195 - The Mysterious Death of Chief Robert Hamrick

[@mandidibble8497]

Robert Hamrick is my grandfather. I’d like to commend you on your research for this case and I thank you for covering it. Your research has been impeccable. My mother is in possession of his service gun. His badge, however, is still missing. the burglary of 92 was news to me. I have never heard that story, though I don’t doubt it’s occurrence. if this was an accident, what happened to his badge? This item is known as a prized possession in my family as he died for that badge. We are still hoping that it will be recovered to this day. How did the pool of blood outside his car get there? How did blood end up on the back seat? I thank you for covering it because, aside from the UM episode, this case has been rarely discussed in the public. On a side note, my grandmother’s maiden name was Myrtle Perkins not Sawyers. You have inspired me to do a FOIA request myself, as there was information here that I had never heard before. In regards to the time discrepancy of the dispatcher sending the deputy, I can tell you what I’ve been told. He simply dropped the ball. To put it bluntly, he forgot about the chief. The guilt of this is said to have haunted him ever since. However, I find the two hours may have been inconsequential. Given the severity of my grandfather’s injuries combined with the medical capabilities of the time, I doubt the two hour delay made a difference.

[@stephanieorr9905]

Hi Mandi, Steven does such thorough research work on his channel, and I’m so glad you are feeling supported to go ahead and request more information on your grandfathers death. Blessings on you and your family🙏 Hoping for the recovery of his badge of honor.

[@suemorris9892]

I can’t imagine how this would feel to a family member. Please accept my condolences.

[@sandrasummers5686]

I'm so sorry. 💔🙏✝️

[@janetmiller2980]

Sorry for your family’s loss. May he Rest In Peace.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

I’m sorry for your loss, and hope you do recover his badge… meanwhile Could authorities issue a replacement at least? Please keep us updated on the freedom of information request

[@BeesWaxMinder]

This ‘feels’ sorta similar to the story of the MP officer who radioed that he was going to check out a stationary car off base and then was found mysteriously murdered(it was later declared a suicide)

[@johndowney8575]

I remember seeing that on unsolved mysteries!

[@TNcatlover33]

My thought as well

[@BellaLeoLicorice]

I immediately thought of that case as well.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@TNcatlover33 👍

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@BellaLeoLicorice I know, right?

[@cherrycoke6253]

The fact that they decided to close down the station, because they couldnt take the heat. makes me think that they were trying to run away from this, or distance themselves, which may imply some kind of guilt.

[@shakeyras_beauty]

Bingo

[@thebeasters]

Of course with pigs

[@dustinaltenhurst7958]

There's no conspiracy. Hamrick wasn't important enough for a coverup that would last 30 years with two generations of investigators. It was just a bunch of convoluted statements and posturing and embellishment during a Unsolved Mysteries episode making it more confusing than it actually is.

[@RepentfollowJesus]

Maybe they were disgusted with the whole situation and grief and said im not dealing with this anymore.

[@RepentfollowJesus]

@@thebeasters i dated a state trooper for a long while and had friends ,and now my husband works around them and knows so really good officers. Know what cops say pig stands for? Pride. Integrity. Guts. You can't put all in a bad light for a few bad ones. Many are excellent. Most.

[@1rjbrjb]

Hadn't the "gang" heard of pay-offs? Had I been the chief, I would have been insulted not to be offered even a small bribe. Straight to the threats? No upside? Very poor gang management.

[@dustinaltenhurst7958]

Victor Figure is a top tier villain name.

[@christiegroves]

Hey Stephen, thank you for posting. I have been listening via Sticher lately- just letting you know I am still here loving all your content. Best wishes, Christie

[@paulpressey3739]

Can we all agree that there was at least 2 shooters in Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963?

[@hatuletoh]

At least.

[@MoparNut73]

Dugh you think there was only 2, you're low balling

[@sirandrelefaedelinoge]

Indubitably

[@TheBlueThird]

@@MoparNut73 Read what he wrote again- he said at LEAST two.

