Flatonia’s Dark Secret: Rowena’s Death Deserves a Second Look

Hi, crime junkies. I'm your host, Ashley. Flowers. >> And I'm Britz. >> And today's story is one that found me. about eight months ago. I was combing. through our case suggestions and one of. them just jumped out. It was from a. woman down in Texas named Jolita. Wilkinson who wanted help rewriting the. false narrative around her sister's. [music] death. a death that was ruled. such a shameful accident in the 1980s in. smalltown Texas that her family didn't.

really speak of it. So, she was never. able to voice her concerns about a crime. scene that she had to clean up. One that. she believes pointed to murder. Now, part of her submission, I actually want. to read it to you. [music] It said, "My. parents did not want to stir the pot. because her past may embarrass the. family and her three-year-old son. So I. told them after they passed I would dig. into [music] the truth. They have now. passed and I feel it's time to really. investigate her death being as there are. so many coincidences discrepancies and I.

hate that my nephew has lived [music]. the past 40 years believing his mom. accidentally killed herself. masturbating. Now this woman [music]. came to us believing that her sister. might have actually been murdered by a. known serial killer. But she didn't know. where to go from there. So, a few months. ago, I put one of our reporters on this. case, [music] and through our own. investigation, we have come to agree. with Jolita. Her sister was murdered. But maybe not by the roaming serial.

killer, she thought. [music]. Because our investigation led us to the. case of two other women who died in the. [music] same small town. And all these. women link back to one local man. So let. me start with the story of Rowena. Wilkinson Zapalac. When Jolita was only 14 or 15, her.

family got a call from the local. sheriff's office in Faget County, Texas, that her 20-year-old sister Rowena died. in her studio apartment over a saddle. shop in Platonia, Texas. It was. unexpected for everyone and only made. more shocking by what authorities told. [music] them. According to the sheriff's. office, Rowena had died via suicide by. masturbation. The rope around her neck. and the dildo on her bed were the clear. signs that deputies pointed to when.

breaking the news to her family. But. when Jolita and her dad went to Rowena's. [music] apartment the day after this to. clean it out, they saw so much more that. to Jolita painted a completely different. picture of what happened. Now, Rowena. had only just moved into this apartment. recently, so there wasn't much in there. to begin with, which only made the stuff. that was there stand out even more. Pennies littered the floor. There was a. broken acrylic nail with blood on it, water still [music] in the shower a day.

later and a literal broken kitchen. window with glass on the floor. But. because it was ruled a suicide, there. was a very short investigation. It was. case closed basically that same day. And. Rowena's family was just sort of left to. accept what the sheriff said, which. Jolita said was like painful and. embarrassing for them. And even though. her dad was seeing some of the same. stuff that Jolita did and definitely had. some suspicions, they just couldn't bear.

to push for a deeper investigation. >> And also like '8s smalltown Texas, like. you said, like back when it seems like. most people weren't questioning law. enforcement like we do now. Like you. think they must they must know what. they're doing. And even if they don't, like how in the world are we normal. people or whatever supposed to change. our minds? >> Exactly. But just because her family. [music] didn't feel like they could rock. the boat back then. And obviously there. wasn't much Jolita could do as a [music]. teenager, that nagging feeling that she.

always had about her sister's death just. grew in her as she got older. So when. her parents passed away, Jolita knew. that it was time to get to the truth. So. the first thing she did was file a. records request at [music] the Faget. County Sheriff's Office for her sister's. case file. And when she got the stuff. back, she could not believe what she. read in there. There was no mention of. the pennies, the fingernail, the broken.

window. What? >> Nothing. And sure, like, whatever. Maybe. the pennies are nothing, cuz the records. do show that when the sheriff's deputies. arrived that afternoon, they found that. the door to Rowena's apartment was. pushed open and there was this coffee. table kind of like slid out of the way. And it turns out a friend and neighbor. who the one who had actually found. Rowena said that she knew the door. didn't lock. So what Rena would do is. she would push that coffee table up. against it as her way of like locking. the door and staying safe. So this woman. who found her, her and another woman had. to actually like force the door open and.

like dislodge the coffee table. So I. mean maybe Rowena could have had like a. dish of pennies on the table. They get. scattered when the door is pushed open. Again, whatever. Even if you write that. off, it was right near the coffee table. where Jolita found Rowena's broken. acrylic nail that had blood on it, by. the way. And Jolita remembers giving. that to her dad. Like, you know, I think. this might be important. >> Her dad said that he gave it to the. investigators, but there is no record at. all of that in evidence. So, all of this.

stuff she knew was part of the scene. because she'd seen it with her own eyes. She had been the one to clean it up. and. it just wasn't even mentioned in the. sheriff's report. But there was. something else surprising in the. reports. There were a lot of things. included that she and her family never. knew, like the autopsy report, which. notes that Rowena's fourth right. fingernail is missing, which is probably. the one Jolita found, but it wasn't. found right where like [music] Rowena.

was. And to me, that like points to a. struggle that happens like that night, right? >> Well, exactly. And listen, this wasn't. even a huge apartment. It's basically. like a studio with a bathroom, this. little kitchenette. And Rowena had a. couch and two beds [music] in there. This like main bed with an iron bed. frame, and then this spare bed on the. other side of the room. And what's. interesting is they found Rowena by the. main bed. The main bed and the coffee. table are on like opposite sides of the. room. So to me, there's no way to even.

