Police accused Carl Harris of killing Tracey Harris whose body was found about 10 miles from her home in the Choctawhatchee River. J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett were found shot to death Aug. 1, 1999, in the trunk of Beasleys car on Herring Avenue in Ozark. McCraney was initially married in 1992, but separated from his first wife in 1994 and later divorced. Cheryl Burgoon, Beasleys mother, told the newspaper at the vigil, Once you lose a child, it takes you to places you could never expect. The 2018 crime rate in Ozark, AL is 433 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 1.6 times greater than the U.S. average. The violent crime rate in Ozark is 1,030.8 per 100,000 people. Motive was also a question prosecutors Kirke Adams and Jordan Davis thought about, as they prepared their case against Carl. TAG: 334-774-8427 PROPERTY: 334-774-2226. And I said, ""no, I can't possibly do that. Kirke Adams: I think the major thing was getting these witnesses together, which is what we did for the grand jury presentation And once you heard those people It was very clear that Carl was violent. DNA leads to arrest in cold case murders of two Alabama girls. JEFF BEASLEY: I didn't strangle her. The girls, both from Dothan, had traveled from. Putting the case together was an arduous process -- one filled with continuances and delays. For Carl Harris, his relief is mixed with anger. Dawn, who was pregnant at the time, and Tracey, a young mother, quickly became friends. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. McCraney then failed to appear for the DNA test and failed to appear in response to a second DNA test ordered months later, according to the Eagle. Physical Address: 113 West Reynolds Street Ozark, AL 36360. {{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. JEFF BEASLEY: No, we went to the river a couple of times. Police in Ozark, Alabama, arrested Jeff Beasley . The case drew nationwide attention and has been the subject of TV shows and documentaries over the years. And maybe he freaked out and made sure she wasn't going to ruin his family. And they remained confident that Carl was their man. McCraney was 26 at the time of the killings. The most famous murder in Alabama history is the 1988 Hawes murders, which took place in the city of Birmingham. Legal Statement. 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. Jordan Davis: I don't think there was one particular motive. Defense attorney David Harrison says the entire investigation is not just flawed, but that the police narrative is fabricated. Coley McCraney is an Alabama native. Selina's thoughts would often wander to Tracey and Carl's daughter. Carolyn spoke with the sheriff, who put her in touch with the Ozark Police Department. The couple had recently divorced at the time of her murder, Carl had a girlfriend and. It was done? For people to come out and care this much, its a miracle. I think its incompetence We're talking about an innocent man. Just months before Tracey's murder in 1990, Beasley and her fianc briefly stayed with. It is not known if he has hired an attorney who could speak on his behalf. So, we just kind of started with a long list And we just started trying to narrow it down. Carl Harris: We was all happy and everything. All rights reserved. Heres what you need to know about Coley McCraney and the cold case murders of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett: Family PhotoJB Beasley and Tracie Haweltt. The number of homicides stood at 1 - a decrease of 2 compared to 2017. Kat Teurfs is the associate producer. Unsolved mystery from Ozark Alabama This mystery has always intrigued me, as it happens about 20 miles from where i grew up. Email Map. A high school education is a basic prerequisite for most . Carl Harris: It just blows my mind. Rumors about domestic violence in the couple's relationship spread around Ozark quickly. The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Ozark is 172 to 1. . The picture Carl painted of a happy home though was not what police found when they started questioning friends and family. Jeff Beasley had not only agreed to talk to investigators, but also, to take a lie detector test: INVESTIGATOR: Are you the person that caused the death of Tracey Harris that night? Carl claims through the years he occasionally called authorities to ask about the investigation, but they say otherwise. Ozark is in Dale County. Dawn Beasley: I was going to have to throw my entire life away. 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. Ozark Alabama Police Department, via Associated Press "It raised my awareness as something we needed to check into," he said in an interview. You go to sleep crying. She was like Tracey. She looked like her and she had a personality like her. This is the moment. The capital murder trial of a trucker charged with killing two Alabama teens in 1999 has been delayed until next year. McCraney does not appear to have a criminal record in Alabama that would have required him to submit his DNA into a national database. And I broke. Carl Harris: No. Brendan Fraser fue uno de los ms ovacionados al recibir el galardn a Mejor actor en una pelcula. Maureen Maher: But they maintain that the case was specifically built on the statements of all the people who said that they saw Carl being abusive to his wife, his strange behavior afterwards. David Harrison: Bobby Herring was convicted of raping a woman in a sister county. Maureen Maher: What did you see going on between Carl and Tracey? Carolyn Aznavour: She was like the best. 