Children in Prison
Commentary on ‘A Murder Before Homecoming’, which aired on American Justice this week.
A&E aired the story A Murder Before Homecoming on American Justice this week. The good ‘ole boys in Texas have got to be the meanest, most ignorant men alive. I’m certain District Attorney Tim Cole was congratulated all-around for his convictions in this case. Did any of these men’s mothers have children who lived?
I could never be accused of being a liberal or someone who’s soft on crime but one certainly has to seriously question the logic of putting children in prison for life. Children, yes, I’m calling them exactly what they are. I mean come on people.
American Justice made a big deal out of the victim’s age — "she was only 16-years-old" — was a phrase repeated often. It took over half-an-hour to locate the ages of the boys involved in the murder. Well it’s tragic that a girl so young could be viciously gunned down. It made me sick when I was finally able to verify my suspicions. Two of the boys, the ones who did not pull the trigger, they were both only 17-years-old. One-year older than the girl, who was out drinking and partying, in the middle of the night, without her parent’s permission!
Did she deserve to die for being irresponsible? No. Do the boys deserve life in prison for watching someone else shoot an innocent girl in cold blood, then dumping the body and keeping silent? Well let’s see…
- By law, the boys must attend school, until they are 18-years-old.
- By law, these boys can’t be treated medically, without their parent’s permission.
- By law, the boys can’t buy or consume alcohol.
- By law, they can’t smoke cigarettes.
- By law, the boys can’t drive without a license and their parent’s permission.
- By law, they can’t work without a work permit from their school.
It is a well-known fact that girls mature at a younger age than boys do. All their lives they have been treated like children. The law prevents children from making important decisions for themselves, some – like drinking – until they are 21-years-old.
Anyone who has ever had children can tell you how long it can take for some children to grow up. Most children – especially boys, don’t really begin to mature until they are around 30 years-old.
Back in the 1800s & early 1900s, children were getting married at the tender of age of 12 or 13. There is a reason the laws have been changed. These two boys should be housed in a youth facility and given intense counseling, to help them cope with what they have been through. I can’t begin to imagine just how much a life in prison will change these young people, and how impossible it will be for them to adjust to living in society, onces they are released from prison, to return to their communities at the age of 50, having never lived on the outside.
The lawmakers have decided to pick and choose when they believe a child becomes an adult. It is unfair to them to be held accountable for a terrible mistake, when they weren’t old enough to cope with the situation they were in. For most accounts the older boy probably belongs in prison, he still wasn’t old enough to drink but presumably he could vote and make most other decisions for himself. Randy and Josh should be given the help they need, not thrown away like yesterday’s garbage.
If you agree – especially if you live in Texas, call your legislator, write a letter, and express your outrage. I don’t know any of the parties involved, but I do know what it’s like to be young, to do something stupid and to be forced to live with the consequences of those actions.
Prison Statistics
- Most youth sent to adult prisons are 17-year-olds, males, minorities, and person offenders
- Court Considers Juvenile Life Sentences
- Disturbing prison statistics
- So, Our children are doomed to prison?
- Prison Statistics
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Yes Ms. Evans died in February 2009. Angelina Mitchell continues to post comments about a dead woman and disrespect her because Curtis Gambill defended Marlie as Angelina spread lies about her. She and Sara Wood were obsessed with Josh Bagwell and anyone he became involved with.
Can anybody confirm this: Police later found evidence in Heather’s room that proved she pursued Bagwell and others for sexual purposes?
Somebody said that on another blog about this case.
I heard her name was Marlie Tulles. Randy Wood’s ex-wife says she married another convict. She claims to know everything about her. I read on another site that Sara stalked her and ran her out of Texas. She moved to Colorado with her inmate when he was paroled. Angelina Mitchell follows her activities also. She may be dead from old age by now. She is 40+ years older than Josh.
Sara Wood says Josh’s people pretend to be her posting things about her struggle with a weight problem. I guess those same people like to talk bad about the dead woman.
I read all those mean jokes about her weight. Someone even attacked the victim’s mother’s weight. It was so crazy. I thought they looked alike and seem nice.
I seen the same type of post when a LONELY lady OLDER who was writing this Joshua Bagwell fellow.. Then he dropped her, she left Dallas and became a Stripper.. So who cares marlene Evans mcKinney..
Angelina, you are partly right. Marlene McKinney bottomed out when Josh Bagwell dumped her for a young beauty pageant winner. She moved to Huntsville and tended bar, living in poverty in a little trailer near the lake – quite the slums. She was 57 when died late last year from a massive heart attack.
That is not all true. Her name was not McKinney and she was only in her 40’s but died last February 2009.
So, she really did die? Hadn’t heard that!
Marlie Evans did not marry a convict. She married a physical therapist she knew from her childhood. She did not “bottom out” over Josh Bagwell. She cared a lot for him and he was dishonest and left a lot out about who he really is.
I knew her for 25 years. She was not psycho as told by Wood’s exwife and Gambill’s nutball ex girlfriend. She died of a heart attack way too young while she was cycling with her husband and a group of friends. There was nothing trashy about her life as stated on these sites. She was a good friend, wife, daughter, sister. She had one time been a good friend to Bagwell.
maybe he knows something the rest of us are interested in hearing. Who cares if he writes him.. Are you jealous.. He no longer writes you??
William, you might want to move on too – you are posting about one of the murderers like you know it all. Are you one of those lonely men who writes inmates and sends them money?
All of you should just let this rest. Bagwell is trying to be the best guy he can be and he knows what this life holds for him. Just move on. I know him and he isn’t some lunatic and there is no conspiracy theories here.
Everyone needs to get a life and do what Josh is doing – working on self-improvement.
I went to school with Randy Wood. He was just an average guy and in love like crazy with Heather. I knew her too. She liked lots of guys. He must have snapped when he heard about that party where she was with about four or five guys.
Misty, do you have any insight about who Heather was? How long had Josh known Heather? and if true, what was Randy’s motive to kill Heather?
I also heard that Curtis tried to get two other girls in the trailer as well, (this was before Heather came over) have you heard about this?
Bout time he has a mentor. Wish he would have had a good one earlier in life. I have never known him to listen to anyone. Suprising.
My husband has been a mentor to Joshua for years and we know him very well. I have no “authority” over anyone except myself. I only know the facts and the truth, which is very simple.
Hey Misty… you did not answer Maureen’s question – I would be interested to know the answer – thankyou
Randy got the harsher sentence because he murdered Heather. His remorse is not sincere and was a tactic to attempt gaining sympathy. He did all that BEFORE his trial. It didn’t work.
Why was Randy given such a harsh sentence? Parole after 30 years? Randy seems like the only remorseful one out of the whole bunch. I agree that he should be punished but parole after 30 years served?
The one thing that thrills me is that Bagwell, and none of these inmates, are writing a book or having a book written for them. Let them get an education inside the WALLS of a prison but don’t let them have a voice outside the prison walls because that’s where they belong.
And to think that all one of them had to do was say, “no, we are not going to do this” and four lives would not have been wasted.
I emailed that writer to ask him if there was any truth to this or whether he had any contact with Bagwell. I am waiting for a response and will post it here if I get it.
Misty,
You talk like you know Joshua Bagwell personally. Do you visit him? Why do you talk with such authority like you know the answers to everything?
Fill us in on the book thing. Was there ever anything to it?
Maureen
There are programs available in many states. When he was in ad seg, his family or personal resources had to pay for educational opportunities, but general population inmates can utilize many programs if they choose. My mother worked within the education system in prisons in Texas until she retired and then volunteered for many years. Programs are there, yet so few want to participate. I know Gambill is a high school graduate, but don’t know if Wood ever furthered his education or got a GED.
Thank you so much for your post Misty S. I am so glad that some good has come out of this tragedy. Gaining the knowledge is only one side of the coin. I’d be curious to see if he can put that expensive education to good use. He has a debt to pay for his crimes and I hope that boy learns how to do right and appreciate the life God gave him.
Does anyone have any personal knowledge of any of his accomplices?
This only goes to shore up my original thoughts on this case. Children do not belong in prison — at least not housed within the general prison population. These boys (and they were boys when they were charged) should have been given a chance to improve themselves and apparently their are programs available to aid prisoners.
I will be interested to see how he turns out.
You will be disappointed to know that not only did Bagwell get a GED, but he received a bachelor’s degree and is now working on completion of a master’s degree. He happens to have a high intellect and has not been turned into a punk. That happens to very few prisoners.
I find this entire discussion about a book a big joke. First of all, Bagwell is uneducated. He never graduated from high school and grew up in a small town. He probably writes like a third grader and has the emotional and mental ability of a junior high school student. His participation in a twisted crime has landed him in a twisted maximum security prison where he lives with other animals. What could he possibly have to say that would contribute something positive to humanity?