say like, oh, if she was like did. something to herself, like it just came. off. Like you would expect that if she. lost that nail, it' be next to her. So I. agree. Like this is just pointing to a. struggle. Now, when they found her, she. was sitting on the floor nude except for. this thick twist bead necklace and a. nylon rope that was wrapped around her. neck and then attached to the bed frame. Now, she had blood on her left hand and. then this they call it like a yellowish. gummy substance on her shoulder and left.

arm. And the autopsy report also note. scratches on her neck too, which could. have been from Rowena trying to like get. the rope off her neck. Now, the bed. sheet on the bed was like bunched up to. one side and there was a sex toy on the. bed along with an open fifth of [music]. whiskey that was about like 1/5 full. And there were two pillows, one on top. of another. And to the side, there was a. marijuana roach in an ashtray on the.

bedstand. But weirdly, her talk screen. that came back said that Rowena just had. normal levels of a drug that she was. prescribed and a 07 blood alcohol level. So, not a lot at all. >> and zero marijuana. I mean, to me, it. seems pretty clear someone else was. there. And you don't even know the half. of it yet. Rowena's bed sheets had a. large diluted blood stain [music] and a. small amount of sperm.

And she had sperm inside of her. Her. pillow cases also had specks of blood on. them. And there were hairs in her bed. sheet that didn't belong to her. I'm. sorry. And they just did nothing with. that. I'm not nothing. I know they tried. to do blood typing with the semen and. all they know is that the semen on the. bed sheet belonged to someone with quote. H substance which it's like this is like. a a long sciency thing but basically it.

could potentially mean type O blood but. there weren't enough tests done to even. rule out A and B. So basically all the. blood types are in. >> Yeah. And it doesn't seem like it went. further than that because they said. there was no sign of sexual assault. So. investigators are like, well, you know, all the semen in her and on the bed. proves is that Rowena had sex. Might not. have anything to do with her death. Which sure, one option. Like, okay. >> Okay. >> But you want to say that there were no.

signs of sexual assault, which I guess. to me I take to mean like tearing or. bruising of her genitals. Fine. You want. to write off scratches on her neck as. self-inflicted cuz I don't know what she. had second thoughts. Okay, fine. How. about we look at the other parts of her? Jolita didn't mention this to me in her. original email, but when I read it in. the autopsy report, I about fell out of. my chair. And now is your turn. I'm just. going to have you read it verbatim. And this is from the autopsy report.

>> Mhm. Symmetrical linear bruises are. present on the inner aspect of both. upper arms. The size and aspects of the. bruises suggest that they were the. result of the subject being gripped from. behind and the tips of fingers produced. the four separate symmetrical bruises on. each side. Ashley, what? Yeah. Gripped from behind. I mean, in my opinion, that's evidence. to at least keep the option open that.

she was murdered. I'm sorry. What are. police pointing to to say that this is a. suicide? I mean, the the dildo on the. bed, the bed with the semen. There are. only three things I can find that I. think might have shaped their theory. [music]. >> Okay, so in the report, there is a. mention that investigators found a. receipt for an X-ray in Rowena's closet. Now, there are no other notes about this. or anything, so this is just like a. random thought I had.

>> knowing how much they didn't note in. their reports. To me, them pointing this. out at all is odd, right? >> So, I'm wondering if they were like, "Oh, maybe Rowena got like bad medical. news. Maybe she like would want to take. her own life because of that.". >> And did they ask the family about this. to confirm that? >> I don't know. They only wrote that they. found the X-ray receipt and nothing. about followup. So, who knows? But I. asked Jolita about this now and she told. us that due to a hereditary breast. tissue condition, both she and Rowena.

got early mammogs. And Rowena didn't. have breast cancer or anything. It was. like just a precautionary X-ray. So even. if they had asked her parents, this was. well known in the family and should have. been easily explained away if they. asked. >> So the second thing that I think they. hang their hat on was a conversation. they had with Rowena's boss, this guy. named Joel, who owned the barbecue place. that she worked at. And he tells police. that Rowena once took an overdose of.

pills before. Now, Jolita doesn't know. what to make of this. She says that she. asked several people who knew her sister. well, including like their aunt, who was. the Flutonia Town Doctor, if this was. true. And nobody else had ever heard of. Rowena overdosing before or trying to. >> then how would Joel know this? >> I don't know. And unfortunately, he died. in 2002, so we couldn't like reach out. to him and ask. Maybe he was close with. Rowena. Who knows? But the third and. final thing that I believe makes them so.

certain that this was a suicide is the. report says there was no sign of forced. entry into Rowena's apartment. So I. think they're thinking if no one got. into the apartment then she was there by. herself and it had to be suicide. The. end. But there was signs of forced. entry. They just didn't write it down. I. mean the window was broken. Also news. flash. Her door didn't even lock. Like, how can you force entry in a door that's. not even locked? Like, what are we doing.

here? >> I know. Like I said, they don't even. mention the broken glass. Like, it just. doesn't exist to them. Now, the. sheriff's report does mention something. about a broken screen in the kitchen, but they say it was pushed out from the. inside and that it was broken. previously, like it wasn't from whatever. happened, >> but they don't say how they know this. >> Okay. This woman was murdered. And I've. kind of never felt more sure of. something, Ashley. >> I know. I and this is exactly how Jolita. feels after she foyers the records.