[@MsRexsmurphy]

And only 4 people in the car.

[@johnlabry325]

Hey Steven great vids bro!

[@Dr.Gunsmith]

How and why did it take 2 hours for anyone go look for him, doesn’t make sense, police chasing someone and then is silent and no one helping or backing him up. Sketchy in itself.

[@Geronimo2Fly]

That's what I was thinking practically from the beginning of the video. An officer calls in that he's in a high speed chase, then...nothing. How in the world could it take 2 hours for them to go looking for him? Didn't they try to radio him to make sure everything was okay? Very very strange.

[@mandidibble8497]

I’m his granddaughter. Please refer to my comment above for an explanation.

[@johnscanlon2598]

@@mandidibble8497 My condolences ! having trouble finding your comment could you please repeat it , thanks

[@joshbrooks3688]

​@@Geronimo2Fly they did call out to his car but he didn't answer his radio calls that's right after the dispatcher forgot about his chase when he did realize hamrick had a chase he tried several radio calls but when he didn't answer he sent someone for him and back in 1970 rock creek was basically out in the middle of nowhere so that's y it also took them hours to find him.

[@morganosborne9258]

Boy howdy, what a pile of unanswered questions. Some of the statements given, particularly in light of the atrocious road conditions on the night of the "accident", made about as much sense as offering to teach a 5 year old calculus. This case is unbelievably sad and infuriating. On the local level, the mere fact that stories changed threw red flags for me, especially the different renditions offered by members of local law enforcement. Why tell different versions if there is nothing to hide? Then, having the police and the state attorney general's office voicing different causes of death. That just ices my cake. I'm with the attorney general, believing this is an unsolved homicide, a horribly sad unsolved case at that. I had heard this case presented before, but not in so much detail. Thank you for filling in so many information gaps for us.

[@TheListOf]

Answer: exhumation of the body.

[@clarencenesmith781]

Love the channel. Hope you continue the good work.

[@markbrown1609]

reminds me of the Bardstown kentucky incident.

[@dellahicks7231]

Could not think of the locale in that case, but this reminded me of that one as well. Thank You for posting it!

[@peopleperson4444]

Well researched and presented. Thank you

[@chevyniva6872]

Im from Rock Creek and many people here still talk about it and are happy to see and hear other people talking about it too. Please dont forget his Badge was also missing. From what i know and have been told two of the main suspects to have done it have passed away now, via car crash (how convenient). Sad to say we may never know the truth but it really did shake up this town when it happened, he was a very well liked man.

[@jdr9419]

Wouldn’t the physician treating the chief know if there was broken bones, bruises and injuries to organs, arteries and veins that caused bleeding and was consistent with a beating vs a vehicle accident. Also, I’m feeling that the pathologist or death investigator should know the difference between injuries from a vehicle accident vs a severe beating.

[@crikker9447]

Unless that dr or the coroner were threatened

[@johnscanlon2598]

Exactly , a crash should a few major injuries easily detectable when a beating would have several lesser injuries

[@heatherhiggins2002]

You have to remember he was in the accident, taken to hospital, operated on(brain surgery), then died 9 days later. This means that autopsy happened roughly 10-11 days after the accident. And there's physical trauma that goes along with surgery as well that may create/mask injuries. I wouldn't put much faith in the certainty of the autopsy.

[@Loralanthalas]

Haha. Sure.

[@Knowfere]

Love your telling of this case.

[@Mr-gg8ek]

Something not mentioned... Even if the chief did die as a result of a car accident and that is the end of it, that is still manslaughter/murder by the driver of that evading vehicle. Why was this not pursued? When a cop is killed on the job police and DAs bend and often break every available technically and loophole to get as many involved on the hook as possible. That they knew within hours who was driving the car and did not bother to even interview him for 21+ years really sticks out.

