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

[December]

I think it is possible Tracie summed up for her mother the effect of their driving as "lost", assuming she ever said that. But, it has occurred to me that could refer to literally any part of the journey.

Also, " lost" can just mean "taking a wrong turn, realizing it and then backtracking" rather than "driving around cluelessy". This case got confused in reports because they changed their mind where they were going more than once. So, knowing this changes the " lost" to more like some wasted time and backtracking. How many times has anyone realized they took a wrong turn two seconds after it was too late to do anything except keep going until you can turn around or cut back toward the right direction.

Then, as far as J.B. "stopping to ask directions", I think that is not their motive for stopping. I think they stopped to use the payphone. That was their motive.

Since that woman was there, J.B. talked to her. The woman took that as " asking directions", but J.B. might have just asked if the road they were on went to 231 or something of that nature.

But, really, we have to remember what Tracie and J.B. said is secondhand. I am sure Tracie's mother has tried to recall every word Tracie said, but it is still possible Tracie meant something slightly different than she thought. I don't know if she even knew about the changes of plans until later.

Then, the woman at the gas station was having s brief chat with a stranger. It just turned out to be important later. But, even if she remembered the conversation word for word, I have never seen this. It'd always just summed up by yet another person or persons.

 

[December]

The cellphone, was it charged? If so, it was there expressly so they could call 911 if need be.

Since they didn't, here are the possibilities:
1. Not near cell tower for ANY provider. I had a cell phone in 1999 (actually before). Coverage and service was better than some people are remembering. It wasn't like now, but there would usually be a cell tower that you could reach (911 calls worked on any tower, routed to best one, and would knock other people off if need be).

2. They couldn't get to the phone.

3. They did not perceive there to be any danger until they could not access it.

4. Due to the identity of the attacker, they believed such a call would do no good.

 

[somequestions]

I think they were lost or confused within Ozark, AL. probably like I am trying to figure out how they ended up in the completely opposite direction of the party in Halesburg, AL. I cannot figure out why or what happened, but I can definitely see one of them saying "Hey you are going the wrong direction"(once they see the AL 27 S) sign and trying to figure out how they ended up in a town north of Dothan, AL. As for where they ended up that night is anyone's guess, but it looks like there is a pier for some type of a pond at the end of Bingham Ave. and I have always thought that if they did end up on someone's property it would probably be a house that is directly behind the driveway alerting the home owner with the headlights that someone is there. It looks like there is such a house, but dead end roads in town would certainly have been something police would have checked out in 1999, right?

 

[December]

I think they were lost or confused within Ozark, AL. probably like I am trying to figure out how they ended up in the completely opposite direction of the party in Halesburg, AL. I cannot figure out why or what happened, but I can definitely see one of them saying "Hey you are going the wrong direction"(once they see the AL 27 S) sign and trying to figure out how they ended up in a town north of Dothan, AL. As for where they ended up that night is anyone's guess, but it looks like there is a pier for some type of a pond at the end of Bingham Ave. and I have always thought that if they did end up on someone's property it would probably be a house that is directly behind the driveway alerting the home owner with the headlights that someone is there. It looks like there is such a house, but dead end roads in town would certainly have been something police would have checked out in 1999, right?

I have always thought that they turned onto the wrong property for whatever reason (lost, wanted to turn around, they thought they knew who lived there, they didn't realize the house was there, whatever the case may be). And whomever turned out to be there (or was there whether that person was supposed to be there or not) is responsible for what happened to them.

But, if the signs are screwy then it could throw them off for a minute even if they had a decent idea where they were. There is a town close to me I go to ALOT and once I had to ask my father about a turn. Literally, thirty seconds later he asked, "do you know where we are now". And I did, but we had taken a different road initially, so I didn't recognize the connecting road for a second. If my father hadn't been there, I would have just taken the way I knew which would have been inefficient. But, from that approach, it almost looked like a dead end. This happens to people especially at night.

It sounds like most of the things to go to are not exactly where they were, so maybe they hadn't driven that exact patch of road and didn't know the signs were screwy. Back in the dayday, when no one had GPS, if you didn't know precisely every inch of road, signs were how you knew you were on the right track. Failing those, you had to unfurl an actual map (if your father wasn't in the passenger's seat).

 

[December]

From what everyone says, their car was pretty close to where they were last seen. But, who knows what the police checked. For hours and hours they were just, "lol, found a car!"

 

[laylandad]

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.

I still say that the Bookie character knows more than he leads everyone to believe.

 

[somequestions]

I have always thought that they turned onto the wrong property for whatever reason (lost, wanted to turn around, they thought they knew who lived there, they didn't realize the house was there, whatever the case may be). And whomever turned out to be there (or was there whether that person was supposed to be there or not) is responsible for what happened to them.


But, if the signs are screwy then it could throw them off for a minute even if they had a decent idea where they were. There is a town close to me I go to ALOT and once I had to ask my father about a turn. Literally, thirty seconds later he asked, "do you know where we are now". And I did, but we had taken a different road initially, so I didn't recognize the connecting road for a second. If my father hadn't been there, I would have just taken the way I knew which would have been inefficient. But, from that approach, it almost looked like a dead end. This happens to people especially at night.