Every instinct and suspicion that she. ever had was right. She knows in her. bones now that someone killed her. sister. The question is who? So over the. next 20 plus years, Jolita is left to. just. stew in this knowledge that her sister. never got justice. until 2006 when she gets a call from the. Texas Rangers and they ask her a pretty.

shocking question. Did Rowena know a. woman named Melody Bush? >> [music]. >> Jolita has never heard the name Melody. Bush before. It rings no bells, means.

nothing to her. But when she asks why. they're asking, she gets the shock of. her life. The Rangers tell her that 6. months before her sister's death, Melody. Bush was murdered in the same small. town. And they think this serial killer. named Robert Charles Brown just. confessed to Melody's murder. And. they've begun to wonder, could he have. been responsible for Rowena's death, too? So, wait, are they considering.

Rowena's death a homicide? Now, >> this is the weirdest part to me. No, but. I I don't know how Rowena's case would. have come on their radar at all all. these years later because she is not. listed as an unsolved homicide with the. department, >> right? Like wouldn't even be in like the. batch of deaths they would be looking at. if they were looking to connect this guy. to someone else. >> No. And this is years later. So like in. my mind there had to have just been like. some old-timer hanging around who was. like, you know, like I remember this one. case.

>> It was kind of weird. >> It is the only thing I can think of. Like Jolita doesn't even know. But when. they call her, so they pushed her. They're like, you know, could there be. any connection between Melody and. Rowena? But Jolita really doesn't think. so. I mean, she even did her own leg. work after this and started asking. around, but no one seemed to think that. they knew each other. But that didn't. necessarily rule out a connection, especially the more that she came to. learn not just about the events leading. up to her own sister's death, but about. what Robert Charles Brown was capable of.

and the circumstances surrounding Melody. Bush's murder. Now, all Jolita knows. about Rowena's last day [music] comes. from Rowena's friend and neighbor, this. woman named Ruby Cherry and Rowena's. manager, who I'm going to call Jessica. That's not [music] her real name. Jessica said that Rowena dropped off her. son with her and borrowed her truck for. the day. And Ruby said that she and Rua. went out on the town together with a. group of friends and they spent most of. the night at a bar called Stag Club.

Well, it turns out that almost 6 months. to the day before Rowena's death on. March 19th, 1984, Melody Anne Bush was. partying with her husband Robert Bush in. a room at this like seedy motel in. Flatonia called Antlers In. And there. were like two other people there. Well, she and her husband got into an argument. and Melody left the room and walked. around back to the Stag Club, the same. bar that Rowena was hanging out in the. night of her death. And the Stag Club is.

the last place that Melody has ever seen. alive. 12 days later, her body gets. found a couple of miles north of town. off the interstate in this culvert. And. the Emmy ruled her cause of death as. acute [music] acetone poisoning. So, it. was definitely a homicide. >> An acetone like nail polish remover. >> or or it could have been rubbing. alcohol. Like it uh rubbing alcohol. metabolizes into acetone. [music] Now, at the time, Melody's case is never. connected to Robert Charles Brown.

because [music] Melody's husband was the. prime suspect in her death, >> but authorities never had enough to. charge him. >> And then Rowena's death is written off. as a suicide, >> right? So, it never crosses anyone's. mind that those two cases could be. connected. And people certainly weren't. picking up on the fact that they had. each last been seen alive in the same. bar. But fast forward to 2003. That is. when the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. in Colorado get this creepy AF letter. from Robert Charles Brown, who is.

already in jail serving time for two. separate murders. And I'm going to have. a voice actor read his letter. I thought. long and hard about picking an incident. that would not be lost among the many. others. A very small town seemed to be. my best bet. Small towns don't forget. such rare happenings. The town I chose. is Platonia, Texas. They don't get much. smaller. The year was approximately 1984. or 1985. A young woman was killed and. her body was found near this town. The.

last I heard was that her husband was. being charged with her murder. I'm. curious as to the eventual outcome. Please let me know. Afterward, we may. talk some more on this. Texas does like. to kill people. That should give you. something to think about. Robert Charles. Brown. Robert had been sending. detectives in Colorado a bunch of. cryptic letters for years. Like one was. a handdrawn partial map of the US with. numbers in [music] a few states. Like it. was supposed to allude to the number of.

victims that he had across the US. And. all in all, I think Robert's claiming. that he killed 48, possibly 49 people. And he wrote the number seven in Texas. And investigators in Colorado believe at. least some of this. I mean, they know. this man is capable of dark stuff. Now, we don't have time to dive all the way. into him and his story now, or this. episode would be like 8 hours long, but. I do think the information is really. important. So, we're doing an entire. separate episode on Robert Charles.