[@misseselise3864]

no, the evading vehicle would only be at fault if they collided with the cruiser & it was a single vehicle wreck

[@Mr-gg8ek]

Evading police in a motor vehicle is a felony. The felony rule would make any death coming out of that original felony a felony as well. Manslaughter would most definitely be a charge that could be levied.

[@cruedoll69]

This case has the disadvantage of time.

[@elizabethmcglothlin5406]

On driving without a seatbelt. My late husband was a cop and often drove without a seatbelt, which worried me very much. The old-fashioned duty belt, festooned with a gun holster, flashlight, handcuffs, reloaders, baton, and other stuff often made it very difficult to leave the cruiser quickly in case of actually making an arrest or even of an accident. Cops saw it as a tradeoff. Not a good one, but there you go. Granted all that, this case stinks on ice. But massive ass-covering of a bad investigation after the fact can also do that.

[@isabellaangeline2175]

Massive head and/or internal injuries also make it hard to get out of one’s car. Agree with the rest of your post.

[@ihaveanidea6930]

Wow, this case blew my mind. I grew up right around the corner from there and never heard anything about this. Well before my time. But i can attest to the utter isolation of this area, it is very very rural country. Rock creek even in the 90s was a rough town. Anything is possible in this case, those back roads are dangerous at high speeds but also the people in the area are dangerous and i wouldn't trust the small town cops very far either. Its to easy when your utterly alone to write the story however looks best or works best for you.

[@ihaveanidea6930]

I'd also like to add, march 10th there could have been a good amount of snow on the ground... what did the prints look like, where there tracks in the snow? Why didn't they take tire impressions of the chased car at the very least. Even if there wasnt snow, the ground would still be soft and muddy that time of year, the ground should have told the story if someone came up to the car before the other officer arrived. If there was any kind of altercation outside the vehicle there should have been some signs of that. Either in the snow, mud, or dust on the dirt road.

[@willmeaney9302]

AshtaBULA not boolah.... Born & raised there :)

[@saintpo]

Just an tragic accident in snow and ice, middle of the night.

[@johnscanlon2598]

But why is it classified unsolved homicide ???

[@donnablack6280]

I'm really seesawing with this one. At first I thought if foul play was involved they would have made sure he was definitely dead and unable to ID them. But something's not adding up either. 🤔

[@MultiSmartass1]

Notes: 1) Frankly it seems that Rock Creek was not a place conducive to even having a small town sheriff's department. Two Police Chiefs gone since the Department started there.That strikes me as more than just a matter of a supposed troublemaking gang but something having to do with other elements within that town. 2) It strikes me that Robert frankly was on his own as a law enforcement agent in that town. No local radio operator, a deputy or two for back up. This sounded like a perfect recipe for nefarious parties to be able to go after Robert. 3) Victor's story is clearly a premeditated concoction. We are led to believe that A) Robert was following Victor in his cruiser with no lights B) Victor panicked and sped up thus causing Robert to turn on his lights and engage in full pursuit C) Roberts car gets so close it reportedly on Victors bumper then D) Robert sped ahead toward the s shaped Calendar road. This all strikes me as a Crafted, Calibrated story. Clearly questionable but deliberately structured to at least seem plausible. 4) The scene of the crime clearly demonstrates discrepancies that are hard to write off: An extremely bloody head, a pool of blood a couple of feet at least from the door and a jammed car door. I'm not even going to get into blood spray and evidence in both the front and back within the car. None of this in total adds up to an automobile accident . 5) The amount of double narratives and flip flops from people in this case is strange. You have the Deputy who says he was aware of the high speed chase but later says he wasn't. The later Sheriff of Ashtabula Sherrifs dept opted to take part in Unsolved Mysteries segment . Keep in mind he didn't have to do this. He could have declined to participate. So why did he note on TV that he thought something was fishy with the death of Robert then during the later investigation after UMs segment take a completely opposite view? Why not simply say on camera that he thought this wasnt a suspicious death 6) I have to admit the AGs website assessment of Roberts death raised eyebrows for me. Their summation doesn't sound like guesswork but strikes as possibly the result of under the table investigation or inquiry . 7) I would agree with the AGs website . This was a homicide. I think Robert was lured to Calendar road, violently and fatally assaulted , his car staged as an accident . They knew he didn't wear a seatbelt and thus were able to give the impression of an auto fatality. I would say two people likely male were involved. in his death.

