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Hell and Gone Murder Line: Connie Townsend Part 1 · Hell and Gone: Murder Line

• 0:46
  Speaker 1: School of Humans. Helen Got Murder Line actively investigates cold
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: case murders in an effort to raise public awareness invite
• 0:55
  Speaker 1: witnesses to come forward and present evidence that could potentially
• 0:58
  Speaker 1: be further investigated by law enforcement. While we value insights
• 1:03
  Speaker 1: from family and community members, their statements should not be
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: considered evidence and point to the challenges of verifying facts
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: inherent in cold cases. We remind listeners that everyone is
• 1:14
  Speaker 1: presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: Nothing in the podcast is intended to state or imply
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: that anyone who has not been convicted of a crime
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: is guilty of any wrongdoing. Thanks for listening.
• 1:30
  Speaker 2: On January seventh, nineteen ninety five, at around twelve fifty pm,
• 1:34
  Speaker 2: two women, Monica Jones and her girlfriend Cheryl Edwards. We're
• 1:37
  Speaker 2: driving down Highway fifty six near Brockwell, Arkansas, when Cheryl
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: saw smoke coming from a trailer. It was coming from
• 1:45
  Speaker 2: the residence of forty three year old Connie Townsend. The
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: two women pulled over and ran up to the trailer
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: to try to help. At around that same time, another woman,
• 1:54
  Speaker 2: Billy Brownie, arrived. Monica and Cheryl both desperately tried to
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: get inside the trailer, but the heat was too intense.
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: The trailer was already engulfed in flames. By the time
• 2:06
  Speaker 2: the first officer from the Izard County Sheriff's Office and
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: personnel from the Calico Rock Fire Department arrived on the scene,
• 2:12
  Speaker 2: it was chaos. Monica told the responding officer that she
• 2:16
  Speaker 2: and Cheryl were trying to check to see if anyone
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: was alive in the trailer, but there was so much
• 2:21
  Speaker 2: smoke that Cheryl was having trouble breathing. There was a
• 2:25
  Speaker 2: lot of confusion at that scene, but all three women
• 2:28
  Speaker 2: told the officer that they had seen a man. They
• 2:31
  Speaker 2: said that he had arrived right before them and that
• 2:33
  Speaker 2: he was driving a blue Forward Ranger. All three said
• 2:37
  Speaker 2: he was a medium billed with blonde, curly hair, and
• 2:40
  Speaker 2: that he was wearing a baseball cap. According to the
• 2:43
  Speaker 2: police support, Monica said that while she was trying to
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: break in, the mystery man was saying there wasn't anyone
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: inside the trailer. But this mystery man had left the scene.
• 2:53
  Speaker 2: No one saw him again. Monica said that they heard
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: something inside the trailer, something that sounded like a baby crying.
• 3:01
  Speaker 2: They could hear a high pitched voice someone screaming helped me.
• 3:05
  Speaker 2: They were desperately trying to pry the door open, but
• 3:08
  Speaker 2: the fire shot out the window and they had to
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: back off. Cheryl said in her statement quote black smoke
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: was boiling, and I could see a few feet inside
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: the door end quote. She said that at some point
• 3:20
  Speaker 2: the sound of what she described as the baby crying stopped.
• 3:24
  Speaker 3: Cheryl was gasping for.
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: Breath, and then Monica saw Dale Townsend, the owner of
• 3:29
  Speaker 2: the trailer and the father of Connie's estranged husband, David Townsend, arrive.
• 3:33
  Speaker 2: According to the police report, by the time police arrived,
• 3:37
  Speaker 2: the officer noted there were about twenty to twenty five people.
• 3:40
  Speaker 3: Standing in Connie's yard.
• 3:43
  Speaker 2: Connie town burned to death while it seemed like half
• 3:47
  Speaker 2: the town stood outside, and multiple people told police about
• 3:51
  Speaker 2: threats she had received earlier that day, and yet thirty
• 3:55
  Speaker 2: years later, no one has ever been arrested or charged
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: in connection with her death.
• 4:02
  Speaker 3: I'm Catherine Townsend.
• 4:03
  Speaker 2: Over the past seven years of making my true crime
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: podcast Helen Gone, I've learned that there is no such
• 4:09
  Speaker 2: thing as a small town where murder never happens. I've
• 4:13
  Speaker 2: received hundreds of messages from people all around the country
• 4:16
  Speaker 2: asking for help with an unsolved murder that's affected them,
• 4:19
  Speaker 2: their families, and their communities.
• 4:21
  Speaker 3: If you have a.
• 4:22
  Speaker 2: Case you'd like me and my team to look into,
• 4:24
  Speaker 2: you can reach out to us at our Helen Gone
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: Murder Line at six seven eight seven four four six
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: one four five. That's six seven eight seven four four six'
• 4:33
  Speaker 2: one four, five or you can send us a message
• 4:36
  Speaker 2: On instagram At helen. Gonepod this Is Helen Gone Murder.
• 4:41
  Speaker 2: Line Connie townshend's murder is very well known In, Brockwell.
• 5:28
  Speaker 2: Arkansas even though it's been thirty, years people still talk
• 5:31
  Speaker 2: about it all the. Time in, FACT i found out
• 5:35
  Speaker 2: About Connie townshend's murder in twenty. EIGHTEEN i was in
• 5:38
  Speaker 2: the Guy on area Investigating Rebecca goulds murder for season
• 5:42
  Speaker 2: one Of Helen, gone AND i remember it. VI i
• 5:44
  Speaker 2: was at The Possum trot gas station AND i was
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: talking to the clerk. THERE i asked him About Rebecca gould's.
• 5:49
  Speaker 3: CASE i told.
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: Him my name Was Catherine townsend and the first thing
• 5:53
  Speaker 2: he asked me was IF i was any kin To Connie.
• 5:56
  Speaker 2: TOWNSEND i, Said i'm not related to. Her we just
• 5:58
  Speaker 2: happened to have the same last. Name it's a complete.
• 6:01
  Speaker 2: Coincidence he told me that she had burned to death
• 6:04
  Speaker 2: and that everybody knew who did, it but that no
• 6:07
  Speaker 2: one had ever been arrested or, charged and he believed
• 6:10
  Speaker 2: no one ever would. Be we were able to do
• 6:13
  Speaker 2: a foyer request and got some copies of the police
• 6:16
  Speaker 2: report from The Arkansas State. Police at the, Scene Billy,
• 6:20
  Speaker 2: browning one of the, witnesses told the officer that she
• 6:23
  Speaker 2: had Moved connie's red car so the fire department vehicles
• 6:26
  Speaker 2: could get in closer to the. Trailer she told the
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: officer that when she got into the car to move,
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: it she noticed that there was a purse sitting on
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: the passenger, seat so the officer took the purse and
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: looked through. It police noted in their report that when
• 6:40
  Speaker 2: they went inside the, car it was undamaged in the.