Brown. That's going to be available in. the fan club if anyone wants to dive. deeper. Literally, the episode is out. already right now if you want to sign. up, crimejunkkey.com. But Colorado authorities are trying to. pry information out of Robert to see if. they can really connect him to some of. these cases. But this dude is like. playing mind games, and it is clear that. what he's after [music] seems to be. infamy. So, police start piecing. together Robert's little clues, seeing. if they can actually match up to real.

cases. And they think that his letter. about a woman in Flutonia is Melody. Bush. But it takes a year for them to. even get him to write back about Melody. And when he does, Robert writes just the. following words. >> Flatonia, ether, ice pick. >> But that's wrong. Yeah, we know that the. Emmy listed her cause of death as acute. acetone [music]. poisoning, no stab or puncture wounds or. anything even close to that. >> Did they ask Robert if he used acetone?

>> Yeah. And he said that he never used it. on any of his victims. And detectives. are like, "Okay, like maybe he's. mistaking ether for [music] acetone, whatever." But when asked later by. investigators about stabbing her with an. ice pick, Robert like doubles down. He. said yes. He wanted to make sure that he. got Melody's heart. So, he stabbed her. at least two or three times, which just. isn't in the autopsy report. But maybe. we can't even trust the autopsy report. or the Emmy's findings for Melody's. death at all because this guy, Dr.

Roberto Bayardo, was investigated by NBC. affiliate KX for literally botching. autopsies. And we tried to get the. report ourselves, by the way, but no one. we foyed had a copy of it. Now, we also. spoke to the lead investigator for the. El Paso Sheriff's Office, and [music] he. said that acetone was a preservative. that Emmys might use, and he thinks that. this guy who did Melody's autopsy just.

like maybe confused it and thought it. was like the cause of death. Like, and. the guy's like clearly not good at his. job. >> Okay, but what about the potential. multiple stabs to the heart with an ice. pick? I mean, that's actually that's. hard to miss. >> Yeah. He didn't really have like a. straight answer to that one, but like. you can't say the Emmy got the cause of. death wrong and then also say Robert. Brown gave you information only the. killer would know, >> right? Because they don't know how. Melody died if they're saying the Emmy. was wrong about the acetone,

>> right? I think it's safe to say that. they just don't have any evidence that. what Robert is saying is true. And it took over 5 months after that ice. pick letter for detectives to even get. to talk to him in person. But when they. do, he gives this whole story about. Melody with details. He said that he was. working for a flower delivery company. and his route regularly took him through. Flutonia. He says he stopped, got a room. at the Antlers Inn, and then went over.

to Stag Club for a drink when this drunk. woman came in wearing jeans, a blouse, and she was barefoot. He remembered that. the woman said that she and her husband. or her boyfriend or whatever had gotten. into an argument and she thought that he. had gone to another bar down the street. And the bartender apparently asked. Robert to give this woman a lift to the. other bar. And Robert says, "You know, at first I say no, but then I say, okay." And then as he's driving her, he. says she started to put the moves on him. and they decided to go back to his motel.

room where Robert says they had sex. Then Robert said, quote, "Then I used. ether on her, put her out, and then I. used a ice pick on her." End quote. He. said that he went back and forth between. his motel room and the stag [music]. club. And after the bar closed, he said. that he and the bartender went out to a. local truck stop for breakfast. And then. when he got back from breakfast, he. loaded up the woman into his van and. drove north across I 10. And then he. said he dumped her body over a bridge or.

a culvert. He says he hears this splash. and that the area was full of tall grass. and water and like that's kind of it. >> So that end part like that's kind of. accurate, right? >> Yes. And I will say that the manager at. the bar the night that Melody was last. seen also says some things that kind of. back this up too. Her name's Florine, and she told detectives that she. remembers Melody did walk in around. 11:30 p.m. She was unsteady on her feet, like she'd been drinking. Now, she said.

she was wearing a black sweater with Red. Hearts, silver pants, but was barefoot, so different clothing than what Robert. described, >> but still barefoot. >> Mhm. And she said that she knew Melody. pretty well because Melody would. waitress there sometimes, and she was. always fighting with her husband, >> which is right again. And that night, Melody seemed intoxicated and quote. spaced out. She told Florine that she. left because her husband was destroying. the motel room. And she apparently. didn't order any drinks and just like. left the bar alone. But Florine did say.

that she remembered a silk flower. salesman that would stop by the bar once. or twice a month back in 1984. He would. like pass out these silk flowers to the. women. even gave her eight-year-old. daughter some daisies, which is just. sickening to think about because both of. Robert's later murders were of young. teenage girls. But what Florine doesn't. remember is this guy, Robert, being. there the night when Melody went. missing. And she never asked him to give. Melody a ride and certainly never went.

out to breakfast with this guy. And. like, here's the thing to know. A lot of. what Robert knew and like the parts that. were like, "Oh yeah, that's the same.". that could have been in local papers. [music]. So, he could have just pieced together. that information. Like, yeah, he was in. the area at that time. Maybe he heard. people talking. Maybe he was reading the. news. I mean, when police asked him how. he knew Melody's husband was a suspect, he said he heard it in the bar when he. was passing through 3 weeks later. So,

to me, him knowing a couple of right. things is not solid evidence to convict. him of another murder here. But there is. enough suspicion that he like kind of. forever stays linked to Melody's case. Even on the Wikipedia page for him, she. is listed as a possible victim. >> Is Rowena? >> No. Because even after Rangers clearly. were aware of Rowena's death and had to. have at least briefly considered it a. homicide. >> for it to even be in this conversation.

