Kevin Edison Smith: 16 years after Krystal Jean Bakers murder, Smith was apprehended in 2012. Its like one in the Seventies, theres one in the Eighties, theres one in the Nineties theres pretty good indications that thats the case. Dozens dead and several serial killer suspects: The haunting reality of the Texas Killing Fields For three decades, the marshy stretch off I-45 between Houston and Galveston kept turning up. Once DNA science became available, he was linked to the three missing girls and he eventually confessed to their rapes and murders. They were mainly the bodies of girls or young women. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Police initially told her family that she was likely a runaway, perhaps assuming that Laura was reacting to the pressures of the recent move and her health problems. 3. At the time, these places were considered very safe until the deaths of women started occurring. The show interviews a number of people (including me) about Abel. Where the Truth Lies: Where Is Casey Anthonys Brother Now? How Did He Die? These cases led to a variety of suspects being posited as the culprit for these deaths and others in the surrounding area. Since the early 1970s, the remains of 30 people have been recovered from the Texas Killing Fields, mainly women and girls, according to Bustle. Kevin Edison Smith is the only other killer who has been caught and given a murder conviction in the Texas Killing Fields, for strangling 13-year-old Krystal Jean Baker in 1996. Despite this, Self's attempts at an appeal failed. The bereaved father, Miller, recalled Lauras friend saying Laura was scared of Hedrick, who lived nearby. She was last seen on 10th September 1984 and her body was discovered in the fields on 2nd February 1986. She was able to pick Reece out of the lineup and he was put into prison. During that time, the construction business was booming due to the rampant growth and development happening in Texas. Smith admitted to abducting and killing Baker, then leaving her remains beneath a bridge. Although Abel was eventually supposedly cleared of involvement with the murders, and Millers father apologized to him, the stigma of murderer never quite left Abel. The nearby highway, which can quickly bring people here from far afield and that provides a quick exit, adds yet another layer of difficulty to solving the crimes committed here. Mere minutes passed between when Colette was dropped off and when her mom arrived to find a deserted intersection. Some have been eventually convicted for a few of the murders, while others were released or remain as suspects. Also, the woman Clyde later dated was also abused by him. He maintained his innocence in a letter from prison. She was so scared of him that she believed everything he told her. The site has also increased in notoriety and today has the attention of law enforcement, people interested in true crime cases, and those who visit a memorial in the fields dedicated to some of the victims. However, in reality, he was essentially a Casanova conman with an extensive rap sheet documenting a list of complex offenses against minors, strangers, former partners, and the state. Another person. The land dubbed The Texas Killing Fields was next to Robert Abels home and horseback riding business on Calder Road. Additionally, he claimed that Zwarst assisted him in raping and killing her. That was what the police set out to determine. Mark Stallings is a convicted kidnapper currently serving a life sentence. vicious killing that he failed to solveand has haunted him ever since. However, he was never charged with their murders but remained a suspect until his death in 2019. A retired NASA engineer named Robert Abel was suspected of being one such killer, but few seem to agree on whether Abel was responsible for any of the Texas Killing Field murders. However, analysis of the remains indicate that she was unlikely to have graduated that year. Shaw and Johnson were both about to enter high school in the fall and spent much time together on the area's beaches. When he was young, he looked like any other normal guy. He began harassing Abel, leaving threatening voicemails on his answering machine and spreading the word that he was the serial killer responsible for his daughters death. After his release, Hedrick moved into a local halfway house, where he still currently resides (via KPRC2). Self died in prison in 2000, with many wondering if the wrong man had been convicted after all. As time went on, police grew more and more suspicious, finally digging more into the death of Ellen Rae Beason. In Tim Millers mind, Hedrick is certainly guilty of the death of his daughter, and he is not alone, as Hedricks former stepdaughter and many law enforcement officials are also convinced of his guilt. Located in League City, Texas, the 50-mile piece of land known as the Killing Fields lies about 26 miles away from Houston. FALLS COUNTY, TexasKWTX)- The Falls County Sheriff's Office is warning residents to be vigilant as deputies actively search for burglary suspects in the area of State Highway 7 between Chilton and Bruceville-Eddy."Residents of this area should exercise caution, be on alert and report any suspicious activity immediately," the sheriff's office As it turned out, Abel was violent towards both. All four were killed, their remains later found in nearby bayous. How Did He Die. Paramedics treated seven people for smoke inhalationfour of whom were taken to hospitalafter a major house fire in Riverside South Tuesday night . Laura Miller was a 16-year-old girl who had last been seen at the same convenience store that Heide had