EX- GIRLFRIEND: I was a young, naive teenager. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. Carl Harris was out on bail, having spent two-and-a-half weeks in jail after his arrest. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. McCraney is listed on Facebook as a bishop at a local church and has also worked as a trucker. But prosecutors say Herring had an alibi for the time Tracey was murdered. JEFF BEASLEY: She said she was leaving Carl and wanted me to leave Dawn and I wouldn't. A press conference is also scheduled for Monday where Dale County officials and Ozark Police are expected to announce the charges against McCraney. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. Despite the suspicion, no arrest was made and the case languished. I'm sure they thought that Jeff's statement would be very similar to Dawn's. Unsolved Wiregrass murders still a mystery. Jordan Davis: I was actually 3 when this happened, so from 1990 -- and we're trying to track down witnesses We were dealing with people that had moved all over the country. She could have come up here and -- she could have lied on the stand. Friday, a member of that family was arrested in Oklahoma City by federal and local law enforcement officers and accused of killing his mother, father and older brother in Ozark, Ala. Jason Hunter Culverhouse, 23, was arrested by members of the U.S. Marshals' Service Metro Fugitive Squad at an Oklahoma City truck stop. Dawn Beasley: He said he took her down to the river because he didn't want them to come home and find her body. They found the name "Beasley" spray-painted in big letters. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Carl and Tracey Harris with their daughter Carolyn. The remaining potential jurors were questioned individually about their knowledge of the case and their death penalty beliefs. Carolyn Aznavour: I've always heard that he was very abusive towards my mom that he was just a bad individual. And in 2016, with the arrest of her estranged father Carl, Carolyn thought, finally, she would get some answers. The pastor of the church wrote a message of support for McCraney and his family on the churchs Facebook page on Sunday, a day after his arrest, and a video showing they prayed for him at their service Sunday. Dawn Beasley: And every word of my statement was true. I'm about to get married, I'm pregnant This baby deserves a chance at a life with a loving family and a mom and a dad. Beasley, 54, faces a charge of murder. (334) 733-5927. 1 In 1988, Tullie Culverhouse was murdered by a then unknown assailant. The Ozark time zone is Central Daylight Time which is 6 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). I cant do it alone., READ NEXT: Man Whose First Wife Died Mysteriously Is Wanted in the Murder of His Second Wife, Coley McCraney: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Parents and brother killed by Jason Hunter Culverhouse This Happen in a rural town called Ariton,Al.. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com. Selina Dodson and Tracey were about 11 years old when baptized. Other winners at the Producers Guild of America awards ceremony Saturday night include Navalny, Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, The Bear and The White Lotus. Now, with Dawn Beasley's revelation that her ex-husband Jeff told her that he killed Tracey, they hoped to learn the truth. And that's kind of nauseating, to be honest, that we were that close. Then what happens to me? But Carolyn, who traveled to Ozark for every single hearing, was convinced of her father's guilt. "I. Tracey Harris, 22, disappeared on March 7, 1990. JEFF BEASLEY: No, we went to the river a couple of times. They had both been shot once in the head. J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett, of Dothan, were on the way home from Beasleys birthday party in Headland, on July 31, 1999, when they got lost in Ozark, according to Al.com. Her grandmother provided a loving a home and, Carolyn says, that was more than enough. Trial in 1999 Ozark slayings continued due to lack of jurors. Dawn Beasley: It was unbelievable to me that I should end up with this incredible secret. Dawn refused to come, saying she was too busy. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Ozark Map. A week later, her body was found in a nearby river. But no arrest was made, and the case went cold. Maureen Maher: Has there ever been a time that Carl Harris said, "I want you to find out who killed Tracey?". As it turned out, their No. Tullie's son, Jason Hunter Culverhouse ("Hunter"), a named beneficiary under the Alfa policy, filed a claim for the proceeds . This is a murder trial. Marshall said anyone with a cold case tip is encouraged to contact the Alabama Attorney General's Office Cold Case Tip Line at (866) 419-1236, or email coldcasetips@ago.state.al.us. Of those, 17 were quickly excused for different reasons. Alabama state records show McCraney incorporated Spirit and Truth Lifeline Ministries, a nonprofit religious ministry, in 2013. They also went to the area under the bridge where people would sometimes gather. Jordan