AL AL - J.B. Beasley, 17, & Tracie Hawlett, 17, Ozark, 31 July 1999 #2

[TedMac]

TedMac, I really wish they had reinterviewed that lady. I feel something is off about her statement (as we know it). Like something in it was a guess maybe, IDK. I could be totally wrong, but she has died unfortunately. Of course, what is "off" might be that what we think she said is not exactly what she said (license on the dashboard syndrome).

Agreed. It may have been very helpful if she and all the other witnesses were re-interviewed. I wish they had re-interviewed Johnny Barrentine. He was the one originally charged, but the grand jury did not indict (probably because he wasn't guilty or at least there was no evidence of it). If they had approached him in a non accusatory fashion, they may have been able to gleam some information from him. He saw some things that night, some of which may have aided the investigation . But sadly, he is now deceased, too and that opportunity is gone as well.

There is a cold-case investigator from the Alabama AG office working the case. Maybe he is doing these follow-up interviews. But, since no information is being released, it is hard to say what is being done.

 

[TedMac]

With two witnesses and the person who received the call in agreement... Who knows.

But, from what I understand, as the story goes now the store had been closed at least an hour. But, what if the time is off (for some reason, maybe just a mistaken guess) and it had just closed? That would make more sense accounting for everyone to be in the parking lot including the truck at the gas pump.

BBM I wasn't aware of that. I last read that it closed at 11:00 pm and the infamous phone call from the payphone was made at approximately 11:30 pm. Interesting. Thank you for bring that up.

 

[December]

BBM I wasn't aware of that. I last read that it closed at 11:00 pm and the infamous phone call from the payphone was made at approximately 11:30 pm. Interesting. Thank you for bring that up.

I could have remembered wrong. But, if it was only closed by thirty minutes then it is pretty easy to shave that down to "right after close".

It would explain why the woman was there buying the coke for her daughter, why the truck was there. And maybe even why the girls chose to stop there because it looked open.

As for the employees of the store (which might be only one person, I realize)/did they exit out the front after close? Or did they lock then front and then go out the back? Were they open even a few minutes later than usual that night?

Didn't Barrentine claim to have gotten milk from there? Maybe he really did?

All the various driving around, they did fairly safely. Their trouble starts somewhere around Big/Little.

 

[somequestions]

For all the theories out there, this case just might be that J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett were lost and stopped to ask for directions. Maybe the guy said, "Hey, I can direct you directly to the road if you drop me off there because it is close to where I need to go" and they let him into their car? Maybe he makes conversation about baseball if what I read about the Boston Red Sox baseball missing being true? So then he takes them close to a place he is familiar with. It is my personal opinion that most kidnappers would rather have the victims go with them willfully either by being a smooth talker or some other con than have to use force. Then instead he pulls a gun and tells them to go somewhere else. Without knowing how the victims in this case think or what they would do in a given situation it is very difficult to make any educated guesses. The people that would know them best would be their family and friends. Even with J.B. Beasley's family situation it would not come as a surprise to me if she was close to the same type of individual as her friend Tracie Hawlett. From an outsiders perspective it looks like the driver in this case was a sign follower, straight and narrow individual. So start from there.

 

[TedMac]

I could have remembered wrong. But, if it was only closed by thirty minutes then it is pretty easy to shave that down to "right after close".

It would explain why the woman was there buying the coke for her daughter, why the truck was there. And maybe even why the girls chose to stop there because it looked open.

As for the employees of the store (which might be only one person, I realize)/did they exit out the front after close? Or did they lock then front and then go out the back? Were they open even a few minutes later than usual that night?

Didn't Barrentine claim to have gotten milk from there? Maybe he really did?

All the various driving around, they did fairly safely. Their trouble starts somewhere around Big/Little.

BBM I have never read anything about who the clerk or clerks were and what time they may have left the store or by which door they exited. Barrentine's version of the night indicated he was going out to get milk. I am not aware if he actually bought anything or where he may have purchased it.

 

[somequestions]

I wanted to correct a HUGE mistake I made about directions in the case of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett. Maybe it is just me, but does everyone know that the road sign for AL 27 in front of the gas station they stopped at says 27 South? I decided to try and drive this route on Google maps and I was completely confused because I simply assumed that AL 27 was going north when they left the gas station since Ozark is north of Dothan and I thought they were heading north.

