School of Humans. Helen Got Murder Line actively investigates cold case murders in an effort to raise public awareness invite witnesses to come forward and present evidence that could potentially be further investigated by law enforcement. While we value insights from family and community members, their statements should not be considered evidence and point to the challenges of verifying facts
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.
On March second, nineteen fifty seven, sixty five year old Maude Crawford, who is one of the most well known women in her hometown of Camden, Arkansas, after she made history, is the only female attorney to ever practice law.
There was stringing beans at home.
Maud and her husband Clyde lived in a stately two story historic home on Clipton Street in Camden, but on that night, Maud was on her own. Clyde had gone out to see a movie, and she had her Dalmatian dog, Dow, who was her constant companion at her side. After his night out, Clyde arrived home at around eleven thirty pm.
He saw that.
Maud's car, a blue Tudor nineteen fifty six Mercury sedan, was in the back driveway. The keys were in the ignition, the way that Maud usually left them there. The lights in the house and on both porches were still on, so Clyde walked inside.
Clyde later told investigators.
That he wasn't immediately alarmed that night when he got home because everything seemed so normal. The TV was on and the pan of string beans that Maud had been snapping was sitting beside the chair.
That she normally sat in.
He looked all over the house for his wife and found nothing. Her clothes were still in the closet, her purse was in the living room, and there was money in the wallet. Her dog, who usually freaked out if anyone approached her, was unharmed and resting peacefully on the floor. Nothing was missing except Maud. It's as if she had literally stepped out of the room for a minute, but then she never came back. I'm Catherine Townsend. Over the past eight years of making my true crime podcast Helen Gone.
I've learned that there's no such thing as 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 she'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 hell And Gone Murder. Line clyde waited a couple of hours to see if mob would come back. Home after one, am he got in his truck and started driving around town to look for, her thinking maybe she had been involved in a car, accident but after no, luck the next day he reported
her missing to The Camden Police. Department police came to the residence and searched the surrounding, area but they found no sign Of. Maud Maud crawford was born On june twenty, second eighteen ninety, one In, Greenville. Texas her mother died when she was nine years, old so she ended up moving To, Warren arkansas to live with her. Grandmother maud was smart and. Talented she thrived at her high, school
where she was. Valedictorian she went on to college at The university Of arkansas At, bayble But maud dropped out after her first. Year she went on to get a job as a secretary at a law firm in nineteen. Sixteen maud had big dreams of becoming a, lawyer but at the, time the state Of arkansas did not allow women to practice. Law they were allowed into the state bar for the first time in nineteen, seventeen So maud had not gone to law.
School she hadn't even graduated from.
College But maud was determined to pursue a legal, career and she found a. Way at the, time you were allowed to sit for the bar exam without going to law school if you could prove you had the. Knowledge it was a system they called read for the.
Law so that's What maud.
Did she had a tremendous amount of. Knowledge so she sat for the bar exam in nineteen twenty seven and she passed that. Year she was admitted to The Arkansas State. Bar she became the first female attorney In. Camden not only did she pass the bar by the, way she scored the highest score on The Arkansas Bar. Exam maud made history in a lot of different. Ways she was also the first woman elected ever to The Camden City.
Council she was very passionate about helping and mentoring. Women was a member of The business And Professional Women's, club The American Legion auxiliary and The Pilot, club among. Others around, town everyone knew her As Miss. Maud maud married her Husband Clyde Folwell crawford in nineteen twenty. Five from the, Beginning maud was the. Breadwinner clyde didn't really have a regular. Job he was described in media reports as a cabinet. Maker he did odd jobs assembling, furniture and he had
a woodworking shop in the back of the. House maud And clyde never had, children but over the years they had a lot of borders in their, home mainly single young women in the Rambling colonial house and every Night clyde had a. Routine he would go to the movie theater The malco and sit through movies by. Himself according to media, reports some people around town said he would also sometimes spy.
On the young couples who were making out in the. Dark.