Davis: We were mortified that we were that close to putting the wrong man on trial. and the realization that, perhaps, her boyfriend was a murderer. The four sons of the slain Ruthie Mae Jackson stand in front of her vacant home on East Adams Street . Maureen Maher: What did you grow up thinking happened to your mom? He told me it was an accident, you know? Alabama police have linked a suspect to the 1999 cold case murders of two 17-year-old girls using DNA and genetic genealogy. Carolyn Aznavour: And there was one lady. While Carl may not have been worried, there was someone who, for years, was: Dawn Beasley, that friend of Tracey's, who, with her then fianc, briefly lived with the Harrises. Updated: Mar 24, 2022 / 01:03 PM CDT. "Carl Harris did have a reputation for being very violent in particular towards Tracey Harris," said Davis. "Who?" Maureen Maher: Does that strike you as odd? Was that a concern for you as you were preparing a defense? We finally found out who killed my mom. She and her soon-to-be husband Jeff, who worked construction with Carl, lived with the Harrises for about a month. David Harrison: This officer made this up to make this arrest. INVESTIGATOR: And when do you think he said that? He then dropped Tracey off at their house and headed out to his job at a supermarket. Despite all the talk in town, Tracey never filed police reports about the alleged abuse. Fannie Mae's is a restaurant located in Ozark, Alabama at 192 West Reynolds Street. While Ozark police questioned Dawn, they never got a statement from Jeff, even though they both spent time together living with the Harrises. she felt like if she could just get through the rough stuff, you know, that it would be OK. The girls, both from Dothan, had traveled from. Ozark: Created by Bill Dubuque, Mark Williams. OZARK, Ala. (AP) A trial is scheduled next year in the capital murder of two Alabama teenagers who were found in the trunk of a car in 1999. Then, in 2015, an Ozark Police cold case unit took another look at Tracey's murder, and again zeroed in on Carl. Carolyn Aznavour: Jordan called me to come to the police station, that they had to tell me something. And as time went on, she did think about ways to tell authorities what she knew. Carolyn's focus remains on the mother she never had the chance to get to know. Jordan Davis: There was also several people that they found since then that he had made statements to that were incriminating. Maureen Maher: Do you wonder what your mom would be like today? While attorney David Harrison praises Davis pursuit of justice, he claims shoddy police work created the messy situation, though a grand jury indicted Harris. Most of all, he claims, Harris lost a relationship with his daughter who authorities took from his custody immediately after Tracey Harris funeral. Dawn, about to celebrate her 21st birthday the next day, was pregnant with her first child. His record is spotless, a source told WDHN-TV. It took Jordan several calls to wrong phone numbers to find Dawn Beasley. The autopsy revealed that Tracey had drowned, but also noted marks around her neck likely indicating strangulation. Jordan Davis: I think it was extremely difficult for her to come forward. The couple had recently divorced, and Carl had a girlfriend. Dawn Beasley: I had an impossible choice to make And I really struggled Tracey deserves justice. Barrentine was cleared after his DNA didnt match semen found on Beasleys body. The prosecutors also visited the area around the river where Tracey's body was found. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Geneva County coach Holmes juggling new son and leading Lady Dawgs to state tournament, Dothan physician, daughter killed in single-vehicle crash near Barbour County line. They learned that while Tracey might have enjoyed spending time by the river, she would never have gone in the river. OZARK, Ala. (WTVY) -A man wrongfully charged in the cold case murder of his estranged wife has filed a $6 million lawsuit against the city of Ozark. Tracie had called her parents to say she and J.B. were lost . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. They had planned to attend a party near Headland on the night of July 31 but got lost and were last heard from when Hawlett called her mother from Ozark to let her know they were on their way home. A. Powered by. Jeff said he and Tracey had been wading in the river. He is an Alabama native and has lived in the area in the years since the murders, according to court records. Jordan Davis: I don't think there was one particular motive. And those who knew Tracey, did not believe she was having an affair. Ozark has a diversified economy, mild winter weather and is convenient to several of the South's metropolitan areas, as well as the beautiful white beaches of Florida. But Jeff Beasley should have raised some red flags for police; he had a criminal record. Ozark is a town in Alabama with a population of 14,396. Prosecutors do not know why or who spray-painted the name under the bridge. Please enter valid email address to continue. After the evidence was analyzed at Parabon, investigators