• 6:42
  Speaker 2: Fire all Of connie's things were inside, it including her
• 6:45
  Speaker 2: black purse with black and brown, wallet all of her credit,
• 6:48
  Speaker 2: cards some checks made out to her for small amounts of,
• 6:51
  Speaker 2: money and two hundred and eleven dollars in. Cash so
• 6:56
  Speaker 2: if the fire was not an, accident if it was,
• 6:58
  Speaker 2: arson robbery was probably not the motive. Here connie's sister
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: and brother in, Law delores And John, brown both later
• 7:07
  Speaker 2: told police That Connie townshend was divorcing her estranged, Husband.
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: David delores said that she had talked To connie several
• 7:14
  Speaker 2: times that day and That connie had said she was
• 7:17
  Speaker 2: planning on moving. Out delores said That connie was scared
• 7:20
  Speaker 2: of her husband and That david had Threatened connie in the.
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: Past david And connie had two, Daughters Stacy lane And amber.
• 7:28
  Speaker 2: Want david also had a son from another. Relationship his
• 7:32
  Speaker 2: name Was David. Lynn connie was his. Stepmother amber had
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: been staying With connie in the residence that burned. Down connie's,
• 7:39
  Speaker 2: Daughter stacey lived In, salem which is about eighteen miles
• 7:42
  Speaker 2: down the road From. Well stacey told detectives that her
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: father had threatened her mother's. Life in, fact she Said
• 7:50
  Speaker 2: david had Threatened connie the same day the trailer burned.
• 7:53
  Speaker 3: Down we talked To Stacy.
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: Namber they said they Remember david verbally abusing their mother
• 7:59
  Speaker 2: since they were.
• 8:00
  Speaker 4: Young it seemed like all the time when we were,
• 8:03
  Speaker 4: little EVEN i remember listening to it from our. Bedroom
• 8:07
  Speaker 4: don't you Use Stacy.
• 8:09
  Speaker 5: WELL i remember on fighting all the.
• 8:11
  Speaker 4: Time frighten all the.
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: Time.
• 8:12
  Speaker 5: Yeah living with him was like walking on. EGGSHELLS i
• 8:16
  Speaker 5: mean he drank from the time he got up he
• 8:18
  Speaker 5: hits the vodka bottle until the time he went to,
• 8:20
  Speaker 5: bed and we all walked on. Eggshells if the dirty
• 8:24
  Speaker 5: dishes were, there he saw at, it or if you
• 8:27
  Speaker 5: left your curling iron on too, long he fought in the.
• 8:31
  Speaker 4: TRASH i remember the dish has been in the in
• 8:33
  Speaker 4: the trash when we got home one day Because mom
• 8:37
  Speaker 4: wasn't washing when we left or.
• 8:39
  Speaker 5: SOMETHING i don't remember the physical threats as far as that.
• 8:43
  Speaker 5: Goes it's because when we were, little we just went
• 8:45
  Speaker 5: to our. Bedroom now that, morning WHEN i talked to
• 8:48
  Speaker 5: her because me And amber we had to work that,
• 8:51
  Speaker 5: morning it backed. You lafeb was the only reason we
• 8:53
  Speaker 5: didn't help her. Move and WHEN i called, her she
• 8:56
  Speaker 5: said That david had already been, there AND i, said,
• 8:59
  Speaker 5: oh and she, said, yeah he's already been here and
• 9:03
  Speaker 5: threatened me with bodily. Harm of, course you don't ever
• 9:06
  Speaker 5: think it'll happen to.
• 9:07
  Speaker 4: YOU i remember him telling, her if you Believe i'm
• 9:10
  Speaker 4: going to burn the house and everything in, it he,
• 9:15
  Speaker 4: said you had her grandpa that had died in a
• 9:17
  Speaker 4: house fire and they never found out, why and he,
• 9:22
  Speaker 4: SAID i KNOW i can do this thing to.
• 9:23
  Speaker 2: You connie And david's marriage had been rocky for quite some.
• 9:31
  Speaker 2: Time according to police, records they had been separated for
• 9:35
  Speaker 2: around four, years but from reading through the incident, report
• 9:38
  Speaker 2: the timeline is a bit confusing Because david said he
• 9:41
  Speaker 2: lived full time in the home With connie until around
• 9:44
  Speaker 2: a year before the, fire but he also said he
• 9:47
  Speaker 2: And connie had not been intimate on a regular basis
• 9:50
  Speaker 2: for around eighteen.
• 9:51
  Speaker 3: Months it seems like things were.
• 9:53
  Speaker 2: Complicated and that even Though david And connie were, separated
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: he had a habit of dropping by whenever he. Wanted
• 10:01
  Speaker 2: connie's daughters told Us david would stop by even after
• 10:04
  Speaker 2: he And connie were, separated and That connie knew that
• 10:08
  Speaker 2: she was on a deadline to move, out because they
• 10:11
  Speaker 2: said she had recently found out the home was not
• 10:14
  Speaker 2: in their, name hers And, david's but actually owned By david's,
• 10:19
  Speaker 2: Father Dale. Townsend, stacy And amber said that money was
• 10:23
  Speaker 2: tight and That david had a drinking.
• 10:25
  Speaker 5: Problem when me And ambers first moved in with, him
• 10:28
  Speaker 5: he had a good, job he worked At Colors, hall
• 10:30
  Speaker 5: and he always took a thermos of vodka with. Him
• 10:33
  Speaker 5: ever not he finally got, fired and THEN i don't.
• 10:36
  Speaker 3: Think he worked after.
• 10:37
  Speaker 5: That he just depended on mom's chick from the shirt.
• 10:40
  Speaker 2: Factory at the time of the, fire conn had been
• 10:44
  Speaker 2: living in the trailer on her, own While david stayed
• 10:47
  Speaker 2: with his mother and. Father evidence found at the scene
• 10:50
  Speaker 2: seemed to confirm What connie's daughters told police That connie
• 10:53
  Speaker 2: had been packing up her stuff and planning to move
• 10:56
  Speaker 2: out that. Day the trailer burned all the way to the.
• 11:03
  Speaker 2: Ground all that remained were some beams and the bricks
• 11:07
  Speaker 2: that were around the. Fireplace we will be sharing parts
• 11:11
  Speaker 2: of the case file on Our instagram BECAUSE i do
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: need some help and detective work from people who live
• 11:16
  Speaker 2: in the. Community i'll explain more about that. Later once
• 11:19
  Speaker 2: the fire department put out the smoldering remains of the,
• 11:22
  Speaker 2: Trailer connie's body was found lying face down on the
• 11:26
  Speaker 2: floor of a bedroom that.
• 11:27
  Speaker 3: Was being used as a utility.
• 11:29
  Speaker 2: Room connie's daughters questioned that they say that was a
• 11:32
  Speaker 2: junk room That connie rarely went, into so they wondered
• 11:37
  Speaker 2: why was she in there and why couldn't she get?
