Arkansas Authorities Close Decades-Old Case, Naming Deceased Father as the Sole Suspect.
Oct 26, 2023, 11:00 AM
In a groundbreaking development, authorities in Texarkana, Arkansas, have finally cracked a chilling cold case that has remained unsolved for over four decades. DNA evidence has led them to identify Weldon Alexander, the father of the victims, as the prime suspect in the 1981 murder of his own children, Karen and Gordon Alexander.
At a press conference held on October 19, Texarkana Police Chief Michael Kramm announced the major breakthrough. He revealed that Weldon Alexander is believed to have fatally stabbed his 14-year-old daughter Karen and 13-year-old son Gordon in a horrifying incident that shook the community. Tragically, the suspect, Weldon Alexander, passed away in 2014, leaving unanswered questions surrounding the brutal crime.
The tragic events unfolded on April 8, 1981, when local authorities discovered the siblings in their Texarkana home. Gordon was found lifeless in the kitchen, while Karen, though grievously injured, was still clinging to life in the living room. Shockingly, the murder weapon was identified as a common butter knife retrieved from the crime scene.
Karen was rushed to a local hospital, where she fought for her life in a coma for three agonizing days before succumbing to her injuries, as documented in a 1981 United Press International news report. Gordon, at the time of the brutal attack, was confined to a wheelchair, making the crime even more heart-wrenching.
Initial investigations unveiled a horrifying truth; Karen had suffered sexual assault in the 48 to 72 hours leading up to her death and had likely endured this horrific abuse for around six months prior. Authorities disclosed these disturbing details during the recent press conference.
One of the perplexing aspects of the case was the absence of signs of forced entry into the Alexander family's home. At the time of the murders, Karen and Gordon's mother, Vera Alexander, was hospitalized for mental health issues, while their father, Weldon, was working an overnight shift at Copper Tire and Rubber.
Weldon's account of the events added to the mystery. He claimed to have arrived home from work shortly after 7 a.m. that fateful morning, finding both the screen door and the wooden front door slightly ajar. Inside, he discovered his son deceased in the kitchen and believed his daughter might still be alive in the living room area. Shockingly, he reportedly removed a kitchen knife from Karen's body and placed it on a nearby bookshelf before the arrival of law enforcement.
Over the years, detectives tirelessly pursued leads and interviewed numerous individuals associated with the case. In 1983, Henry Lee Lucas, a notorious serial killer known as the "Confession Killer," falsely confessed to the murders. However, lack of concrete evidence prevented any charges against him, and the case eventually went cold.
In February 2022, the case received new life when retired Capt. Calvin Seward, who had been a patrol officer at the time of the murders, reopened the investigation. Over the next 18 months, he meticulously identified, interviewed, and re-interviewed individuals connected to the original case. Crucially, he submitted DNA profiles into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) from individuals associated with the initial inquiry.
In a pivotal turn of events, DNA extracted from the victims' fingernail tissue in 2022 yielded results indicating a familial relationship with Weldon Alexander. Furthermore, Weldon's semen was discovered on Karen's bedding. Investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting that Gordon had died hours earlier than initially believed, as his body was cold to the touch when officers arrived at the scene.
Capt. Seward, speaking to reporters, suggested a horrifying sequence of events, stating that he believes Weldon attempted to assault his daughter, prompting his son to intervene, resulting in a brutal attack on both siblings.
In a press release, Texarkana police stated, "It is our hope that the friends and remaining family of Gordon and Karen Alexander may find some peace in knowing that scientific and circumstantial evidence has been revealed sufficient to resolve this 42-year-old case."
Miller County Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell expressed confidence that Weldon Alexander is the sole suspect in the murders. She stated that if he were alive today, she would be seeking an arrest warrant for two counts of capital murder.
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At a press conference held on October 19, Texarkana Police Chief Michael Kramm announced the major breakthrough. He revealed that Weldon Alexander is believed to have fatally stabbed his 14-year-old daughter Karen and 13-year-old son Gordon in a horrifying incident that shook the community. Tragically, the suspect, Weldon Alexander, passed away in 2014, leaving unanswered questions surrounding the brutal crime.
The tragic events unfolded on April 8, 1981, when local authorities discovered the siblings in their Texarkana home. Gordon was found lifeless in the kitchen, while Karen, though grievously injured, was still clinging to life in the living room. Shockingly, the murder weapon was identified as a common butter knife retrieved from the crime scene.
Karen was rushed to a local hospital, where she fought for her life in a coma for three agonizing days before succumbing to her injuries, as documented in a 1981 United Press International news report. Gordon, at the time of the brutal attack, was confined to a wheelchair, making the crime even more heart-wrenching.
Initial investigations unveiled a horrifying truth; Karen had suffered sexual assault in the 48 to 72 hours leading up to her death and had likely endured this horrific abuse for around six months prior. Authorities disclosed these disturbing details during the recent press conference.
One of the perplexing aspects of the case was the absence of signs of forced entry into the Alexander family's home. At the time of the murders, Karen and Gordon's mother, Vera Alexander, was hospitalized for mental health issues, while their father, Weldon, was working an overnight shift at Copper Tire and Rubber.
Weldon's account of the events added to the mystery. He claimed to have arrived home from work shortly after 7 a.m. that fateful morning, finding both the screen door and the wooden front door slightly ajar. Inside, he discovered his son deceased in the kitchen and believed his daughter might still be alive in the living room area. Shockingly, he reportedly removed a kitchen knife from Karen's body and placed it on a nearby bookshelf before the arrival of law enforcement.
Over the years, detectives tirelessly pursued leads and interviewed numerous individuals associated with the case. In 1983, Henry Lee Lucas, a notorious serial killer known as the "Confession Killer," falsely confessed to the murders. However, lack of concrete evidence prevented any charges against him, and the case eventually went cold.
In February 2022, the case received new life when retired Capt. Calvin Seward, who had been a patrol officer at the time of the murders, reopened the investigation. Over the next 18 months, he meticulously identified, interviewed, and re-interviewed individuals connected to the original case. Crucially, he submitted DNA profiles into the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) from individuals associated with the initial inquiry.
In a pivotal turn of events, DNA extracted from the victims' fingernail tissue in 2022 yielded results indicating a familial relationship with Weldon Alexander. Furthermore, Weldon's semen was discovered on Karen's bedding. Investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting that Gordon had died hours earlier than initially believed, as his body was cold to the touch when officers arrived at the scene.
Capt. Seward, speaking to reporters, suggested a horrifying sequence of events, stating that he believes Weldon attempted to assault his daughter, prompting his son to intervene, resulting in a brutal attack on both siblings.
In a press release, Texarkana police stated, "It is our hope that the friends and remaining family of Gordon and Karen Alexander may find some peace in knowing that scientific and circumstantial evidence has been revealed sufficient to resolve this 42-year-old case."
Miller County Prosecuting Attorney Connie Mitchell expressed confidence that Weldon Alexander is the sole suspect in the murders. She stated that if he were alive today, she would be seeking an arrest warrant for two counts of capital murder.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com