TN TN - Teresa 'Trenny' Lynn Gibson, 16, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 8 Oct 1976

[Starbuck80]

Great podcast, thanks!

You’re welcome, stay tuned for another episode.

 

[dogperson]

I had known about Robert having the comb but until now had never heard about the female classmate having Trenny's jewelry. She's still listed as having a star sapphire ring on her hand when she went missing. Was this part of the jewelry the female classmate had?

I've always thought of her disappearance as an abduction but now I'm wondering if it was foul play of another nature. Like a sexual assault by a classmate during the field trip or even a bullying/hazing type of incident that went wrong.

 

[Starbuck80]

Yes, her ring and necklace were taken from her. Simpson claimed that Trenny had taken her jewelry off in the washroom and had given it to a classmate to “hold for her”. This classmate was not the same girl who was later found to have the jewelry.
Trenny was particular about her belongings and would not have given them to anyone, not ever for a moment (like to try the jewelry on). She loved that comb, her sister had an identical one, their mother having purchased them as a special treat.

 

[carbuff]

I had known about Robert having the comb but until now had never heard about the female classmate having Trenny's jewelry. She's still listed as having a star sapphire ring on her hand when she went missing. Was this part of the jewelry the female classmate had?

I've always thought of her disappearance as an abduction but now I'm wondering if it was foul play of another nature. Like a sexual assault by a classmate during the field trip or even a bullying/hazing type of incident that went wrong.

After all the recent information, I'm inclining to the bullying that went wrong.

But that would imply that her body is still in the area.

 

[Ozoner]

After all the recent information, I'm inclining to the bullying that went wrong.

But that would imply that her body is still in the area.

I've been thinking about the beer and cigarette butts found near the trail where Trenny stepped off. Maybe there was some partying going on back there; maybe some of the girls on the field trip who knew the destination had their boyfriends meet them there for sex, beer, and cigarettes. Trenny may have spotted them and gone to investigate; something made her step off the trail. With the beer and cigarette butts there, it stands to reason that she spotted somebody or heard something.

 

[carbuff]

I've been thinking about the beer and cigarette butts found near the trail where Trenny stepped off. Maybe there was some partying going on back there; maybe some of the girls on the field trip who knew the destination had their boyfriends meet them there for sex, beer, and cigarettes. Trenny may have spotted them and gone to investigate; something made her step off the trail. With the beer and cigarette butts there, it stands to reason that she spotted somebody or heard something.

Good point.

That would also make it possible that she left with somebody from outside, whether willingly or not.

 

[Ozoner]

Good point.

That would also make it possible that she left with somebody from outside, whether willingly or not.

My guess would be not willingly.

I'm on the fence about whether she was killed in the park or taken somewhere else and killed.

 

[carbuff]

My guess would be not willingly.

I'm on the fence about whether she was killed in the park or taken somewhere else and killed.

I suppose another option is that she was killed in the park and then taken somewhere else.

I used to think she had probably left to run away with a lover, but this recent information has made me think that's unlikely.

 

[Starbuck80]

Stayed tuned to Missing Maura Murray when I talk about why I believe Trenny may still be in the Park on a future episode.

 

[Ozoner]

Stayed tuned to Missing Maura Murray when I talk about why I believe Trenny may still be in the Park on a future episode.

Do you have a projected date?

 

[Starbuck80]

Do you have a projected date?

No projected date, but I will be recording with Lance and Tim from the podcast, in the weeks to come.

 

[Starbuck80]

 

[Erin.ell]

@Starbuck80, thank you for your work on this case. I just finished listening to episode 2 from MMM, so forgive me if what I ask is answered in episode 3 or 4.
My question is this: since Robert (friend) is and was a person of interest and Trenny’s older brother was best friends with him, what is his opinion of Robert? Did their relationship change after Trenny went missing? I suppose it must have, but have you ever been able to talk to her older brother or anyone else in the family about his reputation? I’d be curious to know if he distanced himself from the family the longer the search went on, or if the family distanced themselves from him because he behaved suspiciously (and her brother found Trenny’s comb in Robert’s car). It would be difficult for his behavior to remain exactly the same towards the Gibson family if he was somehow involved.