• 11:39
  Speaker 2: Out and there was something else strange found With. Connie
• 11:44
  Speaker 2: there was a pair of scissors found underneath her. Body
• 11:48
  Speaker 2: why Was, connie in the words of the Fire marshal's, report.
• 11:51
  Speaker 3: Trapped in that.
• 11:52
  Speaker 2: Room why couldn't she crawl out a window or get
• 11:55
  Speaker 2: out the? Door and why were there scissors found underneath her?
• 11:59
  Speaker 2: Body connie's daughters provided us with a copy of her autopsy.
• 12:11
  Speaker 2: Report this has never been made. Public in that report
• 12:15
  Speaker 2: Were connie's autopsy, photos which are. Heartbreaking her daughters say
• 12:19
  Speaker 2: they have not looked at the photos and they don't plan,
• 12:22
  Speaker 2: to and looking through, THEM i can definitely understand WHY
• 12:26
  Speaker 2: i am studying these photos thoroughly to look for any potential.
• 12:30
  Speaker 2: Clues it's especially jarring to see the photos Of connie
• 12:34
  Speaker 2: from the crime scene juxtaposed with other pictures that were
• 12:36
  Speaker 2: part of the case, file mainly polaroids of her hanging
• 12:39
  Speaker 2: out inside her home with her daughters and. Pets according
• 12:44
  Speaker 2: to the, Report connie's entire body was burned beyond. Recognition
• 12:49
  Speaker 2: her skin was. Black the autopsy described her organs as.
• 12:53
  Speaker 2: Cooked i'm not an arson, expert But i've actually never
• 12:57
  Speaker 2: seen a.
• 12:58
  Speaker 3: Fire victim described like. That those are the words in
• 13:01
  Speaker 3: the autopsy, report not.
• 13:03
  Speaker 2: Mine whatever happened in there must have happened very, fast
• 13:07
  Speaker 2: fast enough to engulf the trailer Before connie was able
• 13:11
  Speaker 2: to get. Out the report said there was complete charring
• 13:14
  Speaker 2: Of connie's chest and abdominal, walls and that they could
• 13:18
  Speaker 2: not find other evidence of injury like blunt force, trauma for.
• 13:21
  Speaker 2: Example but after looking at these photos and how completely
• 13:24
  Speaker 2: she was, BURNED i wonder if with that much tissue,
• 13:28
  Speaker 2: damage if it would even be possible to tell if
• 13:31
  Speaker 2: there was evidence of. Trauma the cause of death was
• 13:34
  Speaker 2: listed as smoke and soot. Inhalation the manner of death was,
• 13:37
  Speaker 2: undetermined and if that was the cause of. Death Was
• 13:42
  Speaker 2: connie alive when the fire hit or is it possible
• 13:46
  Speaker 2: that she was dead or injured before the fire. Started
• 13:51
  Speaker 2: so now we have a woman dead and multiple, people
• 13:54
  Speaker 2: including the victim's own, children telling police that her relationship
• 13:58
  Speaker 2: with her husband had been volatile and that he had threatened,
• 14:01
  Speaker 2: her including threats on the same day when she was
• 14:04
  Speaker 2: moving out of their home the day of the. Fire
• 14:07
  Speaker 2: police Interviewed David townsend at The Izard County sheriff's office
• 14:10
  Speaker 2: On january, thirteenth nineteen ninety. Five david told police that
• 14:14
  Speaker 2: on the morning of the, Fire, Saturday january, seventh nineteen ninety,
• 14:17
  Speaker 2: five that he woke up at his parents' house around five.
• 14:20
  Speaker 3: Am he ate breakfast between.
• 14:22
  Speaker 2: Six and, seven and then he was supposed to go
• 14:24
  Speaker 2: to the farm with his, father But david said he
• 14:26
  Speaker 2: was having a problem with his.
• 14:28
  Speaker 3: Car it was iced, up so he de iced the
• 14:30
  Speaker 3: car with a portable.
• 14:31
  Speaker 2: Heater, then at around eight to nine, am he left
• 14:35
  Speaker 2: his parents residence and went over to the trailer Where
• 14:37
  Speaker 2: connie was. Living david admitted that he argued With connie
• 14:41
  Speaker 2: while he was. There he said that they were were
• 14:44
  Speaker 2: arguing over who was supposed to help her move. Out
• 14:47
  Speaker 2: david said that he offered to Help, connie but she
• 14:49
  Speaker 2: told him she didn't want his. Help she wanted her
• 14:52
  Speaker 2: two brothers in, Law John brown And Arnie hutchinson to help,
• 14:55
  Speaker 2: her and for some, Reason david didn't want those guys
• 14:58
  Speaker 2: to help. Her david said that after having words With,
• 15:01
  Speaker 2: connie he. Left he wasn't exactly sure what time he,
• 15:04
  Speaker 2: left but he estimated it was around nine thirty. Am
• 15:07
  Speaker 2: he said he got back to his parents' residence at
• 15:09
  Speaker 2: around ten. Am david said that after that he talked
• 15:13
  Speaker 2: to his parents About connie moving out and explained that
• 15:16
  Speaker 2: she didn't want him around while she was. Moving david
• 15:20
  Speaker 2: said that his Son David lynn arrived at his parents
• 15:22
  Speaker 2: house sometime that. Afternoon he said he got the times mixed.
• 15:26
  Speaker 2: Up at, first he said he Thought David lynn got
• 15:28
  Speaker 2: there at around, eleven but he later told police he
• 15:31
  Speaker 2: realized he had been wrong about that. Time david stated
• 15:34
  Speaker 2: that he his, son his, mother and father had. Lunch
• 15:37
  Speaker 2: they had a, sandwich and that sometime between twelve forty
• 15:40
  Speaker 2: and one, pm his Son David lynne suggested they go.
• 15:43
  Speaker 2: Fishing david said that he said, Okay David lynn picked
• 15:47
  Speaker 2: up some, tackle and they took their rods and reels
• 15:49
  Speaker 2: and headed. Out david said their plan was to go
• 15:52
  Speaker 2: fishing at The White.
• 15:53
  Speaker 3: River.
• 15:53
  Speaker 2: Now police asked him at that point if they were
• 15:55
  Speaker 2: going to go out there without a, boat And david said.
• 15:57
  Speaker 2: Yes he said that before, leaving he went back into
• 16:01
  Speaker 2: the house and told his mom and dad where they were.
• 16:03
  Speaker 2: Going david said that his mom and dad asked when
• 16:06
  Speaker 2: they would be, back And david made a joke and
• 16:08
  Speaker 2: said probably in a. Week then he Said he And
• 16:11
  Speaker 2: David lynn left the home sometime after one pm and
• 16:14
  Speaker 2: they started driving Toward Calico.
