FL FL - Pinellas County Possible Serial Killer “Cleveland Hill”, 1970s-1980s

[SeesSeas]

For anyone who may want to read it, Newspapers.com (the archive website) had the 3 page article about the women, their disappearances, CH Jr, and other details. I found it to be quite interesting, and am glad that they revisited the cases and brought them all back to public focus for a while.

Very interesting article! It is dated 09/09/1993, which is 26 years ago. Based on the details in part 3 of the article, it seems as if Joseph Crawford may have more information that could assist detectives. Per the article, "he once saw Hill dig a large hole before dawn one morning" but would not provide more details. Now that CH Jr is deceased (2018, per PCSO), perhaps Crawford would be willing to disclose more details.
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/attachments/vanished-article-1993-pt-3-jpg.192481/

If it's the same Joseph Crawford (DOB 10/04/1948), he would now be 70 years old. He is no longer incarcerated in FL DOC. Released 08/11/2014:
Inmate Release Information Detail
https://ccmspa.pinellascounty.org/PublicAccess/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=7787169

 

[EmilyHTX]

He may have been the person who gave LE the idea of where to dig (the lot, not the exact spot) back in 1993. They did do some digging on a few of the properties that CH Jr owned, but found nothing. Someone did tell LE that they'd dug in the wrong spot on one lot, saying that it was BEHIND a building, not NEXT to the building. I don't know when that bit of information came to light, but they did say that the spot behind the building that was indicated as a possible burial site has since been paved over and no further investigation into that location has been done as far as I know.

I honestly believe that the women are on properties that he had access to, not ones that he owned. I've printed out a list of all of the official records and criminal records linked to him, and slowly gone through and written out what they're about so I don't have to keep going back randomly opening documents to find what I need. It's also helped me pinpoint what work he was having done on his own properties, as well as what jobs he may have done around certain dates. That, paired with searches of permits and general contractors, will hopefully give me a reasonable list of possible locations to search. My biggest question mark right now, aside from the locations, is what he did with their jewelry. Did he sell it? Keep it? Leave it on their bodies? I wish I knew about pawn shops or something along those lines that were around in the 1970s-1980s. He had a lot of money issues through the years and it seems reasonable to think that he may have sold their jewelry in order to cover some debts to avoid losing equipment, foreclosure, federal tax liens, etc.

Very interesting article! It is dated 09/09/1993, which is 26 years ago. Based on the details in part 3 of the article, it seems as if Joseph Crawford may have more information that could assist detectives. Per the article, "he once saw Hill dig a large hole before dawn one morning" but would not provide more details. Now that CH Jr is deceased (2018, per PCSO), perhaps Crawford would be willing to disclose more details.
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/attachments/vanished-article-1993-pt-3-jpg.192481/

If it's the same Joseph Crawford (DOB 10/04/1948), he would now be 70 years old. He is no longer incarcerated in FL DOC. Released 08/11/2014:
Inmate Release Information Detail
https://ccmspa.pinellascounty.org/PublicAccess/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=7787169

 

[faerieskye]

So let me get this straight, there's HELLA evidence this fool is linked to these missing women but police haven't been able to pursue it?

Man.. I'll bite my tongue on this one.

 

[EmilyHTX]

So let me get this straight, there's HELLA evidence this fool is linked to these missing women but police haven't been able to pursue it?

Man.. I'll bite my tongue on this one.

Basically! They didn’t really look into it when the women first disappeared, and by the time they connected the dots he’d already been convicted of other charges and sent to prison. Investigators visited him right before he died, hoping for a deathbed confession, but he refused to tell them where the women’s bodies are.

I tried SO hard to find any possible locations that would have been accessible to him around the time they disappeared, but the detective I spoke with said that they wouldn’t be looking for bodies unless they knew without a doubt that they were there. Breaks my heart for their families.

 

[PrivateInspector007]

This is so sad, Clearwater police are so inept. Could one of the reasons the police are refusing to look for them because the land where you think they might be located is on Scientology property? If they are, Scientologist will never consent to any kind of search. People go missing within their organization all the time (that is another story in itself). You could get a petition going requesting the police to search the areas you located. I know you will get a lot of support in the area!