It sounds like most of the things to go to are not exactly where they were, so maybe they hadn't driven that exact patch of road and didn't know the signs were screwy. Back in the dayday, when no one had GPS, if you didn't know precisely every inch of road, signs were how you knew you were on the right track. Failing those, you had to unfurl an actual map (if your father wasn't in the passenger's seat).

I agree. When I got lost at 17 I had a lot of experience traveling to the city I got lost in, but having someone drive you and driving it yourself are two different things.


But lets examine the other possibility. Maybe they really did go to Ozark, AL for a reason to meet up with someone? When I headed down AL 27 from Abbeville, AL towards Ozark, AL on Google earth I saw a sign that said "Ozark 24 miles" or something like that. Now wouldn't that alert them to the idea they are traveling towards Ozark, AL? Wouldn't someone say, "Hey we are going the wrong way" long before they ever get to Ozark? I think you have to look at the following:


1. If there was a meeting with someone else, it probably was not planned unless they like driving in a circle to get to a destination.
2. Since they were 17, their peer group would probably be people 15-22. So on a Saturday night, who has parents that would be gone 12 - 3 am in the morning? Who at that young age lived alone? I think police would check anyone they had association with that was known to family and friends.
3. Was there any mud on their legs or the inside of their pants legs? That lack of mud might indicate they were assaulted first, got dressed, then taken to whatever watery spot. They got the mud and briars after they had gotten dressed. We assume they were assaulted outside because of the dirty shoes and clothing, but what if that is wrong? Then a specific residence becomes more likely. And maybe it is someone they know.


The murderer in this case seems like a rather simple individual. Even the actual shooting with the shell found on Tracie Hawlett's pants leg made me think that maybe the guy has bad eyesight and had to reach into the trunk with the gun to shoot them. It was dark and he probably did not see the shell casing. Or he could have put it there purposely but what would be the point of that? I am not a ballistics expert so how far does a shell go in distance when ejected from a weapon like the one used?


As for what happened to J.B. Beasley or Tracie Hawlett or why they ended up where they did in Ozark, AL, that is a very puzzling mystery.

 

[December]

Some Questions, I think the car was driven after they were killed. So, the casing might have jostled loose of wherever it was and just wound up on Tracie's pant leg. None of the other brass was found, where is it? At the crime scene? Or did the murderer police his brass? If he did, he might have spent quite some time trying to find the one that was found when the girls were.

As far as why he wouldn't see it... Besides dark... Maybe the trunk lining was dark colored. The car was black so... That'd make sense.

Every single person who has information about their actual destination needs to be dragged in and grilled. Find out what Tracie and J.B. specifically said and what stems from that and what stems from people supposing this or that AND people lying. Find out, as far as possible, where they were going and plot the route. This is freaking ridiculous. FOR YEARS there was one party not even in the same direction as Ozark. Then, there was one kind of near Ozark. Then there were these two guys. For crying out loud, what is this all based on?

Also, on "Haunting Evidence" Tracie's mother is talking about that same, original party. Maybe they cut out where she explained about the 25 other parties, IDK. But, is that where Tracie maintained (to her mother) all along she was going? Does anyone know?

 

[TedMac]

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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I believe that you are 100% correct

 

[TedMac]

I agree. When I got lost at 17 I had a lot of experience traveling to the city I got lost in, but having someone drive you and driving it yourself are two different things.


But lets examine the other possibility. Maybe they really did go to Ozark, AL for a reason to meet up with someone? When I headed down AL 27 from Abbeville, AL towards Ozark, AL on Google earth I saw a sign that said "Ozark 24 miles" or something like that. Now wouldn't that alert them to the idea they are traveling towards Ozark, AL? Wouldn't someone say, "Hey we are going the wrong way" long before they ever get to Ozark? I think you have to look at the following:


1. If there was a meeting with someone else, it probably was not planned unless they like driving in a circle to get to a destination.
2. Since they were 17, their peer group would probably be people 15-22. So on a Saturday night, who has parents that would be gone 12 - 3 am in the morning? Who at that young age lived alone? I think police would check anyone they had association with that was known to family and friends.
3. Was there any mud on their legs or the inside of their pants legs? That lack of mud might indicate they were assaulted first, got dressed, then taken to whatever watery spot. They got the mud and briars after they had gotten dressed. We assume they were assaulted outside because of the dirty shoes and clothing, but what if that is wrong? Then a specific residence becomes more likely. And maybe it is someone they know.


The murderer in this case seems like a rather simple individual. Even the actual shooting with the shell found on Tracie Hawlett's pants leg made me think that maybe the guy has bad eyesight and had to reach into the trunk with the gun to shoot them. It was dark and he probably did not see the shell casing. Or he could have put it there purposely but what would be the point of that? I am not a ballistics expert so how far does a shell go in distance when ejected from a weapon like the one used?


As for what happened to J.B. Beasley or Tracie Hawlett or why they ended up where they did in Ozark, AL, that is a very puzzling mystery.