I also checked the webiste in question that “supposedly” posted news of an upcoming book about the case. The website says nothing of the sorts. I think this was all bull.
I agree with the previous post that calls for people to move on with their lives. We have a life out here because we are good citizens. 99% of the people in prison are cruel ruthless people. They are caged up and are basically crazy.
I just read your link to the document regarding the Rich family suing Beaver Lumber Co. I was shocked. How could they try to profit financially from such a tragedy? I had no idea and it really changes my mind about things. Were they partly responsible for this horrible tragedy? Did their feelings of guilt for neglecting their parenting responsiblities contribute to the situation? Did they create the media circus to cover up or create a diversion from their parental neglect?
Patsy,
Forget about this whole case and let the offenders rot in jail. Why has Bagwell never spoken? The case is finished but he never says a word because he is guilty. They are all guilty. Any person with an ounce of integrity would have reported the murder straight away. Bagwell went home and went to sleep. They all did. Then they ALL denied knowing anything. None of them were upset about what happened. Bagwell is thinking of writing a book?? Ha ha! The scum will never do that in a million years because he is GUILTY. If he had a story to tell of his innocence, he would do it because he would feel unjustly incarcerated. He went to prison at 17. I am sure he was turned out.
Forget about this case, these convicts, these killers, and let’s all move on with our lives.
Dan
Why would you be shocked that the Rich family sought damages for the brutal murder of their daughter? The lumber company sold shells to underage boys.
And the idea that Rich parents were bad so somehow contributed to her murder is stupid. It doesn’t matter anyway. OK so she sneaked out at night and her parents didn’t check on her. She fell into the hands of murderers. These three boys were time bombs. If they hadn’t murdered heather, they would have ended up murdering someone else later.
Give me a break people. I know these boys of friends posting on this board for them to somehow save their name. Misty is one of them. She is probably Bagwell’s girlfriend or mom.
There is no book…Joshua is not writing a book and there is no one writing a book on his behalf.
Why are there still people talking about this? Why would any idiot say that Josh was the shooter? This was a tragic incident that tore families apart and detroyed the lives of 4 very young people.
Find something better to do! Donate your time to building places in communtities that youth can go to hang out and not only be safe from happenings like this, but be educated about the results of drug and alchohol use, promiscuity, and most importantly how to raise your children in loving homes so that they are not retreating to the companionship of manipulating drug dealers that make them feel the “love and respect” they need to be getting at home.
Dads read this story and understand it! If you are not showing your daughter the love and attention they desire, someone who will never have the same intentions as you do will.
Moms raise your sons to respect women, show them the example daily of how a woman should be carrying herself, and to stay away from the girls who “sleep” with everyone in town.
Josh was a very important person to me, a person who was almost predestined to end up in a bad situation. He had all the money he could have spent, and had people that loved him but in ignorance consistantly showed him that by throwing money at everything instead of their time and affection. So, he like many other spoiled unattentend teenagers found the attention he desired in the arms of drug and alchohol using manipulative people.
Well, regardless of what you say, Bagwell was offered a 15 year plea bargain. I think the book that is coming out will give insight into Bagwell's character. Does anyone know anything about the author this book? I doubt Josh's name will be on it because that will mean just another lawsuit.Man, one mistake, so long ago. I guess karma works in mysterious ways. It must be a past life thing happening here.
If Bagwell is the killer, why did the other two boys point the finger at each other? Let me guess… Bagwell's mother payed them??? LOL
If I am correct, (and somebody correct me if I am wrong) that Josh was offered only 15 years in prison if he would admit that Curtis was the one who shot Heather.I read that on the JJBoards. Yet…The person also was saying, it is a crime from the 80's. I wouldn't believe everything wrote on the internet..That little Bagwell boy.. Would have jumped right on those 15 years, him and his Mother was not stupid.. Maybe dumb.. Just not stupid.I do not think the state of Texas, would have offered a little sentence of 15 years on this crime. Do you know the law in Texas, then I do not see anyone charged w/ CAPITAL MURDER getting 15 years.Plus, I think the Texas Monthly was not that good of a story..
I beg to differ, I think the Bagwell kid is the killer.
Unfortunately the rumor was more than skinny dipping was going on. There was a lot of talking around Waurika about particular girls and sexual promiscuity.
It is not total bull. The Rich family sued Josh Bagwell's grandparents who they thought were "rich".
Gail Rich DID sue the Bagwell family. She lost tho. She attempted a number of suits and failed at them all.
I like your point that the person killed and the killer rarely know each other. That is true except for the cases of serial killers. The argument that Heather's parents went for Josh for his money, is total bull. Josh had no money and the Rich family could not sue his parents for something he did.It is really hard to know who to believe in this case. The only person who was never pointed at for being the trigger person was Josh. He didn't shoot her. We know that much.
If I am correct, (and somebody correct me if I am wrong) that Josh was offered only 15 years in prison if he would admit that Curtis was the one who shot Heather. Also, if I remember correctly, Heather and Curtis did not know each other but that she knew Randy and Josh very well since she went to school with them. In the Texas Monthly article it states a rumor that Randy was mad at Heather because she had gone skinny dipping at a co-ed pool party.P.S. overkill usually means that it is someone who the victim knew, most victims and the people who murder them know each other. It is rare that you will have a victim and a murderer who do not know one another.
Q for anybody who knew Randy:What would have been his motive to kill Heather if in fact he did?
Josh Bagwell was unfairly judged because Gail Rich had a vendetta against his mother and grandparents. She felt they were more financially successful than her and she wanted their so-called money. She would rather the real killer (Randy Wood) get a lighter sentence just to see Josh get more. It is and was so pathetic. What had she gained? She tried to get money too and was unsuccessful, making it all so obvious. I feel so sorry for her.
Josh Bagwell denied a plea agreement to tell the truth and expose Wood as the actual shooter. I wonder why he didn't go on tv to get publicity, sympathy and a following of lonely women???
They are talking about the morning after she was shot. So of course, Heather went missing that morning. It sounds like Randy went to school. Where can I read the full transcript of those interviews?
I was searching the case and goggled "Heather Rich" and I found some of the case online under images..While, I watched Heather's mother interview. She said "She had gained access to an absent day list from the list the morning that Heather went missing". Yet, Randy Wood Tell's in his statement…HE WENT TO SCHOOL.So what is it??I think we are giving Randy Wood credit and yet I think even Mother of the girl can not get her story right. Maybe he is not telling the truth. Does anyone else not see it?
How could Heather Rich receive proceeds? If someone authors the book for Josh Bagwell, the author would receive any profit. I imagine it would be worth any profit to simply have his story out there, one to expose Randy Wood for the murderous fraud he is – the one so many girls/women have fallen for in their foolish pursuit of some sort of romantic illusion.
I am sure the writer of the book will make the profits. It is very difficult to have a book of any kind published and it takes a lot of sales to make a profit. Since Josh Bagwell did not murder Heather Rich, her family will not likely receive any proceeds.
This what i read when I went to this site..All characters appearing in Patrick Maher’s work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidentalSo, i also understand after talking to Lisa at the Court's in Montague County..Joshua Bagwell was offered a VERY lite sentence to testify against Curtis Gambill. Yet he refused. WHY?? Because maybe Curtis was not the shooter.
I think Bagwell holds the answer to the case. He passed a polygraph and refused to say Gambill did it even though he was offered a plea. Maybe Wood thought he'd be a hero by rejecting his plea and walk free. Where is the information on this Bagwell book?
Bagwell can't write a book and get money from it. So I assume the proceeds will go to Heather Rich?
Is anyone in touch with Bagwell who can confirm that he has been contacted by a writer? There are laws that prohibit Bagwell from profiting from writing about the crime so how would that work?Is this a rumor or true? Josh passed a lie detector test and refused to take a plea saying Curtis did it. If he had done that, he'd likely be a free man today.
I am sure most people agree that Wood was the shooter. Curtis Gambill did not have a motive. Prosecutors try to create one, as they always do in similar cases. Randy Wood acted in a jealous rage. That has been stated countless times. Only his girlfriends say differently.
Randy Wood’s Trial Transcript, at the Bagwell trial.
“I pulled up around – I pulled up beside the trailer. Curtis went up and knocked on the door, you know, we just didn’t want to barge in, and Josh came to the door and said hold on, and he went and got some clothes on or something. And then at that time I parked the truck, and me and Curtis went inside.
