages occurred during the search including "destruction of a barn, fence and other structures, as well as significant loss of personal property including loss of tools, destruction or damage to a number of automobiles and numerous household items."In addition to the destruction, the suit claims officials destroyed the septic system, making the property uninhabitable, which caused occupants to vacate the land. The vacancy also prompted property vandalism, according to the action. Due to all the damage, the Ohio FAIR Plan Underwriting Association canceled the insurance policy, and never paid the plaintiffs for damages, covered under the terms of the policy, the suit contends.In a statement issued Thursday, Brown County Sheriff Dwayne Wenninger said he stands by his decision that had his deputies excavate the property, with a search warrant that was received by Clermont County Sheriff's Office.Wenninger went on to explain that information obtained by his investigators, the Clermont County Sheriff's investigators, FBI officials and other agencies led the parties to continue the search.Wenninger said he and others who participate in public professions, will always be subject to scrutiny, but "we must still do the job that we are entrusted to do by the public."
Wenninger said he is convinced that he, and other officials, "did that job" and believes the search warrant on the Spangler-Messer property led to more leads and information concerning the Culberson case.

Still Missing But NOT Forgotten - Carrie Culberson 10 Yrs Later

This past weekend, mom and I headed North to Blanchester Ohio for the day that I've been dreading for two months. We were joined by some precious friends, Patti Bishop (mom of Karen Jo Smith), Lorraine Lucas (mother of unsolved murder victim - Brian Lucas), Dawn Vowel (daughter of Sandra Travis missing), Karen Kraemer (mother of missing Becky Marzo), just to name a few. All of the mothers and daughters came from various states to join Debbie Culberson for Carrie's 10th disappearance anniversary and a special ceremony that was to be held. I thought I would share with all of you dedicated supporters how our weekend went.

Beginning with Saturday night after we had all gone out to eat and to catch up on things, we were driving down a back road in Wilmington, which is not far from Blanchester (where Carrie vanished), when Carrie's mom accidentially took a wrong turn. We ended up in the general area of the police department that now has a permanent statue in place in rememberance of Carrie. Since we were in the same area, we all pulled in and took a look at Carrie's statue. At midnight the statue was illuminated by the lights coming from the pole lights. She was so beautiful it was unbelievable. I wondered silently maybe had Carrie guided us to the statue because this was the only way we can visit with her since her body is missing.

We spent a lot of time visiting and just talking about the various cases. We dont have to feel weird about talking openly about the cases because we know that the people we are around understand and are basically as obcessed as we are. Sometimes certain people just do not understand and that was another topic - friends understanding and dealing after you are struck with a tradegy or in my case, working on cases with a lot of sadness. As I've stated many times, there is grey area with this. People either get it or they dont, and making them understand is not very easy if not completely impossible.


The day I dreaded came on Monday. Our day consisted of going to all the places were Carrie was last seen the night she vanished. Debbie took all the ladies out on the road to see these places because everyone agreed, they wanted to see everything to get a clearer understanding of what exactly went wrong on August 28, 1996. I have never done real well with being in the area where the junkyard pond is. I suppose knowing that is where Carrie was after she'd been murdered makes me so upset. That's also where she slipped right through our fingers. There is no way we could have known and this bothers not only me but her mom daily.
We had to rush back and get dressed because we had to get to the ceremony at 6, and I was a basketcase by the time we got there.

The ceremony was not about Carrie only. It consisted of others in Blanchester who were victims that originated from domestic violence. Another statue was unveiled for the fallen police officer who was recognized. The statue was beautiful.
After the ceremony ended I was able to visit with Bill Peele the Clinton County District Attorney who has set the tone for so many other DA's and has given hope to so many families with his all or nothing approach to Carrie's murder case. A soft spoken man who is extremly smart, and knows his job well. Bill was only a few of the dear people that I got the chance to visit with in person not just via email and telephone. One of our long time supporters who logs onto our forum drove out and came to support Carrie. I thought that was so nice of her to take time for Carrie. Lynn, if you are reading this, you are truely appreciated.

A night filled with sadness, kindness and love ended up back at Carrie's house where we held a small vigil for her in the front yard. I decided that our balloons this year should be purple and yellow. The purple stood for domestic violence and the yellow was for missing. We incorporated both of these colors to remember not just Carrie's situation, but several of the ladies whose loved ones were missing under the same circumstances. The sky was beautiful as Carrie's balloons floated away into the beautiful night time sky. Just like Carrie, there at one time, but now gone in a flash.

As the night concluded and we all said our goodbyes, we began plans to leave and come home. I felt a presence of what I believe to be Carrie that rode with me all the way to our hotel. I know in my heart of hearts that Carrie and some of the other lost loved ones were there in spirit. Everyone felt it.

As I was driving down I75 South just outside of Lexington, Kentucky, mom and I began to talk about patience and why is it taking so long. As the conversation was going along, I looked up and noticed the under pass concrete beam that had something spray painted on it. In forest green spray painted letters, it read "Trust Jesus". I asked mom did she see it because I wanted to make sure I was not seeing things. I did not sleep well last night. I never sleep well on August 28th. Mom saw the same words just as we were passing.

While that probably sounds very cheesy and lame, I had to take it as a sign of hope that goes back to what we've all been told time and time again. Everything is in God's timing. I went home today without Carrie being found and it now being 10 years with her being gone. I went home wondering when will be time for this nightmare to end. I also was reminded yet once again that nobody ever said this was going to be easy and when all is said and done, I'm just going to have to do what that spray painted message said today. I will have to do this because he'll be the one who brings Carrie home. My obcession with finding her resumes and is going stronger than ever. I've been joined by several others that I know will continue to search for her if something should ever happen to me. I'll never give up on finding Carrie and in my heart, I know more than ever I was meant to do this. However long it takes, I'll always be looking and even though Carrie is still missing, she's not forgotten. Carrie's memory will live on in our hearts and minds. It cannot be hurt, hidden, or destroyed.
(pictured left - I found this picture of Carrie that was taken in 1995. I got this from her mom in the stack of pictures I'm going to add to Carrie's site. I thought it was only appropriate to post this in closing) You were riding with us today in spirit. I couldn't see you, but in my heart, I felt you were there. You know my promise. I'll find you.


See Photos From the Weekend to Remember Carrie
Carrie's Main Website