There people around town Thought clyde was a little bit. Weird he would run around town by himself and drank pretty much every, night which even, now and especially back in nineteen fifty seven could make a guy in a Small arkansas town the subject of speculation and. Gossip But clyde was cooperative with. Police they found no evidence to indicate that he was involved in any way In maud's. Disappearance if someone did Take maud against her will or lure her out of the, house what was their?
Motive it was clearly not.
Robbery since nothing was, missing there was zero evidence that foul play had happened at the. House maud had money one hundred and forty two dollars still sitting in her, purse which back then was a significant amount of. Money there was no sign of a struggle inside the, home so one early theory was That maud may have left, voluntarily or that she was lured out of the house by.
Someone who wanted her.
Gone Since maud's car was still there with the keys in, it presumably someone would have to pick her.
Up but who and Why.
The theory About maud leaving on her own became less and less likely as time. Passed if she wanted to leave of her own free, will it seemed unlikely she would literally walk out of her entire life and leave absolutely everything she owned, behind including her beloved, dog who never left her.
Side police started reaching.
Out to people who had recent contact With, bond and this was a long and varied list Because maud did legal work for a lot of people and some of them were very.
Powerful one name that was mentioned WAS Us Senator john.
McClellan senator McClellan was at the time chairman of A senate inquiry into organized, crime so one possibility that the police reportedly looked into was That maud might have been kidnapped by the, Mob but there was no threat or ransom note ever, received and the mob, theory in my, opinion didn't really make a ton of, sense because even if the mob wanted to Target senator, McLellan the link between him And Maud crawford was. Supertenuous they didn't even
work at the firm at the same. Time two weeks After maud's, disappearance The Camden Police CHIEF Gb cole was quoted and The Camden news is saying we have not turned up a single. Clue The Arkansas State police were brought in to take over the. Investigation law enforcement continued to focus On maud's timeline the day of her, disappearance
and they found she had had a lot going. On they talked To Ida Belle, Tinsley maud's sixty year old housekeeper who'd been working for her and her husband for fourteen. Years ida said she got to the home at four Fifty Clifton street at around eight. Am she told, Investigators maud spent the day working at the kitchen table on her legal papers like she usually. Did ida made some lunch and they ate together around, noon and Then maud continued.
Working ida Said maud was still pouring over those papers when she.
Left at around one thirty that.
Afternoon ida told Police maud appeared to be completely.
Normal she was in a good. Mood that.
Day at around two THIRTY, pm someone who worked in a local furniture store came over To maud's.
House she was there for a while measuring some.
Drapes maud was really excited to finally be doing renovations on her, house she told the woman measuring the.
Drape she had waited years to do.
This she had also taken out a loan of several thousand dollars to fund. It the fact that she was looking forward to this project and seemed happy was just one more reason why people didn't think she would just suddenly disappear. Voluntarily the furniture store employee Left maud's house at around four pm that. Day she later told police she didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Either, then at five, Pm maud put a leash On dal and took him for a, walk which was part of their daily.
Routine she stopped at a nearby corner store to buy. Groceries she grabbed some green, beans and when the clerk rang her.
Up he talked To.
Maud he said she made the purchase in a usual. Manner maud made a comment to the grocery store clerk about saving her some more beans For monday because of how much her husband liked. Them maud got home from that daily walk at five thirty. Pm since it had already started, raining the dog was. Wet the coat That maud was wearing was also, wet So maud took her wet clothes and shoes out on the back porch and left them. There she spread the coat over a chair
so it would. Dry after, that it was. Dinnertime maud Cooked clyde a supper of steak and, eggs which he ate at six. Pm clyde left the house at around six thirty. Pm he drove his red truck To Main street And camden and parked in his usual spot right in front.
Of Bird's jewelry.
