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The Rawlins Rodeo Murders // 539 - Going West: True Crime | Wave AI Podcast Notes

The Rawlins Rodeo Murders // 539

Fri Sep 19 2025

During the summer of 1974, four girls between the ages of 10 and 19 vanished from the same small Wyoming community while the rodeo was in town. Two of the girls were found dead, and two remain missing, all these years later. Were these abductions committed by the same depraved killer who is thought to have a dozen or more victims? These are the Rawlins Rodeo Murders.

Summary

Going West: True Crime

Episode 539: The Rawlins Rodeo Murders
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman
Date: September 19, 2025

Overview

In this gripping episode, Daphne and Heath unravel the chilling and interconnected cases known as the Rawlins Rodeo Murders, a series of abductions and murders of young girls in Rawlins, Wyoming during the summer of 1974. The hosts explore how these unsolved crimes connect to a suspected serial killer, Royal Russell Long—a carnival worker believed to be responsible for as many as 50 murders across several states, particularly around fairs and carnivals. The episode also revisits other disappearances linked to Long, examining the systemic issues surrounding missing girls, flawed investigations, and the enduring impact on the victims' families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Rawlins Rodeo Murders (00:32–24:38)

Background:
- Summer 1974, Rawlins, Wyoming (pop. <8,000): Four girls, aged 10–19, vanished during the town’s annual rodeo and fair.
- Two—Christy (Christine) Gross (19) and Carlene Brown (19)—never made it home after heading to the fair on July 4, 1974.
- Their van's location remains a point of confusion—either near the fairgrounds or 200 miles away, adding to the mystery ([06:33]).
Investigation & Discovery:
- The disappearance was initially attributed to runaway behavior but concern escalated after no contact for weeks ([08:03]).
- Christy’s remains were found in Sinclair, Wyoming in 1983—nine years later—identified via dental records and a unique ring ([09:24]).
- The cause of death: blunt force trauma to the head ([11:26]).
- Carlene’s body remains missing. Complications in identifying unidentified remains due to her being adopted ([11:26–12:34]).
Subsequent Disappearances:
- August 4: Deborah Meyer (15), visiting from Montana, disappeared en route to the movies ([12:59]).
- August 23: Jaylene Banker (10) vanished near a popcorn stand at the fair ([13:20]).
  - Jaylene’s remains were found eight months later, several miles from town, also showing signs of blunt force trauma ([21:31–23:00]).
  - Hundreds of tips were received, including a possible sighting in a vehicle hours away, but none panned out ([18:12–20:47]).
  - Rumors circulated of mass graves and church discoveries, all unfounded ([20:47]).
Pattern Recognition:
- The frequency and similarity of the cases—disappearing at crowded fairs—sparked fears of a local serial killer ([21:20]).

Royal Russell Long: The Suspect (24:38–30:39)

Profile:
- Carnival and fair employee, former long-haul trucker, go-kart track owner, and sometimes police informant ([24:38–25:09]).
- Described as charming yet manipulative, with a known violent temper ([24:41]).
- Criminal history includes contempt of court and an escape attempt; boasted about his skills in body disposal ([25:14]).
- Quote: “If you cut the bodies up small enough and shove them down a rat hole, no one will ever find them.” ([25:02])
Relevance:
- Had means and opportunity to prey on victims around carnivals and fairs.
- Later linked to similar unsolved cases in other states, including the disappearances of Native American girls and the Oklahoma State Fair murders.

The Sharon Bald Eagle and Sandy Brokenleg Abductions (31:46–45:26)

Case Overview:
- September 1984: Sharon Bald Eagle (12, Cheyenne River Sioux) and Sandy Brokenleg (15) ran away from a residential school, aiming to reach Idaho.
- While hitchhiking, both were picked up by Royal Long in Wyoming ([33:39–35:41]).
Attack and Escape:
- After being offered food and shelter at Long’s house, he propositioned and then attacked them at gunpoint, raping Sandy and beating Sharon ([36:01]).
- Sandy managed a daring escape; police arrived but found Long and Sharon gone ([36:46–38:39]).
- Blood was later found in the house—possibly Sharon’s ([38:39]).
Investigation and Arrest:
- Long was apprehended in Albuquerque, New Mexico after a tip from the public ([38:39–39:18]).
- He spun conflicting tales, claiming he sent Sharon off to Texas, but she was never found ([40:05–40:47]).
- Sandy’s account was backed by evidence found in Long’s truck: stuffed animals, likely used to lure the girls ([41:13]).
- Long accused the girls of lying about their age and claimed innocence, despite overwhelming evidence ([40:47–41:13]).
- Sharon’s father, Taylor Bald Eagle, spent his life seeking answers:
  
