Dating back to the 1500s, here are seven of the most infamous unsolved mysteries in North Carolina. She was the light of our lives, Debi said. A . Inside this small grocery store, an unnamed murderer hid and waited for closing time. February 12, 1972 "Murder of 3 Shakes 'Quiet . The story of Helen Clevenger. A dark fall night turned even darker whenHarris couldn't find the girl, instead embarking on a drunken rampage, killing five people, including two policemen, before he was shot down himself. I look the world squarely in the face and defy any person anywhere to prove that a single cent of corrupt money or any other thing ever dishonestly touched my hands.". Witnesses say that they saw her standing next to a maroon car driven by a man in his 30s on August 9, 1970. The second regarding the car crash of a young man who didn't quite make the curve. The most recent of which, APD has confirmed . Ambers grandmother, who is 92 and living in Florida, is still hoping for closure, an ending to her granddaughter's case. Hear the stories of . Months later, her body was found on a remote mountainside 1000km away. No clear explanation was ever found. Thirty-five-year-old Jackie Thorpe was the next victim reported missing, and she was quickly found on August 17th near the Seven Bridges Road. People asked about that, but you know, not everybody came to lunch on Sundays, said James, UNC Asheville alumna and professor in the literature and language department. One person was unharmed, but was said to be drenched in blood and assumed dead upon first recognition. In Asheville,Harris bought a rifle, a jug of whiskey and some new clothes. In addition, the source states that roughly 24,311 of those homicides have been solved as time passed, most likely due to advancements in DNA technology and improvements to law enforcement and forensic protocols. DNA evidence more recently led to an arrest in the 2012 murder of Faith Hedgepeth. A suspect known to authorities was profiled Wednesday in Court TV's "Haunting Evidence.". Approximately 24,311 of those homicides have been resolved throughout the years, leaving North Carolina with around5,255 unsolved homicides. Five of the . In past years, great advancements inDNA technology, as well as changes in law enforcement protocol,have resulted in the resolution of hundreds, if not thousands, of decades-old unsolved homicides, and North Carolina isnt any different. The legendary PINK LADY at the Grove Park Inn . Local lore has it that a ghostly apparitionhas been spotted staring through an upper floor window. No family members were harmed and after four days the fires completely subsided. These murders are among NC's biggest unsolved mysteries. She wanted to go to college. His suicide note to the city said the claims of corruption had mortally wounded his sensitive soul. After yet another fight with his wife, the man decided his children were the root of their problems. Detective Taylor told Dateline that their investigation revealed that Amber left Bar Code around 3 a.m. after she got separated from her friends. Also among the lists are unsolved murders Raleigh, North Carolina, including the 2017 murder of Jose Melendez, Jr., the 2011 murder of Sandra Denise Thomas, and the 2000 murder of Rhonda Vicks Abram, among others. A triple murder in Boone, North Carolina, back in 1972 went unsolved until now. He confirmed to Dateline there have been recent developments in the case, but was not able to comment further on them at the time. Where her octagonal wire-rimmed glasses sat neatly on her Spanish notebook that tragic afternoon, they now sit in APDs property and evidence room, along with her private diary, collected by the detectives from her dorm room. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations Uniform Crime Report (UCR) for 2019, the violent crime rate in North Carolina at the timewas approximately371.8 per 100,000 residents of the state. Two weeks before that summer night, Debi remembers waking up screaming from two separate nightmares about Amber that had left her with an uneasy feeling. All forms of violent crime are quite prevalent in Henderson, where residents had a 1 in 49 shot of being the victim of an attack over the year. What have you heard about these mysteries, legends, and stories, and which ones did I miss? Get Started Now. Brutally assaulted, sexually assaulted, Taylor said. January 25, 1974 Aldridge, Ron. We all want justice.. 