AL AL - J.B. Beasley, 17, & Tracie Hawlett, 17, Ozark, 31 July 1999 #3

[Irishrose70]

Saying that it is "trashy" if she had a sexual encounter is why people lie about this stuff. She was waiting for a friend to get off work, so did she meet up with a guy? Wiping semen off on your bra, stomach, and underwear isn't slutty - it's practical. She possibly could have changed her other clothing before going out. Remember she didn't know she was going to be murdered.

I'm sorry if I used a poor choice of wording, or my thoughts or feelings were unclear. I tried to be specific in saying I didn't and would not judge an earlier encounter, and could care less if one occurred. The point I was trying to make was it just didn't seem to fit what we think we know. It was in no way meant to be disrespectful or judgemental towards either girl. Or anyone else . I'm just trying to make sense of the available information, that keeps changing.

 

[Irishrose70]

If I were the girls trying to get to 231 from the big little store, I don't care what directions I was given, I would have turned at the first sign pointing to 231. That would have been the second light, the corner at the courthouse. A half mile, if that, from the store. Probably more like 1/4. It is also Union street. The thing is back then was way different than now. Yes, it was a direct route to 231. BUT back then the road forked at a curve not far from the highway. Both were called south union by most. The right lanes went to the highway. The left one brought you back to the Mathews Avenue type roads. I need to pull up an old map, but I'm pretty sure if they'd taken the left fork they'd end up by the department of transportation building, and another left that would put them by herring avenue when it ended. That was the only option as i recall, other than turning around. I haven't pulled up old maps yet though, so not 100%. Since then all that property has been cleared and developed, a lot being operated by the aviational college and airport. That happened in early 2000s.

 

[Bulldog23]

Really good post Irishrose. That might explain how they ended up on Herring. If they had left Ozark that night, I beleive the killer(s) would have dumped them in the woods or a body of water. Is that close to the place the lady reported (some time later) hearing two shots? If I recall it was correctly, it was off 132 close to a sewage treatment plant.

 

[ALMurderMystery]

What do you feel the motive was?

I'm conflicted on motive but I believe it was sexual. I don't however believe the DNA found on J.B. was from the murderer. They were both pretty girls. I see someone that they met casually or in passing stalking/following them. Possibly a Pedophile who let the situation get out of control and had to kill them. (One took off running and then the other and he was able to shoot one in the head so he had to kill the other.) I just have a very hard time believing this was someone they knew. If it was someone they knew I would think they would have dumped them at the bottom of a pond, burned the bodies, or covered them in lime in some forest out in the middle of nowhere. If I were to kill my husband (I would never do, just using as an example) my first thought wouldn't be oh let me put him in the trunk of his own car. I would try to hide him in the most impossible location for the police to find. These are probably outlandish conclusions but that's just the feeling I get.

 

[CoolJ]

I'm conflicted on motive but I believe it was sexual. I don't however believe the DNA found on J.B. was from the murderer. They were both pretty girls. I see someone that they met casually or in passing stalking/following them. Possibly a Pedophile who let the situation get out of control and had to kill them. (One took off running and then the other and he was able to shoot one in the head so he had to kill the other.) I just have a very hard time believing this was someone they knew. If it was someone they knew I would think they would have dumped them at the bottom of a pond, burned the bodies, or covered them in lime in some forest out in the middle of nowhere. If I were to kill my husband (I would never do, just using as an example) my first thought wouldn't be oh let me put him in the trunk of his own car. I would try to hide him in the most impossible location for the police to find. These are probably outlandish conclusions but that's just the feeling I get.

The decision of leaving the bodies in the trunk where they were sure to be found, as compared to just hiding or disposing of the bodies, is an interesting subject to ponder. Why leave so much potential forensic evidence when it is not necessary? And still have the confidence you are not going to be suspected....

To me it was almost like somebody was saying " Here, Ozark PD, you deal with this mess.."

 

[nd1313]

Leaving the bodies in the trunk could also be a way for the killer to toy with the police. It's a cocky, bold move that probably an inexperienced, yet confident killer could make.

 

[ALMurderMystery]

The decision of leaving the bodies in the trunk where they were sure to be found, as compared to just hiding or disposing of the bodies, is an interesting subject to ponder. Why leave so much potential forensic evidence when it is not necessary? And still have the confidence you are not going to be suspected....

To me it was almost like somebody was saying " Here, Ozark PD, you deal with this mess.."

@CoolJ Exactly! That's what leads me to believe that it's not someone closely "connected" to either of them. It would be far too easy for someone to slip up and leave some kind of evidence that would be traced back... hair, finger prints, etc. If it were a family member, boyfriend, or friend they would all be questioned and most likely DNA tested. If it was say a family members co-worker, someone they met at work, or a random guy they said hi to at a gas station that was eyeing one of them from a far, they would be more likely in my opinion to display them in the trunk like trophies and not get caught. Especially if they had never been arrested and their DNA wasn't in the national database. I have also found it weirdly ironic that her keys were one of the only things missing and her keychain said Hard2Get, almost like he took them just to prove a point.