Store clyde then went into The Malco theater to see the movie among her other. Chores that, day back at the, House maud was getting ready for her, Cousin Martha, carver And martha's husband and three year old child to come visit that. Weekend martha and her husband were planning to spend That saturday night At, maud's But martha and her family went to a friend's house once they got to, Town So martha Called maud at around eight thirty pm
and talked to. Her When maud asked if they were coming over that, Night martha said she and her family were going to stay at the friend's house, instead but she made plans With maud to have dinner on another. Night martha later told detectives that when she Told maud she wasn't coming over to the house that.
Night maud sounded short with.
Her When martha hung up the, phone she turned around and told her husband That maud was peeved at. Her that was the last known conversation that anyone had With maud at Around at the same time eight, Thirty clyde was coming out of the. Theater by the, Way since it's important to cover all bases during that crucial window of time After maud was last known to be, ALIVE i should say there's no definitive proof That clyde stayed
for the whole. Movie police did try to verify, that but they reportedly didn't find a ticket or an usher or another person who could Say clyde was definitely. There but a lot of other people Saw clyde around town that. Night After clyde's movie ended at around eight, thirty he went to a newsstand where he talked to the, Owner Guy, pennington who was his good. Friend they chatted until around nine TEN. Pm Then clyde got back in his truck
and drove To carter's liquor. Store he talked to another one of his friends there who worked At carter's and also had a few more. Beers while drinking his, Beers clyde watched THE tv at the liquor. Store now this sounds a little bit, odd but apparently this was part Of clyde's.
Routine he went into the liquor store every night to WATCH.
Tv, normally he would watch until exactly ten fifteen, pm when the weather report on the evening news. Ended but that, night after the weather, Report clyde started watching A tv movie and after about half an, hour at ten forty five, pm he made a comment about it getting.
Laid he left and drove.
Home clyde arrived home between eleven and eleven thirty pm to find all Of maud's stuff, there their Dog, dal who was usually high. Strung in, fact people were actually afraid to Approach maud's dog If maud wasn't with, him But clyde later told police that night the dog seemed totally, calm So clyde WATCHED tv at home for a little.
While he wasn't worried at.
First he thought Maybe maud had gone out with one of the four young women who board it. Upstairs sometimes she would go to the drive in with them or out to get some. Food he went into his bedroom and put on his, pajamas cracked open another, beer and started reading a detective, novel but he couldn't. Sleep at one fifteen, am when she still wasn't, back he looked at the newspaper to see if there was a late,
show a midnight. Show he saw that there, was and, so thinking maybe she went to, That clyde got back in his truck and drove around again around the theater to see if he could Find maud, there but she wasn't, there so he came back home again and that's when he said he noticed That maud's car was parked at the rear of the, house where she always left it and where it had been two hours earlier when he first got. Home the garage is in the back of the house and it's a little bit of a walk
between the house and the. Garage once he saw That maud's car was, There clyde got back in his, truck drove around town, again and when he didn't find her that, time he walked straight into The Camden police station and asked if there had been any car.
Wrecks after he left the police.
Station at around two twenty five, Am clyde went back. Home he stayed there until around four, thirty then he drove and did one more round of looking For. Maud the next, morning he started Contacting maud's, friends but no one had seen. Her that's When clyde called the police and officially Reported maud. Missing of, course police looked Into clyde as a. Suspect first of, all people in town thought he was. Odd clyde had.
Served In World War one.
And after he got back about ten years into his marriage With, maud so around twenty two years Before maud, Disappeared clyde had had a mental. Breakdown there are not a ton of details about what exactly happened With, clyde but he was very open about the fact that he had had a breakdown And maud had nursed him through. It after, That maud became more like a mother than a wife To, clyde and they started sleeping in separate.
Bedrooms over the, Years maud And.
Clyde got along really, well but they were an unconventional.
Couple they had separate.
Routines clyde's told Police maud lived her life and he lived. His according to police, documents investigators did explore the possibility That clyde might have planned her murder for a period of.