[@HighLordBlazeReborn]

I don't think this was too premeditated though. At the most, the prep was done on the day, maybe even opportunistically. It would explain why these dudes were so shitty at their alibis and coverup stories, because frankly, the entire cover-up is comical

[@MultiSmartass1]

@@HighLordBlazeReborn It might have been cobbled together / rush job type of plan. Comical? Yes. Also just plain illogical.

[@theoryofpersonality1420]

I wonder if there was damage on the back right side of the car in the bumper, fender or trunk area.

[@carabeingblue4016]

Honestly, seeing the damage to the vehicle, I can't imagine how he got so injured. I understand the body of the vehicle is different than today, there was no air bag in those days, and he probably wasn't wearing a seatbelt, but it just doesn't look bad enough to have caused such serious head injuries. Also, there being a huge pool of blood outside and yet the car door was difficult to open? Sketchy.

[@okie-kan9240]

I agree, I don't even see damage to the front windshield. I only see damage to the front of the vehicle, that did not go that far back.

[@ledisquetel4151]

Sketchy is an understatement! This looks like a coverup, for whatever reason they decided their own officer death was not worthy of a real investigation and resolution.

[@misseselise3864]

@@ledisquetel4151 police corruption was a massive issue in the 60s-70s (the golden state killer was a cop for the majority of his crimes) so I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the officers had a connection to the “gang”.

[@misseselise3864]

@@okie-kan9240 plus windshields at the time were made of house window glass & broke incredibly easily. if he had crashed after losing control in a high speed chase like they said, the windshield would’ve been so badly shattered that people could mistake the pieces as crack rocks

[@Joanla1954]

Good points Cara! I believe early in the video it was stated that the Chief never wore seatbelts.

[@Idonotcommentanymore]

A person can own more than one gun belt. These city officials seem suspect.

[@perrinayebarra]

Two very prominent physicians including the Chief Medical Examiner of NYC report no evidence Hamrick was struck repeatedly with any sort of object and conclude the injuries to be consistent with the collision. Back then vehicles were so poorly constructed that pretty well any crash could be fatal especially if the crude seatbelts of the time weren’t worn. Rumours in small towns quickly get out of control and memories change over time.

[@misseselise3864]

the windshields on cars at the time were made with home window glass and something as small as a single piece of gravel could completely shatter the windshield. so the windshield would’ve been obliterated if he had actually hit the tree at high speeds

[@perrinayebarra]

@@misseselise3864 if it was enough to push the engine back into the firewall it’s easily enough to kill a person.

[@johnscanlon2598]

@@misseselise3864 false , laminated safety glass was used by 1939

[@peopleperson4444]

I sent you one idea for a podcast, but now I have another in mind. A teenaged girl was murdered at a local park in the 1970’s. The park is centrally located in town and not isolated at all. Her murder is still unsolved. She was a good student and overall good kid. She did not deserve what happened to her. She was left for dead after a brutal beating and drowned in a small amount of water. I tried to find her grace, as I researched her death and knew the cemetery where she was buried. She is no longer there. Her body was disinterred and moved across the country to another final resting place. Judy (Judith) Reeder, unsolved murder. Bend Oregon

[@AMYV3]

Thank you Stephan :)

[@BeesWaxMinder]

1:07:07 - Surely a link to this would have been worthy of including in the description?

