KSPR Justin Hocutt Unsolved Murder Mystery Crime

http://www.kspr.com/news/local/42097622.html
Unsolved: Silence Keeps 14-Year-Olds Homicide a Mystery

Silence in the small city of Seligman, Mo., has kept a 14-year-old's murder unsolved for nearly a decade. On October 9, 1999, 14-year-old Justin Hocutt was killed. Investigators say Hocutts body was dumped before it was hit by a southbound train. Hocutt's family says it's time for people in the town to break the silence and put the killer or killers behind bars.

"I think Seligman is a scary place," says Hocutts Aunt Paula Roney.

"The body was thrown 231 feet," Barry County Sheriffs Department Chief Deputy Leonard Collins says. Collins says follow-up investigators realized the scene didn't add up to a train accident. "Normally when you are hit by a train or a car, there is a lot of blood spatter, Collins says. In this case, the blood spatter was minimal."

Witnesses told police Hocutt was assaulted the night of his death. "It was either a revenge- type deal or a fight that got out of control," Collins says. Hocutt was last seen at his girlfriend's home. Family members say all the 14-year-old ever did was like the girl next door.

Hocutt's family members say they know who killed him. The family says most of the town agrees with their conclusion. "People would come and tell us stories and we'd beg them to go to police," Hocutt's Aunt Patty Snoderly says. The family says everyone in Seligman is still too scared to talk, even nearly 10 years after the crime. "They are afraid if they do talk, they'd go after them too," Hocutt's Grandma Carolyn Chrisp says.

Chrisp says she didn't feel safe living in Seligman. She and other family members say the people they believe were the killers taunted them until they moved. "They would yell over the fence Come over here, and we'll show you what we did to Justin." Snoderly says. "There were suspects, but we never had enough evidence for charges to be filed," Chief Deputy Collins says.

Hocutt's case file is thick but admittedly untouched because leads dried up. The family is desperate to see it closed. A 14-year-old was killed, Snoderly says. I just don't understand that." Snoderly says the cold case has made her lose faith in the justice system.

Nearly a decade later, a reward sign still hangs in the local gas station. The sign offers a $20-thousand reward for justice for Justin. The family isn't sure that will ever happen if the city of Seligman remains silent. "If you know something, say something, tell somebody, Roney says. You can't live your whole life being scared. This was a 14-year-old-boy."

Anyone with any information can call the Barry County Sheriff's department or the Missouri State Highway Patrol at 866-362-6422.

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Tags:

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• Missouri
• Arkansas
• Ozarks
• Seligman
• Barry
• County
• Justin
• Hocutt
• Crime
• Murder
• Shooting
• Mystery

[Mustang5516]

so why are people scard to talk--if they know who the killer is...........

[synxer]

I use to play football with Justin when he moved to Pea Ridge AR when he was 12-13. Still remember the day I got the news was in the locker room. Sad story. Hope the people who did this suffer.

[pintofhappinesslabel]

@Dorisequador Thats one of the stupidest things Ive ever read on youtube These people lost someone they loved they want justice not another sensless murder

[lioness7582]

god bless this family,this is so awful.

[SunsetSix]

I pray the killer is found soon. Somebody... maybe multiple somebodies know the facts. Heath Gramling, have you contacted America's Most Wanted? You can just pick up the phone and call AMW, maybe they will do a segment on Justin. Same with 20/20 or some of the other Network News "Magazine" style shows. Google them, and see if you can call them--I bet there is some way to get in contact with them. Ask the Sheriff if he'll contact America's Most Wanted. Good luck!

[JudoThugMMA]

@Dorisequador Listen here you low life piece of trash. That is my cousin, my name is Heath Gramling, I'm on my buddy's account. Don't you dare sass me, or my family like that. I don't know who you think you are, but you have no right to say a damned thing about what my family should do. As far as I'm concerned you should do the world a favor and eat a freaking bullet you dirt bag.

[barnfresh60]

i can understand being scared, i have seen some real nasty shitbags arround that are seasoned crims and can walk on water most of the time or so they think, if the town knows, get signatures and addresses of anybody willing to assist you and stir the shitstorm so police have to assit you, then again some cops will turn the other way when it comes down to shitbags who are nothing but a pain and know the system, but get friends and other,s to help you come foreward with those guilty of this crime

[Dorisequador]

why don't these people pay 4 black guys 5000 dollars each to avenge their son ... if they care so much . sit their crying do something back.. you have a man in the family.. get a gun pussy.

[imhotep1]

I would have recorded them taunting me.

[Daffneyfan]

I feel awful for this kid's family. This case kinda reminds me of an unsolved homicide case a long time ago where 2 teen boys were murdered and placed on a train track and were ran over afterwards on accident before the train could stop.