Photo: Janie Ward
Two unsolved Ozarks murders are back in the news this week. In Izard County, a billboard advertising a reward in the murder case of Rebekah Gould was installed near Melbourne.
The billboard advertises a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the 15-year-old case.
Gould, who was from Mountain View, was found dead on Sept. 27, 2004 in a wooded area off of State Highway 9 south of Melbourne, seven days after she was reported missing.
In Searcy County, this month marks the 30th anniversary of the unsolved death of 16-year-old Olivia “Janie” Ward, who supposedly died after falling off a 9-inch-tall porch during a party with teens at a rural cabin near Marshall.
Photo: Cabin where Janie Ward supposedly died in 1989.
It was 30 years this week on Sept. 9, 1989 the unsolved tragedy occurred. Ward’s death is the subject of season two of a podcast series that wrapped on Wednesday with the final of eight episodes.
Investigative journalist, private investigator and Arkansas native Catherine Townsend of New York tackled the unsolved death in Searcy County through the podcast series Hell and Gone, after spending season one focusing on the unsolved murder in Izard County.
In both cases Townsend has worked with the Investigation Discovery network from her office in New York, 1,200 miles from the Ozark Mountains, as well as making numerous trips to Arkansas. She has hoped to accomplish what local law enforcement has not been able to do, solve the mystery surrounding the deaths of the young women from the Ozarks.
Earlier this year, Townsend told KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news, she was looking for a second unsolved case to include in the upcoming season two of the podcast when she saw a bumper sticker with the message Justice for Janie.
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Townsend said from the time she has spent in the Ozarks investigating and reporting these cases, she understands why people may have been reluctant to come forward with information.
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In her investigation of Ward’s death, Townsend has met with journalist Mike Masterson, who has written over 200 articles on the mystery. She has also met with members of Ward’s family.
In the final installment made available Wednesday, Townsend talks with a former FBI agent who worked as a consultant for an ABC program about Ward’s case.
Photo: Janie Ward
Click here to listen to the Hell and Gone podcast.
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