Heather was coming up from the very back of the trailer, and Josh was – I think he was helping her. We got in the trailer and Josh helped her up there and he sat her up on the bed. And she started telling me she was sorry and – about what just happened, I suppose…â€
(p 1090: 7-13, 16-18, 20-23)
“She was very drunk.â€
(p 1091: 6)
“At that point in time I was going to have sex with her, but then, I mean, I decided not to. And then I went back up front and I grabbed me another beer and I lit me a cigarette. And I sat up there and I just – Curtis went to the back, and I don’t know what he did, I don’t know how he done it, because there was a curtain, like a draw curtain and he pulled it closed and, whatever he did, I don’t know, I didn’t see him. And after he was finished, I guess he come back up to the front.â€
***I am in no way involved in this case, still looking at the children in society today and research. When I read this from the other site and found this site. I thought I’d post this to say HUMM !
I listened to the Wood’s interview. That which I heard and watched him. Now, his interview’s say “Curtis Gambill” had sex with her. Yet, I wonder, why does he describe in court as if “he don’t know what Curtis done? He don’t know how he done it.
Then on TV the media said it was an 18' Travel Trailer. Would you not know what was going on? I think I would. I am sure this young boy [Wood] would know if the girl who was just saying no to Wood, another was having sex that close to Wood, I think I would KNOW!!
I just think this is all in question to me. As to who is telling any truth here. How can we view any of what Curtis or Joshua have to say in court? I am glad I viewed this, now I see why some people might oppose Randy’s story and with me not even be involved with these young men as far as Family, Friends or any type of Pen-Pal. Just an observation!!
Very well stated. I totally agree. All the folks close to this case (other than the Bagwell clan) are uneducated and not very well informed, in general. They were blinded in their simple view of everything, as well as in denial. Heather's parents had to feel they had been fooled and had allowed an evil being like Wood into their home and near their daughter. It was easier to pretend he was innocent than to face their own failure to protect their child from a killer.
So, fearing the death penalty, Curtis Gambill also made an agreement with the D.A. to testify in exchange for the chance to plead guilty and received a life sentence. This agreement was identical to that of Randy Wood except in one very important aspect: Curtis Gambill was forced to always “admit†that he was the actual shooter of Heather Rich or he would face further punishment. Now Randy Wood and Curtis Gambill had both made agreements with the D.A. and the only person left who would face trial was Josh Bagwell. Even though he never gave a statement to police he always maintained that he had no knowledge that Heather was going to be killed that night and did not take part in any plan to kill her. One can imagine what was going through Randy Wood’s mind at this point. He had made an agreement to testify in exchange for a life sentence, but then Curtis Gambill had made the same agreement for a life sentence with the exception that he plead guilty to actually being the triggerman. Randy Wood must’ve thought at this point that he didn’t get such a good deal. After all, if the supposed killer only got a life sentence, surely he can’t do any worse than that. So it is not surprising that right before Josh’s trial, Randy Wood backed out of his agreement to testify. But what happened after that put an odd twist in this case and brought it national media attention. Even though Randy Wood backed out of his plea bargain, he decided to testify against Josh anyway, claiming that he just wanted to tell the “truthâ€. The media bought into this without even questioning his motives and turned him into a martyr for conscience in the public eye. But in reality, he still had every reason in the world to lie. Both of the other two boys were accusing him of being the shooter and he wanted desperately to be believed. Further, he did not want to spend the rest of his life in prison. Generally, the media portrays Randy Wood as having made a sacrifice, but how could that be? He backed out of a plea bargain that would have given his a life sentence only to risk a trial where he faced no more than the same life sentence. That is no sacrifice.
Bellknap Creek bridge, just across the boarder in Texas. Randy Wood says that Curtis Gambill shoots Heather at this point. However, Joshua Bagwell and Curtis Gambill both say it was Randy Wood who shot Heather with a gun that was in the truck along with other hunting and camping equipment. And who has the most likely motive? Josh did not rape Heather – all three boys agree on that. Nor did he have any reason to be mad at her. Curtis Gambill did not rape Heather – everyone, including Randy Wood, agrees on that. And he didn’t have a reason to be made at her either. But Randy Wood has admitted to being made at Heather for several weeks and has admitted to trying to force himself on her. He’s admitted that he thinks she’s had sex with the other two boys, and he’s admitted that she rejected him. So who has the best motive to kill Heather Rich?
Things looked pretty grim for Curtis Gambill. He was about to face a death penalty trial in a state notorious for its liberal use of the death penalty. Randy Wood had made a plea bargain and was going to testify that Gambill was the shooter. Further, the murder weapon had been Gambill’s shotgun and he had a prior felony offense for carrying a weapon and had also spent time in a juvenile detention center for that. The only uncertainty was Josh – he had still not given a statement to police and no one was quite sure what he would say. That uncertainty was enough for Gambill to use to negotiate for a plea bargain, but he knew that if for some reason Josh decided to testify against him, that window of opportunity would be gone.
The other possibility is that it was Randy Wood who shot Heather because he was angry over her messing around with the other two boys that night and refusing him. She was his long-time girlfriend and they had broken up bitterly only two weeks prior to Heather’s murder, so this is very plausible. As you will see, his own admissions in trial regarding this are startling. And of course, if Wood shot Heather simply out of anger and jealousy, it is very unlikely that the other two boys knew about it beforehand.
I think it is incredibly interesting to read the misinformation that is posted on all these sites. The truth is they were all three guys that didn’t have enough people telling them to behave. They had freedoms that teenagers shouldn’t have had and access to things that should have been restricted. That is what made them fun, interesting, exciting. That is what drew us all to them. Heather was there on the night it got ugly. She was no better or worse than any other girl in our county, she was normal. The lesson – it isn’t enough to just care about your children, teach them consequences. Four lives were lost.
Absolutely. Randy Wood flipped out when his girlfriend was having casual sex with the two other boys. He killed her.
Correct. According to Josh Bagwell, Randy Wood was the shooter. No doubt. He would know. Wood thought that poor little illiterate boy act would fool the jury. It didn't work.I think my comment was misunderstood. I read off the site where Joshua comment when asked what or who, in court in Feb. 1998 He stated" I seen Curtis, I mean Randy"This character [Joshua] is very confused.
I cannot understand your question. Are you saying these men should not be fed? The "overkill" is a rwsult of Wood's jealous rage.
Randy Wood staged that whole public apology with his bff Gail Rich before he went to trial in an attempt to influence the public to let him walk after killing that girl. He conveniently blamed Curtis Gambill.
Correct. According to Josh Bagwell, Randy Wood was the shooter. No doubt. He would know. Wood thought that poor little illiterate boy act would fool the jury. It didn't work.
I think there is more here from reading all over the net, the letters and I wonder has the media ever interviewed Joshua or Curtis?We've only heard him [Randy] on the "American Justice" where the brief little interview that was on 20/20 yet. I can not discover it at this time. They showed it briefly, yet how can we watch it? The 20/20 interview, it suppose to have Curtis, also I did read on the AJ board.
How ever this is so true, yet..It is pretty odd, to let others tell what they might know.Even if it is about what is happening today, in these people's lives..It's just makes better research for some.Does anyone oppose, while they are in Prison and we're feeding them anyways..We can search into where this all might have lead up to the result of her death. If it is as Randy tells his story and the cause is Rape? Then why the over kill.. That should be the subject of discussion I think.Why the over kill?
Well..Good for Josh. His story is probably closer to the truth than any other. It might upset all the Randy Wood groupies/girlfriends/wives. He may expose the true character of several others in this case. Interesting.I must say, if this young mans version of the accounts of this story.. His own testimony, says it all..If Tell's the truth so much.The man said in court, that he looked up and Curtis I mean Randy had the gun.So, there we have the truth folk's. As this young swore in court!! You can not make a simple mistake as that.
The future of these three convicted killers is life in prison. Very simple. Duh!!!
There is a lot of information available online about the escape and capture. The four escapees were also featured on America's Most Wanted.
This is posted to the search of Curtis Gambill.. I thought he took a jailer hostage.. I see he some how slipped through again..http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af218/utah_hunting/SAVE.jpgIs there another site, to learn about the the future of all 3 involved..The case is solved and disposed up. I rather read of how it is turning out. I think before it is over more paper work might come forward.No one post's on the site where I am reading info on these involved.Does anyone know if Joshua Bagwell had his hostage code removed??
Off the subject but I cant believe they escaped! Its like a lifetime movie. How did they get out and how did they get caught? Did they turn themselves in?
I know that there was a man named Paul Fectua that was once interested in writting a book but felt that he had an inadequate amount of information to do so. If anyone has any information about a book being written I would like to know more. I also am curious about the wife/girlfriend situation. I am in no way interested in persuing something with any of the three of these men, wasnt when they were on the outside and surely not now, so contact information isnt necessary. I am just curious as to why there are so many conflicting statements on this site. I am particularly interested in learning more about Josh Bagwell. Primarily his stance on the case and any current information. It seems that he is the least mentioned of the three and the most descreet. Thanks in advance.