>> Uh-huh. It is still officially a suicide. and has never been connected to Robert. Charles Brown. But even if not. officially connected for years after. this, Jolita wondered if it could be. true. So again, after her parents passed. away, she's like, "Okay, you know, now's. the time to find out once and for all.". And that's why she reached out to us. And what our reporter Jenna Mel found. may prove that Jolita was right and. [music] wrong. Yes, we believe Rowena.

was murdered. And we too think that her. case might be connected to Melody's. actually, but we're not convinced that. Robert Charles Brown is the most likely. suspect. There's someone else that had. connections to the two women who we find. far more interesting. Let me start at the beginning of our. investigation so you know how we got to. where we did. So when we started looking.

at this case, I wanted to begin with law. enforcement's theory, which was that. this was a suicide. I see all the same. red flags as Jolita, but like let's at. least ask the question, is it possible. that Rowena died by autoerotic. asphyxiation? One thing that I found odd was the fact. that she still had the twistab necklace. on. And the autopsy report also says. that the necklace made [music] like. impressions on her neck. Now, the. investigators were thinking that was. because the rope was laying over the.

necklace, which like. >> to me raised a flag. Like when you take. off this big beaded necklace, if [music]. you were going to put a rope around your. neck. >> Yeah. >> And like when I say big, this isn't like. a dainty necklace. Twisted beads are, if. no one remembers them, are like this. thick necklace. They were a big thing. back in the 80s, but you could like mix. and match lots of these strands of beads. like and literally twist them all. together. So, is it possible that she. was strangled with the necklace and not. the rope then? Maybe. It's hard to say. without seeing any autopsy photos. But.

in that case, I mean, it would be a. homicide to me. Not a suicide by. masturbation, which is the term they had. for it back then. Like today, it's it's. autoerotic asphyxiation, but same thing. [music]. But that's what they're calling it. Now. I felt like at least in the cases that. I've heard of most autoerotic. asphixxiation cases are associated with. men but after a little research I found. that it does happen among women as well. but there have been very few documented. cases. The ratio is like 50 men to one.

woman according to a study that I read. in the American Journal of Forensic. Medicine and Pathology. And prior to. 1980, there were only two cases of women. who died this way ever recorded and then. a third in 1980. [music] So super rare. at the time. >> And do we know anything about whether. she was like into that type of thing? >> So here's the thing. So Rowena was. actually married at the time but. separated. And we talked to her then. husband. His name's Thomas. So did.

Jolita. And he told Jolita that he and. Rowena never did anything like that. Now, obviously they weren't together. when she died, so we can't say for sure. if she ever tried anything different. without him. >> Okay, but hang on. Was her husband ever. looked into? >> Well, he's never investigated as a. suspect because like there's no one to. look into [laughter]. >> a homicide. >> Even after the Robert Brown stuff, like. her case is never reopened, never. reinvestigated. I will say though, even. if they had looked into her husband, I. don't think he had any answers. I know.

Jolita never considered him suspicious. and he was forthcoming with us. Turns. out at the time that she died, he was. living an hour away. So, for all the. reasons you just heard, I don't think. this is a suicide [music] or even an. accident. And I don't think her ex was. involved. So, we looked into the man. that Jolita suspected, Robert Charles. Brown. Interestingly, Jolita and. Rowena's husband, Thomas, both remember. that Rowena was dating a guy named Rob. about a year before she died. This Rob.

even lived with her briefly out in San. Marcos, Texas when she split with her. husband. So, of course, we're like, do. you remember his last name? >> And listen, both of them were like, you. know, this is going to sound crazy, but. we remember the last name Brown. And. Jolita said she met this boyfriend Rob. once. So she looked at a picture of. serial killer Robert Brown and was like, "It kind of looks like him." Oh my go. But both Jolita and Thomas are the first.

ones who told us like, "Listen, please. do not trust our memories 100% on this. one. Like it is very possible things. have gotten twisted up over the years.". And Rowena was dating this boyfriend Rob. like several months before her death and. they were living together in a totally. different town. So it feels like a bit. of a stretch. And Robert Brown is like. still around. >> Yeah. Yeah. Like he is in prison for. those other murders like to this day.

And as you know from the Robert Charles. Brown episode we did, our reporters. wrote to him and when Jen Al wrote to. him for this one, she just asked him. point blank, "Did you have anything to. do with Rowena Zappilac's death?" And he. wrote back, >> "Sorry, I can't help you. I know nothing. about the person you are inquiring. about. If I knew anything at all, I. would tell you. I'm old and near the end. of my life and have no reason to conceal. anything. I am truly sorry. If you would.

send me some funds, I would greatly. appreciate it. Thank you in advance, RC. Brown. Obviously, Jen explained that we don't. pay sources and asked him a follow-up. question. Did you kill Melody Bush? And. Robert wrote back with the subject line, quote, no pay, no play. >> Do not hide behind that tired old. ephasian. The courts did away with that. lame excuse many years ago. If you're. interested, send me some funds for my.

birthday and some other reason. Adios, Mr. Brown. So, Robert says that he. doesn't know Rowena and he won't say. anything about Melody unless we pay him, but excuse me if I don't just take a. serial killer's word for it. >> Right. And not that he couldn't have. done one or the other, but I feel like. both is such a stretch cuz the MMO is so. so different. I know this is like the. hard part to wrap your head around when.

