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Today marks a very sad day for my family. On this day 33 years ago (2 April 1977), my great grandparent Walter and Iola (Simpson) Haynes were found murdered in their home located six miles south of Jewett, Leon County, Texas. Jadie Haynes (1909-1983), the younger brother of Walter, discovered their bodies. Law enforcement assumed that the murder was a result of a robbery gone bad as the house appeared to be ransacked. However my family has their own theories regarding the murder which included a century old struggle over land and mineral rights and racial hostilities. Despite the motives or theories the case was never solved.
Over the next several years following the incident, my grandmother, Luora Haynes-Patterson (1922-2008), sought the assistance of various organizations both nationally and locally to bring attention to the incident and apprehen the individual(s) responsible. Unfortunately, all the letters and phone calls did not produce any results. Eventually, her persistence and determination turned into frustration and helplessness with the passage of time. I remember talking with my grandmother many years later, after I started researching the family history, about the incident. In recounting this painful incident, she expressed frustration at the lack of assistance and interest the case was given. She felt that since the victims were an old African American couple that lived in a rural community in Texas, it wasn’t a priority.
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Prior to researching my family history I knew very little about this incident outside of overhearing my mother telling a family member that my father’s grandparents were killed. Only after 15 years of researching would I feel ready to learn the details about my ancestors' death. So about six months ago, I started conducting my own investigation gathering information on the case. I have sent several inquiries to the Leon County 86th District Court, Sheriff Office, Justice of the Peace, Harris County Medical Examiner, and the Texas Department of Public Safety about the murders. On 7 January 2010, I received a letter and some documents pertaining to the case from the Leon County Sheriff's Office. In addition, I was informed that the case was being examined as a "cold case" due to my inquiry. I was overwhelmed with joy and excitement about the possibility of this case being solved after so many years. I immediately told my father of the news, he responded with “You have manifested the persistence and smarts that many of us have had depleted by the passage of time. Congratulations! I am very proud of you.” Although I do not know what the outcome will be of the re-opening of the case, I am hopeful that justice and peace will finally be rendered to my great grandparents Walter and Iola (Simpson) Haynes.
Walter and Iola passed away before I was able to meet them but their love for family and faith in God has been a constant presence in my life.
Dorsey I wish you success in the search for justice.
ReplyDeleteDorsey, congratulations on the reopening of this case. I sincerely hope your family gets justice Texas-style.
ReplyDeleteThank you both. I sincerely hope something positive will result from this.
ReplyDeleteIt has been a long time coming for some closure to this senseless killing. I can remember this incident like it was yesterday. My mom came into our church and whispered in my ear that our Aunt Iola and Uncle Walter had been found murdered. Both my aunt and uncle were two of the sweetest people that I can remember growing up knowing. I was 15 years old when I heard the horrible news. Aunt Iola is my grandmother's sister. My Aunt Melissa (Simpson) Johnson made sure that I knew my aunt when my sister and I would stay in Jewett over the summer break from Dallas. I loved to go visit my uncle and aunt. My vivid memory of their house is their back porch. It always was so pleasant because of the cool breeze that always was a comfort on a hot summer day. With the modern crime technology such as the use of DNA and codis data bases, it has been my prayer that the new technology could help solve this decades' old case. My family deserves some inkling of closure. It may not bring back my loved ones, but it could provide relief and an ending for the lives of two beautiful people who deserved better. RIP Uncle Walter and Aunt Iola, you will always be loved and remembered.
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