Maybe why this Dennis Goss name is put out there and why does a letter written by Randy Wood, sound as if he has messed up somehow, talking in this letter. Is it real?? I mean it had an envelope that looked real to me, and what type of photo was he sending 2 young other boys in a jail house??
What do you want to know?
We do not care about the issue of women who find men in prison, have you ever picked up someone in a bar??We want to know about this case..
Does anyone here understand what attracts women to men in prison, men they will never have a real relationship with? There are posts here from girls who are married to these boys. What type of girl pursues a boy she sees on a crime show?
I believe Randy Wood to be the actual killer of Heather Rich. I also do not think he is as dumb as he looks and sounds. He may have been advised by a number of people since most of his family members have been in trouble with the law. He was never on the line for a death sentence. That was incorrectly reported by the media. Heather's mother knew he was responsible and she knew the trouble her daughter had been in with drugs, sex and alcohol. Heather had been suicidal days before her murder. She was a very troubled girl who was involved with the wrong boy and he killed her. Randy Wood pulled that trigger.
There was no conspiracy in this murder. Randy Wood is solely responsible. Gambill and Bagwell are guilty of helping dispose of the body as they feared Wood's rage and dominance as he waved around a shotgun like a mad man.
Josh Bagwell is a lot smarter than the other two. Randy Wood seemed like a dim wit in a show I saw him on A&E. I bet he never even finished high school or got his GED. He is in a white supremist gang too.
I have read the few links, associated with the Rich murder. As a new reader, trying to put some of the puzzle together here. In fear of not being able to get a positive or serious answer I do dare ask?
Who and what does Dennis Goss death have to do with the Rich murder? It does me have me curious, I am new to the story and just what and who and what part does he play in all of this?
What county and state is he from?
I’d like to add also, my husband is a stroke victim and he was not very old at the time of his stroke. I feel the people who are writing about the Mitchell woman, as I read the other comment. Must have a personal issue with her. I’d like to add…God will in time take care of this person.
Angelina,
I’d like to say hold your head up. You had the courage to not come on here and comment about people and fail prey to the person trying to push your buttons and I have seen your photos and I see why they comment so hateful about “Your photos”. They wish they might have that BEAUTIFUL smile you do have.
I always think, having a positive attitude will get you further in life. That is why I do so well in my career.
Poor Heather was the victim of Wood’s maddening rage over her insecurity and neglect. She was so young and so troubled. It is still sad that she had sex with so many boys and ended up murdered by Randy Wood.
I feel sorry for Angelina. She cannot help it that she does not have beauty. She seems to try real hard to look sexy even if she is handicapped. There is nothing wrong with that. Looks aren’t everything.
Why do you care that Angelina is not pretty? Most people aren’t especially people who go after criminals. She is probably lonely and wants date. Gambill took advantage of that los self esteem. He is a horrible creep.
Try not to be so hard on a woman who seeks romance with a man in prison. There is so much more to the insecurity and obvious things like lack of beauty and intellect. These women need professional help and more understanding from the general public. Ease up!
Take care of Angelina? You obviously do not know her. She is a very mean and vindictive person who tries everything possible to harm others. She has a mental disorder as well as a very dark spirit.
I know Angelina Mitchell personally and she is no victim. She is not even a nice person. She is very bitter that Curt Gambill used her and then tossed her aside.
The suicide of Dennis Goss is totally unrelated to Randy Wood murdering Heather Rich. Randy was obsessed with Heather and his rage over her promiscuity. There was no rape that night. Heather should not be dead, but her murder does not erase her very troubling behavior with drugs, alcohol and a lot of casual sex.
Her family knew about those problems and had lost control long before her murder. It is not uncommon in our society for many young people to fall to the wayside and turn to this sort of trouble in search of attention and acceptance.
No one is laughing at the woman with the damaged face. She attacks others and is no victim. That paralysis may be caused from alcohol and drug abuse. Any woman or girl who sees a killer on TV, pursues him in prison and marries him definitely has a personal issue. The handicapped person who chased Curtis Gambill is not a decent person.
Someone needs to remind Randy Wood about the girl he murdered. I just saw that A&E show last week and she was just a kid. It is so sad. I bet her parents were broken hearted. I could never act like her mother did on TV. I would be too sad.
Hi. I am Mrs. Randy Wood. My husband is innocent and we are still together. We are strong. I am a good person who works hard for my man. Go to school to do better to send him more money for commissary. I am a beautiful big-boned girl not fat just chubby so don’t go there. I can’t help my weight problem. I am a good person.
Why all the hateful remarks toward-s a person and especially is someone is handicapped?
I think whoever is writing this, has a personal issue.I do not see where someone having a stroke or is handicapped is a laughing issue unless your just SICK.
This discussion is not about Gambill’s mistakes with women. Who cares about penpal lovers. None of that is real. A troubled young girl was murdered and there is still no proof which boy killed her.
This case is so sad! I feel for Heather’s friends and family who have had to go 13 years without their daughter, niece, sister, granddaughter and friend.
RIP Heather!
Be careful! Angelina Mitchell will try to harm you for posting that. She is determined to harm anyone opposing her fantasy. I feel so sorry for her. She appears to be physically handicapped and is hurtful towards others for it.
I feel so sorry for Angelina Mitchell. She makes a fool of herself for Curtis Gambill. She is way too old for him and should find a 60+ year old man that looks old like her.
Dennis and Curtis were never friends Dennis thought he was a white trash punk who would eventually end up behind bars. If you did not or do not know these people please dont post personal info like its a fact.
RIP Dennis
I agree. I looked at the "Curtis Gambill" page. Nothing made me think more or less of him. It just made me feel very sorry for the author, if I can call her that. It does appear there are medical issues and facial paralysis, making it even more heartbreaking.
I feel badly for women with that sort of low self image and lack of self esteem. Stroke victims are usually much older and mature enough to deal with it. The severe lack of maturity in all I see there makes it even worse, if possible. Gambill was not man enough to recognize his contribution to such dysfunction. Randy Wood did the samething – married an impressionable and troubled woman. If you truly love someone, you won’t want them to serve that ife sentence with you.
I didn’t know Texas law was so tough. I thought the good ole boys and rednecks were all carrying guns and shooting each other down there. I saw a Dateline show about Dallas County having more outstanding murder warrants than any other place in the country. Maybe those boys are getting out in 2026 because there is not enough room. They will all be almost 60 by then.
I watched this show last night on A&E, I was raised in Ardmore. What raises my ire is that the girl is trashed. It really doesn’t matter who shot her, who raped her and who threw her body into the river.
What does matter is their combined actions right after the deed. They carried it out, they lied, they coveted….on and on.
The only thing that I can say thank god Texas tried them, if Heather’s poor body stayed on the Oklahoma side, we would NOT be on these sites posting about her. The good old boy system and the Calvinistic views of Southern Oklahoma would have swept this under the rug. Heather would have been branded as deserving it.
I have seen this sad scene played out 20+ years ago. May God have mercy on all their souls for what they did to that girl, her family, their family and to themselves. Only one young man has shown he is trying to make amends, the same can’t be said for the other two.
Under the Texas laws, if you are convicted of CAPITAL murder and one receives a life sentence, you have to serve a mandatory 30 year term, to meet eligibility for parole.
So, that adds Ol Curt up, to a full 60 slammed long years left in the the big house. His sentence is Consecutive. The first eligible parole date, for Mr. Gambill is October 31st, 2026. What a hell of a parole date –Halloween.
If he does successed in making parole, he then starts on his next 30 years. The 2nd Conviction for "Conspiracy to commit murder, Changed and sentence…Life~ So, there is no chance of Curt going any where.
So, it is the same difference, I was wrong, on paper. No not a legal charge of RAPE is reordered. But it is not like we are here reading between the lines or anything. We all already know half of the complete story of what really happened.
I feel I had this much time, I would be productive and try and make better choices, not trying to create more problems for myself. What other people do, does not make you make theses bad choices, either.
So, As for the information, I was asked for anyone, who wishes to hear this word for word about Curt Gambill..Learn about this Statues, passed by Texas 73rd legislator.
Life Without Parole: A New Punishment Option?
http://www.hro.house.state.tx.us/focus/lwop.pdf
Ms. Joanne
Classification Department [Huntsville,Tx.]
All posts on this site that are difficult to understand with poor writing, are mean and/or accusatory or claim to have great insight into Curt Gambill’s case, life and mind belong to Angelina Mitchell – even the anonymous ones.
