Harrison contends that Harris, who he represents, has suffered irreparable harm. I was never worried, never, because I was innocent. and the realization that, perhaps, her boyfriend was a murderer. Online bankruptcy court records from the time are not available online. Ozark is a town in Alabama with a population of 14,396. Maureen Maher: What did people tell you about him? It is not clear where he is currently employed. No one had been arrested in the nearly 20 years since the killings. she felt like if she could just get through the rough stuff, you know, that it would be OK. With Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Sofia Hublitz, Skylar Gaertner. The missing person case became a homicide, and Ozark police started interviewing those close to Tracey and her ex-husband Carl, with whom she still lived. It is believed that Brogdon killed his mother at his home, cutting up . Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Their deaths sparked a nationwide search. 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. In investigating Carl Harris, Jr. as s possible suspect in the death of Tracey Harris, the Ozark Police Department found no blood, no crime scene, no DNA evidence, no marks upon the body of Carl Harris, Jr., the lawsuit alleges. We finally found out who killed my mom. As prosecutors prepared for trial, Dawn Beasley's statement from 1990, not followed up on, caught prosecutor Jordan Davis' attention. The couple had recently divorced, and Carl had a girlfriend. Property crimes include burglary, theft and vehicle theft. They are open every day except Monday, Saturday, and Sunday. She said that her son happened to be best friends with the sheriff. It took Jordan several calls to wrong phone numbers to find Dawn Beasley. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 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. Carolyn was immediately adopted by Tracey's mother. 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. Dawn Beasley: They're going to ask him some questions. We had a fight. Richard Barber, Ken Blum and Michelle Harris are the editors. "Yes, ma'am," he replied. I did my grocery shopping and I'm in the milk section and there's a couple standing there talking about it. 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. Engineer Richard Hawes, his wife, and two children were brutally murdered in an event that baffled people for years. We finally did it. To prepare for trial, investigators went back to the scene where Tracey Harris' body was found. Through Gods grace and strength, weve come this far, and thats what Tracie would want us to do. 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. Carl claims through the years he occasionally called authorities to ask about the investigation, but they say otherwise. 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. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. The 2018 Ozark crime rate fell by 16% compared to 2017. Kirke Adams: I knew we couldn't have a trial Monday because we had to figure out what's going on here. She and her soon-to-be husband Jeff, who worked construction with Carl, lived with the Harrises for about a month. 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. The defense also offered up an alternate suspect: that friend police say Carl picked up the night Tracey disappeared named Bobby Herring. I remember taking her, pushing her under water I mean if the autopsy says it, I don't, I guess . It is not known if he has hired an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Alabama police have linked a suspect to the 1999 cold case murders of two 17-year-old girls using DNA and genetic genealogy. And in big, huge spray paint letters was the last name Beasley. Carl Harris (left) is suing Ozark, Alabama, for $6million after he was wrongfully accused of killing his ex-wife . Selina Dodson: She was so scared of the water when she was baptized and she went under, she was hysterical. It is a trial that was supposed to take place in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it didn't. So, Monday was his first day where he met the jury for the first time. He says Carl's arrest was motivated by politics and nothing more. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Barrentine was cleared after his DNA didnt match semen found on Beasleys body. 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. David Harrison: You can take all the statements of anybody you want to put together in this investigation here. Several years after Tracey's murder, he had left Ozark, feeling like the cloud of suspicion had destroyed his life. The number of homicides stood at 1 - a decrease of 2 compared to 2017. But no arrest was made, and the case went cold. Just months before Tracey's murder in 1990, Beasley and her fianc briefly stayed with. 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. Their jewelry, purse and money were not missing. We were in between high school and college that summer. Now, with Dawn Beasley's revelation that her ex-husband Jeff told her that he killed Tracey, they hoped to learn the truth. Maureen Maher: How do you react when the thing you want is justice for your mom, but it's your dad who's been charged with her murder? It was not clear Sunday if McCraney had an attorney. 