All I can say is that my first post about this case and the sign directions was completely wrong. I am surprised no one corrected me. The sign for AL 27 did not say they were going north at all. It said they were going south! But they would never have known this because approaching Ozark there are very few if any road signs stating the direction of the road until you enter the town.

So the moment I realized and saw the AL 27 south sign I turned around to go the other direction. But then I could not find my way back that I came from to leave Ozark. I got to another sign that said North 27 with an arrow pointing to the upper left so I took that road but every time I took it I ended up over by some company called Covan. It took me a while to figure out the sign with the arrow means you have to go over the railroad tracks to follow AL 27 North (which I thought was south).

Maybe I am not as much of a map expert as I thought? But I can definitely understand now how somebody driving would be completely confused if they followed the signs.

 

[December]

Some Questions, I have seen people remark about the sign(s) seen around Big Little.

I am wondering if what happened was they arrive in Ozark following Bookie's directions. They know the direction Dothan lies from, so the signs do not make sense. So, they stop and ask... It could be they had a similar experience as you did except they decided to ask again.

 

[December]

Here are a few other things that have been bothering me...

They leave home with a tiny window of time relative to their curfew. Of course, that was for the one party with a hand drawn map. But, they decide not to go to it. They decide to go to a different party in a different town. Was this less drive time (ideally)? Not that they would have decided based on that, just was it?

Then, despite this and the fact there were five million parties littering the fields of Alabama, as far as we know, they never make it to any of them. I will say, back in the day, when this happened to me and my friends it was because we sort of wanted to go to different events, but no one REALLY wanted to go to any particular one so a lot of pointless driving ensued. Did this happen?

From what I understand, J.B. had worked until fairly late. Did they eat before they set out? Could they have stopped somewhere? I don't mean speculation because of course they could have, but is there credible reason to think they did?

What locations near Big/Little actually would have been open and offered the possibility of refreshments or restrooms? I can't see them going to a party after telling Tracie's mother they were on their way... But, a little stop... Yes, I can easily imagine that.

Also, no one who was a "kid" in 1999 still is in 2016. It's time to go old school and shake some people down. Except for Barrentine (who no one can speak to any more) and the Mr. Fled to Michigan, it seems like no one else is getting grilled. There are too many rumors about parties actually attended and secret boyfriends... Track it down and find out if there is any truth in it.

Also, maybe independent testing of the DNA is in order as well as review of the autopsies. The early investigation was done by people who let the car get played with after all.

 

[killarney rose]

I think in the part of town they were in(around the Big/Little)there would not have been anything open. Across town would have been MacDonalds and Hardee's, maybe a gas station that possibly would've been still open, they should've gone by these if they correctly followed directions. then on 231 headed towards Dothan was the truck stop I believe.

 

[easongt]

I feel differently on this case than I use to. I once believed they were lost and the victims of a random unplanned crime.

I believe they were in Ozark intentionally. I believe the killer(s) knew them well or casually knew them. I think you can't dismiss the apparent lack of motive. There is always a motive. I believe whoever did this was desperate to stop something. What that may be is open to speculation.

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[TedMac]

Here are a few other things that have been bothering me...

They leave home with a tiny window of time relative to their curfew. Of course, that was for the one party with a hand drawn map. But, they decide not to go to it. They decide to go to a different party in a different town. Was this less drive time (ideally)? Not that they would have decided based on that, just was it?

Then, despite this and the fact there were five million parties littering the fields of Alabama, as far as we know, they never make it to any of them. I will say, back in the day, when this happened to me and my friends it was because we sort of wanted to go to different events, but no one REALLY wanted to go to any particular one so a lot of pointless driving ensued. Did this happen?

From what I understand, J.B. had worked until fairly late. Did they eat before they set out? Could they have stopped somewhere? I don't mean speculation because of course they could have, but is there credible reason to think they did?

What locations near Big/Little actually would have been open and offered the possibility of refreshments or restrooms? I can't see them going to a party after telling Tracie's mother they were on their way... But, a little stop... Yes, I can easily imagine that.

Also, no one who was a "kid" in 1999 still is in 2016. It's time to go old school and shake some people down. Except for Barrentine (who no one can speak to any more) and the Mr. Fled to Michigan, it seems like no one else is getting grilled. There are too many rumors about parties actually attended and secret boyfriends... Track it down and find out if there is any truth in it.

Also, maybe independent testing of the DNA is in order as well as review of the autopsies. The early investigation was done by people who let the car get played with after all.