Her life seems to revolve around Gambill. She goes from defending him with ridiculous nonsense to now slandering him, his family and friends. She blames his friend, Marlie, for everything. Rejection has taken control of her life. For some unknown reason, she cannot let him go and get on with life. It is very, very sad.
Truth, why are you so angry? It is expected for others to have different information and different opinion. What difference does it make if someone doesn’t post their name and photo? That is a choice.
I checked TDCJ too and could swear they get parole in 2036 instead of 2026. Wood has to serve longer though. They don’t seem to have extra convictions for that escape either, which surprises me. The will be almost 60 upon release. WOW. They ruined their lives by simply not reporting the shooting.
I thought I might view the TDC site…I do not see, where there is anything about the 2002 ESCAPE? Was there not a hostage situation?
Why are they not charged and sentenced on the site? maybe they are leaving things out. I did see where it read about what another person spoke of. Cumulative Offenses. Is that combination of charges? I see 2 listed.
I checked it out, after the debate of Curtis Gambill sentence. Curtis Gambill does have a life sentences.
He went up for his second conviction, in 2002, that is one of the reasons for he was not in the prison system, when he made his escape. Life with 30 years and another life sentence in 2002.
Seems like someone does not know the history of the case or has just starting to get involve with story.
In February of 1997, when Curtis Gambill was called testify, against Joshua Bagwell. He as always, changed his story. He was to get on the stand and say he was the shooter. Gambill plead out to this charge [why pleaded a dang thing if you did not do it, however…] and that Bagwell did participate in helping in assisting in the crime.
When Curtis Gambill got on the stand, they wondered if he might even take the 5th. They did not know just how it might play out. Yet, he turned everything on Wood and the next day, Wood took the stand without a plea agreement.
Then Tim Cole and the judge pulled Gambill back into court. For breaking the plea, which Gambill thought of all of this to be just another game. He was slammed with another life sentence. The judge ruled that Gambill be sentenced as once the 30 years on the life is finished, he would then proceed to take on the other life sentence. Then sit and wait to see if, he might get paroled. Yet we all know, Gambill will most likely never make it through the first life sentence.
So, check all of the TDCJ web sites you wish, too. This is fact.
What is the difference between Gambill refusing his plea bargain and Wood refusing his? Oh I know. Gambill exposed the "officials" in their concern for conviction of Bagwell who did not kill anyone more than a proper sentence for the actual killer.
From what I understand, Gail Rich was responsible for that. She was obsessed with the Bagwell family and trying to profit financially. She went on to sue everyone she could think of later to get money.
The murder occurred in Tarrant County, Texas [0009713V] in 1996. Gambill took the plea offered, in Texas on murder. Oklahoma dismissed the kidnapping and rape charge, murder was a bigger case and it would all come in the trial.
In 1997, Gambill took the plea, in Montague County, Texas. He was in the middle of a jury being picked, when the D.A. and the Rich family agreed to this plea. He signed and accepted the plea in Montague County, so he broke the plea there and the Judge in this county, did in 1999 send down an indictment, then in 2002 he was then sentenced to another life sentence in Montague County [99-10-0116M-cr]
I suggest, if you did not feel this is correct, call to Huntsville, Texas it is on the TDCJ website, you contuine to get your information from. They will tell you all about his "CUMULATIVE OFFENSES" do you know what "CUMULATIVE OFFENCES’ means?
they killed her in montague county
The justice system failed the Rich family. Randy Wood should have gotten the death penalty.
A life sentence or 40 years in prison seems worse than a death penalty to me. Imagine prison as a child of 17 and no life outside until you are almost 60. Where does one even begin at that age with no social skills, emotional maturity or job skills?
Top that off with a felony record as a murderer. What is there to look forward to? I doubt that all these young girls will remain interested for too long. A healthy young woman will lose interest in writing a letter every week. Have these boys been educated in prison? Earned college degrees? Even obtained a GED?
It sounds to me like each of them blames someone else. Not a good start at rehabilitation, especially since it has been 13 years and they are still denying the crime. Well, their "supporters" are in denial. I find it very difficult to believe any of them is married. That could just be more madness to make it all seem more dramatic.
Curtis did not get the DP because the Rich family decided that giving him the plea bargain for Murder with possibility of parole in 30 to testify against Josh was better than him getting the death penalty and Josh being able to walk without his testimony. He changed his story on the stand though. I’m not that familiar with Texas law, so I do not know why him changing his testimony on the stand would not send him to death row since Randy changing his story gave him Life with parole in 40.
My name is Marlie and I am 56. I was locked up for 5 yrs with Angelina. We go way back old drinking buddies before our crimes. Good to hear she is still out there and not back in prison.
Marlie is not a lady. She is a 20 yr old girl.
Heather was shot in the head…Curtis blew almost all of her face off. That is why it was her ring that was the only thing that Duane could identify her by.
“Wicked posted that letter about Bagwell. She will know where it came from. I doubt anyone in the Bagwell family is friends with her.”
No I posted it, Marlie knows she asked me too.
Wicked posted that letter about Bagwell. She will know where it came from. I doubt anyone in the Bagwell family is friends with her.
The diction here is so familiar. Heather was shot in the back and not her head. Who cares if Josh Bagwell’s mother helped him. There was no escape made through use of them. Randy Wood killed that poor girl.
Curtis blew almost all of her face off. This is most disturbing like it was nothing. I mean how could an individual actually talk like, it was nothing? I really can not conceive. Why the shooter in the case was not giving, the D.P. I read if I am wrong I’d LOVE to be corrected.
Why was he allowed to take such a plea? I have seen people, who are now on Texas D.R. and they was just at the scene and are about to leave their life. I’d hope, to be able to find out why? I mean this is one of the worst, crimes of a CHILD I have heard of in sometime.
Listen to all the last couple of post here.
You talk about the woman as if you knew her. Do you? “Maybe the woman is lonely?” Who cares?
Was she there when Gambill blow off Heathers head?? Leaving only her bottom jaw enact, with braces in the teeth of that jaw. Dewayne had to identify his only daughter. I am sure that will be embedded in his minds eye forever.
Gambill embarrassed? He should be people walk around the town of Terrel and they point fingers and talk about the family behind their backs. He is where he deserves to be. I think bringing up other people is away to try and make Gambill look good, to hear that he has a good side.
I am posting because, this was a discussion about heather and children in prison. Not this Angelina.
I do wonder, whoever posted the letter from Bagwells mother, could you explain to us how you got it, I mean I guess it addressed to a lady named Marlie. How can we be sure this is an official email? If it is her, she is sure proud that she tried to help out a loser. Yet, some people love their children, beyond infinity.
I do not believe if my son was in prison, I’d use the old “Saw blades in a Bible” to help get him out. So, either make your post about Heather or Children in prison. I did go into the other blog account on this and maybe the trash should be taking there. I see no use to read this trash any more.
Angelina has been doing all that posting and erasing for years. My husband was locked up with Curt in Lovelady. She earned herself a very negative reputation there and Curt was so ashamed. The whole thing with her was a big mess and she threatened harm to many people.
We concluded there must be something medically wrong with her that she is not getting treatment for. People like that are ticking time bombs. I advise everyone to steer clear of her.
As hard as it is to believe Curt Gambill is or was married to someone calling herself Angelina Mitchell on a bunch of other websites. She says mean stuff a lot and then tried to erase it. She has to be a very miserable lady the way she talks. Maybe she is lonely.
My friend’s aunt used to write to Josh Bagwell for a long time. She loved him but they were just friends. His family is real nice and decent. It is hard to love people in prison.
Prisoners have the internet? That is scary. I bet these three don’t. I feel sorry for the women who can’t find dates and go to men in prison. I saw some pics of somebody one site says is Gambill’s wife and it has to be somebody making fun of him. This woman looks old enough to be his mother. It is so sad if that is her. He’s cute. LOL
She paid the ultimate price for her son. I doubt if that is an authentic email tho. And if it is, whoever posted it should be ashamed for doing so. You obviously know nothing about respect.
How can you be sure this Gambill has a wife? Maybe the person said they got a letter from Curtis gambill should know. Or is this person just a penpal?
Anonymous Anonymous said…
“I thought it might be something like that. There are a few places where Gambill’s wife posted a lot and then went back to try and erase it but others had already intentionally quoted her to allow her posts to stay. Even an incarcerated person does not want such childishness. One has to wonder what type of family Gambill came from. Does anyone know?”
How does an incarcerated person see the childishness? Do they have internet service, like my brother who is in Federal Prison system?
Sometimes, it’s the people and the family that raised you.
Marlie:
I didn’t know if you could help this guy out & send a letter from his web page. I’m trying to reach out to these people on Josh’s behalf as I think they could be an important contact. I’d appreciate anything you can do! 🙂 Please be careful on your trip! Love ya!