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. What we thought was interesting was that she had witnessed it in the same manner as how Tracey was actually killed. Among those who police went back and interviewed -- an acquaintance of Tracey and Carl's, and Tracey's aunt: WOMAN: He said, "the police are so dumb, I can kill somebody and get away with it.". He confessed, claiming he and Tracey were having an affair. He's got her bent over backwards with his hands around her throat. When they hadn't made it back by dawn, Roberts called police. " Carl Harris.". Dawn Beasley: They asked me we need you to testify. New Registrations can now be processed online at www.easytagal.com. They just never asked me, "who do you think did it?" Can we really give her peace? 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. 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. Carl was real controlling and, you know he didn't want her to have a lot of friends. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Dawn Beasley: And she says "My name is Jordan Davis, I'm with Dale County D.A. Carl Harrison, with his attorney David Harrison, filed notice that he plans to sue the City of Ozark for $6 million for damages including false imprisonment, and pain and suffering. Carl admits to having a girlfriend and talking to her about Tracey but says any comments he made were misunderstood. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. PRAYING FOR MY GOD LOVING,FAMILY 1ST,PEACEFUL MILITARY SERVING,HARD WORKING FATHER/HUSBANd/SON/UNCLE/COUSIN/ You can cancel at any time. And I said, ""no, I can't possibly do that. Jeff said he and Tracey had been wading in the river. A Dothan woman has been charged with assaulting a police officer, according to a Dothan Police Department news release. Police arrested Lakevion Cerano Shider and Da'Mier Quadree Dontavius McDaniel in hiding in Clio, Alabama, after they fled the scene of the shooting at the intersection of Highway 231 and Andrews. She was raised by her grandmother in Texas and didn't have contact with her father. "What happened?" They married in her senior year in 1986. Support her work and that of other Eagle journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at dothaneagle.com. DOTHAN, Ala. -- Alabama police have linked a. . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. As it turned out, their No. Carl Harris: It just blows my mind. Coley McCraney was identified a suspect in the deaths of J.B. Beasley and Tracie. When Carolyn was about 21, she says Carl did reach out and they met, but did not talk about Tracey. Dawn told police about those altercations she said she saw -- and her feelings about Carl. Crime Tips HOTline 334-774-2335 or Submit Via Email. In other similar investigations, police obtained an item with DNA on it discarded in public by the person of interest and then confirmed it was a match to the DNA from the crime scene. Dale County District Attorney's Office/CBS News. Jordan Davis and District Attorney Kirke Adams, The search for the killer of Tracey Harris. David Harrison: This officer made this up to make this arrest. The case drew nationwide attention and has been the subject of TV shows and documentaries over the years. I walked out, and I do remember the sense of relief because I hadn't actually had to lie. The 17-year-old girls had left their homes in Dothan, Alabama, for a birthday party the previous night. 2618 US Hwy 231 N. Ozark, AL 36360. But they did remember something from that trip to the river where Tracey's body was found. Maureen Maher: Did you ever consider filing charges against Dawn? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. People who live in Ozark generally consider the southwest part of the city to be the safest. McCraney then returned home and has lived in Ozark and Dothan since, according to public records. 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. Ozark is in Dale County. This score helps find the safest places to live in America. Jordan Davis: I texted her the next morning and said, "We really would like for you to come." The autopsy revealed that Tracey had drowned, but also noted marks around her neck likely indicating strangulation. Rumors about domestic violence in the couple's relationship spread around Ozark quickly. Subscribe to our News 4 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every morning. Carolyn Aznavour: I was four years old when my mom was murdered I was 4 or 5, I would cry nonstop if I would get in trouble and say, "I want my mom, I want my mom.". 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? And as time went on, she did think about ways to tell authorities what she knew. Hawlett had called her mother and told her they were on their way home, but they never made it, according to police. Updated: Mar 24, 2022 / 01:03 PM CDT. She looked like her and she had a personality like her. But Jeff Beasley should have raised some red flags for police; he had a criminal record. Despite all the talk in town, Tracey never filed police reports about the alleged abuse. Carolyn had no interest in a relationship with her father, who she did not see while growing up. Maureen Maher: You and Jeff never talked about it ever again? Maureen Maher: Do you wonder what your mom would be like today? DA KIRKE ADAMS [to reporters]: - I have dismissed the murder case against Carl Harris. When determining if Ozark, Alabama is a safe place to live, we analyze factors including air quality, water quality, crime rates, natural disaster frequency, substance abuse rates, cancer . Police accused Carl Harris of killing Tracey Harris whose body was found about 10 miles from her home in the Choctawhatchee River. Ozark alabama, it was the Culverhouse murders. This was not me. 