• 16:15
  Speaker 3: Rock he said that along the way they stopped at a.
• 16:18
  Speaker 2: Harps david bought a can of corn and a can
• 16:21
  Speaker 2: opener and got a coke from a machine. There from,
• 16:23
  Speaker 2: there he, said they went to fish off a river.
• 16:25
  Speaker 2: Bank he said he wasn't sure how long they were out,
• 16:28
  Speaker 2: there but that it was after THREE pm by the
• 16:30
  Speaker 2: time they got back to his parents'. House police Asked
• 16:33
  Speaker 2: david if there had been any witnesses who could confirm this.
• 16:36
  Speaker 2: Story david did mention seeing a couple of people at
• 16:40
  Speaker 2: harps and out in the, field but he said that
• 16:43
  Speaker 2: these people couldn't see, him so in the end there
• 16:46
  Speaker 2: was no one other Than David lynn who could verify
• 16:48
  Speaker 2: the fishing trip all. By David lynn did verify his father's.
• 16:53
  Speaker 2: Story he said they were out fishing that. Day david
• 16:56
  Speaker 2: said that when he and his son were heading back,
• 16:58
  Speaker 2: home and we're in the area Of Spring creek off
• 16:59
  Speaker 2: the main, highway they saw his Father dale coming toward.
• 17:02
  Speaker 2: Them he said that it was just his father driving the,
• 17:05
  Speaker 2: vehicle a nineteen ninety FOUR gmc maroon and.
• 17:08
  Speaker 3: Silver four wheel drive pickup.
• 17:10
  Speaker 2: TRUCK i mention everyone's vehicle making models here by the,
• 17:13
  Speaker 2: way because there are several unidentified vehicles seen At connie's,
• 17:17
  Speaker 2: trailer and we're trying to figure out who owned those.
• 17:19
  Speaker 2: Vehicles david said he glanced down at a clock in the.
• 17:23
  Speaker 2: Truck he believed it read either three fourteen or three SIXTEEN.
• 17:27
  Speaker 2: Pm he said his father hit the brakes and signaled
• 17:30
  Speaker 2: For david to pull over to the side of the,
• 17:32
  Speaker 2: road which he said he. Did at that, Point david
• 17:35
  Speaker 2: told police that his Father, dale said he had bad
• 17:37
  Speaker 2: news for. Him david said he asked what. Happened his
• 17:41
  Speaker 2: dad told him the trailer had burned. Down he had
• 17:43
  Speaker 2: said his father was shaking at the time and it
• 17:45
  Speaker 2: seemed like he was. Distraught david said that's when his
• 17:48
  Speaker 2: father told, him that's not the.
• 17:50
  Speaker 3: Worst they think someone's in.
• 17:52
  Speaker 2: There, then he said that he And David lynne followed
• 17:55
  Speaker 2: his father and all went back to their. Residence after,
• 17:59
  Speaker 2: that he said they all went to the trailer Where
• 18:01
  Speaker 2: connie had been. Living david said that when they got,
• 18:04
  Speaker 2: there a crowd had formed, outside and that while he
• 18:07
  Speaker 2: was talking to, police someone called him over to the
• 18:09
  Speaker 2: side and told him they had found something in the
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: trailer and for him to get out of, there so
• 18:14
  Speaker 2: he said he got into his truck and drove back
• 18:16
  Speaker 2: to his parents'. House david told police that after getting
• 18:19
  Speaker 2: back to his parents', house he never returned to the.
• 18:22
  Speaker 2: Scene he said he never left his father's house until
• 18:25
  Speaker 2: he got woken up at around eleven. Pm we did
• 18:28
  Speaker 2: try to reach out To David, lynne but we learned that,
• 18:31
  Speaker 2: he as well As david's, parents have all passed. Away
• 18:36
  Speaker 2: police Asked david about his relationship With. Connie he said
• 18:40
  Speaker 2: that he And connie had separated around four years. Earlier
• 18:43
  Speaker 2: he said he had not lived with her at her
• 18:45
  Speaker 2: residence for the past. Year, again he admitted to police
• 18:49
  Speaker 2: that he was there on the day of the, fire
• 18:51
  Speaker 2: but he said he And connie never had a big.
• 18:53
  Speaker 2: Argument he said the only disagreement they had was about
• 18:57
  Speaker 2: what he'd already told. Police david said that he found
• 19:01
  Speaker 2: Out connie had filed for divorce three days, earlier and
• 19:05
  Speaker 2: he found that out after his father told him he
• 19:07
  Speaker 2: had a registered letter at the post. Office but he
• 19:09
  Speaker 2: said the divorce had not been a total shock Because
• 19:12
  Speaker 2: connie had said she was going to file for, Divorce
• 19:15
  Speaker 2: david said because he had gotten A. Dwi Apparently connie
• 19:19
  Speaker 2: was afraid that because of that charge that her car
• 19:22
  Speaker 2: insurance rates could go. Up because of, that she wanted
• 19:25
  Speaker 2: to get the divorce paperwork, processed and he knew. That
• 19:29
  Speaker 2: connie's Daughter stacy And, amber And connie's mother all told
• 19:33
  Speaker 2: police they were very suspicious Of david because he had made.
• 19:38
  Speaker 2: Threats connie's mother said in a sworn statement That david
• 19:41
  Speaker 2: had been threatening her daughter for a, while but she
• 19:44
  Speaker 2: Said connie had not really taken the threat seriously up
• 19:48
  Speaker 2: until the months leading up to her. Death david was
• 19:52
  Speaker 2: there on the day of the, fire on the day
• 19:54
  Speaker 2: When connie was moving, out and shortly after he left the,
• 19:57
  Speaker 2: residence her house burned to the. Ground and there were
• 20:01
  Speaker 2: other things that were odd at that, scene including the family.
• 20:04
  Speaker 2: Dog connie And david had a black dog Named, bobo
• 20:09
  Speaker 2: and the dog was normally kept chained On connie's. Property
• 20:12
  Speaker 2: when he wasn't, inside he was chained to the carport,
• 20:15
  Speaker 2: outside but on the day of the, fire the dog
• 20:19
  Speaker 2: was nowhere to be. Found did someone unchain the? Dog if,
• 20:24
  Speaker 2: so who did it and? Why when detectives Searched Connie townsend's,
• 20:30
  Speaker 2: vehicle they found evidence that she and her daughter had
• 20:33
  Speaker 2: been packing to. Leave one thing detectives found was children's
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: baby clothing in plastic, bags and there was something, else
• 20:41
  Speaker 2: a black overnight bag with clothing as in it and. Condoms,
• 20:46
  Speaker 2: now investigating a murder puts you in a weird position
• 20:49
  Speaker 2: of feeling like you're invading someone's privacy at the same,
• 20:52
  Speaker 2: time it's necessary to ask these types of invasive questions
• 20:56
  Speaker 2: in order to help solve.