[@no_peace]

2 hours? After a high speed chase? Who did he piss off? "Good cops" don't last long

[@theoryofpersonality1420]

I knew a cop who later became and still is the the city Marshall. He broke his back because of the seat belt. So now, He refuses to wear a seat belt. Cops pull him over and he makes them give him a ticket. Says it let's them know that any favoritism or special treatment won't be tolerated. Then has to pay the ticket at his own office.

[@johnscanlon2598]

My sisters friends dad was told if he had been wearing his belt when he crashed his van he would for sure have been a dead man , that was 30 some odd years ago doesn’t wear one till this day

[@elvisparsley2498]

Come to think about it how fast could he really be going after taken the S curve!?!?! Wouldn't you think he'd have to slow down considerably . . . .

[@johncompton88]

Ashtab-you'll-la

[@SisterWomen]

I really enjoyed this one. You did an amazing job. Hard to say if the cops are employing local thugs or local thugs are employing cops. The mention of the mayor's potential involvement seems very strange. The only thing you didn't say is, the assertion he hit the brakes. He would know the road is dangerous there, he would be aware of how to safely hydroplane. He wouldn't panic and hit the breaks suddenly unless something obstructed the vehicle. You don't hit the brakes when you lose control of a car because you'll lose control. You hit the brakes to avoid hitting something. I just find it hard to believe that level of violence was either casual from a friendly rivalry or even a grudge. A criminal wouldn't get enraged and brutally murder a cop, unless he was protected by other cops, or he was acting on their behalf. Seems like the higher ups in the so called mob could be cops and politicians.

[@TNcatlover33]

Outstanding

[@megyskermike]

Eh, just sounds like a bad car accident. Occams razor and all that~ *someone at the attorney generals office just made a serious clerical error on website

[@yallneedjesus5465]

1:10:32 that daughter is 100000% right.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

48:24 - well, I’m just sorta stretching for some sort of explanation but could it be that, in the dark mist, the chief was pursuing this car & at the moment he found out, via license plates, it was owned by some woman who wasn’t part of the gang he could’ve just sped off..? Maybe in much the same way as people running for a bus while it’s at the stop and the bus starts pulling out before they can make it “save face“ and just nonchalantly walk by as if they never wanted to go to the bus stop in the first place! 🤷‍♂️

[@TheListOf]

I'm thinking the same regarding this part of the story.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@TheListOf chief Hamrick, rightly so, in my opinion, while interested, no doubt, in general crime and helping his community and such like, seemed to be VERY interested in sorting out this gang so PERHAPS he was pursuing someone he thought was a member of that gang; was told that the license plates don’t belong to anyone in the gang and nor has the vehicle been reported stolen so may well have just carried on his way and given up on the chase- especially as the car he was chasing might’ve just been a legitimate, spooked driver & as far as he was concerned, due to what he’d been told about the license plates, maybe was nothing unusual or gang related?

[@BeesWaxMinder]

@@TheListOf i’ve just realised that this ‘Victor’ gang member guy that Hamrick was so keen to detain ALSO drove the same make and model of car so that might be what attracted the chief in the first place to begin following and only actively pursuing when the car sped off but once confirmation (falsely, as it turned out!) that he wasn’t following the correct quarry, The chief just sped away… Perhaps to pursue someone else; perhaps to fall into this vicious trap, alluded to in this video; perhaps, alas, to skid off the road and into a innocent but fatal accident🤔 1:19:50

[@TheListOf]

@@BeesWaxMinder I agree. If this "Gary" guy with the same make and model car is to be believed, then it makes since why Hamrick abruptly stopped following his car. But, if "Gary" is lying about what happened that night, compounded by the physical evidence of Hamrick's wounds, would tend to incriminate "Gary" as at least an accessory after the fact on up to actual murder with malice aforethought. Hamrick's body should be exhumed by his family and have another autopsy performed as a possible homicide.

[@chevyniva6872]

@@TheListOf Gary Was not driving the car he was a auxilary police officer. Also it never says Hamrick ran the plates to get a name, it was so disbatch knew who he was following. Also wouldnt explain why he was speeding down callendar rd.

