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David Johns, Richard and Russell Chase:1976, Arizona

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    Richard Chase Jr. and his little brother Russell were close friends with their cousin, David Johns. I wasn't able to find photos of them, sadly.   Richard Chase Jr. was 11 and Russell Chase was 10. Their cousin, David Johns, was 11.   The three lived on the Gila River Reservation southeast of Phoenix. David was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Johns. Richard and Russell were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Chase Sr.    Three boys were seen walking along the railroad tracks on Monday May 31st, 1976 at about 8:30 p.m. It is believed that these three boys were Richard, Russell and David. How many of us went exploring as kids? We would walk along the tracks and try to stay on the rails like a balance beam. Or we would walk along and try stepping only on the wooden ties. It’s an awkward gait and hard to keep up. Walking on the rocks is also tough. But, sometimes as kids, you just go for a walk and explore a bit. Usually, nothin...
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Jacob Surber and Jon Simpson:1975, Lincoln, Nebraska

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        Jacob Surber and Jon Simpson were described as inseparable. They were best friends living in Lincoln, Nebraska.    Jacob Surber was born on May 10th, 1963 in California. He went by Jake.     Jon Harding Simpson was also born in May on the 19th in 1962 in Lincoln, Nebraska.    It was State Fair time in Lincoln, Nebraska and the boys wanted to go. On August 30th, a relative drove them close to the fairgrounds and dropped them off. But, when it came time to pick them up to go home the two were nowhere to be found. Agonizing days went by.   Jacob Surber was found first near 16th and Holdredge. That spot is close to the State Fair Grounds. His yellow tennis shoes stood out to some people who had walked over near where a new building was being constructed for the University of Nebraska. He had been severely beaten. An effort had been made to hide his body by covering it in debris.   ...
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Michael Martinez:1977, Vinita, Oklahoma

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      Michael Martinez was a first grader in 1977. I wasn’t able to find his exact date of birth. He doesn’t seem to be on Find-a-Grave.  There are a few boys named Michael Martinez who were born in Oklahoma at about the right time period. But, I am not sure which one is our Michael.    I did not find an obituary or any information about Michael’s family or his life there in Vinita, Oklahoma.    Vinita, Oklahoma is in the Northeast corner of Oklahoma. That’s where little Michael Martinez was living in 1977.    On Tuesday, November 22nd, 1977, someone attacked 7 year old Michael. The killer stabbed him dozens of times and then dragged his body onto the railroad tracks where the M, K and T train later ran over Michael’s remains.    Investigators were still able to determine that the stab wounds had initially caused little Michael’s death.  Vinita, Oklahoma   That train is known as “the K...
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