recognized McCraney's last name from the DNA search, Walker said. The man, Coley McCraney, was charged with capital murder in March of this year for the killings of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett and is facing the death penalty. ABC News' Emily Shapiro contributed to this report. I walked out, and I do remember the sense of relief because I hadn't actually had to lie. She got mad at me. He confessed, claiming he and Tracey were having an affair. No one had been arrested in the nearly 20 years since the killings. Dawn Beasley: Well, they asked me so what do you know about Carl Harris? "What happened?" Jordan Davis: They had a statement from Dawn and that was things that they had witnessed while living in the home together. The number of homicides stood at 1 - a decrease of 2 compared to 2017. At the time of the murders he was 26 and living on Lisenby Drive in Ozark, about 1 mile away from where the bodies of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett were found in 1999. Maureen Maher: Did you want to ask him about her? Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. McCraney was arrested March 16 and booked into jail about 6:30 p.m. McCraney is expected to appear in court on Monday. Carl Harris: No, ma'am, I never said that. Can we really give her peace? Kirke Adams: He also made comments prior to her going missing and after including come back whenever. He's going to deny it. In Ozark, Alabama you have a 1 in 98 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Dawn Beasley: I was very unhappy. Ozark Mayor Mark Blankenship said Wednesday he had no comment because he had not seen that lawsuit. Details of McCraneys military service were also not immediately available. A woman Davis contacted as a possible witness told Davis that that her husband, who she is no longer married to, killed Tracey Harris. Melissa Velsquez Loaiza (CNN) La edicin nmero 29 de los Premios del Sindicato de Actores de la Pantalla SAG Awards se llev a cabo el domingo en el Fairmont Century Plaza de Los . Even after Jeff was arrested again, in 1991 for burglary, and spent 5 years in prison, Dawn kept the secret, wanting her family life to be normal when he got out. DA KIRKE ADAMS [to reporters]: - I have dismissed the murder case against Carl Harris. On Aug. 1, 1999, Tracie Hawlett and J.B. Beasley were found dead in the back of Beasley's car with gunshot wounds to the head. Kirke Adams [at the river]: Part of our job is to paint that picture for a jury, and I think it is always important to try to get a feel for the area. McCraney was identified as a suspect 20 years after the killings when DNA from the crime scene was submitted for genetic genealogy testing similar to how California law enforcement identified the Golden State killer in 2018. Carolyn was just 4 years old when she lost her mom. The husband said, "well, looks like that boy done finally killed that girl.". Still, Carolyn wondered about her mother wanting to know what really happened. Kirke Adams: Back then, the domestic violence law was much different if the police arrived and nobody wanted to make a report there was just no reports done. Dwellics analytics team assigned the score 76.8 to Ozark, Alabama (with 100 being the best). Dawn Beasley [crying]: I should have been sorry for Carolyn and I was sorry for me. Coley McCraney is an Alabama native. EMAIL: eleanor.outlaw@dalecountyal.gov FACEBOOK: Dale County Revenue Commissioner. I remember taking her, pushing her under water I mean if the autopsy says it, I don't, I guess . Jordan Davis and District Attorney Kirke Adams, The search for the killer of Tracey Harris. INVESTIGATOR: I'm not, I'm not going to put a word in your mouth. DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) -Accused killer Coley McCraney's attorneys on Thursday publicly named a retired Ozark police officer as the murderer of two teens, claiming eyewitnesses will implicate him. At first, there were no signs of foul play when investigators found the black Mazda sedan the teens had been driving by 9 a.m. the next day, WDHN reported. Several years after Tracey's murder, Carl Harris had left Ozark, feeling like the cloud of suspicion had destroyed his life. Thursday, August 8th: *Arraignment & Motions Hearing (@ 9am ET) - AL - J.B. Hilton Green Beasley (17) & Tracie Jean Hawlett (17) (July 31, 1999, Ozark) - *Coley Lewis McCraney (45/25 @ time of crime) arrested & charged (3/16/19) & indicted (6/10/19) with 2 counts of 1st degree murder, 2 counts of 1st degree murder while in the act of . Maureen Maher: Did it feel like you were lying, though, by not telling them? The typical household in Ozark earns $41894 a year, compared to the national median of $67,500.Nearly 56.8% of households earn less than $50,000 a year compared to 39% national rate. DNA has led to an arrest in the cold case murder of two Alabama girls, according to reports. When Carolyn was about 21, she says Carl did reach out and they met, but did not talk about Tracey. He had spent time serving in the U.S. Air Force in Biloxi, Mississippi, after graduating from Carroll High School Ozark, according