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. Jordan Davis: I think it was extremely difficult for her to come forward. A week later, her body was found in the Choctawhatchee River, a few miles from her home in Ozark, Alabama. But prosecutors say Herring had an alibi for the time Tracey was murdered. And he flew into a rage. Then, in 2015, an Ozark Police cold case unit took another look at Tracey's murder, and again zeroed in on Carl. EX-GIRLFRIEND: I just remember thinking that, you know, people were talking and it even took me being questioned to even think that maybe he could have done it. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Mailing Address: P.O. Jordan Davis: There was also several people that they found since then that he had made statements to that were incriminating. About a dozen witnesses gave investigators statements describing Carl Harris's physical abuse of Traceysomething Carl denies. New Registrations can now be processed online at www.easytagal.com. 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. And she had witnessed domestic violence while living in their home. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Selina Dodson: She was so scared of the water when she was baptized and she went under, she was hysterical. Coley McCraney was identified a suspect in the deaths of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett after police used DNA from the crime scene to search a genealogical database, the Dothan Eagle reports. 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. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and assault. The 17-year-old girls had left their homes in Dothan, Alabama, for a birthday party the previous night. " people really liked her and respected her. But a few months before the anniversary, police sent evidence from the crime scene to Parabon. That's my ex-husband, Jeff Beasley. Why? DA KIRKE ADAMS [to reporters]: - I have dismissed the murder case against Carl Harris. Administrative Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm And so, Dawn made her decision. And that's kind of nauseating, to be honest, that we were that close. didn't have a problem with each other or nothing like that. 2021 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Crime Tips HOTline 334-774-2335 or Submit Via Email. Dawn met Jeff shortly after he was released from prison, having served four years for burglary and escape attempts. 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. Ozark: Created by Bill Dubuque, Mark Williams. Kirke Adams: I knew we couldn't have a trial Monday because we had to figure out what's going on here. Can we really give her peace? INVESTIGATOR: One of the pathologist's reports said that she was possibly strangled. Ozark Map. In Ozark, Alabama you have a 1 in 98 chance of becoming a victim of violent crime. Maureen Maher: What's different in 2016 that wasn't there or obvious in 1990? Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? On June 18, 2011, McCraney and his wife renewed their wedding vows, 10 years after they were married, according to a social media post. We were in between high school and college that summer. We was in the river. Tracey met Carl Harris when she was in high school. A week later, her body was found in a nearby river. For 16 years, the murders, which took place around the area of Ozark, Alabama, have remained unsolved, but now a startling new story from someone "in the know" has the finger of blame pointed at an Ozark Police Officer. Dawn Beasley: We just pretended it never happened. Coley McCraney was identified a suspect in the deaths of J.B. Beasley and Tracie. Legal Statement. "The evidence was circumstantially strong," said Adams. Dawn Beasley: Every time I would have a police officer get behind me I would wonder is this where we're all of a sudden they know what's happening. OZARK, Ala. - The wife of an Alabama man charged with capital murder in the slaying of two teenage girls nearly 20 years ago said Wednesday that he's innocent of the killings that terrified. "What happened?" He worked as a bouncer, in construction, had a girlfriend and another daughter. she felt like if she could just get through the rough stuff, you know, that it would be OK. Police accused Carl Harris of killing. It was not clear Sunday if McCraney had an attorney. She died in 1990, but not until 16 years later did police arrest Carl Harris and, even then, those charges did not hold up. I wonder what she's doing. 