33 of the Pack Library Newspaper File Collection, the one filled with news clippings of historic crimes. On Saturday, February 14, 1987, Pamela Michelle Murray disappeared from the parking lot of the Asheville Mall in western North Carolina. She wanted to go to Europe. You will receive your first newsletter soon. As the cleaning crew and employees began their nightly duties, they were caught off guard and held at gunpoint. She deserves justice. Someone that can go toe to toe with Jasmine Beach-Ferrara & win!! Do they feel remorse? Nobody thought much about that she didnt show up for lunch. She was obviously a well-liked girl, Taylor said. Their attempts to put the event behind them came to halt when a pair of shoes caught fire in Mrs. Williamson's closet, burning to a crisp. Many Battery Park managers employed since that time have felt cursed, she said. Sadly, the boys were not in the theatre and were nowhere to be found. Facebook; Twitter; Break; Instagram; YouTube; Stay in the loop. Eric Robert Begley, 42, is charged with the . The strangest part is that no one knows the motive or who could have possibly committed such a horrific crime. 2. He maintained his innocence until the very moment of his execution by electric chair on a cold December day in 1936. Some examples of the many murders in northern North Carolina that remain unsolved include the 1989 murder of Cynthia Cindy Kirk, the 1998 abduction and murder of Brittany Locklear, the 1990 murder of Emma Mae Terry, and the 1994 murder of Kathi Kennedy, among others. Strangely, authorities ruled the case as an accident, even despite her families pleads that it was clearly a murder. Infobase Publishing, 2009 - Social Science - 449 pages. Anyone with information on Ambers case is asked to call the Asheville Police Department at (828) 252-1110 or contact Det. . Wake County, North Carolina, boastsapopulation of nearly 294,000 people. A stranger story is that before Peter's "death" he sent a bizarre letter to his family in Virginia claiming he was going to do something horrible, that would cause them great sorrow, and in the event this happened, they would never hear from him again. Remarkably for 1973 and weve still got it all in evidence.. WordPress. Taylor said he hopes can be retested using modern technology. In Olsons case, procedures were not in place to deal with campus-wide reactions regarding safety protocols and counseling services. The 2019 crime rate in Asheville, NC is 518 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.9 times greater than the U.S. average. Incredibly, everyone survived. Lastly, he hung himself at the bridge. Me too. She wanted to teach French and eventually have a family.. Olsons case, labeled cold due to a lack of investigative leads, will remain open until solved, according to Taylor, the longest serving APD investigator. Dig deeper Were not going to stop working it until it is solved, whether its me or the next person that comes along and picks it up after Im gone, Taylor said. Researched and written by our staff writer who enjoys contributing about their state for our site. It was around 9:40 a.m. on February 23, 1987, when the 23-year-old got a call from her mother, Lorene Potter . The 25-year-old store clerk child was gunned down in an overnight robbery. When the police arrived they were not prepared for the horrific sight. It is unknown why or how Judy ended up in Asheville, North Carolina, 600 miles away from Philadelphia. Welcome to Henderson, the de facto murder capital of North Carolina. Debi told Dateline she was a little worried people would judge Amber based on appearances, but said her daughter would tell her that if someone judged her based on looks, its not someone she would want to be around anyway. A pregnant North Carolina woman was fatally shot two weeks after she testified as a witness against her ex-boyfriend in a capital murder trial. The victims were: Fannie, 37; Marie, 17; Carrie, 12; Maybell, 7; James, 4; Raymond, 2; and Mary Lou, 4 months old. Brad Bishop; Richard Bare; Frederick Young; Rhonda Hinson; Judith Smith; Marshall Lee Brown; Debbie Wolfe; Trends Analytics. She was a Jane Doe practically down the hall from where I was working all day, her mother added. The evidence that is frequently presented in Wake County homicide trials is entirely reliant on the crime itself. It addressed equal access to education and sports for women. Updated: Feb 28, 2023 / 08:39 PM EST. She attacked her husband and grabbed their infant daughter from his grip. A couple of the many northern North Carolina unsolved murders that are listed on various law enforcement websites include the 1998 abduction and murder of Brittany Locklear, the 1998 murder of James "Bootie" Graves, the 1990 murder of Emma Mae Terry, and the 1994 murder of Kathi Kennedy, among others. Legend says her and Peter haunt the area and Gimgoul Castle. The 2019 Asheville crime rate rose by 17% compared to 2018. Harsent was six months pregnant at the time of her death. Taylor. Beard said a lot of thought, preparation, effort and love went into the memorial. To find the mark of the infamous gunfight, look at the letter V carved into the Vance Memorial, Frazier said. Roberts also joined the board of the Central Bank and Trust, headquartered in the Legal Building. In 2016, nearly 40 percent of murder and . Yet, everyone can agree that it is terrifying, haunted, and a true NC legend. The Unsolved Hinterkaifeck Murders. Are they married? People asked about that, but you know, not everybody came to lunch on Sundays, said James, UNC Asheville alumna and professor in the literature and language department. He has also been dubbed a "person of interest" in an unsolved 2006 murder and . According to local lore, at least two people have leapt to their deaths from the 114-foot structure. 