  “It hurts to even talk about it. She’s in my prayers every meal, and she’s traveling with me. ... In Lakota, we don’t say goodbye because goodbye is final. We say toksha, which means later.”
  —Taylor Bald Eagle ([45:01])
Outcome:
- Long was sentenced to two life sentences for rape and kidnapping, never admitting to Sharon’s murder ([44:03]).
- “He received two life sentences for the abduction and assault of the girls. Until the day he died, he maintained that he had nothing to do with the disappearance of Sharon Bald Eagle or any of the murders that he was suspected of committing...” —Daphne ([44:03])

The Oklahoma State Fair Murders & Other Linked Crimes (46:36–59:26)

Charlotte Kinsey & Cinda Pallett (13):
- Disappeared from the 1981 Oklahoma State Fair after taking a job from a fair employee offering $5/hour to unload stuffed animals ([47:14–48:03]).
- Witnesses—their boyfriends—identified Long as the man who took them ([50:14]).
- The car used was found; luminol tests on a trunk mat revealed two small body-sized stains and blonde hair matching one victim ([50:21–51:57]).
- Long’s daughter testified about his predatory MO with young girls, and his ex-wife identified him from a police sketch ([52:12–53:26]).
Long’s Disturbing Admissions:
- Told his daughter, “No one over the age of 13 could ever satisfy him sexually.”
  —Daphne ([54:05])
- Bragged: “Even if I was found in a locked room straddling a dead body and holding a gun, I could manage to get away with the murder because I was so slick and smooth talking.” —Daphne ([54:29])
- Taunted families:
  
  “Only I know where those bodies are and I’m not talking.”
  —Assistant DA Ray Elliott ([55:39])
- Claimed, if pressed, he could prove the girls were alive with “photos taken last year,” yet never produced proof ([57:47–58:38]).
Trial and Frustrations:
- Despite witness testimony and forensic evidence, Long was acquitted in Oklahoma for lack of “enough evidence,” remaining imprisoned for other charges ([56:42–57:08]).
- District Attorney Ray Elliott:
  
  “I truly believe that the bodies are within 45 miles of where we sit right now, in a rat hole, just like he said, in some field grown over with grass.” ([57:26])
Legacy and Likely Scale of Crime:
- Long continued denying involvement until he died in 1993 at age 58, but is suspected in as many as 50 murders ([61:12]).
- Janet Franson (Natl. Center for Missing & Exploited Children):
  
  “Not only did he drive trucks, but he killed girls all over the country. ... The only good thing is that I know that the son of a gun is in hell and he won’t hurt anyone else.” ([59:44])
- Families of the missing still seek justice and closure as decades pass.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Community Fear:
“After four disappearances of young girls in the span of under two months, the small community of Rawlins suspected that a serial killer was lurking among them.” —Heath ([21:20])
On Identification Challenges:
“Think about all the Jane and John Does that are in the system that they ... have no way of connecting ... without DNA or dental records...” —Daphne ([12:14])
On Changing Times:
“The 70s was a little bit more ... street lamp societies ... we didn’t quite know the dangers, I guess.” —Heath ([15:35–16:11])
On Law Enforcement Hurdles:
“We hear that all the time. ... We have so many cases exactly like today’s ... to use as examples as to why we should be accompanying our 10 year olds to the fair, etc.” —Daphne ([16:24])
On the Suspect’s Manipulation:
“Royal also made a point of taunting the grieving families savagely ... ‘Only I know where those bodies are and I’m not talking.’” —Daphne, quoting Assistant DA ([55:39])
On the Enduring Pain for Families:
“It hurts to even talk about it. ... In Lakota, we don’t say goodbye ... We say toksha, which means later.” —Taylor Bald Eagle ([45:01])
On Systemic Issues:
“These perverts are everywhere. You expect something like this to come from a big city ... Bad guys go anywhere.” —Janet Franson ([59:44])

Timestamps for Critical Segments

Case Introduction/Rundown – [01:39–05:44]
Christy Gross & Carlene Brown Disappearance – [05:44–11:26]
Carlene’s Indigenous Heritage & Challenges of Identification – [12:14]
Debra Meyer & Jaylene Banker Disappearances – [12:59–17:16]
Jaylene Banker’s Remains Discovery – [21:34–23:00]
Pattern, Fears of Serial Killer – [21:20–24:38]
Royal Russell Long Background – [24:38–25:14]
Royal’s Chilling Boast to Cellmate – [25:02]
Sharon Bald Eagle/Sandy Brokenleg Abduction – [31:46–40:47]
Royal Long’s Lies on Sharon’s Fate – [40:05–41:13]
Trial, Imprisonment, and Royal’s Death – [44:03–61:12]
Oklahoma State Fair Murders & Composite Sketch Breakthrough – [47:14–53:26]
Long’s Daughter’s Testimony & Disturbing Quotes – [54:05–54:55]
Royal Taunting Victims’ Families – [55:04–55:39]
Acquittal and Final Frustrations – [56:42–59:26]
Legacy and Scale of Royal Long’s Crimes – [59:44–61:12]

Tone and Language

The episode maintains a mix of somber reflection, personal commentary, incredulity at investigative failures, and empathy for victims’ families. Heath and Daphne’s conversational style balances factual recounting with the raw emotional impact of these decades-old crimes.