Time they were suspicious because on That saturday, night the night When maud went, missing very, unusually all four of the boarders who lived upstairs With maud And clyde had other plans or were away that, Weekend and it does seem like quite a coincidence that between the cousin and the baby and the, borders there should have been at least four and as many as seven people in the house other Than clyde And maud that, night but for one reason or, Another maud and her husband were in
the house. Alone but police struggled to find a reason Why clyde would Kill maud or, who if, anyone could have been out to get. Her there was a life insurance policy for ten thousand, dollars but even though that was more money in nineteen fifty seven than it is, now it's around one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars in today's,
money it's still not a massive. Amount maud was the one bringing money into the, home and there's absolutely no indication That clyde had any other reason for wanting or. Gone in, Fact maud was clearly worth a lot more alive than, dead and on a personal, Level clyde seemed devastated by her. Disappearance police wondered If maud's legal career
could provide some. Clues investigators review the cases that she had been working on in an effort to determine whether she had been involved in any disputes or litigation anything that might provide possible motive for foul. Play maud's career as a real estate attorney. Flourished she developed an outstanding. Reputation she worked on a lot of big oil deals and she was very well, respected but also had to deal with her share of, sexism including from the men
in her own law, Firm, gaggin McClellan And. Laney according to wit'smen, reported these guys seemed to kind of not Let maud forget she started out as a. Secretary but police didn't find any concrete information indicating that anyone had been Threatening. Maud she had never made any comments about being worried about her. Safety in, fact she had her. Routines she lived her life pretty. Publicly officers checked with transportation companies in The camden, area including taxi services and.
Buses they were trying to figure out whether she left town using any of those, methods but they never found any record that she had left on her.
Own once The.
Arkansas State police took over the, investigation they conducted searches of roads and wooded areas inside and outside the city. Limits they found no trace Of. Maud police did interview a man Named Ray miller On march, night a week After maud. Disappeared he claimed that he Saw maud on the evening Of march twenty, second nineteen fifty, seven that she was near the Down town area at approximately eight thirty. Pm he said when he Saw, maud she appeared to
be alone and that she seemed. Fine he said he didn't talk To, maud but he said he recognized. Her he knew her as the prominent attorney in. Town he had seen her around on several occasions. Before police officers tried to confirm this, sighting but they were unable to do.
So maud's case was big.
NEWS a reward was, announced THE fbi got, involved and The governor Of, Arkansas Orval, faubus said he wanted to be personally updated on the progress of this, case but after a while it went. Cold in nineteen sixty, nine The Probate court Of Washata county declared Maud crawford dead and said she had likely been a victim of foul. Play, then in nineteen eighty, Six Beth, brokel an, actress screenwriter and producer who was a native Of, camden came back
home and tried to help crack the. Case according To Ay, magazine best agent At cia told her.
The story would make a great. Movie So beth had an.
Idea she was going to research this case and write a screenplay about. It beth came To camden with a. Plan that's what she Told Ay.
Magazine.
QUOTE i planned to ask questions for three, weeks write a rough draft of a screenplay in three, weeks and return TO LA i learned within the first week that the case had never been properly, investigated AND i decided to forget the screenplay for the time being and put on my investigative reporter hat.
Instead end. QUOTE i really relate To.
Beth when she said, that because there are a lot of parallels between what she did and she experienced and WHAT i. Experienced going back To arkansas to investigate The Rebecca gould case in twenty, eighteen even though it had been thirty years Since man. Disappeared she found out a lot of people were afraid to talk to, her and
she said she got. Threats beth wrote a series of articles for The Arkansas, gazette but the story got bigger Than beth ever expected because after the first article was published in The Arkansas, gazette the newspaper was threatened with a lawsuit if they continued their, Coverage but to the newspaper's,
credit The gazette back there. Reporter they kept publishing articles over a series of five, months and best investigation centered on someone who had been mentioned multiple times In maud's case, file a woman named Rose berg and her, family specifically her,
nephew The Arkansas State Police Commissioner Mike. Berg aside from her passion for her legal, Work Maud crawford had a lot of hobbies and interests that kept her, busy and in addition to her job at the law, firm she was also paid to be the personal guardian to a woman Named Rose Newman. Berg Rose berg was an elderly woman who lived across the street From maud And.
