17. Rest in Peace, Larry

Summary

Rest in Peace, Larry – A Tribute to a Heroic Investigator

Episode: 17. Rest in Peace, Larry
Release Date: July 7, 2025
Podcast: The Unforgotten
Host/Author: Free Range Productions

Introduction: Honoring Larry Warrick

In episode 17 of The Unforgotten, hosts Carol Dawson and Wes Ferguson pay heartfelt tribute to Larry Warrick, the chief investigator of homicide for the Henderson County Sheriff's Office. Larry, a pivotal figure in the Shelley Salter Watkins murder case, passed away on June 26th. This episode delves into his remarkable contributions, unwavering dedication, and the profound impact he had on those around him.

Larry’s Role in the Shelley Watkins Murder Case

Larry Warrick was instrumental in investigating the chilling and unresolved murder of Shelley Salter Watkins. As Carol Dawson states, “He has been a hero in Shelley Watkins’ murder case” (01:08). Larry’s relentless pursuit of justice for Shelley showcased his commitment to solving even the most challenging cases. Despite battling dementia, Larry retained the essential details of Shelley’s case, demonstrating his deep-rooted dedication.

Personal Interactions and Personality

Wes Ferguson shares his first encounter with Larry, highlighting his warmth and openness: “The instant that Larry opened his door... he was just so welcoming” (02:34). Carol adds, “He was so easy and affable. I cannot imagine meeting a more open person... a good, good guy” (12:10). Larry’s approachable nature made a lasting impression on the hosts, exemplifying the kind of integrity and kindness that is rare in law enforcement.

Christy’s Involvement and Personal Stories

Christy, Larry’s wife and a crucial part of the Shelley Watkins investigation, is also honored in this episode. Wes describes her as “a superwoman... just such a wonderful person” (10:28). Carol recounts a touching moment when Larry affectionately referred to Christy as “a peach” (05:45), illustrating their strong and supportive relationship. Christy’s background, including her childhood memories of E. Ray Andrews, provides deeper insight into the complexities of the case and the personal connections that influenced their pursuit of justice.

E. Ray Andrews and Systemic Challenges

The episode delves into the background of E. Ray Andrews, the serial killer implicated in multiple cases, including Shelley Watkins’. Christy shares her childhood encounters with Andrews, shedding light on his long-standing manipulative behaviors: “She was a kid, and she would have to go to E. Ray and say, can you please repay that $20 that you borrowed from my dad?” (08:03). Wes adds, “It helped us to just understand Irey’s personality...” (09:28). This exploration reveals the systemic cracks that allowed Andrews to evade justice for so long, underscoring the challenges Larry and Christy faced in their investigation.

Legacy and Impact on the Investigation

Larry Warrick’s dedication extended beyond the Shelley Watkins case. Carol mentions, “He has poured his heart and soul into every case, and Shelly was one of the two that haunted him the most” (04:58). Larry’s thoroughness and perseverance not only kept Shelley’s case alive but also inspired those around him to strive for justice despite the obstacles. His legacy is a testament to the profound impact one dedicated individual can have on criminal investigations and the pursuit of truth.

Conclusion: Remembering a Dedicated Public Servant

In concluding the episode, Carol and Wes express their deepest sympathies to Larry’s family and colleagues: “Our sincerest condolences to Christy and all of Larry's loved ones during this sad time” (14:02). They emphasize the importance of honoring public servants like Larry and Christy, whose unwavering commitment and genuine care make a significant difference in their communities. Carol reflects, “I just hope that Larry is truly resting in peace and all of this stuff is finally resolved in his heart and his soul” (12:18), encapsulating the heartfelt tribute to a beloved investigator.

Notable Quotes

• Carol Dawson: “He has been a hero in Shelley Watkins’ murder case” (01:08)
• Wes Ferguson: “The instant that Larry opened his door... he was just so welcoming” (02:34)
• Carol Dawson: “He was so easy and affable. I cannot imagine meeting a more open person... a good, good guy” (12:10)
• Carol Dawson: “He has poured his heart and soul into every case, and Shelly was one of the two that haunted him the most” (04:58)
• Wes Ferguson: “She was a superwoman... just such a wonderful person” (10:28)
• Carol Dawson: “I just hope that Larry is truly resting in peace and all of this stuff is finally resolved in his heart and his soul” (12:18)

Final Thoughts

Episode 17 of The Unforgotten serves as a poignant reminder of the extraordinary individuals dedicated to uncovering the truth and seeking justice. Larry Warrick’s legacy, as portrayed by Carol and Wes, is one of unwavering commitment, compassion, and relentless pursuit of justice. Through their detailed and heartfelt discussion, listeners gain a deeper appreciation for the human side of law enforcement and the personal sacrifices made in the name of justice.

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Note: Timestamps correspond to the transcript provided and are indicated in brackets throughout the summary.