it comes to him. The different MOS might. actually be one of the reasons I say it. was him because like I mean, you know, like now like from our other episode, dude was all over the place. Like the. one victim he claimed to have strangled. with shoelaces, claims another one died. cuz he used chloroform. He talks about. stabbing. He talks about shooting, blunt. force trauma. Like you name the horror, Robert says that he's [music] done it. So no, like no calling card to link back. to him. Like his calling card is like.

signature. >> Yeah. And listen, long story, not short, just like long story that we did another. episode on. I'm going to cut to the. chase here. The more we looked into. Robert and his crimes and his movements, his mo or lack of mo. Yeah. me and our. reporters came to feel that it was. unlikely that he had anything to do with. Rowena's murder. But again, there was a. murder here. >> So, we started to ask, if not him, then. who else could have done it? And that's.

when our reporter Jen went back to the. beginning because if no one ever. investigated, then every clue was missed. by default. And right there at the. beginning, she found [music] something. that shocked us. Something that would. have been totally missed if she hadn't. just been deep in Melody's case trying. to connect everything to Brown. You see, we found out that before Melody went to. Stag Club that night, she, like I said, was with her husband and those two other. people. They're all partying in the.

motel room. We know Melody starts. fighting with her husband about. something and then she storms out. Then. the husband told investigators that he. went to sleep, didn't wake up till like. 6:00 in the morning, found his wife, never came back. And again, I think the. husband was always like sus to people, and as far as I know, never officially. cleared as a suspect. >> But then people kind of just like forget. about him and like everything that night. once Robert Brown is in the picture. But. what caught Jen's attention was one of. the two other people who were with them. that night at the motel was a guy named.

Cooper Cherry. Now, Cherry is not a name. that you read like every day. And it. rang a bell for Jen because she spent so. much time digging into Rowena's story. [music] And it was Rowena's friend, Ruby. Cherry, from across the hall who found. Rowena dead. >> Little bit too big of a coincidence in. such a small town. So, she pulled. records for Ruby. Turns out she was. actually once married to Cooper. So, we.

went back to Ruby's written statement in. the case file from the night that Rowena. died, and it turns out she also crossed. paths with Cooper Cherry. You're. kidding. No, I'm not. So, in her. statement, [music] Ruby basically went. into detail about what happened the day. before Rowena died. She said that before. they went out to party, Rowena went with. Ruby to drop off Ruby's son with Cooper. They're divorced by this point, but like. that's his dad. So, we know Cooper and.

Rowena were in the same place at least. once that night. Now, briefly, whatever, like just crossing paths. So, Rowena and. Ruby go out. They're at the Stag Club. They hang out with a bunch of people. they know, and Ruby actually lists all. of these people. Nothing weird happened. She said they went home together around. 4:00 a.m. The two of them live in. [music] these small apartments above. that saddle shop. And then Ruby says. that in the morning, Jessica, who was. their manager at the barbecue place,

she's the one who was watching Rowena's. son, she comes knocking on her door and. wakes her up, like I think looking for. Rowena because she's got her son. But. Ruby told her that Rowena was probably. still sleeping it off cuz they like got. in so late. So Jessica leaves. Sometime. after this, Ruby's statement says that. she goes to pick up her kid from a. sitter's house. So, at some point the. night before or that morning, Cooper. needed someone else to watch their kid. for him. Where was he? I don't know. How.

did she know to go get her kid from a. sitter and not from Cooper? I don't. know. But after Ruby picks up their kid, she goes back to Cooper's house and he's. got a buddy over, this guy named Bart. Moore. Interesting because if you look back at. the list that Ruby gave of the people. who were out with her and Rowena at the. bar that night, Bartmore is right there. But she didn't mention that Cooper was. out with them, right?

>> No, no, no. She explicitly lists. everyone who was out. Cooper's name is. not on that list. So, she says that when. she is at Cooper's that next morning, Cooper and Bart ask if they can go to. her apartment to use her shower because. they didn't have any hot water. She's. like, "Fine, whatever." She leaves ahead. of them and got back to her building. just as Jessica was coming back the. second time looking for Rowena. And this. is when they break in and they discover. Rowena's body. >> Wait, does that mean that Cooper and.

Bart were they are like above the saddle. shop when they found Rowena? >> I don't know. She doesn't say anything. else about them in her statement. I. don't even know if Cooper and Bar ever. went to take showers, but it made us. think back to that little detail that. Jolita said she noticed when she was. cleaning out Rowena's apartment the next. day that Rowena's shower was wet, right? So, like, what if Cooper or Bart did go. use the shower but at Rowena's instead?

