Hell and Gone: Mary "Bobo" Shinn

inherent in cold cases. We remind listeners that everyone has presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing in the podcast is intended to state or imply that anyone who has not been convicted of a crime is guilty of any wrongdoing. Thanks for listening.

jobs her regular job and her side gig. Bobo had opened up a studio in downtown Magnolia where she taught art classes. Her dad, Gresham, was a very successful motel developer, and Bobo also shared an interest in real estate with her dad. When we started to look into this case, we found out from the beginning there were a lot of things reported about this case that were incorrect and that have stayed pretty much uncorrected for almost fifty years. One of them was that Bobo was a real estate agent.

According to what Columbia County Sheriff Lowes said in twenty twenty five, that wasn't true. She was not a real estate agent. Aside from being an art instructor, Bobo would flip houses on the side. She had bought a house on East McNeil Street, and after doing some renovations, Bobo was ready to sell it. She put a classified ad in the Banner News. It read quote beginner's delight two

bedroom house completely remodeled, good location end quote. On the morning of July twentieth, Bobo and her mom went for a walk, just like they normally did. Bobo had plans to see a friend later that day to play tennis. But she was waiting to hear from a man who had called about buying the house on East McNeil Street. The man supposedly had a plot of land on Highway one thirty two. He had told Bobo that he wanted to sell that land in exchange for the house that

she had. On that day, the buyer called Bobo at around eleven am. He told Bobo that his car was being repaired at the Pawnee Car dealership in town. He reportedly mentioned taking a cab, but Bobo said she would give him a ride. Now, what exactly happened when is something we're still trying to figure out. We're trying to separate fact from rumor, but we do know some things

for sure. Bobo and this guy who claimed to be a prospective buyer did make arrangements for her to pick him up at the easy Mark across the street from the Pontiac dealership. Before she left, According to Ay magazine, Bobo told her friend that she would see her at around one point thirty that afternoon, and before hanging up, she jokingly said, quote, come look for me if I'm not back this afternoon end quote. She never came back, and her friends and family never saw her alive again.

I'm Catherine Townsend. Over the past eight years of making my true crime podcast, Helen Gone, I've learned there is no such thing. It's a small town where murder never happens. I have received hundreds of messages from people all around the country asking for help with an unsolved murder that's

affected them, their families, and their communities. If you have a case you'd like me and my team to look into, you can reach out to us at our Helen Gone Murder line at six seven eight seven four four six one four five. That's six seven eight seven four four six' one four, five or you can send us a message On instagram At hell and. Gonepod this Is Helen Gone Murder.

Line in high, School bobo was a. Cheerleader she was known among her friends as being kind and, fun but also at the same, time she was serious and, responsible and she was planning for the. Future that's why When bobo didn't come home for dinner that, night her, Mother Mary, sue immediately knew something was. Wrong, first her mom made contact With bobo's, friend the one she'd been planning to play tennis, with and figured out what went down With bobo and the phone call from the guy claiming to

be a prospective house. Buyer according to the Log Cabin, Democrat bobo talked to her friend shortly after eleven. Am that was the last person that we know of who spoke With bobo on the. Phone once police realized That bobo was, missing they And bobo's family were trying to piece together exactly what happened on that fateful morning and When bobo's friend said that she Called bobo at her art studio to see If bobo wanted to hang out that.

Afternoon bobo said, yes but that she wasn't sure if she could do it or, not or if she, could what time she would be. Finished she told her friend she was waiting for the call from the man who may want to buy the house on McNeil. Street this buyer Told bobo he had property On highway one thirty, two and then he suggested the swap her house for his. Land shortly after they hung, Up bobo called her friend. Again she said she had talked to the guy and

that his car was being. Repaired that's when she told her friend she was planning to pick this guy up at The Easy. Mart this is important because we Know bobo was at her art studio when she talked to her girlfriend and when she got the call from the. Buyer bobo's, Sister linda believes That bobo may have stopped at home first before going to meet the, buyer because she Said bobo's curling iron was plugged in and her

makeup was. OUT a little after eleven am that, day police were told that a man had come into The Easy mart asking for change so that he could use the. Payphone the description led to a composite of a white male mid, twenties approximately five foot, eight about one hundred and eighty five to two hundred, pounds with, dark curly. Hair according To ay magazine's, reporting the employee also remembered something distinctive about this man's, walk describing it as a lazy.