Cherese
—– Forwarded Message —-
To: Cherese Bagwell
Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2006 6:21:42 PM
Subject: Re: Joshua Luke Bagwell #815991 in the TDCJ
On Oct 2, 2006, at 10:43 PM,
Cherese Bagwell wrote:
Hi Casey!
Say no more! I’ve already done it. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the story of Josh & Me. I’m his mother but our case was very high profile. In fact, Prime time Live did a story on it, much to my dismay. Nothing was accurate but I’m sure you’re familiar with the media’s approach to the truth. I myself was a lawyer…that is before I tried to help Josh escape.
You see, he’s doing life in Texas for being down the road when a murder was committed. The jury was going to show him, because he was portrayed as a spoiled rich kid. And no doubt, he was spoiled to some extent by his grandparents. He was the only grandchild & his dad had terminated his parental rights.
But anyway, at one point, he asked me if I’d help him escape &; knowing the risk, I took the bull by the horns & ran. I feel it would have worked but that is neither here nor there because I was snitched out by my son’s fall partner’s brother….the guy who was going to help me.
I was sentenced to 8 yrs in & 12 on paper. I got out Dec 23, 2005 after being denied parole twice. I was classified as a servant of the law & held to a higher standard. So I did the 8 & am now on supervised suspended sentence. The judge was really mad at me & told me so. Oh well. So…the morale of my story is that anytime I can help…I will.
I mailed the check to you today on Josh’s ad so you should get that by the end of the week at the latest.
Thanks for all your help & feel free to hollar at me if I can ever help. I know some people down here who might help on occasion if need be. So take care & be well.
Sincerely,
Cherese Bagwell
I thought it might be something like that. There are a few places where Gambill’s wife posted a lot and then went back to try and erase it but others had already intentionally quoted her to allow her posts to stay. Even an incarcerated person does not want such childishness.
One has to wonder what type of family Gambill came from. Does anyone know?
I am married to a man in prison who I met through a pen pal website. His crime involved three other men, but was not murder. I know nothing of the personal lives of the other men.
Like this case, their’s was in the media for years and referenced regularly through the media. I have never once identified myself on the internet when their case is discussed. I admit to a curiosity to know what others say and do occasionally google the case.
My husband has a great deal of shame for his crime and we have chosen to move forward with our life. I did not know him when he committed the crime and feel it is not my place to question his past or what others think of him. This case shocked me more in all the horrible things going on between so many people who are not involved in the crime. Not only is all that distasteful and immature, it is totally disrespectful to the victim and her family.
I do not believe this girl’s mother was posting on discussion boards. That had to be someone dishonoring her and her family. A mother of a murder victim does not participate in such childishness and it was unforgivable for someone to pose as her. All the name calling is so childish and this wicked storm makes no sense at all. Her tone alone spews hatred and bitterness. It is very sad.
I read somewhere that one of Gambill’s women claimed that article in the Huntsville paper. It did not make sense to me but I am not glad anyone wasted time. There is so much anger and hatred associated with Gambill’s past. So much for hope of rehabilitation when he is still making negative choices.
I got a letter from Curt today. He says certain people are bashing him because he broke up with a woman he says is poison and he does not love or respect – not the kind of woman he would associate with in the free world.
I agree. Relationships are difficult enough when you share your life. I will never understand women who pursue men in prison, especially those with life sentences or on death row. You will never have what is natural between a man and a woman.
I grew up in Lawton, OK and casually knew the family of one of these convicts. So many people were hurt by this murder. God bless all the victims including the poor young women who are now involved. Hopefully your life will get better.
This case has been discussed a lot on a number of sites and people are so passion about it even after all these years. It saddens me to see how many girls and women have sought out these killers for some sort of relationship. Many criminals use numerous women and this seems to be a good example of how they deceive and manipulate. I guess they have plenty of time to master the craft.
I love the American Justice shows. What difference does it make now if this crime was planned? All involved have been locked up for 13 years. Even if only one pulled the trigger all 3 covered up the crime and dumped that poor girl’s body like it was trash. Like she was nothing. That is all that matters.
Secrets or gossip or undercover madness won’t change anything because the killers are behind bars where they should be. It is difficult for people to take someone seriously who posts offensive pictures and talks in circles. The facts were presented to a jury and that was enough to convince them They obviously didn’t need all that mysterious information you are holding.
I agree. The prisons are full of “innocent” people who blame anyone they can for their predicament. These young people were all destined for disaster at some point. Their parents are a big part of the problem.
I would be devastated if my girls were messing around with sex and drugs at such a young age. That doesn’t give anyone justification for killing though. The sentences were harsh for such young boys but we send teenagers into war everyday to protect our freedoms.
What a tragic story. I am 42 and my parents spanked us. My Mom embarrassed me more than a few times when keeping track of me. I did not behave like Heather or those boys either. It was not allowed. I joke with my parents now, but know how lucky I was to have them always totally engaged with what I was doing. I never sneaked out of the house for sex and never thought about it. It is normal know and then the parents blame others for their child’s problems.
Maybe the parents were all being held under investigation by CPS workers because of an anonymous tip? Parents aren’t allowed to discipline their children any more.
I was wild as a teenager, I snuck out at night, chased boys, drank, took pills… I was only 13, living with my Aunt and Uncle at the time. He came looking for me with a shotgun and found me hiding in a closet, during a late night party. That night I was beaten with a belt buckle up and down my legs and back.
Did my Uncle go overboard? Yes. Did I deserve what I got? Yes. CPS wasn’t called that time.
However, shortly after that I was moved back home. I ended up in foster care, where I was molested, neglected and left to wander the streets at all times of the day and night. It was only by the grace of God or a miracle that I didn’t end up like Heather.
These were children, who needed their parents to get tough; to find out what they were doing and put an end to their bad behavior. Maybe the people should have put the parents on trial, along with the children?
Well I am not going to announce my name or put out a inappropriate picture to prove who I am. That is not what posting boards are for. The topic here is children in prison which is a tragedy. So many lives were ultimatlely destroyed by this crime. All three deserved long sentences even if they deny the crime. Most criminals claim to be innocent.
In response to anonymous regarding retribution and repeat offenders: I agree. There is a bigger problem within our society.
Much of it goes back to the lack of proper parenting for our children. Then the parents blame the school or teachers are supposed to teach them right from wrong. This case is a perfect example of how neglect and poor parenting ruined so many lives. Where were the parents of these four children when all the madness began to create this result. It didn’t happen overnight.
All four had long histories of bad behavior that cost them their lives.
Annette, I agree.
As a teenager, I was terribly stupid. I grew up in the 60’s and teenagers were given more responsibilty then, as well as the world did not seem so cruel. I was wreckless and crazy, enjoying every minute of it. That carelessness can kill kids these days.
I don’t know if I was like Heather or not. My mother didn’t look the other way or blame others like so many parents do these days. So many parents want to blame others for their behavior.
My mother blamed me. It seems in this case, Josh Bagwell’s family blamed everyone else and thought buying a good lawyer would save him. That actually works for many. OJ Simpson was successful.
I just looked at the A&E site and all the interesting stuff was posted 2-3 yrs ago. It must have lost its momentum.
Do you mean Gail? Someone wrote about a Gale. Heather’s mother is Gail. That could be anyone. I doubt if a victim’s mother would be on something like that. The loss is too painful to care anout internet chatter.
Isn’t David Leonard Wood a serial killer? He is old to be Wood’s brother isn’t he? Wood just killed one person. His was a crime of passion
I had a friend in San Antonio a few years ago who was involved in this mess. I learned a lot and admit I was fascinated by the case. I have posted on a few sites back then. LOL!
Thank God she came to her senses about Bagwell and Gambill and met a free man to marry. I think a lot of people don’t have a lot to do so they watch tv and do stuff on the computer. I cannot make fun because I have several sites I look at all the time. Look at all the social networks out there. Can’t say I am on the prison sites but Facebook is great.
If you want privacy don’t expect to find it on the internet.
It seems there have been a lot of children committing serious crimes recently. Then there are the rampage killings. What is going on in this country?
Does Randy Wood have a brother named David Leonard Wood? If so, Randy really did come from a crappy childhood.
I graduated from high school with Curt G. He always kept to himself and was one of the smart kids. Don’t know how he ended up like this.
My family lived neat the Andersons for years. They are average folks. People thpught they were rich because most people there are poor.
Yes, a book is on the way. I can say I know for a fact, that Gambill is charged with new charges while in a East Texas farm. The case hit the Huntsville Item and has been filed in Texas civil court’s.
After viewing the post on this site, I very well see that Ms. Even’s is up to her anonymous post on the internet. There is a lot more to this story than meet’s the eye, the newspaper or Internet posts. So, please understand there are more evil people walking the street’s than who are in prison.