to the Dothan Eagle. JEFF BEASLEY: She went down and didn't come back up. Prosecutors do not know why or who spray-painted the name "Beasley" under the bridge. Ozark is a city in Alabama state in USA with a population of 14350 residents..The poverty rate of Ozark is 19.6%, which is 40% higher than national average. Complementing the city's inviting business climate and tax structure is a workforce equipped with career training from Ozark's educational institutions and those within commuting . Kirke Adams: There was nobody whose name had ever come up that had any reason to kill Tracey Harris. CBS's '48 Hours: The 30-Year Secret - The Tracey Harris Murder' is an episode that examines how 22-year-old Tracey Harris, a hard-working mother and an Ozark, Alabama resident, disappeared from the home she shared with her ex-husband, Carl Harris, never to be seen alive again. Alabama My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a Violent Crime 1 in 341 in Ozark 1 in 168 in Alabama Ozark VIOLENT CRIMES Population: 14,313 United States VIOLENT CRIMES Population: 331,888,310 Property Crime Property Crime Comparison (per 1,000 residents) 100 75 50 25 0 22.71 25.85 National Median: 19 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Kirke Adams: The goal was to find the truth and to seek justice for Tracy Harris, and ultimately Dawn did that. Selina Dodson: She was so scared of the water when she was baptized and she went under, she was hysterical. But when they opened the trunk, they found Beasley and Hawlett inside with gunshot wounds to their heads, according to the station. "The evidence was circumstantially strong," said Adams. Legal Statement. How Ben Davis Died On Ozark After being put in a state hospital to treat his bipolar disorder following an arrest, Ben was sprung from the facility by Ruth with the help of Darlene Snell. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. They soon left Ozark, hoping to start over, and moved to Texas. Police accused Carl Harris of killing Tracey Harris whose body was found about 10 miles from her home in the Choctawhatchee River. In her senior year of high school, Tracey became pregnant, and she and Carl, who was three years older, married. Selina Dodson: So, I would wonder, I wonder what happened to Carolyn. On August 1, after the girls were reported missing, police found their bodies in the trunk of Beasleys car on the side of Herring Avenue in Ozark, according to police. "So, all those people were lying?" His attorneys have requested documents related to Ozark Police Department officers and the girls' deaths, and they will make their case for access in a hearing scheduled for Monday. McCraney remains in custody without bail at the Dale County Jail. The two teens, students at Northview High school in Dothan, were headed to a party on July 31, 1999, but got lost and ended up about 20 miles northwest in Ozark after they confused the directions, ABC Dothan affiliate WDHN reported. The case drew nationwide attention and has been the subject of TV shows and documentaries over the years. Investigators also tracked down that girlfriend of Carl's, who was 17 when Tracey was murdered. Just a 10-minute drive away, the Army base attracted - and still does - a slew of newcomers to town. Although she recalled little about her time with Carl, she did remember learning Tracey was dead . An. WASHINGTON COLD CASE SOLVED 51 YEARS LATER ONLY FOR COPS TO DISCOVER SUSPECT DIED LAST WEEK; MAY BE INVOLVED IN 2 OTHER KILLINGS, Some days you go to work, get home and tears start. Maureen Maher: So, Jordan, for you This wasn't an invitation. Dawn said Jeff had told her that Tracey and he fought at the Harris home. Dawn Beasley: He threatened to kill her in front of me And I intervened. My job is very stressful. Dawn Beasley: They're going to ask him some questions. McCraney has worked for several trucking companies in Alabama over the past 20 years, according to the Dothan Eagle. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Dawn Beasley: One time (we were sitting at the table and) she told Carl, hey, listen, I'm going to need some money for the water bill. Coley McCraney in an undated police photo. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Jordan Davis: This was definitely something Carolyn was passionate about she wanted some type of justice for her mom. he was not good to Tracey He asked me about fights I'd seen and I made a statement. Dawn Beasley: And he said, "I accidentally hurt her and now she's dead." OZARK, Ala. ( WDHN) Chad Brogdon's trial started on Monday. Dawn Beasley: I was going to have to throw my entire life away. Tracey's mother, was taking care of Carolyn You know young parents, you could tell, you know, that her and Carl, you know, struggled some. Jordan Davis Right I was aggravated I simply got a subpoena ready, and we gave it to our investigators the next day. But Dawn was willing to overlook his criminal past, and the information about killing Tracey, as they married and started their own family, keeping the secret to themselves. Maureen Maher: Tell me about your family as a young family, you