[@Laura-tp8wz]

Thanks!

[@hcraretep]

My brain hurts

[@oh_k8]

Anyone know which UM episode this was?

[@misseselise3864]

i’m just trying to envision how a man sitting upright facing forward in the front seat somehow managed to crash and only hit the left side of his face/head hard enough on the radio across the cabin from him. he would’ve had to have been face down on the passenger seat when the car hit the tree

[@whitedragoness23]

What does the original report says about the police who got to Robert? Didn’t they find him inside the police car? And he had a horriable seizure from the trauma. This gives me horriable vibes when you said he had head trauma. It reminded me of when my dad passed away from an incident and hit his head and I wasn’t there because my mom had separated from my dad and we were visiting family. But I found out later from the hospital and reports that he had managed to sit up and able to talk and answer questions was conscious for a SHORT before his brain swelled and the he became unconscious and died from the injury. So I can definitely see the guy getting out of his car. At the time when my family got back from the trip he was unconscious so I assumed he hit his head and never woke up from that point. If the weapon was a tire hammer thing then that means they had found it at the scene and it matches Robert. Was it ever mentioned in the ORIGINAL report? At one point you do mention there was no chest trauma but that was from the officer said that then he ssi there was no chest trauma but the autopsy revealed there was. I think it was a car accident but that depends if the I think you said their website officially stated it was a homicide after some film got them to reopen the case or was it always like that? And what kind of film was it? Fictional or documentary?

[@Every1ShouldSparkle]

Why on earth did they wait 2 hours to go and look for him?

[@steveholton4130]

1970 ! This is definitely the handywork of President Tricky Dicky Nixon and the Plumbers.

[@jeffcampbell1555]

Among the manifest down sides of corruption is it's inexorable infection of everyone in proximity to it. It's indirect--way down the chain from the power broker on the take--but a deputy, dispatcher or secretary notices something that doesn't make sense. Asking about it, they're told they're better off not knowing. These little episodes occur throughout an organization, spinning a spider's web between personnel who begin to feel an unspoken sense of malaise. Most people can't name the threat, but recognize a few people are in the know. Eventually, after letting a number of odd occurrences slide, they wonder if they're effectively compromised now...subject to disciplinary action for failing to report things don't always work the way they're supposed to. It sounds as if the village leadership, including the former sheriff, had their hands in the Rock Creek Gang's pie. Their new chief turned out to be a principled leader, who neither looked away nor did what the threats told him to do. So they killed him. And people in proximity gossiped, but drew the line at truth-telling, because they needed their jobs. Don't rock the boat. And there you have small town life.

[@lisawilson105]

Isn’t The Rock Creek Gang the same gang from Blazing Saddles? (If you have not seen the movie Blazing Saddles: you haven’t learned to laugh yet and your parents failed you.) 😂

[@28awebster]

Chapman has passed away, sadly. We had his funeral today.

[@Riles3152]

Unfortunately, cases like this only seem to expose the deep level of either ineptitude or corruption that goes on in certain law enforcement agencies.

[@morphsanmore2324]

How could someone have known that he would die from the beating and not recover and remember what happened

[@yelloworangered]

Luke Stout, missing lo these many year? Contract taken out on him in Buckhannon, West Virginia? His family is still around. The flyers with his name and information are still fading in the windows of local stores.

[@brandonbarber6797]

The details from the AG are odd but being listed as a homicide would make sense even in the case of it being an accident, it would be the same as if you were driving saw an accident and then just kept driving and the occupant of the other car we're to die and it is determined intervention would have saved the driver and they found that you witnessed it and said and did nothing you would be charged with negligible homicide. (Death by inaction)

[@okie-kan9240]

That was murder, the damage to the vehicle doesn't relate to the injuries. He was on to something, and stopped him from reveling it.

[@no_peace]

Why did they wait 2 hours to check on a HIGH SPEED CHASE?