Transcript

[Unknown Speaker]

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[Carol Dawson]

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[Carol Dawson]

Hi, I'm Carol Dawson.

[Wes Ferguson]

And I'm Wes Ferguson.

[Carol Dawson]

And we're here because today we want to talk about somebody who, in my opinion, has been a hero in Shelley Watkins murder case. And that is Larry Warrick, the chief investigator of homicide for the Henderson County Sheriff's Office at the time that Shelly Watkins body was found. He has just passed away this past Thursday on June 26th. And we are deeply moved to learn that he's gone because he was such a remarkable person and it was such a special occasion when we first met and got to talk with him. So let's talk about him.

[Wes Ferguson]

I think a lot of listeners really responded to Larry's, you know, warmth. He just really stood out as one of the, like, main people that you connect with in season one. You know, it's funny, he was one of the first people that we talked to in person. And we had not met him before, but we figured out his address and we just showed up. And I remember, you know, walking up his front steps, getting ready to knock on his door, say, come in. Did you hear someone say, come in?

[Carol Dawson]

I heard somebody make a sound but not come in.

[Wes Ferguson]

Oh, and that's always pretty nerve wracking. It's something I've done a lot, but it doesn't, it never gets really easy. And I remember, I think you also were feeling some trepidation about that.

[Carol Dawson]

You know, I was brought up to be a very polite Southern girl.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Carol Dawson]

You know, and you just don't drop in on, you know, cold, like a cold call on somebody like that. It was a little bit nerve wracking. Yeah, yeah.

[Wes Ferguson]

Just, you know, knock on the door, hi, we're two strangers. Let's talk about murder. You know, and the instant that Larry opened his door, I mean, he was just so welcoming and said, you know, y' all, come on in, and just set us down and just told us everything he could remember. And unfortunately, he was already experiencing dementia at that point, and so he had lost a lot of the finer details, but all the essential facts he could recall. I think that's how you phrased it, or something along those lines in the podcast. And we left our conversation with him convinced that he knew what he was talking about. You know, he remembered the most salient details from Shelly's case because it's one that he had never been able to.

[Carol Dawson]

Let go of, and I was very impressed. But, you know, the very first thing he said to us, Wes, other than to introduce us to his dog, was, what can I do for y'?

[Unknown Speaker]

All?

I would love to help you. That's. I know who did it. Y' all come on in.

[Carol Dawson]

Thank you, Larry. And it's like, oh, my gosh, you have already done so much, Larry. You know, from the get go, he has been heroic because he was. He never let this go, you know, even though he sat by Shelly's grave.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Wes Ferguson]

God, it was so. Just so heartbreaking the way he and Christy, you know, recounted him just sitting out by her grave and just saying he was sorry. And, I mean, you could tell he just poured his heart and soul into this case.

[Carol Dawson]

Oh, he did. I think I got the impression that he poured his heart and soul into every case, and he told us that there were only two that haunted him to this degree, and one was a babies, and the other was Shelly.

[Wes Ferguson]

Oh, my God.

[Carol Dawson]

And I've just been rereading his words this morning as I wrote our tribute to him, because I just found him such an outstanding human being to talk with. It was so clear that he was dedicated and really conscientious and. And cared so much about all his cases and that these two were the ones that had never left him. So he really impressed me a lot, and so did Christy.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Wes Ferguson]

Oh, Christy was really cool.

[Carol Dawson]

Yeah, she's amazing. And I loved it. I loved it so much when he phoned her while we were sitting there and he said, she's a peach.

[Wes Ferguson]

Oh, she's a peach.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Wes Ferguson]

Well, even when, you know, he said, hey, Siri, call Christy. And it said, calling Christy, my one true love. And you and I both were just.

[Unknown Speaker]

Like, oh.

[Carol Dawson]

Yeah, it was really touching to talk with him and also to learn, you know, this is a guy who has handled a lot of cases, and he has obviously addressed himself very closely to each one, but it just touched me so much to learn how much Shelley's case had affected him.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Carol Dawson]

That he had just never gotten over it, really, so. Oh, gosh. I just. You know, Wes, I really do feel so honored that we got to meet and talk with him. I feel that way about a number of people we've talked with. My kid, Great example. Assistant DA for Henderson county during the time of Shelly's investigation. He's just been terrific to talk with. He's so measured and intelligent and careful about. About what he remembers and what he commits to. And I. You get the sense of, you know, real conscientiousness behind everything he says. And it was that way with Larry and Christie also.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Wes Ferguson]

You know, and with Larry having dementia but still remembering so much about the case. And then Christy especially, you know, she was the 911 operator who took that call. And for her to just recount in, in detail this, you know, the steps that she went through, the calls that she made, I mean, you could tell that this case also is one that has just stuck with her all this time, too.