Conclusion

Daphne and Heath provide a meticulous, compassionate account of the Rawlins Rodeo Murders and connected cases, highlighting the systemic blind spots that allowed Royal Russell Long to evade justice for so long. Despite the passage of time, multiple families and entire communities are still haunted by the unanswered questions and lingering pain of these tragedies. The episode calls for continued remembering of the victims and vigilance, as so many cases remain officially unsolved.

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Transcript

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Heath (1:39)

What is going on? True crime fans? I'm your host he and I'm your host, Daphne. And you're listening to Going West.

Daphne (1:46)

Hello everybody. Thank you for tuning in today. We have a bunch of rodeo murders here that intersect a missing indigenous girls case that intersects with some other state fair murders in a different state. Like this case has a whole lot going on and there is a very disturbing suspect at the heart of it all.

Heath (2:08)

Oh yeah, there is one piece of shit that all of these crimes are pointing to and we're going to talk about that guy a lot today.

Daphne (18:14)

Yeah. Well, the police, of course, were not alerted of Jaylene's disappearance until after the fair ended. So by the time that they went down there, there's really nobody there, and there's nobody there to question. It's not like today where you can send out an alert on, like, the citizen app that there's a missing child. Please come forward if you've seen them, like, so off the bat, it's difficult, but they know that she is not at the fairground. So once her disappearance became publicized, once it's being spoken about locally, the carbon county sheriff's office actually received hundreds of tips, but none materialized in a suspect or even a viable lead in Jaylene's disappearance. Police scoured Jaylene's neighborhood, going house to house, later broadening their search, of course, to the entire community and then sweeping across the entire state. Two planes were even used to search the area from overhead, but no sign of her was spotted. Residents of Rollins, as we see happen a lot, were asked to check their properties, their dumpsters, and any farmland they had in case Jaylene had been dumped there. But no one could find her. Three days after Jaylene's disappearance, there was a sighting that was called in from rock Springs, Wyoming, which is about an hour and a half west of Rollins, where a trucker claimed to have spotted Jaylene in a vehicle with an adult couple. But this tip was fumbled, and by the time it was pursued, this couple was gone. So police couldn't determine if this truly was her or if it was a different kid with her parents. I know we clarify things from other cases a lot, like we've been doing today already, but we do see this a lot. You know, somebody will. We'll find out later that all these tips were coming in of sightings of a person, and then we know that before those sightings came in, that person was deceased. So this is just a tough thing for police of, like, this random person an hour and a half away, saying, oh, I think I saw that little girl. And it's like, okay, well, did you just see a girl that looked like her, or was it actually her? Should we follow this or should we drop it?

Heath (21:34)

Well, almost exactly eight months after her disappearance on April 24, 1975, Jaylene's badly decomposed remains were found in a field near a gravel pit. So, basically, a local man was jogging with his dog in this field about 2 miles or 3.2 kilometers outside of the city and 5 miles or 8 kilometers away from the Carbon County Fairgrounds, when he came across Jaylene's body. She was positioned face down on some rocks, and she had been left partially clothed, as only her shirt, socks, and shoes remained. But a few of her articles of clothing were actually scattered near her body, along with some shell casings. The shell casings were investigated extensively, but weirdly, they were too old to have been used as a method of murder in Jaylene's case. But I will say that people go out into the woods all the time and go shooting, so it's really not a weird thing to find some shell casings near a gravel pit, I will say. But anyway, so, like Christie, Jaylene is believed to have been killed from blunt force trauma to the head, giving police another reason to believe that they were killed by the same person. Now, because the murders took place over the course of two months, it's most likely that the perpetrator lived and even worked in the community and was probably known to other residents. And there was a suspected serial killer right there in Rollins who has been at the forefront of the investigation into the Rollins rodeo murders. Convicted pedophile Royal Russell Long who's suspected of 30 or more murders, but was never convicted of a single one. Royal Long was born on May 15, 1935 to Nettie and Russell Long in Brazil, Indiana. Yes, there is a Brazil in Indiana. Now, he was married multiple times, but they all ended in divorce. He moved around frequently and lived all over the country, including in Rollins, Wyoming. Now, he's remembered as charming and gregarious by many and was even well known and liked in his small community. Now, obviously this does not mean that he's a good guy, maybe just manipulative, especially since he's a known killer. Also, a select few recalled a ruthless temper that he managed to keep concealed most of the time. Now, Royal did have a criminal record and was actually a felon, but his charges stemmed from an arrest for contempt of court and then a charge for attempting to escape from prison. After that, he worked a myriad of short term jobs, including employment as a long haul trucker, a deli employee, and guess what, guys, a carnival employee.