But wasn't Rowena already dead by the. time Cooper and Bart were asking to come. shower? Yes, but that is if we're just. assuming that Ruby's account is totally. accurate. I mean, there are other. inconsistencies in Ruby's story, even in. the few pages of reports we have. And. just to be clear, so there are. technically three agencies involved. So, you have the sheriffs, the justice of. the peace, and a little later, the Texas. Rangers. And it's not like they're all. opening up new investigations. All of. these statements happen in the first.

like 25 [music] days. >> and get like put in the same file. >> Yeah. So, in her own words, the. statement put into the sheriff's report. says that Ruby woke up or she's woken up. by Jessica at 9:30 in the morning. She. goes to the babysitter's house, gets her. kid, then back to Cooper's. But the. Justice of the Peace writes in her. inquest that Ruby goes to work at 11:00. a.m., not to Cooper's house. Then, in a. Texas Ranger inquest, the officer says. Ruby was woken up at 9:00 a.m. by. Jessica and then went back inside her. apartment to sleep. nothing about going.

to work or to Coopers or the Sitters. So, why are the stories different? I. mean, is it sloppy police work by all. these agencies if they're not like. recording her statement correctly? Like, sure, that's an option, but it also. could mean that Ruby was telling. different versions of her story to. different agencies. And if she did, why? Are there statements from other people. like anyone else to compare it to? Like. uh like the other people who were out. that night or Jessica who found her with.

with Ruby? So, the sheriff's report says. that they talked to other people, but no. other witness statements were included. So, we started calling [laughter]. people. We were trying to reach out to. all of the people specifically on Ruby's. list. And our reporter Jen got in touch. with a guy named Red Mhalland who was. out with them that [music] night and he. told us he thinks Cooper was out with. them that night. Okay, but why would Ruby leave that out?

One option is that she forgot or. accidentally left his name out. Another option is that she lied because. she didn't want police to know that. Cooper was there. Just to play devil's advocate though, >> my favorite role. >> I know. [snorts]. >> If Ruby knowingly lied because something. happened and she was trying to like. cover for Cooper, why wouldn't she just leave out all that.

stuff about Cooper and Bart and the. shower in her own statement? Like, why. add them back into the story at all? >> I know. And like maybe it's because. that's the truth and like it like she. just forgotten later statements because. that's like the least interesting part. of her morning. Or if the later. statements are accurate and they like. didn't come over. I don't know. I don't. know why you make up that unless you. wanted to give them like an innocent. reason for being seen around there, but.

then you would think you would stick to. it. So like it doesn't make sense. And. if we're going to question Ruby at all, this got me thinking about Joel, the. owner of the barbecue place where Rowena. worked. >> He's the one that tells the sheriff that. she overdosed before, which bolsters. their suicide narrative. >> Well, Ruby worked there, too. >> So, maybe that story about the overdose. could have come from Ruby. [music]. >> I don't know, but something just feels.

really odd about the whole thing. Now, obviously, we reached out to Ruby. to try and get her to talk. She is alive. and around, but she has not gotten back. to us as of this recording. We couldn't. talk to Cooper himself about it because. he passed away in 2023. And we even. tried like Cooper's brothers, his son, which is Ruby's son. No answer. And. listen, like when comparing Cooper to a. guy like Robert Charles Brown, Cooper.

looks like an angel. We talked to one of. his other ex-wives. He has three besides. Ruby. And she said that he was kind, religious, and she had never heard of. Rowena before. And when we talked to Red. Mhalland, he told us that Cooper and. Bart, they played in this band together. They liked to party a lot. But like the. most salacious thing on his record is a. possession of marijuana charge that he. and Bart got together in 1989. Other than that, he didn't have anything. else. and Bart only had some traffic.

violations. But I thought it was. interesting that the one like criminal. charge Cooper had like he was with Bart. when he got it. >> But it sounds like they were besties. So, we even tried calling Bart several. times, but didn't hear back from him. either, which I think is a shame because. he was definitely around that night and. that morning. And I think he might. remember something important cuz I don't. know, like I just I cannot let go of the. fact that something seems very wild. about Cooper being around both Rowena. and Melody on the nights that they died.

It could be a weird coincidence. It. could be something else. My Spidey. senses were like, I don't know. Life. feels like something else. And when we. kept looking at him like there was also. someone else close to him who died. [music] His first wife named Rhonda. Stall. She died in a questionable way. back in 1980, less than 10 months after. marrying Cooper. There is literally one newspaper article.

and an obit about Cooper's first wife's. death. But here's what we know. According to the Victoria Advocate, on a. late summer night, Rhonda was driving. toward train tracks on a rural stretch. of road between Platonia and Mulun when. her car rolled over twice and threw her. from the vehicle. The car actually. rolled partly onto the train tracks and. was then pushed aside by the train. [music] Now, state troopers said that. Rhonda was probably laying on the ground.

for half an hour before the train. passed. How they know that? I have no. [music] idea. I don't know if maybe. somebody like on the train reported. hitting a vehicle and that's like how. her body was discovered. But they rushed. her to the hospital where she died a few. hours later. And her [music] death. certificate says that she died of quote. possible intraranial trauma, which is. like head trauma, but no autopsy was. done. So they just assume that she died. from the car accident. >> Yeah. And did they say how the car.

rolled over? kind of like the state. trooper thinks that she fell asleep at. the wheel. So like physically no, they. just think that this was like an. accident. Lot of questions there. >> But let me try to get this straight. Cooper Cherry is now connected to three. women who all died in some sort of. violent way. >> But. this is shocking. It seems like no one. has a bad word to say about this guy. Mm-m. It kind of feels he like he's just.

cursed. >> Yeah, that's an option. Or maybe people. are scared to talk. I mean, it here's. the thing. In cases this old, the. problem we normally face is not having. any witnesses alive anymore. >> That's not what's going on here. There. are so many people who are still around, >> but for some reason, people in Flutonia. are not talking. Only three people got. back to us outside of Rowena's husband. and Jolita or really two and a half.

people got back to us. We we obviously. talked to Red Maholand and then we. talked to one of Cooper's ex-wives and. we did really briefly speak to Rowena's. boss, the one that we called Jessica. She is the one that found her that day. But when I say briefly, I mean we got. her on the phone for like a minute and I. was really surprised that it wasn't. longer because Jolita was the one who. told us to call her. She's like, "I. talked to her. She remembers everything. She is definitely going to talk to you.".