 

[Starbuck80]

@Starbuck80, thank you for your work on this case. I just finished listening to episode 2 from MMM, so forgive me if what I ask is answered in episode 3 or 4.
My question is this: since Robert (friend) is and was a person of interest and Trenny’s older brother was best friends with him, what is his opinion of Robert? Did their relationship change after Trenny went missing? I suppose it must have, but have you ever been able to talk to her older brother or anyone else in the family about his reputation? I’d be curious to know if he distanced himself from the family the longer the search went on, or if the family distanced themselves from him because he behaved suspiciously (and her brother found Trenny’s comb in Robert’s car). It would be difficult for his behavior to remain exactly the same towards the Gibson family if he was somehow involved.

The relationship was strained between Robert Simpson and the Gibson family after Trenny vanished. Partly because questioning of Simpson came to a halt after his father intervened, and because he (Simpson) could not provide a adequate explanation as to where he was and why when Trenny disappeared. Add this to the strange comments he made, the fact he had Trenny’s prized comb, and his hanging about the Gibson residence, screening phone calls without permission. He had been tasked with looking out for Trenny on the trip by Bob Gibson, his good friend and Trenny’s older brother. That was a job that you took seriously. Simpson knew he was a suspect, so he clammed up and distanced himself from the family. Sometimes silence is freedom.

 

[Starbuck80]

@Starbuck80, thank you for your work on this case. I just finished listening to episode 2 from MMM, so forgive me if what I ask is answered in episode 3 or 4.
My question is this: since Robert (friend) is and was a person of interest and Trenny’s older brother was best friends with him, what is his opinion of Robert? Did their relationship change after Trenny went missing? I suppose it must have, but have you ever been able to talk to her older brother or anyone else in the family about his reputation? I’d be curious to know if he distanced himself from the family the longer the search went on, or if the family distanced themselves from him because he behaved suspiciously (and her brother found Trenny’s comb in Robert’s car). It would be difficult for his behavior to remain exactly the same towards the Gibson family if he was somehow involved.

 

[Erin.ell]

Thanks for the response @Starbuck80. I have another question: several people mention that perhaps she stepped off the trail to relieve herself. Do we know if there were public restrooms at this time in the park? If she was headed to the bus parking lot where there were safer restrooms, why would she go off the trail and risk getting lost? I think the presence of public restrooms could eliminate the theory of her using the restroom in the brush. After listening to your info, it does sound like there was a concerted cover-up by a group of more than one student. Either they witnessed something and Robert or Kalvin threatened them to keep quiet, or multiple students (in addition to Robert or Kalvin) were involved in an incident of bullying that went too far and resulted in her death. What do you think?

 

[Starbuck80]

Thanks for the response @Starbuck80. I have another question: several people mention that perhaps she stepped off the trail to relieve herself. Do we know if there were public restrooms at this time in the park? If she was headed to the bus parking lot where there were safer restrooms, why would she go off the trail and risk getting lost? I think the presence of public restrooms could eliminate the theory of her using the restroom in the brush. After listening to your info, it does sound like there was a concerted cover-up by a group of more than one student. Either they witnessed something and Robert or Kalvin threatened them to keep quiet, or multiple students (in addition to Robert or Kalvin) were involved in an incident of bullying that went too far and resulted in her death. What do you think?

You’re welcome. Yes, there were restrooms near the area the bus parked (parking lot). I can’t see Trenny going off trail to relieve herself in a strange place, with other students nearby. It may have been different if she was more familiar with the Park, but she hadn’t visited it before.

It’s a good possibility that Trenny was set up and told that someone wanted to meet her off trail, like a boy she liked, for example. Trenny left Simpson, went off alone, walking quickly because she had an “appointment”, to meet this person, who would signal to her somehow from just off the trail. Trenny left the trail, only to find out it was someone who intended harm. Trenny was small, someone could wrap their hand over her mouth easily and subdue her.