All good points and questions...BBM Not that it matters a great deal, but actually it was Tracie that had worked late. She had a job at J.C. Penny in Dothan. J.B. picked up Tracie from work and they returned to Tracie's house where they changed clothes and headed out. J.B. had dinner that evening with some of her girl friends prior to picking up Tracie. One of the girls that was with her recently wrote on the Facebook page that she remembered the restaurant they went to and even what J.B. ordered. Unsure of when Tracie may have eaten, but she probably had a lunch break at work.

The girls had been riding around for a couple of hours that evening prior to stopping at the Big/Little Store to make the phone call. No one knows exactly where they went or where they may have stopped (if at all). I have always believed that they may have stopped somewhere to simply use the bathroom before returning to Dothan. J.B. had several contacts in Ozark and they may have stopped at one of those places and that is where they crossed paths with the killer.

I will add this...Their original plan was for them to attend the "Field Party." Somewhere along the way that evening, their plans changed and they were trying to meet up with a couple of boys. They were not able to locate them and I believe this is where the "lost" scenario came in to play. The boys were interviewed by authorities and a private investigator who confirmed they never got together. After giving up on the idea of meeting the boys, they headed in to Ozark. Again, there are several times of the evening that cannot be accounted for and it is unknown where else they may or may not have stopped.

LE went to Michigan 3 times to interview guy you referenced. It has never been disclosed to the public what he told them. But, with LE going there 3 times to interview him, it is safe to say that they had more than a passing interest in him. Chief Spivey stated afterwards that he was still considered a suspect in spite of the DNA found on J.B. not matching his.

I would like to see the DNA re-tested, too. But, I tend to believe it is not related to the case. MOO

 

[TooCurious]

All good points and questions...BBM Not that it matters a great deal, but actually it was Tracie that had worked late. She had a job at J.C. Penny in Dothan. J.B. picked up Tracie from work and they returned to Tracie's house where they changed clothes and headed out. J.B. had dinner that evening with some of her girl friends prior to picking up Tracie. One of the girls that was with her recently wrote on the Facebook page that she remembered the restaurant they went to and even what J.B. ordered. Unsure of when Tracie may have eaten, but she probably had a lunch break at work.

The girls had been riding around for a couple of hours that evening prior to stopping at the Big/Little Store to make the phone call. No one knows exactly where they went or where they may have stopped (if at all). I have always believed that they may have stopped somewhere to simply use the bathroom before returning to Dothan. J.B. had several contacts in Ozark and they may have stopped at one of those places and that is where they crossed paths with the killer.

I will add this...Their original plan was for them to attend the "Field Party." Somewhere along the way that evening, their plans changed and they were trying to meet up with a couple of boys. They were not able to locate them and I believe this is where the "lost" scenario came in to play. The boys were interviewed by authorities and a private investigator who confirmed they never got together. After giving up on the idea of meeting the boys, they headed in to Ozark. Again, there are several times of the evening that cannot be accounted for and it is unknown where else they may or may not have stopped.

LE went to Michigan 3 times to interview guy you referenced. It has never been disclosed to the public what he told them. But, with LE going there 3 times to interview him, it is safe to say that they had more than a passing interest in him. Chief Spivey stated afterwards that he was still considered a suspect in spite of the DNA found on J.B. not matching his.

I would like to see the DNA re-tested, too. But, I tend to believe it is not related to the case. MOO

Why wouldn't the girls that drove all the way from Headland to Midland City not call the boys? If they are in Ozark they know they have to drive back through Midland City, why no phone call to attempt to meet back up with them? Again they drove from Headland to Ozark, over shot Midland City by 10 miles. If the meeting was important enough to them to drive all the way from Headland, why wouldn't they call? The most they would have been late is 15 minutes from meeting time until they got to the phone and they had to drive back through Midland City via 231 on their way home. Only makes sense to me with a one or two scenarios.
What's up with the cell phone reported to have been recovered in vehicle? Can anyone confirm this?

 

[December]

TedMac, thank you for the information about Tracie's job and J.B.'s dinner as well as the information about the boys.

It may be, as you said, they tried to stop by some friend's place. I am thinking of all the people they might have run into in parking lot or breezeway...

Interesting about the suspect in Michigan.

I agree about the DNA. I have lots of problems with it.

