In October 1976, two teenagers took a late-night drive near a remote military base in the Missouri Ozarks and simply vanished into thin air.
Months later, a second carload of kids was pulled over by a figure of authority on those same dark roads, leading to a brutal murder and betrayal, with one brave survivor.
When the predator behind the badge is finally caught, investigators are left with a troubling question: could the same man responsible for this tragedy also be the answer to what happened to the two teens who went missing months before?
Our team:
Listener Discretion: Edward October
Research & Writing: Lauretta Allen
Executive Producers: Nico & Jesse of The Inky Pawprint
Sources:
Bates v. United States, 517 F. Supp. 1350 (W.D. Mo. 1981) :: Justia
234: Frozen Tears: The Fort Leonard Wood MP Murders w/ J.B. King
Crime Traveler: The Ft. Leonard Wood Massacre TRUE CRIME STORY
Alfred Elmer Hoffman Marshal – The Charley Project
Teresa Joanna Gossage – The Charley Project
Photos of Wesley August “Wes” Hawkins - Find a Grave Memorial
Anthony Lee “Tony” Bates (1958-1977) - Find a Grave Memorial
Fort Leonard Wood - Wikipedia
History :: FORT LEONARD WOOD
Article From Jan 22, 1977, page 2 - Daily American Republic at Newspapers.com™
Oct 17, 1976, page 21 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™
Jan 22, 1977, page 1 - The Daily Capital News at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™
May 04, 1977, page 27 - Daily American Republic at Newspapers.com™
Article From Feb 16, 1977, page 9 - Henryetta Daily Free-Lance at Newspapers.com™
May 04, 1977, page 29 - The Springfield News-Leader at Newspapers.com™
May 03, 1977, page 1 - The Springfield News-Leader at Newspapers.com™
Feb 23, 1977, page 29 - The Springfield News-Leader at Newspapers.com™
May 08, 1977, page 2 - The Kansas City Star at Newspapers.com™
Article From Jun 10, 1977, page 1 - The Kansas City Times at Newspapers.com™
Jun 10, 1977, page 4 - The Kansas City Times at Newspapers.com™
Article From Apr 16, 1980, page 2 - Daily American Republic at Newspapers.com™
Article From Jan 08, 1981, page 10 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™
Article From Jan 09, 1981, page 8 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™
Article From May 31, 1981, page 35 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™
Article From Aug 23, 1981, page 29 - The Kansas City Star at Newspapers.com™
The Debate Over Whether Dissociative Identity Disorder Is "Real" | Psychology Today
Jul 26, 1977, page 13 - Times Record at Newspapers.com™ (found sane)
Article From Jul 27, 1977, page 2 - The Montgomery Advertiser at Newspapers.com™
Jan 15, 1977, page 1 - Times Record at Newspapers.com™
Article From Jul 23, 1977, page 6 - The Kansas City Star at Newspapers.com™
Jul 27, 1977, page 27 - Journal and Courier at Newspapers.com™
Article From Jul 26, 1977, page 38 - Portland Press Herald at Newspapers.com™
Article From Jul 26, 1977, page 18 - Omaha World-Herald at Newspapers.com™
Article From Jan 15, 1977, page 1 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™
Article From Jan 15, 1977, page 2 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™
Jan 15, 1977, page 9 - The Register at Newspapers.com™
Jan 15, 1977, page 29 - The Times at Newspapers.com™
https://www.newspapers.com/image/887035596/?match=1&terms="Johnny%20Lee%20Thornton"%20&search-id=af39819e-93b9-4829-b9ea-44130a34b461&search-rank=7
Article From Feb 17, 1977, page 25 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™
Jul 27, 1977, page 1 - The Kansas City Times at Newspapers.com™
Jul 27, 1979, page 11 - The Springfield News-Leader at Newspapers.com™
May 20, 1979, page 83 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™
Jun 19, 1979, page 4 - Springfield Leader and Press at Newspapers.com™
Real 'Sybil' Admits Multiple Personalities Were Fake : NPR
The Mesmerizing Story of ‘Sybil Exposed’ | Kirkus Reviews
Aug 09, 1980, page 11 - Albany Democrat-Herald at Newspapers.com™ - Newspapers.com™
Frederick E Williams (1958-1977) - Find a Grave Memorial
https://phelpscountyfocus.com/2023/02/15/talking-waynesville-the-mp-murders-of-1977/