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. For Carl Harris, his relief is mixed with anger. In 2019, as the 20th anniversary of the murders approached, the Ozark Police Department decided to re-open the case and try a new approach to solve it. McCraney was indicted in June 2019. Maureen Maher: Has there ever been a time that Carl Harris said, "I want you to find out who killed Tracey?". Carolyn spoke with the sheriff, who put her in touch with the Ozark Police Department. Email Map. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 270.6. Kirke Adams: The goal was to find the truth and to seek justice for Tracy Harris, and ultimately Dawn did that. 192 West Reynolds Street, Ozark, AL, 36360. I was happy that I was standing my ground and I was telling the truth the whole time and they finally caught the boy who did it. Kirke Adams: He also made comments prior to her going missing and after including come back whenever. Copyright 2021 WTVY. Kirke Adams: There's a lot of graffiti under this bridge -- a lot of names as well. Putting the case together was an arduous process -- one filled with continuances and delays. this is about Carl and Tracey Harris.". Man Whose First Wife Died Mysteriously Is Wanted in the Murder of His Second Wife. While police were reinvestigating the case, Carl was trying to get on with his life. But Now, sitting here I think that maybe he hit on her, maybe she rebuffed his advances, maybe she said, "I'm going to tell her." Dawn said Jeff had told her that Tracey and he fought at the Harris home. But some things in Beasley's story were not adding up. Ozark continued to grow, and by the 1980s serious crime had arrived. She still has no relationship with Carl. 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. Within hours, family friend Jeff Beasley confessed and charges against Harris were dropped. Carolyn Aznavour: I've always wondered what happened to my mom since I can remember. That's 181.10% higher than the national rate of 366.7 per 100,000 people. Coley McCraney has been charged with murder in the 1999 deaths of two teen girls, JB Beasley and Tracie Hawlett, in Ozark, Alabama, thanks to DNA and a genealogy website. 1 In 1988, Tullie Culverhouse was murdered by a then unknown assailant. Michelle Sigona is the development producer. 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. Jordan Davis: He did have a 17-year-old girlfriend at the time who several people said he had had conversations with about marrying her, but that she couldn't -- he couldn't leave Tracey because he'd have to pay child support. 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. I'm sure they thought that Jeff's statement would be very similar to Dawn's. A week later, her body was found in the Choctawhatchee River, a few miles from her home in Ozark, Alabama. But then in the back of my mind, I'm like, was it really him? McCraney has also been involved in local churches in the Dothan and Ozark area. On the eve of Carl Harris trial, Dale County prosecutor Jordon Davis discovered that investigators had accused the wrong man. More recently, McCraney was listed on the Facebook page of H.O.G. All rights reserved. In other recent cases, a 44-year-old nursea was arrested in the 1993 cold case murder of an Alaska woman at a college, a 72-year-old retired grandfather was charged in the 1973 murder of an 11-year-old girl in California and in Minnesota, a 52-year-old father and well-known businessman was charged in the 1993 murder of a woman. Finally, more than three years after Carl's arrest, the trial was scheduled for January 13, 2020. I wonder what she looks like. 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. The violent crime rate in Ozark is 1,030.8 per 100,000 people. (334) 445-0156. McCraney was 26 at the time of the killings. David Harrison is Carl's defense attorney. All rights reserved. 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. Carolyn Aznavour: Jordan called me to come to the police station, that they had to tell me something. Carl and Tracey Harris with their daughter Carolyn. Emergency: Dial 911. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Still, Carolyn wondered about her mother wanting to know what really happened. Police say Carl then picked up a friend, reportedly at 9:30 p.m. Making all those stops, Carl would have traveled about 20 miles. More than 26 years after Tracey Harris was killed, Carl Harris was arrested for her murder. Coley McCraney, 45, of Dothan, Alabama, has been arrested in the 1999 murders of Hawlett and Beasley. I think its incompetence We're talking about an innocent man. The girls, both from Dothan, had traveled from. And there was the issue of why Tracey, known to be terrified of water, would voluntarily go in the river. 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