Clyde she was very.
Sick he was sick, physically and she also suffered from, dementia so she needed care twenty four hours a. Day maud normally stopped by the house two to three times per. Day she paid the nurses and Helped rose with her legal. Affairs rose was a very wealthy. Woman she had an estate worth over twenty million. Dollars in nineteen fifty, five two years Before maud's, disappearance there was a competency. Hearing The Washatah County court Declared rose, incompetent And maud was
appointed her legal. Guardian Henry, Berg rose's, husband owned thousands of acres of land and of fortune in, oil royalties and other. Assets he And rose had no. Children When henry died in nineteen fifty according To best's reporting in The, gazette he left his, Nephew, mike The Arkansas State police, commissioner a quarter of his. Fortune he left the rest
of the money to his Wife. Rose Mike burg allegedly made comments to several people stating that he believed he was entitled to the rest of the estate because he had partnered with his uncle and other family members in a venture Called Bird.
Brothers But rose made a will With maud's.
Assistance in that, will she left her entire fortune to her three. Nieces mike was completely cut. Out maud Was rose's, adviser but she found herself in conflict not just With Mike, bird but with an attorney at her own law, practice one who worked closely With Mike. Burg her colleague scited With. Mike Mike burg challenged the, will and to back up his claims That rose's will should be, Invalidated mike produced real estate, documents documents that supposedly proved he owned some
of his aunt's. Land during best, investigation she located key documents in The Hempstead County. Courthouse the first was a landeed that transferred property From, rose who by then had been declared and, competent to one Of mike's, employees and then a second document later that same day transferring the
land from the that employee To. Mike beth claims That mike promised two employees money for helping them with the alleged document, scamp and then after the scheme was, completed one of the employees apparently asked for his promise cut of the, money But mike didn't come through with the money that he, promised so in her, Reporting beth claimed the employee went To.
Maud and complained that he hadn't been paid By Mike.
Burr maud Confronted Mike Burg beth Told box sixteen. Quote when she Left mike's, Office mike was heard, SAYING i wish To god that bitch was. Dead she disappeared six weeks later end. Quote Apparently maud figured out That mike's real estate documents were, fraudulent And maud had been working on getting those deeds declared null and. Void maud was, smart SO i believe she probably would have been. Successful the evidence was there in black and, white and she
was preparing a lawsuit Against Mike. Burn according to the case, file police Interviewed rose's nurses because remember she had twenty four hour nursing. Care they lived right across the street From maud And. Clyde the nurse that was on duty on That friday night Before maud Disappeared March, first said That maud came over To rose's house at around seven thirty or eight pm that. Evening she also came by
On saturday. Morning, now Normally maud would stop by two or three times a, day but the nurse said that was the last time that she saw her In rose's. Home Beth brakel stated at a talk at The Fayetteville Public library in twenty twenty three that she believed someone drove To maud's house between nine thirty and TEN, pm and That maud left the home with that. Person so why Wasn't Mike berg questioned at the, time this was just one of many questions that were raised about the
case file and the status of the. Investigation it turned Out Mike berg was not only a person with a lot of, money he also had a lot of.
Power he was the.
Head of The Arkansas State Police, commission which is made up of seven, members all appointed by The governor Of. Arkansas now at the, time The governor Of arkansas Was Arable, faubus and remember he was asking for personal updates on this. Case the commission controls The Arkansas State, police So mike was the guy in charge of the group that.
Was in charge of The Arkansas State.
Police this seems like a massive conflict of interest and one, that to my, knowledge was never. Addressed one of the People beth interviewed Was Otis. Henley he was the ORIGINAL asp detective on the. Case he said his investigation pointed To Mike, burr and he said he reported what.
He found to his, Boss Alan. Templeton after, That.