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. It is not clear what happened with the ministry. Two other people are named on the Secretary of State records. You go to sleep crying, Carol Roberts said. Maureen Maher: Was there any relief for you after all this time? iDawn Beasley told police in 1990 that she had witnessed Carl abuse Tracey and that Carl threatened to kill Tracey in front of her. Still, Carolyn wondered about her mother wanting to know what really happened. I wouldn't. My job is very stressful. Maureen Maher: Did you want to ask him about her? Please enter valid email address to continue. The swab matched evidence collected at the crime scene, according to Walker. I was happy for her that she had a boyfriend and somebody that she really liked. 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. McCraney has also been involved in local churches in the Dothan and Ozark area. She said in 2007 that her daughter and J.B. wound up in Ozark after getting lost driving to the party, WDHN-TV reported. Dawn Beasley: He threatened to kill her in front of me And I intervened. Jordan Davis: This was definitely something Carolyn was passionate about she wanted some type of justice for her mom. Prosecutors Kirke Adams and Jordan Davis spent more than three delay-filled years putting together their case, seeking justice for Tracey Harris. It was higher than in 93.1% U.S. cities. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Please subscribe to keep reading. 2618 US Hwy 231 N. Ozark, AL 36360. Carolyn Aznavour: Carl has not come forward and actually been truthful to me about the abuse. Carolyn's focus remains on the mother she never had the chance to get to know. The rate of crime in Ozark is 43.52 per 1,000 residents during a standard year. Selina Dodson: When she had Carolyn, she was adorable everybody just loved her. She was terrified of water. he was not good to Tracey He asked me about fights I'd seen and I made a statement. Maureen Maher: What did people tell you about him? PRAYING FOR MY GOD LOVING,FAMILY 1ST,PEACEFUL MILITARY SERVING,HARD WORKING FATHER/HUSBANd/SON/UNCLE/COUSIN/ 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. Investigators identified Coley McCraney, of Dothan, Alabama, in the murders of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett as the case closed in on two decades without being solved, Ozark Police Chief Marlos Walker told ABC News. JEFF BEASLEY: She said she was leaving Carl and wanted me to leave Dawn and I wouldn't. He then dropped Tracey off at their house and headed out to his job at a supermarket. People who live in Ozark generally consider the southwest part of the city to be the safest. Cops investigating the deaths of high school seniors Tracie Hawlett and J.B. Beasley in Ozark, Ala., got a break when DNA and a search of apublic genealogy website linked Coley McCraney, 45, to the crime, local media reported. McCraney was indicted in June 2019. Aug 3, 2008 Updated Mar 29, 2016. I know he's innocent because the man that did commit the crime confessed it to me the night he did it. Copyright 2021 WTVY. "48 Hours" wanted to ask Ozark police about the investigation, but they declined, citing the pending claim. They soon left Ozark, hoping to start over, and moved to Texas. But, she says, the fear of upending her own children's lives always stopped her. Through Gods grace and strength, weve come this far, and thats what Tracie would want us to do. OZARK, Ala. (WTVY) - A woman who had accused Ozark police of covering up the murder of two teens to protect one of their own recanted those claims in explosive testimony on Thursday. I do think about that all the time. McCraney remarried in 2001, to a Dothan public schools employee, according to records. Harrison contends that Harris, who he represents, has suffered irreparable harm. Maureen Maher: Did you feel badly at all that he was under such scrutiny and suspicion? Dawn told police about those altercations she said she saw -- and her feelings about Carl. They just never asked me, "who do you think did it?" 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. She was the sweetest person that they've ever met. Dawn Beasley: Maybe I do it on my deathbed. Prosecutors do not know why or who spray-painted the name under the bridge. Maureen Maher: What was the cost going to be, if you went to the police? Both were 17. Heart of Goal as a bishop and co-founder. By 2016, he had moved to South Carolina, where investigators gave him a call. For decades, Carolyn wanted to know more about the 1990 murder of her mother, Tracey Harris. She dreaded what she had to do -- tell her adult children that their father killed someone, and that she kept it quiet for 30 years. Alabama state records show McCraney incorporated Spirit and Truth Lifeline Ministries, a nonprofit religious ministry, in 2013. 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 . Can we really solve this for Carolyn? "Everybody thought I killed her. NewsBreak provides latest and breaking Ozark, AL local news, weather forecast, crime and safety reports, traffic updates, event notices, sports, entertainment, local life and other items of interest in the community and nearby towns. Maureen Maher: You didn't tell anybody that she wasn't coming back? Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. According to reports by WTVY, only 75 of the 250 potential jurors summoned actually showed up at the Dale County Courthouse on Monday. 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