Trenny was close to her older brother Bob. He had just come home on leave that Wednesday. I can see Trenny being told (likely by Simpson) that Bob has driven up to the Park to surprise her that day, and was waiting just off trail for her. They could then ride back to Knoxville with Bob and hang out for the rest of the day. Maybe Simpson said he’d catch up later, as he needed the bathroom, etc. Trenny would be very excited, and would then leave Simpson, to begin the trek back to see Bob. Only it wasn’t Bob off trail.

 

[glamourkitty1922]

I lived in LaVergne TN when this happened. 1976 was a very cold winter, the first snow was a few days after she disappeared. She probably died of exposure that night. She disappeared wearing the blue outfit and jewelry she left for school wearing, as well as a borrowed jacket. Her father said in an interview that she thought the field trip would be cancelled due to the unseasonable cold, so she didn't dress for the hike. What's sad is that she told her Dad that she didn't want to go. Also, I can tell you from experience that you had to have a parent's signature before you could go on a field trip in Tennessee. However, I'm sure many students faked their parent's signature. My parents always signed my permission slips. Whatever Became of Trenny Gibson?

 

[Starbuck80]

I lived in LaVergne TN when this happened. 1976 was a very cold winter, the first snow was a few days after she disappeared. She probably died of exposure that night. She disappeared wearing the blue outfit and jewelry she left for school wearing, as well as a borrowed jacket. Her father said in an interview that she thought the field trip would be cancelled due to the unseasonable cold, so she didn't dress for the hike. What's sad is that she told her Dad that she didn't want to go. Also, I can tell you from experience that you had to have a parent's signature before you could go on a field trip in Tennessee. However, I'm sure many students faked their parent's signature. My parents always signed my permission slips. Whatever Became of Trenny Gibson?

Yes, the fall of 76 was especially cold and snowy. The Gibson’s maintained there was never any permission slip for the trip, nor did they ever know of the destination. Had they, they would have kept Trenny home because of the weather forecast. There were several students interviewed by me, who also corroborated the no-permission slip factor. Maybe they had such slips at other schools, but didn’t seem to require them at Bearden for this particular trip. If Trenny didn’t really want to go (yes, I’ve heard that as well), why bother forging a signature in order to go? That and one adult to supervise 40 teens? It lends credence to the thought that this whole trip was poorly planned from the get-go.

if Trenny died of exposure the first night, it doesn’t explain how her jewelry and comb later turned up or the fact that absolutely no trace of her was found, either by the dogs or the searchers. That and not one, but 2 searches. And no trace then, and nothing in the near-44 years since.

 

[glamourkitty1922]

Yes, the fall of 76 was especially cold and snowy. The Gibson’s maintained there was never any permission slip for the trip, nor did they ever know of the destination. Had they, they would have kept Trenny home because of the weather forecast. There were several students interviewed by me, who also corroborated the no-permission slip factor. Maybe they had such slips at other schools, but didn’t seem to require them at Bearden for this particular trip. If Trenny didn’t really want to go (yes, I’ve heard that as well), why bother forging a signature in order to go? That and one adult to supervise 40 teens? It lends credence to the thought that this whole trip was poorly planned from the get-go.

if Trenny died of exposure the first night, it doesn’t explain how her jewelry and comb later turned up or the fact that absolutely no trace of her was found, either by the dogs or the searchers. That and not one, but 2 searches. And no trace then, and nothing in the near-44 years since.

There is no evidence that permission slips were not required and there is evidence that they knew they were going to the Smokey Mtns for a field trip. I've been on field trips that only had one teacher supervising.
The father during an interview said she was hoping it would be cancelled due to the weather and dressed the way she did because she thought it would be too cold to go. There is no evidence that her jewelry was found and the comb was in her boy friend's car, and he was on the bus with her so his car was not at the park. She had to have left it earlier. The jewelry is quoted as being part of her clothing and there is no police statement about anyone having that jewelry. This is a very old case, there are plenty of urban legends that have popped up in the years about it. The Smokey Mountains are dense and people have been getting lost in those forests for hundreds of years.