Gait one reported siding Placed bobo at The east McNeil street house with a bearded man sometime late that. Morning another report placed her at The Easy mart around eleven, forty where a man who was believed to be the prospective buyer got into her. Car after, That bobo was reportedly seen at the traffic light At pine And Main. Street after, that the trail goes. Cold bobo's, Mother Mary, sushin called the, police and she started Calling bobo's, friends

but no one had seen. Her one Of bobo's close, Friends Randy, avery called my podcast to talk to us about her case and what he remembers from the days after she went.

very good friend of. MINE i graduated in nineteen seventy. FIVE i Think bobo graduated the following, year nineteen seventy. Six nineteen seventy six is the year That bobo's friend AND i got, married and we relocated From, magnolia first To Little rock and then later To Hot. Springs we still had contact With bobo and my. Friend it was her. Boyfriend the four of us over the years did a

number of things together and went on camping. Trips so we were In Hot springs When bobo disappeared there in nineteen seventy, Eight SO i think it was probably the next, Day july twenty, first nineteen seventy, eight when my then wife got a call About, bobo AND i was working out in the feild at the time and took off work and we hustled down To, magnolia myself and my friend who had been Dating, bobo And i'm sure multitudes

of other. People we took part in driving through the rural areas Around, magnolia just hoping to see and find anything that might help find, her and nothing was ever.

man looked. Like but then the salesman Told Mary sue that while he was driving, home he Saw bobo's car parked in a back corner Of smitty's grocery. Store the car had. Damage it had deep scratches and damage to the left rear. Fender investigators also noticed plant debris inside the, car which led them to believe that it may have been driven somewhere off road and later. Abandoned once the car salesman spotted the, car he stopped and noticed that

the door was. Unlocked according To ay, magazine he actually recognized the car because he had sold it to The. Shens he decided to look inside to see if it Was bobo's. Vehicle when he did look, inside he Found bobo's keys in the. Ignition bobo's purse with money still in, it was inside the. Car her stuff was scattered around. Everywhere underneath the brake, pedal there were white canvas tennis, shoes,

sunglasses and a paperback. Novel employees later confirmed they had first Seen bobo's car At Smitty's grocery not long abut after one. Pm, unfortunately the crime scene was not secured until later that, afternoon around five or six, pm and in that, time it has been reported multiple people went through the, vehicle potentially disturbing crucial. Evidence soon everyone in town Knew bobo was, missing and they all got together to try to find.

and seen the ad and decided to Target. Bobo according To ay, magazine police believed That bobo had met the man once before before she saw him On july. Twentieth they believed she showed him her house on McNeil street for the first time the day, before On july, Nineteenth so On july, twentieth when she offered to give this man a ride that would have been a second. Viewing

this could be important in my, opinion because it signals two. Things, One bobo obviously felt comfortable enough with this man to see him a second time and to give him a lift in her. Car and, two this seems like a very risky move on his. Part how could he have known that she wouldn't mention his name to anyone? One what did he tell her when he looked at that?

House did he give her a fake? Name, also, he in my, opinion took a huge risk picking her up at a spot right across the street from her art studio at The Easy. Mart there were mentions of some early people of. Interest according to media, reports a carpenter who worked across the street from the House bobo was selling on McNeil street said that on the day she went,

missing he saw a man. There the carpenter described this man as being, white twenty five to twenty eight years, old with dark brown, hair a, beard and a, mustache six foot one to six foot two inches tall and around two hundred and fifteen to two hundred and twenty five, pounds wearing a mesh baseball cap and driving a dark Green pontiac with a light green vinyl, top maybe a

nineteen sixty nine or nineteen Seventy bonnieville Or catalina. Model the carpenter said he saw this man With bobo between around ten eleven, am but it was later reported that this sighting might have been someone, else because apparently there was a neighbor someone who went on a lunch break at eleven thirty, am and this neighbor reportedly looked a lot like the person the carpenter had, described so police

believed the carpenter may have seen the neighbor. Instead there was another sighting of a stranger at The Easy mart at ELEVEN, am a man who was described as, white mid twenties with dark curly, hair about five foot eight inches, tall weighing one hundred and eighty five to two hundred. Pounds this man came into the store at around eleven. Am he asked for a quarter to use the payphone so that he could make a. Call according to what the employee told the, police he made a call on

that payphone and left after about five. Minutes the timing interested law enforcement because this would have been approximately the time When bobo got the. Call from the man who wanted to see the, house and The easy Mart is where they arranged to. Meet this timeline has been one of the hardest things to pin down because we don't have any access to the case. File this is still

an open. Investigation we do have a few things to Anchor bobo's, day namely the two calls from her, girlfriend the sighting of her at the McNeil street, home probably sometime shortly after eleven. Am the salesman from the dealership told police he Found bobo's car At Smitty's grocery at around one. Pm remember we said before that among the items found in the car were these white canvas tennis.