Otis Told beth he was, told, quote there's too much money, involved end, quote and that he later got taken off the case and his case files. Disappeared beth claimed there were other items potentially missing from the case, file including a. Receipt clyde Sold maud's car after she, disappeared and the buyer told police that he and a friend found a grocery store receipt under the car's front. Seat they noticed it was Dated march, second nineteen fifty.
Seven The devemont.
Disappeared they turned the piece of paper over and they saw a phone number scribbled on, It thinking it might be, Important dawn Told beth he gave the receipt to the. Police he was told it would be added to the case.
File it's unclear what happened to that. Receipt After Beth brockel's articles were, published The Arkansas State police started working on the case, again this time focusing On mike Burd but a lot of time had passed and a lot of the people who had been around and who could potentially have had information were Debt one of the people they most wanted to talk to Was Mike berg's, Bodyguard Jack. Doris the prosecuting attorney Subpoenaed Jack, doris but he was
already terminally ill with. Cancer an officer showed up to question, him and he literally lee died right before law enforcement had a chance to ask him any. Questions Mike berg also passed. Away he died in nineteen seventy, five so in the, end police never made any statements confirming his, guilt and no one was ever arrested or. Charged in twenty twenty, One Beth brackel did an interview With mitch
McCoy Of fox Sixteen. News she told him she'd actually Met maud, once back in the early nineteen fifties when she was in junior high. School beth said she remembered going over To maud's house And maud being lovely and kind to. Her beth said she Believes Mike berg's position as An Arkansas State police commissioner played a key role in him being.
Able to avoid.
Justice she Told fox sixteen quote he was used to getting everyone to do what he wanted to, do either by bribing him with gifts or by. Intimidation neither tactic would work on matd craft end. Quote beth published reprints of her articles in The gazette in a book Called The disappearance Of Maud. Crawford she went on to write two more. Books if you're interested in the, case they go into much more detail than we can do, here AND i highly recommend anyone with an interest in the
case check them. Out beth gives a lot more details in her articles and books about the alleged real estate. Fraud maud was in contact With rose's. Nieces she allegedly told them she had information that would Expose mike's efforts to falsify. Information rose died in nineteen sixty and after her, death her nieces were unable to locate the will That maud assisted her.
With there were supposed to be multiple.
Copies including one in a safety deposit, box but none wherever. Found in the, End mike berg inherited the entire twenty million dollar. Fortune he settled with the nieces a year, later giving them one hundred and eighty seven thousand dollars each the. Rest there was a lot of circumstantial. Evidence maud found documents showing That rose Transferred mike over twelve thousand, acres sixty two, properties and a bunch of oil. Royalties and these documents Had rose's signature on, them but it
was described By beth as being a shaky. Signature and remember this was After rose had been declared. Incompetent but even with all, that police never made a case Against Mike. Byrd neither he nor anyone else has been arrested in connection With maud's disappearance And. Clyde maud's family and friends in the community never learned what actually happened to. Her, eventually The Clifton street house was, sold so there's nothing to Commemorate maud's many historic.
Achievements she doesn't even have a.
Gravestone Camden Mayor Julian latt has stated he hopes to change that and to find a way to Honor maude's memory in the near.
Future even with all.
Of the circumstantial evidence That beth, uncovered there is one huge missing piece in this, puzzle and that Is maud's. Body police Believe maud was killed shortly after she. Disappeared When beth was asked if she had any theories about Where maud's remains might be, Buried beth said she thinks police should search land belonging To Mike burgh's family in an area Called Berg. Lake to this, Day Maud crawford's body has never been. Found I'm Katherine. Townsend this Is
Helen Gone Murder. Line Helen Gone murderline 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 James wheaton for legal.
Review noah camer mixed and scored this.
Episode our theme song is By Ben, Sale executive producers Of Virginia, Prescott Brandon, barr AND Lc. Crowley listen To Helen gone ad free by subscribing to The iHeart True Crime plush channel On Apple. Podcasts if you were interested in seeing documents and materials from the, case you can
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