visited the year before. Ultimately though, there were other suspects who were not discussed in the series. However, it wasn't until 2020 that the mystery was solved and the victim was revealed to be Julie Gwenn Davis, as per The Record. Its not apparent where he is right now. As is explored in the new docuseries, out Nov. 29, Clyde Hedrick was initially charged with abuse of a corpse in connection with Ellen Beasons death which first put him on Tim Millers radar as a possible suspect in the death of his daughter, Laura Miller. Kevin Edison Smith is another person tied to the Texas killings. Following Johnson's disappearance, the suspect allegedly purchased a saw, trash bags, towels and a flashlight, the outlet reports, Fox 26 reports, citing the charging documents. The series sheds light on such issues and how problematic it is to victim-blame. Well, in the 1980s, Texas was a state that was full of opportunities because of the rampant industrial development. Updated: Feb 27, 2023 / 12:17 PM MST. The monkier is chilling enough, but once you delve into the Texas Killing Fields' murderous history, it's easy to fall down a true-crime rabbit hole. They were convicted of aggravated kidnap and were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1998. . The Crime Scene anthologys third season is now airing. This is the Texas Killing Fields explained. In May 1997, he was arrested for the kidnapping and attempted murder of 19-year-old Sandra Sepo and received a 60-year sentence. Since the 1970s, over 30 young women and girls have disappeared or been found murdered in the 50-mile desolate area between Houston and Galveston - a stretch of land that some call a highway of. Texas Killing Fields 2011 Drama / Thriller / Crime / Mystery. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. The families of other victims found in the Texas Killing Fields would not even have that small comfort. And none of them have been more interesting than a former NASA engineer, Robert Abel, who owned a small horseback-riding business outside the town of League City. The three-part series looks at the mysterious pattern of young women who disappeared in the 80s and 90s, only to turn up dead on Calder Road, a patch of land in Texas. There have been several other arrests in relation to the Texas Killing Fields. A Man Called Otto Ending, Explained: Does Otto Find A Reason To Live? Newsweek has. In 1986, Cook's remains were uncovered on the same day and in the same location as those of Laura Miller. No one is safe. Although the detectives were not able to tie Hedrick to all of those murders, they were able to charge him with Ellen Raes murder and he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Heres everything we know about the potential suspects associated with one of the most prolific serial killer cases in history. Download Watch Now. One suspect was Clyde Hedrick, who would be convicted of involuntary manslaughter in one of the cases mentioned in the series. This material was downloaded from YouTube. It is known as the "killing fields," and it is a lonely, spooky patch of land: In the stillness of the day you can hear the yips of small wild animals and the distant rumble of traffic along. Although several murderers have been linked to the Texas killing fields, Clyde Hedrick was touted as the main suspect in Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields. See more: Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields Victims: Were There Any Survivors Of Calder Road Killings? Texas EquuSearch's Tim Miller and other victim . However, there was insufficient proof to bring charges against either party. Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields tells the story of the Texas Killing Fields murders and suspects in the case, such as Clyde Hedrick. Yet, while Reece turned out to indeed be a serial killer, he allegedly wasnt the serial killer responsible for the Texas Killing Fields. According to Newsweek, he was convicted for the murder of 13-year-old Krystal Jean Baker . So who is ultimately responsible for the 33 bodies discovered in the Texas Killing Fields? This remote tract of land became a dumping ground for killers. There were a lot of suspects; however, the technology at that time was not potent enough, and incriminating evidence wasnt found against any person. An overgrown field and a stretch of highway connect a series of grisly murders spanning several decades as grieving families search for answers. The show primarily focuses on four bodies that were found on one specific property known as the Calder Road Oil field. Following their arrests, Zwarst told police where he had hidden Sikes's body, but unfortunately Sikes' body has never been found. He fit the description of a serial killer perfectly; however, he was serving time when Jane Doe was found. His property was next to an abandoned oil field, known as the killing fields, where the remains of four young women had been found between 1984 and 1991. Tim Miller, the father of Laura Miller, is convinced Hedrick is the person who murdered his daughter and won a wrongful death lawsuit against him in 2014. Police say Rodriguez drove a . Clyde was hence arrested on a single count of murder, only for a Galveston County jury to find him guilty on the lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter at the age of 60 in 2014. These victims and their families are the focus of Netflix's new documentary series. When I went to visit him at his horse stables, he was certainly odd, but what became clear to me was that there was no evidence he had committed murder. 'Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields' is