Unresolved Tragedy from 1989

BONNE TERRE, Mo. — On the fateful night of October 13, 1989, Jimmie Wade Martin stepped into a neighborhood tavern for a casual drink, unaware it would be his last. Martin’s bloodied body was discovered in a nearby street in the early hours, a victim of a fatal blow to the head during a bar brawl that spilled outside.

The devastating news reached Martin’s 11-year-old twin daughters, Angela Williams and Andrea Lynn, during a sleepover. Their father had promised to take them to a yard sale the next day. The twins spent weeks poring over local newspapers on their pink bikes, trying to make sense of their father’s tragic death in a town where murders were rare and always newsworthy.

Initial arrest and the cold case

A man was briefly arrested but was later freed when charges were dropped just before his trial. The case grew cold as months turned into years, with witnesses either passing away or moving away. The twins, frustrated by the lack of progress, wondered why justice was taking so long for a crime that had multiple witnesses.

Renewed determination

In 2007, as the twins turned 29, they felt a renewed urgency to solve their father’s murder. “That’s when it hit how young he really was at the time,” Lynn said. Armed with autopsy reports, police, and coroner’s documents, they compiled a binder they called “Jimmie’s Bible” and began knocking on doors, pleading for information.

The power of podcasting

In late 2020, the twins, along with their cousins, launched a podcast, “Small Town Forgotten,” to shed light on their father’s unsolved murder. The podcast gained traction, and by early 2021, the St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney’s office announced it was reopening the case.

Arrest after three decades

This month, a breakthrough finally came. Police arrested Wesley Paul Marler, 69, charging him with first-degree assault. Marler, who has pleaded not guilty, is being held on a $500,000 bond. His attorney, Christopher G. Hartmann, highlighted the challenges of the case, citing the passage of time and the death of many witnesses.

The murder, occurring on Friday the 13th, has profoundly impacted the twins’ beliefs about the day. “Since then, I’m very superstitious about Friday the 13th,” Williams said. “I try not to do much on that day.”

Confronting the past

The twins’ investigation revealed that Marler, present at the Coal Bin Tavern on the night of the murder, had a tense history with their father. Marler had accused Martin of having an affair with his wife, further complicating the narrative of the crime.

The twins also reached out to the initial suspect via Facebook. The man, who had been arrested and later released, provided them with critical documents that helped them reconstruct their father’s final moments. Despite his past, he was an outsider with a record, making him a convenient suspect initially.

Emotional milestone

In February 2021, the twins received the long-awaited call that the case was being reopened. The former St. Francois County prosecuting attorney, Melissa Gilliam, acknowledged the podcast’s role in reviving the investigation. Earlier this month, the arrest of Marler brought a wave of emotions for the twins. “I laughed. I cried. I screamed. Just emotions everywhere,” Lynn said.

The quest for justice

While prosecutors have not charged Marler with murder, the sisters remain hopeful for justice. They still mourn their father’s absence during significant life events but cherish memories of his spirited presence. They believe their podcast played a crucial role in reopening the case and are determined to see it through.

“We were not scared of anyone just because they killed our dad,” Williams said. “They should be scared of us.”

The compelling story of Angela Williams and Andrea Lynn’s relentless pursuit for justice highlights the power of determination and modern tools like podcasting in solving cold cases.