'Dixie Mafia' blamed for unsolved triple murder in 1972. At some point while she was in the woods studying, she was attacked. Over 50 years later, the case remains cold. The victims included husband and wife . Even though she has long since moved away from Asheville, she stays in touch with Ambers mother and Det. Debi said her daughters life is perfectly summed up by this poem, now inscribed on her gravestone. Each victim was bound and gagged then taken to the meat-cutting room. Were not going to stop working it until it is solved, whether its me or the next person that comes along and picks it up after Im gone, Taylor said. She was a sickly newborn who many believed wouldn't live past the age of one, but she did. Gary Michael Hilton was arrested for the kidnapping, murder, and beheading of hikers in Florida, Georgia, as well as a North Carolina couple in a national forest in 2007. The remains, most of which were around a shallow grave, were identified as belonging to a woman between the ages of 40 and 55 with a seriously arthritic knee. According to the FBI, Samuel Little confessed to committing 93 murders between 1970 and 2005, making him the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history.He was arrested in 2012 at a Kentucky homeless shelter, but he is believed to be responsible for three murders in Tennessee, in addition to his crimes committed in other states.He was accused of strangling his victims who were typically . Facebook; Twitter . The major story is that Peter and another student were both in love with a young girl named Fannie. Amber Lundgren was 20 years old when her slain body was found in a ditch after a night out in Asheville with her friends. Olson and her high school sweetheart and boyfriend at the time communicated through handwritten letters, the last of which Doyle received a few days after her death. With advancements in DNA analysis, hope remains for the resolution of Olsons homicide case. Olson was wearing her only pair of denim jeans and a blue T-shirt, which was later shredded and used to bound her arms, legs and gag her mouth. Over 800 entries examine the facts, evidence, and leading theories of a variety of unsolved murders, robberies, kidnappings, serial . The man decided that his last child, his infant daughter, should be thrown into the well. Their mother was known to be strict and tell the boys to "wait in the theatre" until she arrived. To her luck, her daughter and husband put out the flames. Subscribe. Then, sadly, he threw his baby girl into the well. On September 7, 1997, hunters in North Carolina 's Pisgah National Forest found human bones, clothing, and some other items scattered in the woods near a campground. Jeffrey Doyle, a biology professor at Cornell University, said as time passes memories fade, even involving those closest to our hearts. On Christmas night the young nurse Debbie Wolfe vanished from her Fayetteville home. ASHEVILLE Federal authorities have charged a 20-year-old Asheville man with second-degree murder in the death of a co-worker at Pisgah Inn, a popular destination off the Blue Ridge Parkway. And then she just never showed up.. But the night didnt go as planned. J. Charles Bradford, Central Bank cashier, became mentally unstable and attempted suicide. Nadia told Dateline she often wonders what her friend would be like if she were still alive today. This indicates that about 6 individuals per 100,000 North Carolina residents were murdered in 2019 alone. I only do research and leave active investigation of these cases to professionals. Mysteriously, a thorough search of news accounts at the time turned up little. Diary of a Mad Black Scholar: A New Direction, Diary of a Mad Black Scholar | Shiasias Hair Special, Diary of a Mad Black Scholar: Cultural Appropriation, Diary of a Mad Black Scholar: Gender and Sexuality. But Asheville's darkhistory reaches far before white men ever laid claim to the land. Taylor said countless interviews are included in the case file from students, faculty and staff to local residents tracked down from the botanical gardens around the time of Olsons death. While her father died when she was a child, she lived with her mother, Jevona Livingston, and her half-siblings, Chris and Becca. In 1972, we didnt have a fully accredited police department, so thats why APD came in, Moffitt said. "There are a lot of stories about folks jumping to their death from there.". Thats when the investigation began. He had vanished, with only a few of his clothes left behind. If you have information about this case or any unsolved case in North Carolina, please contact the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, (800) 334-3000. . The newspapers in 1936 called the murder of the 5-foot, 110-pound blonde Helen Clevenger "one of the most brutal in the annals of North Carolina crime." Though . Greenville Police Department View Source Square with arrow pointing upper right. . The newspapers in 1936 called the murder of the 5-foot, 110-pound blonde Helen Clevenger "one of the most brutal in the annals of North Carolina crime." Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified. Title IX isnt going to do anything in that situation until after law enforcement. Why was this ruled as an accident? The headline: "Helen Clevenger's Uncle Brings Suit Against Battery Park.". The story of Edward Payne is most commonly what you will hear in regards to Payne Roadbut there are two more. Throughout her early life . She asked if I knew of the story of New York student who was murdered in her room at the Battery Park Hotel, now the Battery Park Apartments, and the black man who was too swiftly blamed and executed for her death. Nearby at the Jackson Building, local real estate tycoon Frederick M. Messler climbed two floors above his sixth-floor office on April 5, 1930, and shot himself in the head with a Spanish revolver. Eleanor gave birth to Virginia Dare, the first child born on American soil, shortly after they began to establish their colony. Peter's Uncle fled to UNC to check on the young man, but when arriving he found Peter to be nowhere. The Be-Lo shut down shortly after. One of the country's most gripping historical mysteries, the Lost Colony hasn't been seen since its founder, John White, left Roanoke Island in August 1587 on a supply mission. The original colony was deserted and overgrown with brush. Mrs. Charles Williamson was just an ordinary housewife until one day her dress unexplainably caught fire. She was such a wonderful kid, Ambers mother, Debi Lundgren, told Dateline. I had no idea there were so many unsolved murders in NC. It took a few minutes before Nadia could register that they were showing her photos of her missing friend. The Ore Knob Mine Murders of Ashe County. If you find yourself wanting to learn more about specific statistics of crimes in North Carolina, there are several law enforcement resources available to the public which offer yearly crime reports on their websites. While it is a travesty that it took so long to happen, it is also a lasting testament to the person we so loved and cared for, and the immense loss that we suffered and continue to suffer, former boyfriend Beard said via email. Amber Elaine Lundgren (20) was last seen on June 7, 1997, leaving a nightclub called Bar Code on 81 Broadway Street, Asheville, North Carolina. On Dec. 13, 2015, 79 years and two days after Moore's execution, part of the support mechanismfor scaffolding holding workers near the 13th floor of the Battery Park Apartments inexplicably snapped, leaving two men dangling from the side and knocking out power to part of downtown Asheville. #NC11. Posted on Jun 7th, 2017, 9:40 AM . Sunday, February 7, 2021, would have been Ambers 44th birthday. She accepted everyone for who they were.. Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Amber Elaine Lundgren, more details - Defrosting Cold Cases, The 1953 Murders of Gail and Paul Schultz, Twelve Twenty-Six Seventy-Five by Tony Reid, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. There are only 200 of us, James said of 1973. Thats when the investigation began.. A day before her youngest son turned two years old, Beverly "Jaye" Potter Mintz was busy planning his birthday party, and preparing for family to come visit them in Leland, North Carolina. She always left her TV on when she was planning on returning late, stuff like that.. Womens dormitory proctor at the time, Deborah Dee James, said it was not until evening when the residential community heard of Olsons death. With equity for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underserved victims not prioritized in the true crime communitytogether we can do better. Taylor said countless interviews are included in the case file from students, faculty and staff to local residents tracked down from the botanical gardens around the time of Olsons death. Local historian Kevan Frazier hinted at more. ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) A North Carolina police department says it's suspending responses to a list of crimes after losing 84 officers since the start of 2020. . Weve all since retired, but havent given up investigating Ambers case. But her journey ended in the early morning hours of June 7, 1997. So now youre looking at everybody like, OK, is it you? This information, closed to the public, leaves the Asheville community with questions unanswered by the yellowing newspaper clippings from 1973 detailing her gruesome murder and sexual assault. Evolving throughout the years to include the reporting of sexual misconduct, university Title IX offices are encouraged to provide appropriate services in remedy of the effects of sexual misconduct. Box 7148 Asheville, NC 28802 828-251-1122 Website Manager Contact Us. Debi spoke to her daughter just before she went out for the night. Bravery is surely required to face the mangled apparitions that haunt downtown south of the monument, according to Joshua Warren in a 2016 Asheville Citizen Times story. In 1997, Judy Smith decided to accompany her husband, Jeff, to a work conference in Philadelphia. She took. I am lucky to have loved, and to have been loved by Ginger, and then to have built on the foundation of her love and the tragedy of her death, a good and fulfilling life, Doyle said. It took her heart, Debi said. Nadia told Dateline there are also reports that she got into an unknown vehicle, but added that she would have never gotten in with someone she didnt know. "Then look diagonally about a foot to the left, and you'll see a dark spot in the granite.". Caption: 6 out of 10 Asheville homicides in 2021 remain unsolved. I would like to meet them and talk to the person or people who did this. Terms, . Unfortunately, there is currently no specific protocol to estimate how many murders in Raleigh, North Carolina, 2021 or how many murders in North Carolina 2021 as of yet. The suspected murderer in the unsolved 41-year-old triple homicide fits the profile of a person who went on a vicious crime spree in 1968 and later died in state prison and, significantly, can be placed in Hendersonville around the time of the 1966 . Needless to say, all three stories are equally terrifying, tragic, and haunting! So we honor her by living.. EARLY LIFE: Jamie Michelle Fraley was born on March 5, 1986 in Gaston County, North Carolina. Christopher Reese's 2014 murder in Notus, Idaho remains unsolved. It is said you can see the rounded lights of the Ford car following you if you drive on Payne Road late at night. The crucial 48-hour search period was hindered by Hurricane Dora. Tweet on Twitter . The detective stressed that solving this case has always been a goal of the Asheville Police Department., I just want to appeal to the person who did this, or knows something, to come forward, Nadia told Dateline. Multiple local and state law enforcement organizations provide statistics and reports regarding the number of murders in North Carolina by year, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 42 Cause of Death. Today, the Complaint Report provided to the public stands out for the thick lines of black ink overlaying previously published information. But her friends and family think if she vaguely knew the person, she might have trusted them which, in the end, could have been her downfall. Virginia Marie Olson, 19 years old, was known by friends as Ginger. To this day, no one knows exactly what happened to Debbie Wolfe. The endearing response became and would continue to be a special exchange between the mother and daughter throughout Ambers short life. 7. Over the next four days, a bed and curtains caught fire. For example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation posts a Uniform Crime Report each year that shows detailed statistics regarding the types of crimes and their crime rates for most cities and counties in every state in the U.S., including a comprehensive report for crime in North Carolina. He left behind a wife and a 9-year-old daughter Margaret, who, like Roberts, had to facelife without a father. She had a single stab wound to her neck, defensive wounds to her hands and arms that were consistent with a struggle, and her clothes were strewn on the ground nearby, according to Det. She gave us so much joy. After several requests, here is the clip where the President reaches . One injured victim managed to call the police before dying. With advancements in DNA analysis, hope remains for the resolution of Olsons homicide case. If you want to learn a bit more about some of the various well-known murders in North Carolina, you can easily find various law enforcement agency websites, including the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation, which have lists of all murders in North Carolina that remain unsolved and sometimes a list of North Carolina murders that have previously been solved. Gray Line Trolley Tours of Asheville. "I'm always under the belief that the more sacred spots are the ones further west," he said. A convicted murderer from Marion successfully eluded authorities and a life behind bars for decades after escaping from a mental hospital in Raleigh in 1969.