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Karen Tompkins

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Karen Lynn Tompkins was a girl who went missing in 1961. A serial killer, Mack Ray Edwards, is a suspect in her case.

Case[]

Karen was last seen at around 5:30 p.m. on August 18, 1961, after attending an arts and crafts class with her brother. Her brother had left early to take their dog home, leaving Karen to walk home alone carrying the two covered wagons they had made in class. Their residence was five blocks away and a classmate had ridden their bike with her for the first few minutes of the trip, but Karen never arrived home. She was reported missing at 6:00 that evening.

A few days later, police found bloodstains on the underclothes of a 40-year-old man. He was arrested for Kidnapping, but he denied involvement in Karen's disappearance, and was released due to lack of evidence.

Another 11-year-old girl, Dorthy Gale Brown, disappeared in July 1962 and her body was found the next day. Due to the similarities in both girls' disappearances, authorities believed they were connected.

Serial killer Mack Ray Edwards is a suspect in Karen's case. Edwards pleaded guilty in 1970 to murdering three children. He also confessed to the murders of Roger Madison, Don Baker, and Brenda Howell, however, he could not be charged since their bodies were never found. Edwards is additionally a suspect in the disappearances of Tommy Bowman, Bruce Kremen, and Ramona Price, and the murder of Dorthy Brown. He died by suicide while on death row in 1971. Investigators believe he may have buried some of his victims under highways that he helped construct.

Characteristics[]

  • Blonde hair with short bangs.
  • Blue eyes.
  • Freckles across the bridge of her nose.
  • Brown birthmark in the middle of her forehead a half-inch below her hairline.
  • Uneven teeth with a protruding right eyetooth.

Clothing and accessories[]

  • White sleeveless blouse.
  • White knit cardigan sweater.
  • Royal blue shorts with a white printed band on the bottom.
  • Blue and white socks.
  • Blue rubber sandals.
  • Pearl necklace with a clear plastic pendant containing a mustard seed.
  • New yellow "Hanover" watch.

Gallery[]

Sources[]

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