and Tracey and Carolyn. she texted me back and said that she was going to decline our invitation that she couldn't help us. The City of Ozark is located in Dale County in the State of Alabama.Find directions to Ozark, browse local businesses, landmarks, get current traffic estimates, road conditions, and more.According to the 2019 US Census the Ozark population is estimated at 14,139 people. New Registrations can now be processed online at www.easytagal.com. Kirke Adams: You could just see so many emotions going through her she'd been told all her life, "your dad did this" But to find out he didn't do it, you could tell not only was she relieved but you could tell she was so grateful that somebody had solved this case. In the Golden State Killer case, police said they found DNA on a tissue in his trash. Tracey Harris's murder more than 30 years ago has left many wondering what might have been -- especially Carolyn. JEFF BEASLEY: I didn't strangle her. Maureen Maher: There are a lot of people who are going to say, maybe she should be charged with something. McCraney was arrested Friday and charged with multiple counts of capital murder as well as first-degree rape, online jail records show. This is the moment. JEFF BEASLEY: And we got into an argument. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Staggering snowfall in California mountains leaves residents trapped for days, Garland testifies before Senate panel amid ongoing special counsel probes, Colon cancer rates rising in younger age group, study finds, Firefighter dies battling blaze in downtown Buffalo, mayor says, Several hospitalized after Lufthansa flight diverted to Dulles due to turbulence, Explosive found in checked luggage at Pennsylvania airport, feds say, Prosecution wraps its case at Alex Murdaugh murder trial, Top McCarthy aide, House Oversight chair each met with Ashli Babbitt's mother, Ex-Georgia star Jalen Carter was racing in deadly crash, arrest warrants allege, Tracey Harris, 22, was a young mother from Ozark, Alabama. There is no evidence whatsoever that that is true. You go to sleep crying, Carol Roberts said. In this April 2, 2019, photo, Coley McCraney shakes hands with his attorney David Harrison as he enters the Dale County Courthouse before a preliminary hearing. OZARK, Ala. (AP) A truck-driving preacher accused of killing two teenage girls from Alabama nearly 20 years ago was found with the same genealogy database techniques used to apprehend the suspected "Golden State Killer" last year. Subscribe to our News 4 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every morning. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Less than a week before it was set to begin, the trial for the suspect in the 1999 killings of two Dothan teenagers has been continued due to the lack of available jurors. And I signed it. He served from 1993 to 1997. DOTHAN, Ala. -- Alabama police have linked a. Enterprise native named state AEA Assistant Principal of the Year, SATURDAY PREP BASEBALL: Dothan rallies past Houston Academy, Glasgow pleads guilty to federal tax evasion, mail fraud, and drug charges, Elba girls battle with grit, but fall short against Marion County in 1A state semifinals, THURSDAY PREP BASEBALL ROUNDUP: G.W. Prosecutors Kirke Adams and Jordan Davis spent more than three delay-filled years putting together their case, seeking justice for Tracey Harris. That's my ex-husband, Jeff Beasley. Produced by Ruth Chenetz. I do think about that all the time. But the cost was going to be so high. According to Al.com, investigators conducted more than 500 interviews, examined forensics and tested the DNA of 70 potential suspects. She still has no relationship with Carl. "I went over to Carl's to talk to Carl, Carl wasn't there. They are open every day except Monday, Saturday, and Sunday. The defense also offered up an alternate suspect: that friend police say Carl picked up the night Tracey disappeared named Bobby Herring. "I never talked about it ever to another living soul, not even Jeff," Dawn Beasley said of her ex-husband's confession the night Tracey died. David Harrison: You can take all the statements of anybody you want to put together in this investigation here. Cole McCraney was sued in a paternity case in September 1998 and was ordered to submit his DNA by a judge on July 30, 1999, just a day before the killings, according to court documents obtained by the Dothan Eagle. Kirke Adams: It hurt our pride that we had the wrong person you've got to, you know, check your ego at the door, because what's important is the right person got charged. I was never worried, never, because I was innocent. More than 26 years after. The 2018 Ozark crime rate fell by 16% compared to 2017. I wouldn't. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Dawn Beasley: I told Jordan, I have given you completely honest reasons why I don't want to testify, but the most important reason I can't testify is because you have an innocent man on trial. One particularly heinous crime, a 1989 stabbing death, had attracted the Everything Everywhere All at Once won the top prize at the 2023 PGA Awards.