• 20:57
  Speaker 3: Cases so one natural.
• 20:59
  Speaker 2: Question that came up for me was Was connie planning
• 21:02
  Speaker 2: on going to see?
• 21:03
  Speaker 3: Someone was she dating anyone at that? Time but that
• 21:07
  Speaker 3: question was quickly.
• 21:08
  Speaker 2: Answered connie's, Daughter amber told us, that to her, knowledge
• 21:12
  Speaker 2: her mother was not dating. Anyone amber also said the
• 21:15
  Speaker 2: condoms and overnight bag were. Hers she said that her
• 21:19
  Speaker 2: mom's stuff and her stuff was mixed up because.
• 21:22
  Speaker 3: They were moving.
• 21:22
  Speaker 2: Together On january, thirteenth nineteen ninety, Five David townshend consented
• 21:29
  Speaker 2: to taking a voice stress test at The Baxter County Sheriff's.
• 21:32
  Speaker 2: Office voice stress, tests also known as voice stress, analysis
• 21:37
  Speaker 2: measure very subtle differences in a person's voice while they're
• 21:39
  Speaker 2: being questioned in an attempt to detect, deception but like hoolygraph,
• 21:44
  Speaker 2: test they are not admissible in, court and their usefulness
• 21:48
  Speaker 2: and effectiveness has been questioned. Extensively in two thousand and,
• 21:52
  Speaker 2: eight The National institute Of justice did a study that
• 21:55
  Speaker 2: found THAT bsa was only accurate about fifty percent of
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: the time in a field, Setting so, basically the study
• 22:02
  Speaker 2: found THAT vsa was no more reliable than flipping a. Coin,
• 22:06
  Speaker 2: now the investigator notes indicated that the stress test results
• 22:10
  Speaker 2: would be part of the case, file but they.
• 22:13
  Speaker 3: Weren't there were remarks in.
• 22:15
  Speaker 2: The case file that indicated that police believed That david was,
• 22:18
  Speaker 2: susceptive but a lot of parts of this case file
• 22:21
  Speaker 2: appear to be missing or cut. Off investigators also talked
• 22:25
  Speaker 2: To David. Lynn David lynn confirmed that he and his
• 22:28
  Speaker 2: father were fishing at the time of the house, Fire
• 22:31
  Speaker 2: so if this was, arson and If david was, elsewhere
• 22:35
  Speaker 2: who else could have been. Involved there are handwritten notes
• 22:39
  Speaker 2: in the police case. File some of them involved Joe Anne,
• 22:42
  Speaker 2: ellis a woman Who Davevid townsend was dating at the
• 22:45
  Speaker 2: time Of connie's. Death according to the police, report they
• 22:48
  Speaker 2: had been together for a. While Joe anne And david
• 22:51
  Speaker 2: had actually been dating for around three years. Now it
• 22:54
  Speaker 2: would seem as Though david's girlfriend would be a natural
• 22:56
  Speaker 2: person to talk, to and yet there's no record of
• 23:00
  Speaker 2: any law enforcement interview with her in this case. File
• 23:03
  Speaker 2: maybe that part of the case file was. Lost maybe
• 23:06
  Speaker 2: she was never. Questioned we just don't know for. Sure
• 23:10
  Speaker 2: but one of the most cryptic notes in the case
• 23:13
  Speaker 2: file is on the handwritten notes. Page at the, bottom it, reads,
• 23:17
  Speaker 2: quote talk To eddie About Joeanne.
• 23:19
  Speaker 3: Ellis Was joanne With David townsend at the? Time end.
• 23:22
  Speaker 2: Quote we are trying to figure out Who eddie is
• 23:26
  Speaker 2: and when we, do hopefully we'll find. Him there's another
• 23:30
  Speaker 2: interesting thing about Joe Anne. Ellis back in nineteen ninety
• 23:33
  Speaker 2: she was involved in allegations of another. FIRE a trailer
• 23:37
  Speaker 2: that she had been living at caught fire and burned
• 23:39
  Speaker 2: to the. Ground and then in nineteen ninety, two Both
• 23:43
  Speaker 2: joanne and an acquaintance of hers Name, ronnie were charged
• 23:46
  Speaker 2: in connection with the. Fire Joe anne was charged with
• 23:49
  Speaker 2: solicitation to commit, arson which she pleaded guilty. To ronnie
• 23:53
  Speaker 2: was charged with arson and theft of. Property he pleaded
• 23:56
  Speaker 2: guilty to the theft of, property but the arson charges
• 23:59
  Speaker 2: against him were. Dismissed in the, end both Joe anne
• 24:02
  Speaker 2: And ronnie got, probation but there was nothing more About
• 24:05
  Speaker 2: joanne's previous charges In Connie townsend's case. File it seemed
• 24:10
  Speaker 2: to be just another lead that went. Nowhere Joe Anne
• 24:15
  Speaker 2: ellis passed away several years, ago about a year after
• 24:18
  Speaker 2: she And David townshend were, married so we can't ask.
• 24:21
  Speaker 2: Her Was connie's trailer burning down an accident or a
• 24:29
  Speaker 2: homicide and potential arson. Investigation there is a report from
• 24:33
  Speaker 2: the fire marshal and an electrician went in with law
• 24:36
  Speaker 2: enforcement and looked at the service, box the fuse, box
• 24:39
  Speaker 2: and the dryer's electrical. Cord Now i'm going to read
• 24:42
  Speaker 2: directly from this because i am not an. Electrician they
• 24:46
  Speaker 2: found that the service box had been, shorted and that
• 24:49
  Speaker 2: there was arching on the hot wire caused by the,
• 24:51
  Speaker 2: short and also that one breaker switch was off and
• 24:54
  Speaker 2: one was. On the electrician stated that in their, opinion
• 24:58
  Speaker 2: the short could have contributed to or caused the fire
• 25:02
  Speaker 2: that destroyed the. Trailer so the trailer fire could have
• 25:05
  Speaker 2: been an, accident but a lot of people believed that
• 25:08
  Speaker 2: the evidence pointed to. Arson there are other potential clues
• 25:13
  Speaker 2: buried in the case, fall including some other handwritten. Notes
• 25:17
  Speaker 2: they were written by someone with The Arkansas State, police
• 25:20
  Speaker 2: and they indicate that at one point police suspected that
• 25:22
  Speaker 2: an accelerant like gasoline had been, used because while the
• 25:26
  Speaker 2: fire report said they didn't find any signs of. Accelerant
• 25:30
  Speaker 2: one of the handwritten, notes which frustratingly was one of
• 25:33
  Speaker 2: the hardest to, Decipher reid's quote they started at the
• 25:36
  Speaker 2: living room and went to kitchen throwing diesel gas end.
• 25:40
  Speaker 2: Quote just because accelerant is not found to the scene
• 25:44
  Speaker 2: doesn't mean that accelerant wasn't. Used it might have all burned.
