Stories
Malice Or Jealousy: The Unsolved Murder Of Sharon Jones At Elizabeth City State University
Mitchell-Lewis Dormitory: Elizabeth City State University Seven days after the brutal murder of Sharon Beatrice Jones in her dorm room during spring break, Elizabeth City State University Chancellor Dr Jimmy R. Jenkins addressed a specially gathered student and faculty assembly in the Vaughan Center on campus. Jenkins was a distinguished looking man and a graduate of the university with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. He would go on to have a highly successful career in university administration with future stops as Chancellor at Edward...
The Morning Of: Who Murdered Small-town Girl Susan Shearin-Clary
Who killed Susan Shearin-Clary and her unborn child in the small eastern North Carolina town of Weldon in May 1983? True crime researcher Greg Fox delves deep into the intrigue of this little-known unsolved murder and the search for answers - and justice - 40 years later. On viewing the Facebook page “Who Murdered Susan Shearin-Clary” you see mostly faded photos of a young Susan Shearin smiling back at you. She appears as a child from a different era. One of small-town America and a safe, modest upbringing. Other pictures show Susan and her...
Postscript – Christine Ann Coghill
“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact”: Sherlock Holmes (from “The Boscombe Valley Mystery” – short story, 1891 by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) On the totality of the information, it is probable that Christine Coghill likely jumped from a moving car. The reason for her doing so seems to be fairly apparent. The 17-year-old felt somewhat trapped inside a car in the early hours of the morning with a person (possibly a stranger) who was threatening her with imminent violence and / or sexual assault. She made a spur of the moment...
All That Glitters: The tragic death of Christine Coghill
The lights of Surfers Paradise have always shone bright for teenagers looking for a big night out. For 17-year- old Christine Coghill, those lights had a special allure. An illuminated path to continue her end of high school celebrations. These were the last days of disco as the eighties ushered in a new dance floor vibe. A time when the lifestyles of Gold Coasters were more free-spirited - and perhaps, less aware of the dangers that lurked after dark. Christine had recently completed Year 12 at Miami High. The freckle-faced red-head was a...
Who put arsenic in Tommy Westwood’s tea?
A mysterious poisoning death. Followed by a sensational dying declaration. Allegations of extra-marital affairs. Financial impropriety within the household. Rumours of how and why the Murwillumbah businessman died were many … What led to the poisoning death of John Thomas “Tommy” Westwood at the family property at South Murwillumbah in 1932? The details of the cattle buyer’s untimely passing from arsenic poisoning would shock the northern rivers community. Then a sensational murder trial in Lismore, almost 100 years ago, would become national...
In the Matter of Miles Buisson: A Dedication
This is a tragic Gold Coast story. It involves looking behind us, into the darkness. There will be no happy endings. No positives to speak of. I personally didn’t know Miles Buisson. He was a few years younger than me. A good-looking bloke just kicking off into adulthood. He liked a surf and looked the part with shoulder length, ocean-bleached blond hair and broad smile. Miles graduated from Merrimac High School in 1988 and landed a job as an apprentice sign-writer. A well-liked member of the local Christian Boardriders Association and...
PART 2: Driven To Kill – The Unsolved Murder of Margaret Rosewarne
As fast friends, Gabriel Jahnke, 19, and Michelle Riley, 16, enjoyed visiting pubs and clubs in and around Brisbane. The upcoming weekend was going to be a special one as the pair had planned to visit the Gold Coast to check out the expanding nightlife of Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta. Both girls were blond and attractive with outgoing personalities. Although they had only known each other for just two months they were excited to spend the weekend away in each other’s company. Recently Jahnke had moved from Goodna into the Riley family...
PART 1: Driven To Kill – The Unsolved Murder of Margaret Rosewarne
STORY BY GREG FOX - True Crime Researcher & Essayist Sunday 9th May 1976 – Mother’s Day: They waited … and waited. The family home on Chevron Island channelling an impending doom. As the hours passed, the dread amplified to each member of the Rosewarne family, whether near or far. Where was Margie? And why had she not come home? Missing for the past 4 days, Mrs Nellie Rosewarne, Margie’s mum, had held out some hope that her daughter would visit to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day. But she never arrived…. As the second youngest of 12...