[@finolaomurchu8217]

I think a cover up. If he was beaten, put back in car. Bent cops. The family deserve better. Some people that work in force know, but if the case couldn't be solved then, it's unlikely to happen now. Unless, a person involved is dying and wants to get it off their chest.

[@lindavonh131]

Why didn’t the exhume the body and do another autopsy

[@barbarabrooks4747]

Unfortunately, the killer is probably dead. Usually criminals are not long livrf, whether in or out of prison.

[@Mr.Wilsin]

Golden State Killer

[@aaronmonette7849]

I would venture that the tree is still alive...

[@AMYV3]

Remember to 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Melsincatuation]

Steve..ive asked so many true crime channels to feature the unsolved murder of a teenage girl back in my hometown. BUT NO ONE DOES!!! Steve can u pretty please consider doing the unsolved murder of Christine Gunther fro Peters Township

[@Every1ShouldSparkle]

I think the crash looks like it could be fatal especially not wearing a seatbelt. However the facts about the previous 2 deputies being threatened and run out of their jobs, the threats to Hamrick and the family cooberating this, the previous chases, the lack of response for 2 hours from the other police one of which is related to someone people link to this, not to mention the car being identified and found damaged and the worker being in the the gang ... I think it was foul play. The witness of him in the bar, the issues with the belongings, the website listing it as murder......at the very least they may well have caused the accident and driven off.

[@m.l768]

Sheriff's Depatment very suspect. One of the most complex cases. I am on my second viewing. Could not help but notice very few likes. Please click on like button show your support for all the work done

[@chel9064]

Shouldn't they have tried a little harder to find whoever he was chasing? They are at least half responsible for his untimely de*th and should have some sort of consequences.

[@natashameyers249]

Corrupt cops didn’t want to pursue it because they thought they’d be next.

[@sarahadair5890]

It's not unusual to have more than one gun belt and the like

[@danhoey5885]

Omg botched investigation blood in the back seat of the car he was found in the front seat

[@rival9417]

Anyone who knows anything about crashing a car and and with an ounce of sense knows to switch off the ignition and the lights..in a crash fire can start if you don't do this,,he was there for 2 hours so my guess is that he had enough sense and instinct to kill the engine and lights so he didn't burn to death

[@jeynjohnstone5917]

Sounds like he had the "Serpico" put on him.

[@dustinaltenhurst7958]

The hamrick son and wife lied too about not receiving the gun belt and stuff. Bunch of game of telephone embellishments and sensationalization

[@natashameyers249]

Why do you think they lied and what reason would they have to lie?

[@dustinaltenhurst7958]

@@natashameyers249 I believe it was documented that they did receive the gun belt. It was found in their possession. What is the reason I have no idea.

[@firstcommunitychurchofgod-1202]

FYI, Ashtabula is pronounced "byulah" not "boolah".

[@c_rhynehardt]

Smells of a huge coverup 🤨

[@danhoey5885]

This was like medgar Evers he was taken out cause he was not going to go away

[@BamWasHere]

I think it was an accident possibly cause by the gang. Unless he was relieved of his guns, I can't see him not shooting it out if they did attempted to capture him to beat him down

[@tessaducek5601]

I believe he mistakenly thought the car belonged to his nemesis. But the information all around in convoluted. A simple car accident turned into a murder conspiracy due to small town gossip. His body banging around inside the vehicle when hitting the tree explains the switches being off. And an impact like that probably bent the stearing column. No footprints around the vehicles perimitor makes it hard to suspect people beating him up. And I can't see anyone placing him back inside the car. Not impossible. Just unlikely. The family just wants someone to blame. They can't except that he lost control and wrecked.

[@tessfabled4115]

Why does the Attorney General's office list it as an unsolved homicide then? They have to have something evidentiary to back it up...

[@almostadorno]

However

[@danbinns2572]

I live here and know a lot of older gentlemen who grew up when he was a cop and he harassed a lot of them young people Rock Creek gang is a joke he had an accident

[@jomama5186]

🙏❤️

[@alejandromolinac]

MAN!..... He was so handsome!