BBM Why do you feel they were assaulted? The Police Chief said they were not raped. There was semen found on Beasley's underclothes and skin, but it is questionable if it is related to the murders. Or are you referring to a different kind of assault?

 

[December]

I have considered that perhaps they were searched at some point. So, maybe the blouse got some special attention. I know that is less likely than some cross contamination somehow after they were found, possibly after they had been buried and their clothes left behind in evidence.

The DNA is a real stumbling block in this case. This is why it should be retested. Maybe there was just a mistake in the original processing.

 

[December]

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.

How far are these things? It's possible they did make it that far. The car was nearly run out of gas (or maybe even totally run out of gas, IDK) so it's even possible J.B. drove it back to Dothan, then someone else drove it back to Ozark.

 

[December]

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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I have been mulling over the "desperate to stop something"... But, what?


What if this is a case of mistaken identity?

 

[THErealshanm]

Wow! I don't think this has been brought up! What if they did make it back to Dothan?Ozark is not that big, so even if they did go from one side of town to the other they would not have used that much gas.

 

[easongt]

I have been mulling over the "desperate to stop something"... But, what?


What if this is a case of mistaken identity?

Well there is always the love interest angle. There Was Also An Upcoming Custody Hearing. Just throwing stuff out there.

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[TooCurious]

We all talk about the tank almost being empty but consider this was a high school kid. How often did you get in your car and drive around to see friends or just drive around to do it? The vehicle was filled up the day BEFORE the murder according to reports. Now take into account they drove from Dothan to Headland, then drove around the Haleburg area looking for the party, then drove to Ozark. I believe Tracie got off work at 9, (Pretty sure the Mall closed at 9 back then). So if they drove non stop from 9:30-11:30 (estimated time of phone call) at an average of 55 miles/hour that is 110 miles. There are no reports of them actually stopping anywhere for an extended period of time after they left home. So if JB was not hesitant to drop those kind of miles in 2 hours, how many miles can we safely assume she traveled the day of the murder and the day before? I think JB could have easily driven the tank to E, the estimate for a tank on a 1993 929 is probably about 330 miles. They almost drove a 1/3 of that in two hours and what HS kid gets optimum gas mileage?
Could they have pulled into the gas station for gas, noticed it was closed and then decided to make a call? JB asking for directions to 231 not to get home but to find a landmark?
I wish they would have pulled surveillance from other gas stations 20 minutes prior to and 20 minutes after the phone call. Just to see who all was out and about. Did the white truck parked at the gas pump go to another store for gas since that station was closed?

 

[TedMac]

Well there is always the love interest angle. There Was Also An Upcoming Custody Hearing. Just throwing stuff out there.

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You are spot on. I have always thought that one of the two scenarios you stated was the motive for the murders. But either way, it appears that only one of the girls was targeted and sadly the other was killed simply because she was with her friend.

 

[December]

Upcoming custody hearing? I guess this has to be about J.B., but she was 17. She wouldn't even need "custody" (legally) much longer. Or, is this about something that may have been said? Hmmm...

How would such a person even be able to find her with all the convoluted driving around? I am not saying it is impossible, just... I am wondering. Unless she did make it back to somewhere logical for her to be and they were met in that location?

The love interest one, does it involve someone in Ozark?

As far as the gas situation... J.B. couldn't have driven it all out herself because the car was driven after she died. She may have driven a good bit out, however.

 

[somequestions]

BBM Why do you feel they were assaulted? The Police Chief said they were not raped. There was semen found on Beasley's underclothes and skin, but it is questionable if it is related to the murders. Or are you referring to a different kind of assault?

I am basing everything on the t.v. show Haunting Evidence. If you are actually from Alabama and have more information about the case, then I take that into consideration. The only motive looks to be sexual which is why I assumed that. If it was found on her skin, I thought that at the very least whatever happened must have happened that day.

This brings up another question. Why if the victims were near water would the murderer not shoot them and dump their bodies there? Water would contaminate a lot of DNA evidence. It made me think it is because where the water is could be part of the actual residence.

I really do not know what to think about this case. Because of how "off" J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett were with their directions that night, even I have to consider they might have gone to Ozark purposely and were not lost. But I do not think it was planned. It is so difficult to say because that was 1999 and this is 2016. Road signs and the way things look are probably different than they were that night.

One thing I have always wondered is whether or not either one of them would have called the people at the party to tell them that they were not coming that night? The reason I ask that question is that I could see the witness who gave them directions in this case giving directions for 231 instead of 431 and maybe they might have still intended on trying to find the party. So J.B. Beasley turns around to go back out of Ozark, but never makes it. I think J.B. Beasley would have been the one in charge of making decisions that night.

It was after all, her birthday.

 

[easongt]

By no means am I comfortable throwing suspects names out. I will not slander or draw suspicion unduly on any party.

I do think it's fair game to start from scratch and explore ALL potential motives. The custody hearing is well known.

Am I correct in stating that there was indeed a police report of a break-in just prior or after the murders? Wasn't this documented? Or was this debunked? As though someone was looking for something? Refresh my memory.

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