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Excavation work is underway at a construction site in Largo as authorities investigate the cold case disappearances of three women who went missing in the 1970s and 1980s, authorities said.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office’s forensic units are at a site located in the 1200 block of Gooden Crossing.

The sheriff’s office confirmed it was “conducting an excavation” while investigating a tip about three cold cases. The cases involve Retha Hiers, who disappeared in 1982, Donyelle Johnson, who disappeared in 1989, and Margaret Dash, who disappeared in 1974.

Could missing women who disappeared decades ago be buried at Largo site? Deputies investigate tip

Excavation work is underway at a construction site in unincorporated Largo as authorities investigate a tip about a cold case.

www.wfla.com

 

[PayrollNerd]

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Excavation work is underway at a construction site in Largo as authorities investigate the cold case disappearances of three women who went missing in the 1970s and 1980s, authorities said.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

 

[SeesSeas]

Cold case investigators dig up property that once belonged to Florida man connected to 3 missing women

For the second day in a row, investigators excavated land in Pinellas County in hopes of finding the remains of a woman who disappeared in the early 1980s.

www.fox13news.com

June 30, 2022
LARGO, Fla. - For the second day in a row, investigators excavated land in Pinellas County in hopes of finding the remains of a woman who disappeared in the early 1980s.

Using jackhammers, crews slowly chipped away at a large slab of concrete, looking for any signs of Retha Hiers, who has been missing since 1982.
[...]
After a laborious process, the concrete block didn't appear to turn up any human remains, only an old teddy bear.
[...]

 

[PayrollNerd]

MSN

According to the sheriff’s office, excavation work was completed on Wednesday, and no remains or evidence related to the case were found.

 

[SeesSeas]

22-061 Detectives Conduct Excavation on a Property in Largo -

www.pcsoweb.com

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

22-061 Detectives Conduct Excavation on a Property in Largo​

Cold Case​

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Investigative Operations Bureau
- Cold Case Unit
- Robbery/Homicide Unit

Support Services Bureau
-Forensic Science Division
Retha Hiers (Missing Person)
DOB: 09/12/1939
Cleveland Hill Jr. (Suspect – Deceased)
DOB: 12/27/1947

PINELLAS COUNTY – Detectives assigned to the Cold Case Unit conducted an excavation at 1201 Gooden Crossing in Largo.
Detectives say they received several tips of possible human remains being buried on the property which was formerly owned by Cleveland Hill Jr. Hill was a suspect in the 1982 disappearance of 43-year-old Retha Hiers. No remains were ever recovered. Hill died in 2018 at 70-years-old and maintained his innocence up until he died.
Detectives began the excavation of the property on June 28, 2022 and completed the excavation on July 6, 2022. According to detectives, no evidence related to the case was located at the scene.
The investigation continues.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I wonder if the perp moved any remains due to so many other being aware there may be bodies buried there. If so, where else could he have moved them to? Did he have access to equipment to move any remains? Did he frequent a particular property a lot, hunt on raw land somewhere, etc? Hmmm.

 

[SeesSeas]

I wonder if the perp moved any remains due to so many other being aware there may be bodies buried there. If so, where else could he have moved them to? Did he have access to equipment to move any remains? Did he frequent a particular property a lot, hunt on raw land somewhere, etc? Hmmm.

I am local. I'm not certain of historical details, but near the excavated property is a 4-story state office building that was constructed in 1991. It is a large corner lot. I researched the property records of the state building and found a deed transfer in 1988 from a private individual (not the 'suspect') to the state. Perhaps it was vacant and overgrown land in early 1980's? Convenient place to bury a body?

