1999 cold case arrest renews hope, interest in local unsolved cases
March 21 2019
"Traci Kegley, 30, disappeared in 1998 in Elmore County. Her car was found abandoned with her young daughter inside, who was unharmed. Kegley was never seen again. Foul play is expected.
11-year-old Shannon Paulk was killed in Autauga County in 2001. Her body found by hunters. Paulk’s killer is still in the wind.
“We always have hope, everyday we have hope that something will develop, something will turn up, something will be found that will give us direction,” Houston said.
For Houston, the cases are personal. He’s spent the better part of 20 years with the victims’ families sorting through leads. He says it’s his mission to close these cases with arrests before he retires at the end of his term, a mission he believes is still within reach.
“I saw the other day they had DNA evidence to establish who Jack the Ripper was - that’s incredible,” Houston said of the scientific advancements. “I hope it doesn’t take as long to solve our cases as it did Jack the Ripper.”
In 2018, a massive week-long search effort into Kegley’s disappearance brought droves of law enforcement to the Friendship Community in Elmore County.
Millions of dollars of equipment were utilized in the search, a $25,000 reward was on the table for anyone with information about Kegley’s disappearance.
Despite the unmatched effort on land and in water, the search turned over few leads.
“We had some stuff we sent to forensics on the Kegley case from the last search that we haven’t received anything of value on,” Houston explained."
Anyone with information on either case is asked to call CrimeStoppers, no matter how insignificant the tip may be. Callers can remain anonymous and still qualify for a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest. The number is 334-215-STOP (7867)."
March 21 2019
"Traci Kegley, 30, disappeared in 1998 in Elmore County. Her car was found abandoned with her young daughter inside, who was unharmed. Kegley was never seen again. Foul play is expected.
11-year-old Shannon Paulk was killed in Autauga County in 2001. Her body found by hunters. Paulk’s killer is still in the wind.
“We always have hope, everyday we have hope that something will develop, something will turn up, something will be found that will give us direction,” Houston said.
For Houston, the cases are personal. He’s spent the better part of 20 years with the victims’ families sorting through leads. He says it’s his mission to close these cases with arrests before he retires at the end of his term, a mission he believes is still within reach.
“I saw the other day they had DNA evidence to establish who Jack the Ripper was - that’s incredible,” Houston said of the scientific advancements. “I hope it doesn’t take as long to solve our cases as it did Jack the Ripper.”
In 2018, a massive week-long search effort into Kegley’s disappearance brought droves of law enforcement to the Friendship Community in Elmore County.
Millions of dollars of equipment were utilized in the search, a $25,000 reward was on the table for anyone with information about Kegley’s disappearance.
Despite the unmatched effort on land and in water, the search turned over few leads.
“We had some stuff we sent to forensics on the Kegley case from the last search that we haven’t received anything of value on,” Houston explained."
Anyone with information on either case is asked to call CrimeStoppers, no matter how insignificant the tip may be. Callers can remain anonymous and still qualify for a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest. The number is 334-215-STOP (7867)."