 

[TedMac]

Why wouldn't the girls that drove all the way from Headland to Midland City not call the boys? If they are in Ozark they know they have to drive back through Midland City, why no phone call to attempt to meet back up with them? Again they drove from Headland to Ozark, over shot Midland City by 10 miles. If the meeting was important enough to them to drive all the way from Headland, why wouldn't they call? The most they would have been late is 15 minutes from meeting time until they got to the phone and they had to drive back through Midland City via 231 on their way home. Only makes sense to me with a one or two scenarios.
What's up with the cell phone reported to have been recovered in vehicle? Can anyone confirm this?

This was 1999. Cell phones were relatively new and technology was not very advanced. J.B.'s sister was on here a while back and said she (J.B.) had a cell phone but had used up all her minutes. Not much is known about the seemingly hastily planned meeting between the boys and the girls except they were trying to get together. Maybe there was a misunderstanding about when and where they were to meet? Supposedly, the boys went to the proposed location they were to meet, but the girls never showed up. Again, possible miscommunication? I wasn't aware of a cell phone being found in the car. Possibly this was J.B.'s phone that was out of minutes?

 

[somequestions]

I think the profile of the driving of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett would be: She follows the signs. She keeps driving until she sees a sign or she cannot drive any further.

If you watch the Haunting Evidence episode, one thing that stuck out to me was when psychic John Oliver was leading the deputy chief to the body site where the car was discovered. When he did so he led the deputy chief in the opposite direction of the way the witness said the girls left the Big Little store. It makes you wonder if he was on to something.

On Google earth you can only go so far down Bingham Ave. But when you do a 3D image it looks like there is a boat ramp back there. It is a simple idea that they drove to the end of a dead end road so I guess this had been checked out by police in the past 17 years, but I keep wondering.

It might seem like a simple mistake to make a wrong turn to follow AL 27 N sign with the arrow out of Ozark but it was nighttime when they were driving and all the roads probably seemed desolate with little traffic. Maybe the best way to describe what I think is not necessarily that they were lost in that they did not know Ozark, AL, but that they were confused by a simple mistake. I had the benefit of looking at the little man in the google map to know that I was off AL 27, but if I were in my car I would have just kept driving, especially at night. The case might be as simple as them making a wrong turn.

 

[somequestions]

This case is kind of a puzzle when it comes to directions so I wanted to describe what I think happened in terms of directions. This is my best guess. I am interested in others opinions.

J.B. Beasley picks up her friend Tracie Hawlett in Dothan, AL. They are headed to a party in Halesburg, AL. They first stop in Headland, AL to call people at the party and maybe get some directions. Then they get on Country road 99 to get over to Halesburg. In order to keep going east to Halesburg they have to merge onto County Road 26. But like I have already written about merges, they instead keep to the left on Country Road 99. This takes them north to the town of Abbeville and the intersection of AL 27. There is a Citgo gas station there along with a simple sign that says <--AL 27. They turn there and follow it all the way in the opposite direction over to Ozark, AL. Once inside Ozark, they stop at the first gas station to get directions and for Tracie to call her mom. What happened after that is anyone's guess.

That is my guess about the directions J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett followed the night of July 31, 1999.

 

[somequestions]

P.S. There is still one big problem with them making the mistake of taking Bingham Ave. to try to leave Ozark, AL. and that is that it does not have a yellow dividing line common to most state highways. But I thought it was a good guess anyway with it being night.

 

[December]

Except these guys... Where were they?

I thought they first were going to Jena's party, but changed their mind to another party. So, they got some mysterious directions from Bookie to cut over to that place rather than going where they knew. Buuuut, somehow, these guys come into the picture and they want to meet the guys. But, wind up at Big/Little in Ozark.

 

[December]

By 1998, you could call 911 on any cell phone. You didn't even need a cell plan.

 

[easongt]

I have spoken with two people that knew Tracy and JB. It was their opinion and the opinion of several others that I know of, that they were not lost in Ozark. I can't discount the possibility that they were lost or turned around, but I must put some weight into what those that knew them believe.

If you remove the possibility of sexual assault, which is believed to have not taken place, then you are left with the possibility that there was a motive. And usually a a motive involves someone who knew the victims or stood to lose or gain something.

It is very hard for me to admit that I may have approached this case all wrong in the beginning. I think there is a strong possibility that the killer or killers knew one or both of the victims in this case. If sexual assault is off the table, then what motives are left?

I think they went to meet someone that they knew or were around people where they feel comfortable. The area is fairly populated. If a stranger had assaulted them even at gunpoint I believe they would have caused a commotion.





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