Murder in Land Between the Lakes ~ Changing stories?

Over time, some of the original stories and information have changed in regards to Murder in Land Between the Lakes. One of the most high-profile of all the unsolved murders in the Land Between the Lakes area is the 1980 double murder of sisters Carla Atkins, 14, and Vickie Stout, 16. Why have some of the stories changed? Why has some of the original details provided to reporters across the LBL region shifted from the original version and then shifted again? Why has some of the original information shifted away from the original version or versions?

Cigarette Story and other information has Changed Over Time

The cigarette story in regards to the Carla Atkins/Vickie Stout child murders has changed and changed again over the last forty one years. Why is that? At first it was not reported that the two girls had left their home with the purpose of buying cigarettes. This is information the family of Carla and Vickie provided initially to law enforcement, but that information was not originally published in the very first news articles. Some say this is not significant. I say it could be important.

There is a difference between two girls buying candy and snacks as was originally reported and two teens buying cigarettes. The cigarette buying portion of the story did not come out publicly until some time later, perhaps years later.

Stories about possible evidence and what witnesses at the time told the media after Carla and Vickie went missing have changed over time. Why is that?

Certain information provided to the public by law enforcement immediately after the two sisters went missing, and then were found shotgunned to death in the Lost Creek/Mint Springs area of Land Between the Lakes, is now disregarded. Why is that?

Blue Truck Shade has changed

The shade of the color of the blue truck an eyewitness allegedly saw in proximity to the girls the day they went missing as initially reported has changed over time. Why is that?

Things in this case do not add up and they never have. I, for one, trust the initial information provided to the public and provided by law enforcement soon after the girls went missing to be more reliable and believable than what hearsay and the revised stories told now. But even that is sketchy as the information about the cigarette buying as opposed to just buying candy and snacks is different from the first to later. The later version seems to be the true version.

One of the key stories that I believe is significant has changed. That is the cigarette story. Law enforcement does not put much stock in the change in the cigarette story. That is their prerogative. It is my opinion the initial story is significant and the fact the story changed and has changed several times is significant. This is not the only information that has changed since it was first released.

I believe the clue or clues to solving this unsolved double murder of two Stewart County, Tennessee children is at the VERY start.

Clues are still there

I believe a clue has been overlooked, or possibly overlooked. I believe that clue can still found. I believe that clue can still be be examined and matched with other clues; and I believe that will lead to the solving of this case.

The clue may have been overlooked for any reason or reasons. My belief and opinion is that it was overlooked because this started out as a bad investigation. I do not think it was a good investigation. I do think initially the investigation was possibly on the right track. Then, suddenly, before the bodies of the girls were found three weeks after they went missing, information reported initially began to change. I think the change was to make the clues or evidence fit certain theories.

I think that is what is happening now.

Runaways or not?

Initially it was reported the two girls were believed to be runaways. The family of Carla and Vickie say they never told law enforcement they believed the girls had run away. Where did that come from? Law enforcement also told one newspaper at the time the girls had disappeared and before their bodies were found that the girls had been seen in a “food line” or “soup kitchen” in Nashville. That person who allegedly had seen them was supposed to have been a reliable witness. This information is not discussed by law enforcement now. Was that information true or not true? If it was not true, why was it told to a newspaper for publication? If it was true, why is that not being followed up on? Or has it been followed up on? Who knows? I don’t.

Different Theories and No Arrests

There are several theories as to who, how and why Carla Atkins and her sister Vickie Stout were murdered. I actually have nine different theories. None of them may be the correct one.

I do not know the identity of the killer or killers. I have never speculated as to the identity of the killer or killers. I have nine different theories. They may all be wrong. Some may eventually dovetail into others and lead to one theory that is possibly the correct one.

I have seen it published in another publication that the identity of the killer is know to family members of Carla and Vickie.. If that is so, then I say to those making the claims: You yourself go and testify directly to the Stewart County, Tennessee Grand Jury and present your evidence and get an indictment. Indictments are not that hard to get. However, if you are unable or unwilling to go before the grand jury, testify and get an indictment , then you do not know who is the guilty party.

The best and most helpful story published about the murders — after the first flurry of stories were published by media outlets across the region — is the one featured below by The Nashville Tennessean where they interviewed former Stewart County Sheriff John Vinson, soon after he took office after former Sheriff David Hicks resigned to take a job with the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s office.

Below is a blurb I wrote on Facebook about the murders. I posted this last year around the 40th anniversary of the girls’ disappearance, which was on Sept. 17, 1980 Their bodies were found about three weeks later in LBL.

Read my blurb below”

“This is one of the discrepancies I feel is significant. Most investigators I’ve talked with brush the inconsistencies in statements to the side. I don’t. — Here is the short version on the changing cigarette story …— At first in 1980 there were no cigarettes bought by the girls. Then in 1997 John Vinson said they bought cigarettes. In 2014 investigators said they had said all along there were cigarettes and it is not a big deal. I asked the investigator how old he was in 1980 when the girls were murdered and did he live in Dover then? He said he was not born until after 1980. I said, then you really don’t know what you are talking about, do you? I think it was a short time after that when he said he might charge me with obstruction of justice. I told him to go for it.”

He didn’t because I didn’t. I am an old school investigative reporter from the old days of real newspapers (or at least I was in the old days.) I’ve had cops threaten me before. Reporters seeking the truth do not scare easily. Old school cops know that. Not sure if the new ones have ever had dealings with a real reporter.

This reporter has mellowed some; so have investigators

I have mellowed out some since I wrote the above blurb.

I wrote the above comment years ago and I have had time since then to speak with the investigator who was hinting at obstruction of justice. (He was just trying to see if I would back down, I believe now.) I ran into this investigator a few years ago. We had a very good and positive conversation. He was and is no longer assigned to the murder case. This investigator actually asked me how my investigation was going and if I was still following the case. I told him I was. He wished me good luck and he seemed sincere. This investigator is no longer assigned to the case.

I have often said this case is like trying to hold water tightly in your hands. The harder you grasp, the more it slips away.

However, whenever I try to put some distance between myself and the case, it always seems to come over and tap me on the shoulder and say, “Look at this!”

These are OPINIONS based on observations. I, David R. Ross, have NEVER accused any one person or person of being the murderer or murderers of Carla and Vickie. I do not know who did it. I wish I did.

https://www.tn.gov/tbi/general-information/tbi-tips.html

https://lblus.com/

This story will update

Story by David R. Ross — LBLUS.com