Remember, I know when someone is seeking attention, I do not feel it is Wood or Gambill’s friend’s. I feel it is Ms. Even’s. She just loves to say “Google it”.
I remember when this happened, I read a little article about it in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Even if Heather experimented w/ sex, drugs, etc. she did not deserve to die a horrible death.
Does anybody know if a Book is going to be written about this case?
To the person who said there is no such place as Ryan, Oklahoma. I lived there when this happened. Ryan is in Jefferson county. It is 10 miles south of Waurika. That is where Dennis Wayne Goss lived.
I knew Josh when he was a small boy but hadn’t known anything of him in years. There is so much more to his childhood story than I am at liberty to say. As for knowing any of these boys when this happened I didn’t know them, but I did see Curtis Gambill around Ryan a lot.
I was an adult with 3 children and I was afraid of him. Even though I didn’t know him personally. Just seeing him at the convenience store would scare me. He was evil and you could see it all over him.
I didn’t know Heather personally either. I did see her around at ball games and places like that. She was no angel and she got "around" quite a bit. That does not mean she deserved what happened to her that night and she did not deserve to die. She was no different than 95% of the other girls in that town.
I can say that I honestly believe that Randy Wood got caught up in something he didn’t know how to get out of. He was scared and I would have been scared too. He didn’t have the option of going to the police after it happened and telling them about it. They would not have protected him and he would have been dead just like Heather. He knew he couldn’t tell anything until Curtis was locked up.
I think Randy should spend some time in prison for his part in the crime. I don’t believe he deserves the punishment he received. As for Josh I think he would have been a different person if his childhood had been different but it wasn’t and he made his choices. He and Curtis deserve what they got.
Well, I’m kind of getting on here late in the conversation, but I’ve watched this A&E show several times and just a week or so they ran it again.
I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma, I’m 46 now but remember how it was back then, the boredom, the back road parties, the bullies, the rich spoiled kid, and the football King (with a not so great home life).
I’ve been reading a lot of these blogs about this terrible story and I have to agree w/the lady on here who is glad y’all are not her jury. She has some interesting comments, very interesting, and those who disagree are just shouting stupid comments and it doesn’t have any thing to add to this story.
To the lady with the facts, I would love to hear updates when you have them. It always seemed odd to me that Josh and Curt had Randy as the shooter, they had to plan that ahead of time which would make sense if they were going to use him for the fall guy. I hate that he didn’t do anything to stop Curt from shooting Heather, but guys like Curt are messed up in the head and you really shouldn’t take to lightly when you are out in the boonies w/someone like him and he’s hyped up to kill with a explosive shot gun in his hand.
I don’t care how tall Randy is, that shot gun isn’t intimidated by Randy’s size. I don’t mean to portray Randy as so innocent but I do agree that all were just a bunch of kids (I was pretty naive at that age…I would have been scared to death of that Curt guy he just looks like a killer). Besides, Randy could not have been that good of an actor as he portrayed himself when telling his story and talking to Heather’s parents.
He was the only one that passed a polygraph test, showed remorse and stepped up and met Heather’s parent face to face NOT TO MENTION his act of honor to help put away Josh. Curt and Josh showed no remorse, they even trashed Heather in court like she deserved it (and right there in court was her family) and we probably all remember the ‘rich spoiled kid’ in school that thought he/she could get away with anything.
I also noticed the future actions of these boys – Randy turned to spirituality, has a good record in prison, and appears to still look clean cut all American boy. On the other hand Josh and Curt’s action were, well, we all know about there records and they both look like crazy, looney, killers now.
Sheriff Barns of Ryan, Oklahoma, is investagating the Dennis Wayne Goss case. And to comment on what someone said about that even if they had something to do with this murder that it would not matter anyway because they are already behind bars.
Yes, they are. But if it was your son and he committed "suicide" and the case was being re investagated as possible murder would you say well don’t worry about it they are already behind bars, or would you want justice & some closure? cause I sure would!
Granted they will never see the light of day anyway but it would give me the closure that I would need and for them to know YOU DID NOT GET AWAY WITH IT!
18 years old is old enough to get go to war, making decisions in warfare, so Gambill was old enough to go to prison.
All three were old enough to make that decision to murder that girl and cover it up. Randy Wood was twice as big as the other two shrimps and should have protected that girl. He is a mouse, very girly boy in a big body.
Why didn’t he simply call the police when he got home? That might have helped. He deserves NO breaks and will never get out of his sentence. It will never happen.
Wood helped get rid of the body and hid the murder making him guilty of murder in the eyes of the law even if Goss was murdered. It changes nothing. Justice has prevailed. All 3 of those boys are guilty and exactly where they should be.
Even if Gambill and Bagwell conspired to kill Goss and Heather, Randy Wood still covered up the crime and helped dispose of the body. That makes him as guilty as the others. It is the law even if you don’t like the law. You will never change the law and thinking Wood was unjustly punished will not undo his part in that crime. Never.
I learned that Curtis Gambill’s boots on the night of question, of Heathers murder was taken from him for DNA. On those boots they discovered 2 blood samples.
One being Heathers, the second one being Dennis Wayne Goss. I am trying to contact the person who knows more about Gambill, I have spoke to her in the past and I hope if she reads any of the post here, she will contact me.
To know who I am…Remember the NEWSPAPER!! Please contact me!!
I think not to offend anyones family, at this time will say this much. One of the investigators who was involved in this investigation, has passed away [not related because of this investigation].
He had learned of a young guy who was friends with the accussed shooter in this case, and maybe 2 of these boys was involved in that NEW investigation of an Oklahoma teen who had, at one time believed had taken his own life.
From speaking to a few guys, Randy was just used that night, that maybe this was planned out, with Joshua Bagwell and Curtis Gambill, maybe if some people who stick to some real facts, not to worry about what Sara or Gambill’s GF wears or what they do in their spare time, it might lead to Randy Woods being some how released.
I understand he KNEW and yes, I do ask myself? "What if I seen such a crime and would I tell what I had seen? I mean they both [Bagwell and Gambill] was still as free as Wood and from what else I learned in the past few days. Gambill is a some what stupid and selfish and a very dangerous person.
He is now facing charges in Texas for a gang related type hit, he ordered on a citzen who was close to him. That tells what type of indiviual’s we are really all writing about here on this board.
I believe when this young teen lost his life that night [suicide?] That Bagwell and Gambill both retreated to the woods and a plan was thought of, from what else I believe after just listening, Heather Rich HAD in fact been around Curtis Gambill more than the night in question of her death.
Maybe Heather had seen or was there on the night of the death [suicide] and they came up with the plan, to get good old boy Randy out drinking on that night and it lead to their perfect plan, to maybe stop a young girl in time, before she disclosed maybe more.
Why not Randy, he was a long time friend/BF at sometime and he was their way out and they stuck together[Bagwell and Gambill]
Why was Wood and Bagwell such long time friends and then out of the blue, Bagwell is backing someone he reallly was not all that good friends with [Gambill] Bagwell, well knows that Gambill is the shooter and yet he also backs Gambill.
I am not saying these are all facts, I am just disclosing what I learned and I do believe if any of us truely believe in justice, I feel Wood was punshied way to harsh in this case. I do not believe in the "Texas law of parties" and I do not believe Ms. Rich in her heart really beieves Wood should have went to prison. He committed no crime, he was as I see it, scared and I darn sure would be also if I was facing what he has seen.
I just hope some one any knowledge of what little I have wrote, might stumble across this and the real truth of why Heather Rich was murdered, should all come into light. So, I hope if anyone knows any more, when I learn more I will post. Please post if you know anything and maybe stop the Law of parties in Texas… I wondered "What if it was me" I should have received such a sentence for what Wood said he done. I mean he did in fact pass a LD test, Gambill did not.
Well, if you actually Knew what you were talking about, you would know that they have reopened the case of Dennis Wayne Goss and how the three are tied together.
Do your research before you make your opinion a fact. Yes they are locked up but there is also a family who lost a child and I would hope you all would have respect, as much for their son as you do for Heathers family.
Randy did not shoot Heather! It’s funny he passed a Lie detector test. OMG! Again your assumption trying to be passed off as FACT! wow I’m glad I’m not on trial and you are my jury. I would be screwed.
Again FACT when Curtis escaped with Josh they went to Dennis Wayne goss’s home and stole a gun and a truck from him, in which they needed a key to get the truck, they knew where all the stuff was because they have been there alot. I dont think Curtis was just a "Fall" guy just cause he was a bad ass. He has killed 2 people his best friend and Heather Rich.