But that is definitely not what. happened. >> I imagine it's probably not the easiest. subject to talk about. Ruena's sister, Jalita, asked me to sort of look into. Rowena's case. And I mean, she believes. that Rowena was killed, but I'm. wondering since since you were there and. you you saw everything, like do you have. a personal feeling about that? >> Uh, I do, but you did talk to Rowena's. sister. Is that correct? >> Correct. Yeah, Jelita. Well, she knows.

she knows everything there is to know. about the outcome as far as discussing. anything about what I saw. >> Mhm. >> I won't be able to do that. >> Oh, why is that? >> Because I've decided not to do it. I. don't I don't I don't care to do it. >> You don't care to do it? Um. >> I do not wish to do it. >> Okay. >> I do not wish to do it and and it's and. it's personal. >> Okay. >> Okay. All right. She would be the person. for you to talk to. Yeah, I she.

suggested I talk to you though. That's. the only thing. >> Yeah. And and and that's nice and I. appreciate that, but I'm not going to. >> Okay. Um is it because. >> Thank you so much. >> Is it because you fear? >> No, it's because exactly what I just. said. I do not wish to discuss it and. that is all. >> Okay. Because it's an upsetting topic. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay. I hear you. We don't know her reasons for not. talking. And when we asked Alita about.

this, she didn't really understand. either. But Thomas, Rowena's husband, thinks that people might be hesitant to. talk because of who they would be. talking about. You see, Thomas told us. that if they were going to say anything. about Cooper, Cooper is from a prominent. family in Flatonia. like his dad owned a. big ranch out in Mulune and they had. several oil wells. He sat on the board. of the town bank which was a powerful.

seat. >> And are there still cherries around. locally? >> Yeah, there are. But I want to be clear, there's nothing that we found to suggest. that Cooper's family would threaten. people and we couldn't ask them anything. because none of them have spoken to us. But to understand the implication here, Thomas gave us a little background just. like in his own experience and like his. life. So him and Rowena were high school. sweethearts when they got pregnant. really young with their son Brandon. Thomas was from a prominent family as. well. His dad actually sat on the same.

town bank board. Like he knows this. world. >> And Thomas was like, "Look, nothing. against Rowena, but she was a runaway. and we got pregnant." And I'm betting. that that wasn't my dad's idea of a. dream life for me. you know, they. weren't happy, but they supported their. decision to get married and to do right. by his child, and so they supported them. financially when Thomas went to college. And he said Rowena was a good mom and. she loved her son. But it did get to the. point where it was all too much. Like. Rowena didn't want to grow up so.

quickly. She wanted to be young. She. wanted to have fun, go out, see other. people. She's 20, remember? >> So she and Thomas split up, but they. never actually divorced. Now, he said. that he knew most of the people who were. out with Rowena that night, but he. didn't know Ruby. He did know Cooper. I. mean, they'd partied together, but. they're not like best friends or. anything. And, you know, as we were. talking to Thomas and he tells us the. thing about like their dads being on the. bank board [music] together, like you. could see like the wheels start turning. in his head and he's like, you know,

>> Cooper was always getting in trouble and. like that might not have been a good. look for his dad. So he's like, I could. see a world where Cooper doesn't have. more of a record because when you have. the right connections, life is a bit. easier for you. If Cooper had anything. to do with the deaths [music] of Melody. or Rowena or Rhonda, like. >> nobody in his family would I mean who, again, this is like the kind nobody. wants anyone to know that kind of stuff, >> right? >> So there's like all this smoke.

>> Mhm. >> But there is no fire though at the end. of the day. The one thing that is. excruciatingly clear is that authorities. need to take another hard look at. Rowena's case. She thinks Rowena's son. Brandon deserves to know what really. happened to his mom. Rowena was so young. when she died. She was a talented rodeo. rider, a kind, fun person, and a mom. just trying to figure out how to give. her son a good life. And we believe that.

someone decided to cut that life short. and the Wilkinson and Zapelac family. want justice. Jolita started a petition. asking Fyet County to change Rowena's. death certificate from suicide accident. to homicide [music]. because that would then allow the. authorities to reopen her case. We are. going to include the link to Jolita's. petition in the show notes if you guys. want to sign it. And if you have any. information on the deaths of Rowena or. Melody Bush, please contact the Faget.

County Sheriff's Office at 9799685856. or you can email us tips@auchuk.com. Come.

You can find all the source material for. this episode on our website, crimejunkie.com. And if you want to listen to more. episodes like this and all of our. episodes completely adree, be sure to. join the fan [music] club. You're also. going to get early access to all the new. episodes and a ton of bonus episodes. >> And you can follow us on Instagram at. CrimeJunky [music]. Podcast. >> As usual, we'll be back next week with a. brand new episode.