• 25:48
  Speaker 2: Up we need to get more details on that note
• 25:52
  Speaker 2: and on other handwritten, notes including one that reads Blue
• 25:56
  Speaker 2: chevy later seventies was parked on road Behind connie's. Trailer
• 26:02
  Speaker 2: this probably refers to the vehicle that the three women
• 26:05
  Speaker 2: who arrived at the scene first said they, saw the
• 26:08
  Speaker 2: one that was driven by the curly haired man, who
• 26:10
  Speaker 2: to my, knowledge has never been. Identified police were building
• 26:14
  Speaker 2: a case Against David, townsend but they had some, roadblocks
• 26:17
  Speaker 2: including the fact that the manner of death was still.
• 26:21
  Speaker 2: Undetermined the prosecuting attorney at the time WAS. Tj, hovey
• 26:25
  Speaker 2: and in nineteen ninety, six his office filed a subpoena
• 26:29
  Speaker 2: in order to get a complete copy Of connie.
• 26:31
  Speaker 3: And david's divorce case.
• 26:32
  Speaker 2: File just a few months After connie's, death On august twenty,
• 26:36
  Speaker 2: first nineteen ninety, Five David townshend remarried to Joe Anne.
• 26:40
  Speaker 2: Ellis one natural question That i'm sure occurred to investigators was,
• 26:45
  Speaker 2: who if, anyone stood to profit From connie's, Death and
• 26:49
  Speaker 2: there's evidence in the case file that investigators did try
• 26:52
  Speaker 2: to follow the. Money In january of nineteen ninety, Six
• 26:56
  Speaker 2: Izard county issued a subpoena for all insurance records pertaining
• 27:00
  Speaker 2: To Connie, Townsend and there was something else in the
• 27:03
  Speaker 2: case file related To connie's work insurance. Policy connie worked
• 27:07
  Speaker 2: At White RIVER T shirts factory for many, years she
• 27:11
  Speaker 2: would be eligible for life insurance payouts from her. Job
• 27:15
  Speaker 2: there's something called A. CSOP i learned that this is
• 27:17
  Speaker 2: a type of work insurance. Policy Since connie had worked
• 27:21
  Speaker 2: At White RIVER T shirts factory for many, years she
• 27:24
  Speaker 2: was eligible for life insurance payouts from her. Job police
• 27:27
  Speaker 2: talked To Arlene. Martz arlene said that sometime In october
• 27:32
  Speaker 2: of nineteen ninety, four That connie had come in and
• 27:34
  Speaker 2: wanted to talk to. Her arlene told Police connie was
• 27:38
  Speaker 2: asking questions about Getting david removed as the primary beneficiary
• 27:41
  Speaker 2: of her life insurance. Policy arlene Said connie apparently wanted
• 27:46
  Speaker 2: to name her daughters as primary beneficiaries and to Take
• 27:49
  Speaker 2: david off the. Policy arlene said that she explained To
• 27:53
  Speaker 2: connie that Because connie And david were legally, married that
• 27:57
  Speaker 2: making a change like that would Require david's, signature And
• 28:01
  Speaker 2: arlene Said connie told Her david would never sign that.
• 28:04
  Speaker 2: Form arlene said that she Gave connie a new life
• 28:09
  Speaker 2: insurance enrollment, form but That connie never returned that. Form
• 28:13
  Speaker 2: police also talked to Joe Anne ellis's, Son Michael Wade.
• 28:17
  Speaker 2: Bailey michael told investigators On january sixteenth that he had
• 28:21
  Speaker 2: just moved back To arkansas From tennessee and that he
• 28:24
  Speaker 2: had been staying With david and his, mother Joe.
• 28:26
  Speaker 3: Anne he told.
• 28:28
  Speaker 2: Police that once When david was, drunk That david Told
• 28:32
  Speaker 2: michael that he Killed, connie But michael Said david didn't
• 28:36
  Speaker 2: provide any additional details beyond that one, statement and there's
• 28:40
  Speaker 2: no record that police ever Interviewed michael. Again there were
• 28:44
  Speaker 2: other leads that were apparently never ruled.
• 28:46
  Speaker 3: Out on the.
• 28:48
  Speaker 2: Day of the, fire a witness Named Jackie stacy said
• 28:51
  Speaker 2: she was driving On highway fifty. Six she said she
• 28:53
  Speaker 2: Passed connie's house and noticed a black truck with multicolored
• 28:57
  Speaker 2: stripes and chrome rims parked outside at around ten thirty
• 29:01
  Speaker 2: or eleven am on the Morning connie. Died who was
• 29:04
  Speaker 2: driving this truck and were they ever found or. Questioned
• 29:08
  Speaker 2: there was another witness Named Peggy. Would she said that
• 29:11
  Speaker 2: on the night after the, fire That David townsend showed
• 29:14
  Speaker 2: up at her house in a Black. Chevy she said
• 29:16
  Speaker 2: it was approximately eight THIRTY pm and That david was
• 29:19
  Speaker 2: with a friend of his and That david quote wanted
• 29:22
  Speaker 2: to come in and.
• 29:23
  Speaker 3: Let his friend get acquainted with me end.
• 29:25
  Speaker 2: Quote she Said david hung out there in her yard
• 29:28
  Speaker 2: for about ten to fifteen minutes and said he was
• 29:31
  Speaker 2: saying she, burned and then. Left peggy said that she
• 29:34
  Speaker 2: assumed That david wasn't her, words drunk or. High peggy,
• 29:39
  Speaker 2: said according to the, report Quote connie told me just
• 29:42
  Speaker 2: a few days before the fire that she was scared
• 29:44
  Speaker 2: Of David. Townsend and that he had told her that
• 29:47
  Speaker 2: she was not going to divorce, him and, Said i'll
• 29:50
  Speaker 2: kill you or make sure nobody gets you except me
• 29:53
  Speaker 2: if you divorce.
• 29:54
  Speaker 3: Me end.
• 29:55
  Speaker 2: Quote connie's, Daughter, stacey told police that at approximately ten
• 29:59
  Speaker 2: am On january, seventh she called her. Mother she said
• 30:03
  Speaker 2: that she was planning on helping her move out of
• 30:05
  Speaker 2: the house that. Day stacy, said, QUOTE i asked her
• 30:09
  Speaker 2: If David townsend had been. There she said, yes and
• 30:12
  Speaker 2: then he threatened to call the law if she tried
• 30:14
  Speaker 2: to take anything out of the. House she also, said
• 30:17
  Speaker 2: repeatedly he threatened her with bodily. Harm she didn't sound.
• 30:21
  Speaker 2: Right her voice was shaky and sounded kind of.
• 30:24
  Speaker 3: Edgy end.
• 30:25
  Speaker 2: Quote stacy, said quote while me and my sister were
• 30:29
  Speaker 2: living at the, house on numerous, occasions he had threatened
• 30:32
  Speaker 2: to burn the house.
