The Crime of the Century
by JoAnne Myers
We are delighted to welcome author JoAnne Myers to Omnimystery News today.
JoAnne recounts the circumstances surrounding the brutal murder of a young man and woman in The Crime of the Century (Black Rose Writing; trade paperback and ebook formats). What really happened on that cool autumn evening of 1982?
We are pleased to introduce you to this true crime book with an excerpt.
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AT 5:45 PM CHIEF WHITE USED HIS walkie-talkie, to radio Lt. Phillipes, who stayed at the command post with Richard and Nancy. Only a few short words were needed.
"We found something, but we don't know what it is," said the chief. What searchers found … was unthinkable.
Just 150 yards north of the railroad trestle spanning Bottle Neck River, Sheriff Reynolds and one of his deputies reported "something entangled in debris," near their small boat.
The officers initially said they believed the object was an animal carcass. Once it was dislodged and floated down stream, they realized it was human.
The officers then followed the remains and discovered 30 yards south of the first torso, the second torso was located. Both torsos were reportedly snagged against brush along the riverbank just west of The Regency Supply Company. Both torsos were reportedly nude and so badly decomposed, officers said they were unable to determine their sex.
Upon the discovery, Jack Jones broke down and was seen "running and screaming" from the area. The remains were pulled to shore and coroner Rausch was summoned to the riverbank.
Law enforcement personnel cleared the immediate area of non-official personnel. Afterward, they stationed themselves around the perimeter of the area while the bodies were examined.
Many searchers, upon leaving the crime scene, were overheard by reporters asking one another "Are the authorities looking for one killer or two?"
After his initial examination of the bodies, the coroner said he was unable to rule on the cause of death or what sex the torsos were. What he did say, was that if one man committed both murders, it was "during a great rage" and by someone with something "very personal" against one, or both, of the victims.
Sheriff Reynolds reported an empty purse found, but did not know if it belonged to Babette. He told reporters, he did not believe the bodies were the missing Rolling Hills teens. Richard Lloyd told reporters that, when he and Nancy heard the bodies might not be that of Babette and Shane, they were relieved, and said, "That comment gave me and Nancy a speck of hope."
The discovery of the bodies shocked and silenced the group of volunteers. Most returned to the Kroger parking lot after the first torso was found. Some remained silent, while others were seen conversing in hushed tones, telling reporters they "expected the search to turn up nothing."
Sheriff Reynolds was placed in primary charge since all evidence at that time, pointed to the murders being committed outside of Rolling Hills's corporation limit, which is the point of origin that the sheriff's office jurisdiction begins.
When officers carried a body bag from the river, Lt. Phillipes approached "the quiet couple." He claimed Richard calmly asked, "Is it them?"
At first Phillipes said, he did not know how to answer, but admitted it was two individuals. He told them the remains might belong to a young Columbus area pair, Chris and Peggy Lerch, reported missing around the same time as Babette and Shane.
Phillipes said Richard then asked if he could view the bodies, saying "me and Nancy need to know if it's our daughter."
Phillipes said he told the couple, "not right now." He claimed Richard then asked, "Are they all chopped up?"
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Photo provided courtesy of
JoAnne Myers
JoAnne Myers has been a long-time resident of southeastern Ohio, and worked in the blue-collar industry most of her life. She is a mother of three and grandmother of eight. Besides having several novels under her belt, she canvas paints.
For more information about the author, please visit her website at BooksAndPaintingsByJoanne.com and her author page on Goodreads, or find her on Facebook and Twitter.
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The Crime of the Century
JoAnne Myers
True Crime
The residents of Rolling Hills, a hamlet in southeastern Ohio, were horrified when the dismembered bodies of two missing teens were pulled from the local river. Multiple suspects surfaced, but only one was railroaded, Richard Allan Lloyd, a known nudist and hothead.
What began as an evening stroll turned into what is only found in horror films, and dubbed "the crime of the century". 18-year-old Babette, a voluptuous beauty contestant and horsewoman, and her 19-year-old boyfriend Shane Shoemaker, a jealous and possessive unemployed printer, were last seen crossing a trestle bridge. Within fourteen days, their mutilated torsos and severed heads and limbs were unearthed, suggesting satanic cult activity.
With an investigation smeared with contradicting statements, and a botched crime scene, investigators built a flimsy case against Richard Lloyd. The three-week trial was based on police corruption and ineptitude, fairytale theories, and forensic mishandling.
This heinous crime shattered the sense of security for Rolling Hills, destroyed two families, and forever scarred the town. This story is a detailed account of finding justice for Babette and Shane, and of one man's perseverance to gain his freedom from death row.