[Carol Dawson]

Oh, it was remarkable. Remarkable to talk with both of them and also life changing for them because it wasn't long after that that they wound up really getting together and then getting married. It was a year after that that they actually got married.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Carol Dawson]

You know, they were truly aligned and allied on this case and through this case, as well as in other respects in their lives.

[Unknown Speaker]

And, you know, Wes, Christy was familiar with E. Wright Andrews from the time she was a child. She had shared with us some really interesting and kind of disturbing reminiscences about E. Ray, because she used to go to the bar with her father, who, as he would drink, would get very, very generous, and E. Ray would borrow money from her father, and she would be the person who had to then go around and collect all the monies that her father had loaned different people in the bar. And that would include having to go to E. Ray. And I mean, she was a kid, and she would have to go to Eray and say, can you please repay that $20 that you borrowed from my dad? I mean, it's just.

[Wes Ferguson]

Yeah. To be a little girl and having to collect on this, you know, member of the bar, this adult lawyer in your hometown. It's a story that was just hard to wrap my mind around.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, it was intense. And so Christy was familiar with E. Ray and his habits long before the scandals that broke Irey and sent him to prison. So it's just really ironic that she saw that side of ire from the Time she was a kid.

Yeah.

[Wes Ferguson]

And it helped us to just understand Irey's personality, his background, what led him to. To make the terrible choices that ended up dooming the initial case against Shelley's husband, Jerry McWatkins.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yes. I've always found it such an irony that in the end it was E. Ray who went to prison and not Jerry. And I find that an irony doubly so because I suspect that the whole bribery setup prompted the folks who set up the bribery to gloat a bit, that that was the outcome. But that's speculation on my part. It's just, you know, it's what I imagine.

[Wes Ferguson]

Yeah, well, it's easy to imagine, but.

[Unknown Speaker]

I just really appreciate Christy sharing those memories with us and the kind of insight that it gave us about a guy who basically maintained the same habits all his life.

[Wes Ferguson]

Apparently, Larry and his now wife, Christy were both directly involved in Shelly's case and were two of the heroes in that case to get it moving forward. And they did all they could. And then when we met them, Christie, like, she. She is a superwoman. You know, she's working a full time job and she was taking care of Larry every day and just such a. Just a really wonderful person.

[Carol Dawson]

Yeah. Boy, you're not kidding. She was just amazing. I mean, it truly has been such an honor to get. To have spoken with both of them and, you know, just to have them in our lives.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Carol Dawson]

And to know that there are such dedicated public servants out there. You know, a lot of people throw sand at law enforcement and police officers and the people who work for them and give them a hard time and sometimes it's well deserved and we cannot deny that. And you meet somebody like Larry and someone like Christy and you go, thank you so much for your service. Because their dedication and their honest devotion to what they do and intentions to truly serve the public, just very impressive.

[Wes Ferguson]

And for them, it was obviously a lifelong calling. We turned to Christy many times when we were reporting the first season and say, you know, what do you know about this person? What do you know about that person? And she hooked us up with background information, phone numbers, whatever she could do to help, because she was just as committed as we are to pushing for justice in this case.

[Carol Dawson]

And she has always acknowledged how committed Larry was. So, yeah, I mean, it's. Boy, yeah. And I just, I hope that Larry is truly resting in peace and, you know, all of this stuff is finally resolved in his heart and his soul. One of the things that impressed me about Larry when we first met him was just how easy he was. He was so easy and affable. And that was not a product of dementia. That was just a product of his personality. I cannot imagine meeting a more open person, especially somebody in law enforcement, just, you know, truly open and as factual as he could manage while sharing also the amount of emotional involvement he had with the case. Just a good, good guy.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Wes Ferguson]

And, you know, lifelong public servant and peace officer. And you could tell that he was also very well respected and loved by his fellow officers in law enforcement. He worked, you know, not just at the Henderson County Sheriff's Office. He was also a police officer at Gun Barrel City, that small town that's in Henderson County. And I know he worked at a few other places. Just left a trail of good wherever he went, I think.

[Carol Dawson]

Well, he was assistant police chief at Gun Barrel City, and that is where he finally retired. Worked for them for 14 years. And that was after he had left Henderson County. I mean, this was a guy who chose his profession and really lived up to it.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah.

[Wes Ferguson]

Our sincerest condolences to Kristi and all of Larry's loved ones during this sad time.

[Carol Dawson]

And thank you, Christy, for the privilege of talking with us, the privilege for us of talking with us, and also the privilege for us of getting to see what a wonderful relationship you and Larry had together.

[Wes Ferguson]

The Unforgotten is a Free range Production Season 1 the Labor Day Ghost was created, written and hosted by Carol Dawson and me, Wes Ferguson. I'm the executive producer at Free Range. This episode was edited by Aislin Gaddis. Our theme song, ghost, was written and recorded by Will Mechatron Jones. Thank you for listening.

[Unknown Speaker]

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