• 30:33
  Speaker 3: Down end.
• 30:34
  Speaker 2: Quote at some, Point Izard county turned the case over
• 30:42
  Speaker 2: to The Arkansas State.
• 30:43
  Speaker 3: Police in nineteen ninety.
• 30:45
  Speaker 2: Five a status report made by an investigator Named Robert
• 30:48
  Speaker 2: hicks indicated that the case was still active at the.
• 30:52
  Speaker 2: Time the prosecuting attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial district Of
• 30:55
  Speaker 2: arkansas Was Thomas James, hively known AS. Tj but On
• 31:00
  Speaker 2: Friday april twenty, sixth nineteen ninety, six INVESTIGATOR. T. H
• 31:04
  Speaker 2: brown of The Arkansas State police had a conference With,
• 31:06
  Speaker 2: tjhvely and according to the investigator's, report after reviewing the, EVIDENCE.
• 31:12
  Speaker 2: Tj hively determined there was not enough evidence at that
• 31:14
  Speaker 2: point to charge a suspect and concluded that the case
• 31:18
  Speaker 2: file should be carried forward as an inactive. Investigation the
• 31:22
  Speaker 2: report read quote all investigative leads have been. Exhausted end.
• 31:26
  Speaker 2: Quote there's something. Else one other thing to note ABOUT.
• 31:31
  Speaker 5: Tj.
• 31:31
  Speaker 3: Hively he was the cousin Of David.
• 31:34
  Speaker 2: Townsend if you're not From, arkansas you may not have
• 31:49
  Speaker 2: heard the Name, Tjhively but.
• 31:51
  Speaker 3: In the state Of, arkansas the name is pretty.
• 31:53
  Speaker 2: Notorious tjhively was the prosecuting attorney for the Sixteenth Judicial,
• 31:58
  Speaker 2: district which Includes Isra, county until nineteen ninety, eight five
• 32:02
  Speaker 2: years After connie's trailer. Fire in two, THOUSAND. Tj and
• 32:06
  Speaker 2: his law partner and deputy prosecuting, Attorney Wesley John, kettz
• 32:10
  Speaker 2: were convicted of mail, fraud money, laundering and. Racketeering this
• 32:15
  Speaker 2: was a huge news. Story they were charged with sixty
• 32:18
  Speaker 2: four accounts in, Total many of the charges were related
• 32:21
  Speaker 2: to two schemes to obtain federal and state grant. Money
• 32:25
  Speaker 2: there were also other. Charges according to court, Documents tjhvely
• 32:29
  Speaker 2: and a colleague extorted several people during his time as
• 32:33
  Speaker 2: a prosecuting, attorney including a man who was charged with,
• 32:36
  Speaker 2: molestation a woman whose husband was charged with, murder and
• 32:40
  Speaker 2: another man who was charged with drunk.
• 32:42
  Speaker 3: DRIVING.
• 32:44
  Speaker 2: Tj hively was accused of extorting all three of these.
• 32:47
  Speaker 2: People after a federal jury, Trial tjhvely was eventually acquitted
• 32:53
  Speaker 2: of money laundering, charges but he was convicted of mail
• 32:56
  Speaker 2: fraud and the deputy prosecutor was convicted of aiding and a.
• 32:59
  Speaker 2: Betting they were also both convicted of. Racketeering tjhively was
• 33:04
  Speaker 2: sentenced to concurrent five year sentences for each count and
• 33:08
  Speaker 2: ordered to repay the almost four hundred and thirty thousand
• 33:11
  Speaker 2: dollars he received from the.
• 33:13
  Speaker 3: Grants, now nothing ABOUT.
• 33:15
  Speaker 2: Tj hively's trial and charges mentioned anything About Connie townsend's.
• 33:20
  Speaker 3: Case, HOWEVER. Tj hively was a cousin Of David.
• 33:23
  Speaker 2: Townsend And i'm bringing this up because we have a
• 33:26
  Speaker 2: situation where the person responsible for deciding whether charges were
• 33:30
  Speaker 2: brought against one of his own relatives was convicted of
• 33:33
  Speaker 2: serious charges later that related to alleged misuse of his.
• 33:37
  Speaker 3: Office did the fact THAT.
• 33:38
  Speaker 2: Tj hovey was a cousin Of David townsend's affect the
• 33:41
  Speaker 2: investigation in any? WAY i think it's a question that's worth.
• 33:45
  Speaker 2: Asking with the, caveat of, course we don't know if
• 33:48
  Speaker 2: they were. Close we don't know If david was a distant.
• 33:50
  Speaker 2: Cousin these are small, towns and, honestly it often seems
• 33:55
  Speaker 2: like everyone.
• 33:55
  Speaker 3: Is related in one way or.
• 33:57
  Speaker 2: Another after the prosecutors declined to pursue charges Against david
• 34:02
  Speaker 2: in nineteen ninety, Six Connie townshend's case went. Cold eleven years,
• 34:07
  Speaker 2: later in two thousand and, Seven connie's Daughter stacy reached
• 34:12
  Speaker 2: out to The Arkansas State police to try and get
• 34:14
  Speaker 2: a copy of her mother's case. File in two thousand and,
• 34:17
  Speaker 2: nine she tried. Again both times she was.
• 34:20
  Speaker 5: Unsuccessful Ezrad county really didn't say anything The State police.
• 34:25
  Speaker 5: Die he told me that he really really felt That
• 34:27
  Speaker 5: david done, it but he just did not have enough.
• 34:31
  Speaker 5: Proof he was six and a retire he, said and he,
• 34:34
  Speaker 5: SAID i would love to solve this case BEFORE i.
• 34:36
  Speaker 5: RETIREMENT i just don't have enough proof at. All if
• 34:40
  Speaker 5: we took him the court and he set free and
• 34:43
  Speaker 5: there's nothing we can do about. It we went to
• 34:46
  Speaker 5: the prosecute an attorney to see if he would sussecute,
• 34:48
  Speaker 5: him and he said, NO i just do not have enough.
• 34:51
  Speaker 5: Evidence there's NOTHING i can do about. It it ended.
• 34:54
  Speaker 2: There WHICH i really can't understand because at the, time
• 34:59
  Speaker 2: as we, said the case file had been labeled. INACTIVE
• 35:02
  Speaker 2: i get that police are in a hard. Position obviously
• 35:05
  Speaker 2: they don't want to turn over information that would only
• 35:08
  Speaker 2: be known to the. Killer but it does seem Like
• 35:10
  Speaker 2: connie's case, was like so many other cases we've, seen
• 35:14
  Speaker 2: in an investigative dead, zone not officially, closed so the
• 35:18
  Speaker 2: files can't be released a family or the general, public
• 35:21
  Speaker 2: but also no one is working on. Them we've seen
• 35:24
  Speaker 2: the emails sent by members of The Arkansas State police
• 35:27
  Speaker 2: where they're talking About stacy reaching out and about her
• 35:30
  Speaker 2: wanting a copy of the case, File and from those,
• 35:33
  Speaker 2: emails it's clear that the police's prime suspect Was David.