 

[TedMac]

I'm conflicted on motive but I believe it was sexual. I don't however believe the DNA found on J.B. was from the murderer. They were both pretty girls. I see someone that they met(One took off running and then the other and he was able to shoot one in the head so he had to kill the other.) I just have a very hard time believing this was someone they knew. If it was someone they knew I would think they wo casually or in passing stalking/following them. Possibly a Pedophile who let the situation get out of control and had to kill them. uld have dumped them at the bottom of a pond, burned the bodies, or covered them in lime in some forest out in the middle of nowhere. If I were to kill my husband (I would never do, just using as an example) my first thought wouldn't be oh let me put him in the trunk of his own car. I would try to hide him in the most impossible location for the police to find. These are probably outlandish conclusions but that's just the feeling I get.

BBM...I too, believe they took off running making a desperate attempt to get away. Thus, the scratch on Tracie's arm, the briars in their clothes, the muddy shoes and pants wet from the knees down. But, weren't they shot while in the trunk of the car? I think he put them inthe trunk to control them-probably after they had attempted to flee. He also knew that with them in the trunk, the gunshots would be somewhat muffled. MOO

 

[TedMac]

@CoolJ Exactly! That's what leads me to believe that it's not someone closely "connected" to either of them. It would be far too easy for someone to slip up and leave some kind of evidence that would be traced back... hair, finger prints, etc. If it were a family member, boyfriend, or friend they would all be questioned and most likely DNA tested. If it was say a family members co-worker, someone they met at work, or a random guy they said hi to at a gas station that was eyeing one of them from a far, they would be more likely in my opinion to display them in the trunk like trophies and not get caught. Especially if they had never been arrested and their DNA wasn't in the national database. I have also found it weirdly ironic that her keys were one of the only things missing and her keychain said Hard2Get, almost like he took them just to prove a point.

BBM...We need to remember that this happened in 1999. DNA wasn't a very well-known subject at the time. The killer may have never even given any thought to DNA.

 

[TedMac]

As far as the car's location and the bodies inthe trunk...I have always believed the killer either lived near Herring Ave., was staying with someone near Herring Ave. or had a vehicle parked near Herring Ave. I believe he didn't leave the bodies in the location where he killed them because he may have owned the land, had been known to hang out on the land or may have been seen on the land earlier in the evening. All of this is MOO.

 

[dancemom]

The decision of leaving the bodies in the trunk where they were sure to be found, as compared to just hiding or disposing of the bodies, is an interesting subject to ponder. Why leave so much potential forensic evidence when it is not necessary? And still have the confidence you are not going to be suspected....

To me it was almost like somebody was saying " Here, Ozark PD, you deal with this mess.."

It's interesting to hear different thoughts on this. I actually thought that leaving the bodies where they'd be easily found could point to a killer who knew the girls. He/they left the bodies where they were found and could be laid to rest by their families, rather than dumping them where that would be exposed to the elements and possibly not found for a long time, leaving an even more horrible mystery for their loved ones.

 

[ALMurderMystery]

As far as the car's location and the bodies inthe trunk...I have always believed the killer either lived near Herring Ave., was staying with someone near Herring Ave. or had a vehicle parked near Herring Ave. I believe he didn't leave the bodies in the location where he killed them because he may have owned the land, had been known to hang out on the land or may have been seen on the land earlier in the evening. All of this is MOO.

@TedMac Was there ever any information about blood in the trunk or blood casting in the trunk? I don't remember them mentioning it in any article (I'm not saying there wasn't) but if not then they weren't shot in the trunk. Any head injury would produce a large amount of blood. I do agree that if he shot them in the trunk it would muffle the sound of the gunshot. He could have also had a silencer on his gun (maybe someone from the military base down the road). I have a hard time believing they willingly got into a trunk especially if they had the guts to take off running to escape. Hopefully we will know one day.

 

[ALMurderMystery]

It's interesting to hear different thoughts on this. I actually thought that leaving the bodies where they'd be easily found could point to a killer who knew the girls. He/they left the bodies where they were found and could be laid to rest by their families, rather than dumping them where that would be exposed to the elements and possibly not found for a long time, leaving an even more horrible mystery for their loved ones.

@dancemom You are right, it is very interesting. I initially thought the same as you but I think if you are demented enough to kill two beautiful teenage girls basically execution style, you could care a less about their family.

 

[Bulldog23]

I spoke to Tricia and I think she tried to open the 3rd thread back up.. but all the posts are missing. As LR1 said, the thread may not have made the jump to the new format. Not answering for TedMac, but the blood in the trunk had been "sloshed" around according to JB's sister. I've always wondered if JB was shot outside the trunk (her clothes noticeably dirty. And Jacqui said it looked like she had been laid in the trunk.) But I think that the official information says they were both shot in the trunk. One theory was JB was an accident and Tracie was damage control.