Shoes there were rumors that they may not have Been, bobo's but police said later this probably was not true because there were also sunglasses and a novel found inside the, car And bobo's dad Said bobo would sometimes spend time at one of the motels he made and she would lie out by the, pool so the tennis, shoes sunglasses and books were probably in the car for that. Reason bobo's wallet was still in the purse with all of the money, inside so robbery did not appear to be

the motive. Here in, fact all Of bobo's stuff was still in that. Car, however there was one thing of hers that was not in the. Car bobo's address, book which she carried with her, everywhere was. Missing they never found that address. BOOK i do wonder could it have had the name of the Man bobo was meeting that. Day investigators never found out who that person. Was police started to investigate the damage done to the car to

see if they could find any physical. Evidence Ay magazine reported that in addition to the damage to the, fender there were seeds and bits of grass inside the. Vehicle over the, years the case went cold and became infamous in the. Region bobo's, disappearance along With Maud crawford's disappearance in fayettvill was one of the biggest cold cases in that region Of, arkansas and, federal, state and local authorities all got, involved but they didn't say very, much just

that foul play was. Suspected but over the, Years Columbia County Sheriff Mike lowe said police followed tons of leads and never stopped working the. Case Sheriff lowe was working with The Arkansas State police When bobo, disappeared he worked on it way back. Then, later after he retired from THE, asp he became sheriff Of Columbia, county so he started working the case. AGAIN a few months After bobo, disappeared The shins hired a private investigator Named William deer who

was based In. Dallas, now this would prove to be a hugely controversial. Move as we've often discussed in this, podcast relationships between police and the private investigators hired by the family can get complicated. Fast i've looked up a lot of old newspaper articles to try to put together what went, down and it seems like at first there was kind of a grudging respect between law enforcement And

William deer and his team of. Detectives the sheriff at the time made comments to journalists About William deere being, professional but that fell apart at some. Point After William deere publicly announced On november, twentieth nineteen seventy, nine that he had a, Suspect William dear stated it was someone who had taken his own life a few months After bobo. Vanished it was later reported the dead man Who William

deeer was referring to was a man Named Michael. Morse William dear spoke To michael's, Mother, karen and asked her if she would be willing to open up her late husband's. Grave Apparently William dear had gotten a Tip bobo could be buried, there, so along With Sam, tatum the director at the time of The State Crime, commission and some other local, Authorities William deer was there when the grave

Of Michael morris's father was. Opened Karen morris told The Batesville guard when she Gave William dear permission to open that, grave that she was never told that he considered her, Son, michael a suspect unbeknownst to. Her according to The Batesville, Guard William dear got that tip About bobo being buried in the grave from a, psychic, which if, true and this is just my, opinion does make me question Why William dear took that tip so. Seriously at some, Point

William dear in The shin family guarded. Ways The Jonesborough star reported in nineteen eighty six That William deer had also butted heads with then Prosecutor Mike, kennard and that the bad blood went both. Ways William deere was openly stating he didn't believe the police investigation was up to. Scratch the prosecutor denied that and also said that Quote deer's actions and the publicity hurt prospects for any prosecution end. Quote In december of nineteen seventy, six The Batesville guard

did a follow up on The Michael morse. Rimmers they reported That Russell, welch a former state police, investigator told the newspaper that authorities had spoken To Michael morse before he took his own life and that they were quote satisfied that he was not involved in Miss schen's disappearance end. Quote Russell welch went on to explain a little more about how the police investigated that. Tip he said police got an anonymous tip Stating Michael morse matched the description

of the man Whom bobo was planning to. Meet Russell welch said they Questioned Michael moose and That michael did not match the description of the house. Hunter, also he Said Michael morse had an alibi for the Day bobo. Disappeared Michael morse's, Mother, karenne and his, Widow Norma mors ended up finally a two million dollar lawsuit Against William deer And Sam, tatum the director of The State Crime, commission alleging they falsely Accused michael of abducting and Murdering Bobo.

Shin bobo's father has put up several rewards over the. Years after she went, missing he immediately offered a reward in connection with her, case ten thousand dollars for any information involving her location and twenty five thousand dollars for her safe. Return The shns reportedly never hired another private. Investigator after three years of doing everything they could think of to, do they told their other children they were ready to start focusing on their living family again and

letting law enforcement do their. Jobs in twenty twenty, two forty four years After bobo, vanished the news CHANNEL ktve did an interview With. Sherifflow he gave the news channel some details about some of the evidence that was found inside the. Car the article states there was, gravel, dirt, grass and fingerprints. Found the article reads quote fingerprints were found inside but have yet to be. Identified low indicated the person who committed the crime was a local end.