• 35:37
  Speaker 2: Townsend so what really happened To Connie? Townsend is there
• 35:42
  Speaker 2: a way of figuring that out?
• 35:43
  Speaker 3: Out after? All this. Time in my, opinion if there is.
• 35:46
  Speaker 2: Ever going to be justice in this, case it's going
• 35:49
  Speaker 2: to come from a piece of information from someone in the,
• 35:52
  Speaker 2: community someone who was around at the, time not from physical.
• 35:56
  Speaker 2: EVIDENCE i say that partially because we learn. That In
• 36:00
  Speaker 2: august of twenty twenty, one another, Officer Jackie, stinnett asked
• 36:04
  Speaker 2: about the status of evidence that had been seized by
• 36:07
  Speaker 2: The State police investigators and sent to The Arkansas State Crime.
• 36:10
  Speaker 2: Lab it turned out that the ORIGINAL asp investigator had
• 36:14
  Speaker 2: kept some of the, evidence including some burned photos and
• 36:17
  Speaker 2: an electrical, plug but it was noted in the report
• 36:21
  Speaker 2: that almost all the other items in this case were,
• 36:24
  Speaker 2: missing which means tragically that they are almost certainly lost.
• 36:29
  Speaker 2: Forever there were only two pieces of evidence, left the
• 36:34
  Speaker 2: frames to a pair of, glasses Which connie's daughters say
• 36:37
  Speaker 2: were almost certainly hers because she wore, glasses and the
• 36:40
  Speaker 2: pair of scissors that were found Under connie's. Body in
• 36:45
  Speaker 2: twenty twenty, two a case master report by The Arkansas
• 36:48
  Speaker 2: State police indicates that the arson and homicide investigation Into
• 36:52
  Speaker 2: Connie townsend's death was officially. Closed Arkansas State police Investigator
• 36:57
  Speaker 2: Dennis simons met With. Stacy he told her he had
• 37:01
  Speaker 2: reviewed the initial case file and he did not believe
• 37:04
  Speaker 2: that there was enough information to change the manner of
• 37:06
  Speaker 2: death from pending to. HOMICIDE i believe that there are
• 37:13
  Speaker 2: other potential clues in this case. File next week we're
• 37:17
  Speaker 2: going to release never before seen pages of this case.
• 37:19
  Speaker 2: File we're going to try to figure out If connie's
• 37:22
  Speaker 2: house fire could have been an, accident or if there
• 37:25
  Speaker 2: are other clues buried in the file that point to.
• 37:27
  Speaker 2: Arson and Was David townshend the police's only suspect or
• 37:33
  Speaker 2: could other people have been? Involved who was the curly
• 37:36
  Speaker 2: haired mystery man at the crime scene and who was
• 37:39
  Speaker 2: driving the black truck with the bright colored. Stripes remember
• 37:43
  Speaker 2: WHEN i said back at the, beginning we were going
• 37:45
  Speaker 2: to be sharing parts of this case file On, instagram
• 37:47
  Speaker 2: and THEN i SAID i needed help and detective work.
• 37:49
  Speaker 3: From people who lived in the.
• 37:50
  Speaker 2: Community we are going to be posting images of this case.
• 37:54
  Speaker 3: File i'm going to post them on My.
• 37:56
  Speaker 2: Instagram the handle is At Love detective and also at Helen.
• 38:01
  Speaker 2: Gonpod there are a lot of case file notes that
• 38:04
  Speaker 2: are kind of these cryptic. Scribblings they have partial names
• 38:08
  Speaker 2: and a few, details but a lot of them are cut.
• 38:10
  Speaker 2: Off i'm hoping there's someone out there who can help
• 38:13
  Speaker 2: fill in some of these. Blanks there were twenty to
• 38:16
  Speaker 2: twenty five people Outside Connie townsend's. House i'm asking everyone
• 38:21
  Speaker 2: to please look at these notes and if you can
• 38:24
  Speaker 2: help solve this, mystery please reach. Out even though most
• 38:28
  Speaker 2: of the people who were questioned or who were in
• 38:31
  Speaker 2: any way involved in this case are, DEAD i believe
• 38:34
  Speaker 2: we can still help get justice For connie's.
• 38:38
  Speaker 5: FAMILY i know that justice will never be so AND
• 38:41
  Speaker 5: i know no one will ever go to, jail old,
• 38:43
  Speaker 5: prison be. Arrested that's. Fine i've accepted. THAT i can
• 38:47
  Speaker 5: get by with. That BUT i just WISH i knew
• 38:50
  Speaker 5: what happened that day and what happened to. Her they
• 38:53
  Speaker 5: done something to her that day that she didn't get
• 38:55
  Speaker 5: out of that, House AND i just wish somebody would
• 38:58
  Speaker 5: just tell me SO i could just get on with,
• 39:00
  Speaker 5: it get on with my life and kind of put
• 39:02
  Speaker 5: it to the closure and just get mom a boys
• 39:05
  Speaker 5: and so like she really never got a, Voice she
• 39:08
  Speaker 5: just got. Forgotten ye pushed under the, rug and somebody knows.
• 39:12
  Speaker 3: Something I'm Catherine.
• 39:16
  Speaker 2: Townsend this Is Helen Gone Murder. Line Helen Gone Murder
• 39:21
  Speaker 2: line is a production Of school Of humans And iHeart.
• 39:23
  Speaker 2: Podcasts it's written and narrated by Me Catherine townsend and
• 39:26
  Speaker 2: produced By Gabby. Watts special thanks To Amy tubbs for
• 39:30
  Speaker 2: her research assistance And.
• 39:31
  Speaker 3: James wheaton for legal.
• 39:33
  Speaker 2: Review Noah camera mixed and scored this. Episode our theme
• 39:36
  Speaker 2: song is By Ben. Salek executive producers Are Virginia, Prescott Brandon,
• 39:40
  Speaker 2: barr And Else. Crowley listen To Helen gone ad free
• 39:44
  Speaker 2: by subscribing to The iHeart True Crime plus channel On Apple.
• 39:47
  Speaker 2: Podcasts if you're interested in seeing documents and materials from the,
• 39:51
  Speaker 2: case you can follow the show On instagram At helen.
• 39:54
  Speaker 2: Gonpod if you have a case you'd like me and
• 39:57
  Speaker 2: my team to look, into you can reach out to
• 39:59
  Speaker 2: us at Our Helen Gone Murder line at six seven
• 40:02
  Speaker 2: eight seven four four six one four.
• 40:04
  Speaker 3: Five that's six seven eight seven four four six one four.
• 40:08
  Speaker 1: Five school Of humans