the latest true-crime documentary to land on Netflix. Reece admitted to killing Kelli Cox, 20, and Jessica Cain, 17. edgewater hotel haunted; can uk consultant doctors work in usa; is spitfire a compliment At first, most of the girls were assumed to be runaways, and their stories were little impediment to others spending a summer on the beach. Netflix is now streaming a three-part docuseries on the murders, titled Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields. Once he was released, he was back to his old ways. . Many of the deaths and disappearances featured in Netflixs The Texas Killing Fields remain unsolved, but at least one piece of the decades-long mystery was settled fairly recently. King and Zwarst were questioned about their involvement in other killings in the 1980s, but both denied having any involvement. With Netflix's 'Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields' living up to its title in every way imaginable, we get a complete insight into the dark, twisted, sordid side of human nature many times over. However, there was insufficient proof to bring charges against either party. The District Attorney claims that although there is not enough evidence to establish the case, he has not yet been excluded as a suspect. In June 2022, he was extradited to Texas where he was found guilty of the murders of Smither, Cain, and Cox. Directed by Jessica Dimmock and executively produced by Emmy-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger, the third installment in the Crime Scene series explores the unsolved murders of four young women and a father's fight to find his daughter's killer. Netflix has dropped yet another installation of their successful Crime Scene docuseries, and this time, viewers dive into some mysterious murders that have, to this day, never been solved. The makers have chosen to actually have suspects front and centre for the crimes on screen (unlike the real life cases, most of which remain unsolved), well they intend to keep . Anyway, Clyde was not convicted of any other murders because the evidence was completely washed off. Texas Killing Fields: What Happened To Suspect Clyde Hedrick? There have been few crimes more haunting in Texas than the killings of several young women who lived in towns located along the fifty-mile coastal stretch between Houston and Galveston. Netflixs The Law According to Lidia Pot Was Lidia Pot a Real Person? The Mandalorian Season 3, Episode 1: Recap And Ending, Explained: Where Are Mando And Grogu Heading To. According to law enforcement officials, the killings began in the early seventies and lasted through the late nineties. This young man was later identified as Clyde Hedrick. Tim Miller, found of Texas EquuSearch, won a wrongful death lawsuit against Clyde Hedrick, who was featured in Netflix's 'Killing Fields', over the 1984 cold case abduction and murder of his daughter. The majority of the victims were women, aged between 12 and 34 years old. Who is William Reece and Where Is He Now? Texas Monthly reporter Skip Hollandsworth says thatmany police detectives and FBI agents are convinced that this is the personal graveyard of a vicious serial killer. Few murders are more notorious than those of the Texas Killing Fields, the killing spree that lasted nearly two decades and claimed over 30 victims. Despite allegedly telling jailhouse informants that he killed numerous more individuals, including Fye and Miller, Hedrick was granted parole in 2021. The majority of victims have been young girls and young women, aged between 12 and 25 years old. Everyone who knew him was certain he had taken his own life. HOUSTON - A Texas prisoner has admitted he killed one of the young women whose body was dumped in the so-called "Killing Fields" of League City. While we unfortunately do not know much about Clydes early years or background, we do know he had moved from Florida to Texas as a young adult due to the rise of fast-paced cities like Houston. Accused Episode 6: Recap And Ending, Explained: Do Shandiin, Naataanii, And Chase Go To Prison? Today, it has a paved access road and a housing development has even sprung up nearby, increasing the number of potential witnesses to any crimes committed here. Some have also speculated that Bell falsely confessed to gain attention and notoriety. However, in 2016, he did confess to killing two women and let the officials see the remains of the victims. If you want to know more about Texas Killing and real killer, read below. A father of two daughters, a dog lover, a gym rat, a coffee connoisseur, and an all-around doughnut snob. Was it a pure hate crime, or just a bunch of psychopaths on the loose? However, after Tim Miller openly threatened him, he filed for protection. That September, Laura's mother drove her to a payphone so Laura could make a call to her boyfriend. Texas Killing Fields Investigators Wasted Time with Michael Self Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields primarily focused on three potential murderers, Clyde Hedrick, Robert Abel, and William Reece. When 29-year-old Ellen Rae Beasons body showed up abandoned in 1984, police soon were led to the last person to see her alive, Clyde Hedrick. So what is the true full story of the Texas Killing Fields? Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields is the newest true-crime documentary to arrive on the platform. After all, it charts not just the way several women have wound up dead along Interstate 45 since the 1970s but also the possible involvement of felons such as William Reece and Clyde Hedrick. 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