 

[TedMac]

I spoke to Tricia and I think she tried to open the 3rd thread back up.. but all the posts are missing. As LR1 said, the thread may not have made the jump to the new format. Not answering for TedMac, but the blood in the trunk had been "sloshed" around according to JB's sister. I've always wondered if JB was shot outside the trunk (her clothes noticeably dirty. And Jacqui said it looked like she had been laid in the trunk.) But I think that the official information says they were both shot in the trunk. One theory was JB was an accident and Tracie was damage control.

Thanks for responding to the poster. I want to add that LE stated that because of the blood on the undercarriage of the car, they (LE) knew the girls were killed elsewhere and the car was driven to Herring Ave where they were found.

 

[TedMac]

@TedMac Was there ever any information about blood in the trunk or blood casting in the trunk? I don't remember them mentioning it in any article (I'm not saying there wasn't) but if not then they weren't shot in the trunk. Any head injury would produce a large amount of blood. I do agree that if he shot them in the trunk it would muffle the sound of the gunshot. He could have also had a silencer on his gun (maybe someone from the military base down the road). I have a hard time believing they willingly got into a trunk especially if they had the guts to take off running to escape. Hopefully we will know one day.

BBM...I totally agree. They were almost asuredly ordered in the trunk at gunpoint.

 

[Irishrose70]

If I were the girls trying to get to 231 from the big little store, I don't care what directions I was given, I would have turned at the first sign pointing to 231. That would have been the second light, the corner at the courthouse. A half mile, if that, from the store. Probably more like 1/4. It is also Union street. The thing is back then was way different than now. Yes, it was a direct route to 231. BUT back then the road forked at a curve not far from the highway. Both were called south union by most. The right lanes went to the highway. The left one brought you back to the Mathews Avenue type roads. I need to pull up an old map, but I'm pretty sure if they'd taken the left fork they'd end up by the department of transportation building, and another left that would put them by herring avenue when it ended. That was the only option as i recall, other than turning around. I haven't pulled up old maps yet though, so not 100%. Since then all that property has been cleared and developed, a lot being operated by the aviational college and airport. That happened in early 2000s.

Yes. Looking at maps this is very feasible. If they took the left branch of the road it would have taken them to Mathews Avenue. A left takes them to where the car was found, approximately a mile down. There are a few other lefts they could have made off the road, but they would have been obvious wrong turns. I'm not saying they drove the car back to Herring. I think the car being so close to where they'd last called from is a coincidence. I'm beginning to think this was wrong place/wrong time. They came on something they shouldn't have seen on those back roads after making a wrong turn. I also don't think they were meant to be killed. My belief is they were going to be forced into the trunk (and possibly left in there) until whatever was being done was finished, and there was a struggle and one got shot. Then both had to be killed. It may have even been due to an argument about what to do with them by more than one participant. If the person that left the car on Herring knew J.B. was still alive, I wonder if it was left there not because it was desolate (most of those roads were) but because it was close to the hospital.

 

[Irishrose70]

Yes. Looking at maps this is very feasible. If they took the left branch of the road it would have taken them to Mathews Avenue. A left takes them to where the car was found, approximately a mile down. There are a few other lefts they could have made off the road, but they would have been obvious wrong turns. I'm not saying they drove the car back to Herring. I think the car being so close to where they'd last called from is a coincidence. I'm beginning to think this was wrong place/wrong time. They came on something they shouldn't have seen on those back roads after making a wrong turn. I also don't think they were meant to be killed. My belief is they were going to be forced into the trunk (and possibly left in there) until whatever was being done was finished, and there was a struggle and one got shot. Then both had to be killed. It may have even been due to an argument about what to do with them by more than one participant. If the person that left the car on Herring knew J.B. was still alive, I wonder if it was left there not because it was desolate (most of those roads were) but because it was close to the hospital.

 

[aegis100]

I agree somequestions, to me this is a critical piece to understanding what happened next. I just noticed while looking at Google maps again that if they turned onto 123 either by force or mistake they would have come to Holman Funeral Home on their left and there is a pond behind Holman. If you take the road just before Holman called Edna Drive there are some dirt roads that lead to the pond where the water could be accounted for. If you follow Edna till it ends at Matthew Avenue you will come out right at Herring and where the car was found. Was there a report from an employee at the hospital about hearing a gunshot or something like a gunshot? I may not be recalling correctly.

Irishrose70, I posted the above a few pages back and I still think this is still a viable route taken by the killer(s).

 

[aegis100]

I confessed to my friend today about my WebSleuths addiction. She asked me how it started so I began telling her about this case and after a few minutes of highlights she said "It sounds like a woman to me." She began by saying when she was that age and driving around, which she and I both did in a city a little larger than Ozark, she would have stopped for a woman around the same age as she was. J.B. and Tracie may have felt more at ease with a female and let their guard down. My friend went on to say that perhaps the semen traces were left from the woman's boyfriend from a consensual act earlier with J. B. and the other woman found out about. It's possible this isn't the first time it's happened so the woman is mad and decides it stops that night. Maybe the woman brings the boyfriend with her and makes him participate as punishment. Tracie is collateral damage unfortunately and has to be silenced. This would explain motive (not sexual or robbery) but just plain jealousy and spite. This scenario could also explain why the semen donor has never come forward to claim responsibility for the semen evidence.