Quote my question is how did he know? That if the fingerprints weren't. Identified the sheriff, said, quote the best timeline that we can put together from the time she disappeared until the time her vehicle showed back up At smithy's grocery store parking lot is approximately fifty seven, minutes so that vehicle didn't go very. Far in, quote if whoever Took bobo drove her or her body somewhere else and then returned the, car the sheriff is, right they

could not have gone too. Far there was one more. Tip law enforcement published photos Of bobo's, car and after they, did they got a call from The Columbia county assessor who said he was bailing hay on property Near highway thirty two the day of the, disappearance at around. Noon he said at that time he saw a blue car with what appeared to be a man and a woman

struggling inside. It could she have been in a hay field somewhere because The Magnolia reporter article, stated in addition to the scratches on the, car there was a coating of dust on the vehicle and that on the driver's side floorboard there were pieces of hay that appeared to have broken off when the door was, Closed Bobo shin was never. Found none of her remains were ever. Found because of, that investigators had no body and no primary crime, scene only a, car a phantom house, buyer and a

few pieces of. Hay who was the man who Called bobo to see the house that? Day could he have been someone randomly passing through, town someone who took advantage of a woman showing a house, alone or was this as former Sheriff low has, said he believes someone, local someone Stalking. Bobo bobo's sister Told ay magazine that their mother would not leave the house for years unless she could be sure someone was home to answer the phone

in Case bobo. Called Both bobo's mother and her father are dead, now and their tombstones are next To, bobo's But bobo's friends in the community have not forgotten. Her in twenty, fourteen on the thirty sixth anniversary of her, disappearance they held a celebration of life for. Her they hope that maybe someone listening to this will remember someone acting oddly that, day or maybe that a customed diamond necklace will show up, somewhere maybe in a hope. Chest,

eventually The Pontiac dealership became A japanese. Restaurant The Easy mart store turned into a. Barbershop in twenty twenty, five at a press, conference police announced they conducted a. Search Now Former Sheriff, flow who is still involved in the, investigation stated law enforcement had searched somewhere in The Bussy charman, area which is ON Us highway three seventy one between

the towns Of magnolia And. Taylor the sheriff stated at a press conference he wanted to dispel some rumors about this, case including one in particular involving a man Named Jimmy Ray. Watson this man was described as a house painter who had lived On Columbia County road east Of. Taylor Jimmy Ray watson passed away On july twenty, nine twenty twenty, five at the age of seventy. Three according to The Magnolia, Reporter Sheriff lowe, said, QUOTE i wanted to tell everyone

that all this false information leads us down rabbit. Holes we investigate, rumors it takes off time that we should be investigating real. Information we do want to bring closure to the. Family we do want to bring justice to all involved in. Quote the sheriff added he grew up With Jimmy watson and they went to school. Together the sheriff gave a statement about the search that was a little bit cryptic in my. Opinion he, said, quote we didn't find what we were looking, for but we learned

a few. Things what we learn is moving us. Forward in, quote the sheriff said it wasn't a tip that had led to this, search but quote it was me putting two and two together end. Quote he confirmed that he had requested a cadaver dog from THE, fbi which they had. Provided the cadaver dog did discover something and that led to law enforcement of vacuating the, area but they didn't find anything of Evidence cherry. Value The Columbia County sheriff's

office is still working this. Case Mike low said he has sent evidence to THE fbi over the. Years he remains hopeful THAT dna technology could provide a much needed. Break the Current sheriff Of Columbia, County Leroy, martin has stated this is still an open and active. Investigation they have asked that anyone with any information that could help Locate bobo or her remains please reach out to The Columbia County Sheriff's office at eight seven oh two three

four five three three. One you can also email info At Columbia County sheriff dot. Org I'm Catherine. Townsend this Is Helen Gone Murder. Line Helen Gone Murder line is a production Of school Of humans And iHeart. Podcasts it's written and narrated by Me Catherine townsend and produced By Etily's Perez special thanks To Amy tubbs for her research assistance And Sarah burns for legal. Review noah camer mixed and scored this. Episode our theme song is By Ben.

Salek executive producers Are Virginia, Prescott Brandon, barr AND. L. C. Crowley listen To Helen gone ad free by subscribing to The iHeart True Crime plush channel On Apple. Podcasts if you are interested in seeing documents and materials from the, case you can follow the show On instagram At helen. Gonepott if you have a case you'd like me and my team to look, into you can reach out to us at Our Helen Gone Murder line at six seven eight seven four four six' one. Four five that's six

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