FACT and it will be like opening a can of worms when it all hits the fan. I believe he should be punished for Dennis death as well, then Mr Gambill’s little girlfriends can get on sites like this and brag that they are dating him! OH MY what an acomplishment! Your parents should be proud of you..
Curtis Is a cold hearted SOB. I am very interested in finding out some information on his best friend Dennis Wayne Goss. I dont think heather was the first that Josh & Curt killed, maybe even randy was involved as well.
I was writing to Curtis about 9 yrs ago and he told me that seeing someone die was something you would never forget. His best friend was murdered, Dennis Goss. Why was his blood type found on Curtis’ Boots taken for evidence in heathers murder? Maybe heather knew something and it was their plan to get rid of her so she wouldn’t tell thier secret?
Any one have an opinion?
As a father of two, I hope these men "and I hate using the word men" get and have gotten what they deserve in prison. I pray for Heather’s family and Heather.
All three boys came from crappy homes. Randy’s mother is a drug addict and spent time locked up for that two. Josh’s mother is always too busy looking for her next husband. Curt may have had the best upbringing.
No one cares if Randy’s wife is gay. His confession to being the shooter is HUGE and changes a lot. Many people have foolishly supported him. I just knew he was a fraud. Anyone who saw that staged performance should agree. Did he do that before or after his conviction?
Wood did marry the village idiot. I love that term. What sort of desperate soul pursues marriage with someone they seek out after seeing him on tv, faking the world out? I hear she just does all that for attention anyway while she surfs bars and singles websites for a real husband. She can do all that while his exgirlfriend is six feet under. The whole thing is just wrong.
Heather’s mother has forgiven these three and opened her heart to them and their families.
All three of these now men are con artists. Randy Wood is the biggest fraud of all. I am surprised his wife isn’t here to try for attention like she goes on every other site. They are all exactly where they should be, especially Randy. They will be old men when released.
Josh and Curtis neither feel any remorse or care one bit what Randy Wood did to that young girl. Randy Wood just faked everyone out with his ridiculous attempt at getting attention. He is a fraud and the other two are evil.
Then Wood marries the village idiot who goes on any website she can find to announce she is there. Josh is married to a drunk/high lesbian, while Curtis got himself a drunken convict as well. Well, who else would want these three losers. That poor girl dies and these dim wits share love letters with even bigger idiots. They all deserved the death penalty, especially Randy Wood.
With all due respect it doesn’t appear that you have any personal knowledge of the case or the men who were involved. What Josh, Curt, and Randy did had a huge impact on our community as a whole.
I am ashamed to say that I stood by and defended one of the men for many years. The fact is that a person who has no remorse for their actions should not be allowed into the community. Neither Josh or Curt showed remorse after the crime was committed, while on trial, or when they escaped from montague county. I am sure that you are correct in some cases but I can assure you that this is not one of them.
These three boys deserve the death penalty. The two that did not pull the trigger had to know that they could turn the trigger guy in together and they chose to support the trigger guy instead ot the innocent girl.
Yea, girls can be girls but boys can be boys too. You get three or four boys together and sure they are gonna show off how manly they are, but in this case they showed pure stupidity. They knew what they were doing. People quit making excuses for them. That makes you just as guilty.
It’s easy to make excuses because it’s not your daughter. GROW UP ALREADY. This girls family has suffered enough. This young girl never got a chance to grow and have a family of her own. And all because three STUPID idiots chose to have a good time at her expence.
I live an hour away from where this happened and I have a 14 year old daughter that I love very much. She is my best friend, and we have many plans together in the future. I look forward to seeing my daughter marry a wonderful man that will love and cherish her. I will love one day to hold my daughters children in my arms. Laugh with her over the silly things her children do.
This girls parents will never experience that. I am so very sorry Mr. and Mrs. Rich for what these THREE (yes three) young men put you thru. I hope these guys suffer every day in prison for what they have done. I pray that they do not have a peaceful nights sleep because I am sure this family doesn’t.
Rest in Peace Heather!
Randy lived in Waurika with his grandmother. He does not have a sister, only a brother. None of them still live in Waurika. His grandmother passed in 2002.
What happened to Heather is horrible…wish that she could have grown up to be a great wife and mother. I know it is hard for her mother to see her 3 boys grown with families of their own, and not being able to see how Heather would have turned out. She is just trying to live her life now…
Randy lived with his elderly grandmother and I think maybe a sister. Josh Bagwell lived with his very affluent grand parents. His mom was an attorney – that is until she helped Josh escape from the montague county jail a few years ago.
They were two of the most popular guys in school. Everyone wanted to “party” with these guys. Randy was star of the football team, Josh was just the “cool kid” that had all the brand new stuff when if very first came out. They were “privelledged” to say the least. They got away with all kinds of things in school.
I think one of the most sickening things of all is that in the same year book they honored Heather, there was a page dedicated to one or both of the boys, I’d have to find it to be sure of which one. As for Curtis Gambill, he was the “dark stranger” always walking on the wild side.
When I think back to what little I knew of him and old 80’s rock song comes to mind, its Skid Row’s “18 and life” the song describes Curtis almost to perfection. I remember walking into the parking lot of the local movie store with a friend of mine, Curtis was sitting in the driverside seat of a car and picked up a gun- I believe the same one used to kill heather- and pointed it at us. He gave me the creeps from the first time I saw him. Can’t say I ever so much as even spoke to him.
Wow! I can’t tell you how sad that makes me. One really has to wonder what kind of family those young men came from.
Their parents must either be horrified or perhaps they had some hand in the way these kids turned out. As a parent of children who aren’t exactly angels, I realize that I made mistakes myself but I think some children just have something in them that makes them defiance and difficult to cope with.
Does anyone know what kind of family these kids came from?
I went to school with Heather Rich, Josh Bagwell and Randy Wood. Those “Children” got what they deserved. In fact I believe whole heartedly someone should have taken all 3 of them to the same bridge and shot them 9 times apiece.
You people weren’t there when Josh and Randy approached Heathers little brother and asked if the family had learned anything new. Josh Bagwell approached a friend of mine and I at the lumber yard as he was leaving with a brand new ax handle he was picking up for his grandfather stating “if her dad doesn’t leave me alone I’m gonna” and made a sweeping motion with the ax handle “hurt him”…
She was a really good friend of mine in elementary school. And as girls are want to do, we grew apart. However I can’t even begin to express the betrayal the students of Waurika High School felt after learning that their homecoming king was responsible in any way for her death. He was crowned the same day they found her body.
Yes, girls mature faster than boys, however, these guys that did that to her, were NOT children, but Young MEN. Their actions have prevented a vibrant wonderful person from living a full happy healthy life, prevented her parents from knowing any grand kids she may have given them. Prevented her from having a life outside of high school. If they can take all that from her, then yes, they too shouldn’t be allowed to have that same opportunity!
The real question here is whether or not retribution serves the greater interests of society. If prison was an effective solution to crime, there would be no such thing as a repeat offender. Prison and punishment are not effective as deterrents; specific or general. How can we expect a model that does not work for its intended subjects (adults), to have any success with adolescents?
I believe that most of these apathetic and desensitized youths are the product of their parents, society,and a constant exposure to violence. To prosecute a child as an adult is to deny that there is any difference, developmentally or psychologically, between the two. How many people can claim that they never did anything as a child that they would not dare do as an adult? As an adult, I recognize the consequences.
I may very well be an idiot but I’ve raised four children and I’ve been a child myself. I can tell you that growing up, I made some pretty stupid mistakes.
It breaks my heart that today’s children are exposed to all manner of violence and depravity, compliments of unmonitored access to the television set, video games and the internet. Then we want to lock them away when they act out on the graphic violence they have seen.
As I pointed in my commentary — I don’t know these children but I hope that someone went to great lengths to examine them and determine that they would not benefit from some serious help. We can’t just throw our children away, without expending every effort to save them.
My heart breaks for the families involved and the children who’s lives are forever changed.
So, call me an idiot if you will but I am not willing that we should give up on any child that can be saved.
This murder is one that I will never forget. My grandfather and I found Heather Rich in the Belknap Creek when I was only eight years old. It is the most disturbing thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life. The image of her dead floating body has been etched in my mind since childhood, and it’s not something that is forgotten.
In my mind these guys deserved what they got. They knew good and well what they were doing was wrong. Even at the age of eight I knew it was wrong and should be punished for. Not only did they take this girl’s life, but they also left a nasty scar that will not soon be forgotten on my family. This murder affected so many people, and they should pay for what they did.
Are you a IDIOT. Teenagers will be teenagers, sneeking out, drinking and even experimenting with drugs.
But to shoot a person 9 times with a shotgun loaded with 00 buck, well that’s hideous. All three of these “children” should have received the death penalty. Shooter and accessories. PERIOD