[@n0vares]

Lol it's ashta-bule-a not ashta-bool-a

[@shawnredmond8402]

"He found out about Shillary's pizzagate sex dungeon!!11"

[@killface4989]

❤

[@Mr.Wilsin]

This doesn't sound like a murder at all everything can be explained by a car crash I think the family refuses to believe he crashed by accident! Unsolved Mysteries wasted their time because this was & always has been Solved!

[@wordsleuth992]

Ok Sherlock, that’s your opinion

[@Mr.Wilsin]

@@wordsleuth992 obviously not if the final decision is an ACCIDENTAL DEATH!

[@Tsumami__]

I’m sorry but this story sounds like utter fantasy. This is what happens when police make the choice to ensue a high speed chase and refuse to wear a seatbelt. Even the “gang” sounds ridiculous, four motorcycles in the whole town yet there’s a hardcore murdering moto gang roaming around causing chaos. In a tiny town. In 1970. Please. 🙄 This feels like a terrible waste of an episode and an hour that could’ve been spent on a legitimate case that truly needs attention.

[@HiFiAwardTour]

99% chance this guy went off of the road and hit a tree back when vehicles had little to no safety features and wasn’t even wearing his belt. Why would his “attackers” bother putting him back into the vehicle? Why wouldn’t they just keep driving instead of supposedly turning around? Makes no sense. Dude fucked up and lost control, hit a tree. The end.

[@tessaducek5601]

Well. Back then most vehicles were NOT required to have seat belts. If it did. It was a lap belt and would have been easily ineffective. We were not threated with fines for not utilizing one. It was a personal choice. Not sure how " Fantasy " enters your conclusion. This is easy to research. And stranger things that are unexplainable are known to have happened. I am guessing you surmise " Unsolved Mysteries " is a fictitious program that was beamed into homes mysteriously. He did state a couple of times that it is a case that stuck with him since childhood so he chose to explore it. You could have scrolled by.

[@tessaducek5601]

@@HiFiAwardTour Getting stuck on the seatbelt aspect. They were lap belts . IF the car even had one. Many cars that old are exempt for not having them and owners are not required to install them. They were lap belts and more often than not . ineffective. Your whole body will get flung into the stearing wheel and windshield if the impact is strong enough. As for accident or murder. Accident. I think it was icy and those cars were freaking over sized bricks. He lost control. I definitely can't see the timing of a woman running into the road either. Too far fetched.

[@wordsleuth992]

You must not be familiar with Stephen’s work. He puts an average of 40-50 hours of research unto each case and takes several days to edit and post. He doesn’t take on cases that he feels are a waste of time. He takes on cases that are unsolved or where the outcome doesn’t make sense in some regard. He also takes on cases that have less coverage because he feels everyone should have their story told and not be forgotten. He cares very deeply about his work and the cases he covers. So if you don’t like his selection, the length of his thoroughly researched video’s or they way he presents them then move on - don’t watch!! Nobody is forcing you to be here. But don’t be THAT person that is just going to b**** about the content. I know this might be hard for you to grasp - but this wasn’t made specifically with you in mind. This is Stephen’s passion, Stephen’s podcast and Stephen’s KZbin channel - so guess what?? Stephen can do exactly what he wishes with his time and space. We all love and appreciate the passion and humanity he infuses into every case. I love that he includes some background of the victim giving them more than just a name but letting us see them as the person they were. He is an amazing podcaster and a genuinely caring person and that in my opinion is what makes him a stand out in this genre. So move on and take your nasty comments and negativity with you 👋

[@HiFiAwardTour]

​@@tessaducek5601 dispute my thesis and my reasoning, and I am very very familiar and have listened for years.

[@missyt7337]

Woohoo

[@joshbrooks3688]

I know the family it was a cover up. I have alot more info then u have u can email me