CounterClock Podcast Summary
Episode 12 of 14: "The Dead Man"
Release Date: June 7, 2024
Host: Delia D'Ambra
Sponsor: Amica Insurance

Introduction and Background

In Episode 12 of CounterClock titled "The Dead Man," investigative journalist Delia D'Ambra delves into the tangled web of corruption, crime, and unexplained deaths in Martin County, North Carolina, during the early 1990s. This episode re-examines a series of unresolved cases, aiming to uncover the sinister forces that may have led to the untimely deaths of several key individuals.

The Wiggins Settlement and Larry Jones’ Death

The episode begins in early March 1993, two months after Larry Jones died in prison. A grand jury in Martin County concluded that the NCSBI agents responsible for the fatal shooting of Gene Wiggins, Larry’s hostage at the BB&T incident, were not criminally liable. Consequently, the agents were reinstated, and the agency settled with the Wiggins family for $250,000.

Narrator [00:XX]: "The $250,000 was two things. Compensation for the Wiggins loss and payment for them to just go away."

Delia highlights the settlement's potential implications, suggesting it may have been designed to prevent the Wiggins family from pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit, thereby shutting down further investigative avenues.

Larry Howell, Tremaine Howell's father, shares his anguish and enduring hope for answers regarding his son’s death.

Larry Howell [03:41]: "I just couldn't take him no more. I can't blame her and she can't blame me. I just thank God for the year that he let me have him to be a father to us. And pray that one day I would find out what really happened to my son."

The settlement coincided with the closure of multiple investigations, including those into the deaths of Nikki and Joyce Jean Wilson and Tremaine Howell, leading to the separation and eventual divorce of Larry and Denise Howell.

Spanky’s Mysterious Death

The narrative shifts to the tragic story of Spanky, a young man whose life unraveled amidst the turmoil in Martin County. After enduring police harassment and a wrongful larceny conviction, Spanky managed to regain some stability upon his release in June 1994. However, his peace was short-lived.

On October 22, 1995, Spanky died in a car accident along with a teenage passenger. The Greenville Police Department (PD) reported that Spanky was involved in a car chase after triggering a silent alarm at a local car dealership. The chase ended when Spanky lost control of his vehicle, leading to a fatal crash.

Lynette Brown [06:47]: "He turned the music up in the car and it set out the silent alarm in the building of the car dealership. From what I was told, they followed him and when they fought him, they began to chase him."

Despite surviving the crash, the young passenger perished instantly, and Spanky succumbed to his injuries hours later. His family was not promptly informed, adding to the tragedy.

Brandi Bucote [07:52]: "I feel like he was so terrified. His last hours with no family, nobody, and he was suffering. He suffered. He was scared."

Suspicions of Police Conspiracy

Spanky’s family, particularly his adoptive mother Lynette Brown and daughter Brandi Bucote, suspected foul play. They questioned the aggressive police pursuit, believing it was a deliberate attempt to silences someone who knew too much.

Brandi Bucote [09:30]: "They ran him off the road. It was a setup. They didn't call his family. He was alone. Like they didn't want nobody to communicate with him."

Delia explores the possibility of a conspiracy involving corrupt officers from Williamston PD moving to Greenville PD, though her investigation hits a dead end due to uncooperative local administrations withholding personnel records.

Brandi Bucote [10:10]: "Yes. That's why he didn't stop. That's why he wouldn't stop. He knew that that was gonna be his last road, his last ride."

The Drug Underworld and Corruption

Delia connects these events to a broader narrative of drug-related corruption and organized crime in Martin County. Larry Howell provides insight into the powerful drug dealers of the time and their connections with influential, corrupt law enforcement officers.

Larry Howell [12:54]: "Zeke used to be a big time drug dealer. He knew the whites who were here in town, the big people in Williams who were hooked up in the druid. They used to have here, what you call the big team. And the big ten controlled everything."

This systemic corruption allowed drug lords like Ezekiel Brown to operate with impunity, manipulating legal outcomes to remain on the streets despite their criminal activities.

Insights from Richard Smith

Delia reaches out to Richard Smith, an inmate serving a life sentence for first-degree murder at Nash Correctional Institution. Richard offers a firsthand perspective on the rampant corruption within Martin County’s law enforcement and its ties to the drug trade.

Richard Smith [19:32]: "It was a whole lot of cooking stuff going on back then with police and everything. A lot of them was crooked cops. They taking drug dealers money and stuff like that."

Richard details how police officers would accept bribes and manipulate legal processes, preventing drug dealers from facing real consequences.

Richard Smith [16:12]: "Raised me, taught me how to survive... The drugs seemed like that's where the money was at... everybody was making money."

He also recounts the influx of drugs from New York via a tanker ship on the Roanoke River, indicating a larger network of drug distribution.

Richard Smith [20:10]: "They was getting ass from New York... a tanker ship would always come up on the dock down there."

Moreover, Richard speculates on the possible involvement of corrupt officers in the deaths of Tremaine, Nikki, and Joyce Jean, suggesting these youths might have witnessed illicit activities connected to the drug trade.

Richard Smith [21:25]: "I think Jerry beach knew the answer to the question, and that's why Jerry beach was killed. There's something fishy about the whole thing."

Concluding Thoughts

Delia reflects on the unsettling pattern of unresolved deaths and the possibility of orchestrated efforts to silence witnesses or those who could expose deep-seated corruption. The convergence of drug trafficking, corrupt police officials, and unexplained deaths creates a dark backdrop against which Delia continues her investigation.

Narrator [10:24]: "At this point in my investigation, I'm convinced there's a reason for that. It no longer feels like coincidence."

The episode sets the stage for further exploration into the nexus of organized crime and law enforcement corruption, leaving listeners eager for the next installment of the series.

Looking Ahead

In the upcoming Episode 13 titled "The Nexus," Delia D'Ambra promises to delve deeper into the interconnected web of crime and corruption, seeking answers from sources embedded within these illicit networks.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Larry Howell [03:41]: "I just thank God for the year that he let me have him to be a father to us. And pray that one day I would find out what really happened to my son."

• Brandi Bucote [07:52]: "I feel like he was so terrified. His last hours with no family, nobody, and he was suffering. He suffered. He was scared."

• Brandi Bucote [09:30]: "They ran him off the road. It was a setup. They didn't call his family. He was alone. Like they didn't want nobody to communicate with him."

• Larry Howell [12:54]: "Zeke used to be a big time drug dealer... And the big ten controlled everything."

• Richard Smith [19:32]: "A lot of them was crooked cops. They taking drug dealers money and stuff like that."

• Richard Smith [21:25]: "I think Jerry beach knew the answer to the question, and that's why Jerry beach was killed. There's something fishy about the whole thing."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical discussions and revelations of Episode 12, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the complex and dark history Delia D'Ambra uncovers in Martin County.