Pinellas County Property Appraiser

www.pcpao.org

FL INT IMP FUND TRE
11351 ULMERTON RD
LARGO

Property Use: 8711 (State Gov't - Non-residential (commercial) only)

Pinellas County Public Records

Sale Date Book/Page Price Q/U V/I
22 Aug 1988 06817 / 1289 PDF of OR document $2,250,000 U

State office building on the rise

The state office building, to be named for State Sen. Mary Grizzle, is taking shape on the corner of Ridge and Ulmerton roads in Largo. The building will have more than 150,000 square feet of...

www.tampabay.com

State office building on the rise
Published Sep. 13, 1991|Updated Oct. 13, 2005
The state office building, to be named for State Sen. Mary Grizzle, is taking shape on the corner of Ridge and Ulmerton roads in Largo. The building will have more than 150,000 square feet of office space and is to be completed in January.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I am local. I'm not certain of historical details, but near the excavated property is a 4-story state office building that was constructed in 1991. It is a large corner lot. I researched the property records of the state building and found a deed transfer in 1988 from a private individual (not the 'suspect') to the state. Perhaps it was vacant and overgrown land in early 1980's? Convenient place to bury a body?

Pinellas County Property Appraiser

www.pcpao.org

FL INT IMP FUND TRE
11351 ULMERTON RD
LARGO

Property Use: 8711 (State Gov't - Non-residential (commercial) only)

Pinellas County Public Records

Sale Date Book/Page Price Q/U V/I
22 Aug 1988 06817 / 1289 PDF of OR document $2,250,000 U

State office building on the rise

The state office building, to be named for State Sen. Mary Grizzle, is taking shape on the corner of Ridge and Ulmerton roads in Largo. The building will have more than 150,000 square feet of...

www.tampabay.com

State office building on the rise
Published Sep. 13, 1991|Updated Oct. 13, 2005
The state office building, to be named for State Sen. Mary Grizzle, is taking shape on the corner of Ridge and Ulmerton roads in Largo. The building will have more than 150,000 square feet of office space and is to be completed in January.

Oh that's very interesting. When they put in the foundation of that building, I would think they'd uncover any remains, maybe. Soil isn't supposed to be disturbed, as in it should be "raw land" prior to construction. Otherwise there's requirement for the foundation stability if I remember correctly.

 

[SeesSeas]

Oh that's very interesting. When they put in the foundation of that building, I would think they'd uncover any remains, maybe. Soil isn't supposed to be disturbed, as in it should be "raw land" prior to construction. Otherwise there's requirement for the foundation stability if I remember correctly.

That government property also has a large parking lot. Here is an unofficial photo that shows the building and a small portion of the parking lot.

Mary Grizzle State Office Building, Clearwater Reviews | State government office

Mary Grizzle State Office Building Reviews, 11351 Ulmerton Rd, Largo, FL 33778 - State government office in Clearwater

www.helpmecovid.com

 

[SeesSeas]

Where are 3 missing Tampa Bay women? The answer may rest with ‘the devil.’

Three women vanished between 1974 and 1989 after trying to end affairs with a man named Cleveland Hill. Their families have learned to live without answers.

www.tampabay.com

August 16, 2022
Cleveland Hill Jr. had a sense of mystery about him. Neighbors whispered his name with fear and respect. His daughter made a podcast series dedicated to unraveling his legend: the son of a snake catcher hunting for mistresses at the neighborhood Pentecostal church; a successful businessman and sly drug dealer; and a murderous, devil-worshipping husband who practiced black magic.
[...]
Investigators flew to Appomattox, Va., in January 2018 to see Hill, who was in at-home hospice care with stage four prostate cancer. He hadn’t returned to Florida after serving his federal prison sentence. The visit was a long-shot, last-chance effort to secure a confession — and the location of the missing women or their remains. To bring peace to families who have lived without it for decades.

“We knew he did it,” Clearwater police Detective Joseph Ruhlin told the Times in a recent interview.

The detectives traded tactics, asking if Hill wanted to meet his maker with three missing women on his conscience. Eventually, they put his son on speaker phone. Even today, Ruhlin can recall the exchange:

“Do you know what happened to those women, pops?” Tony Hill asked.

“No, I don’t,” Hill said, shaking his head. But he was tearing up.

This moment was the closest investigators ever got to answers, Ruhlin said. Hill died two months later.
[...]