Transcript
Nick (0:00)
In 1932, one man opened a two room business school above a nondescript storefront in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire. How did it become one of the largest universities in the country? Okay, this case isn't exactly a mystery. Southern New Hampshire University offers over 200 degrees you can earn from your couch. And with low online tuition, Southern New Hampshire University makes earning your degree affordable too. Find your degree at snhu. Edu Garage. That's snhu. Edu Garage. Welcome to True Crime Garage. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, thanks for listening. I'm your host, Nick. And with me, as always, is a man who's been eating scrambled Cadbury eggs for breakfast. Here is the Captain.
The Captain (1:32)
There's not a damn thing you can do about it. It's good to be seen and good to see you. Thanks for listening. Thanks for telling a friend.
Nick (1:42)
Today we are very happy to be featuring Shotgun Wedding brown ale aged with vanilla beans by the fine folks at Country Boy Brewing. Shotgun Wedding is a vanilla bean aged brown ale that has just the right amount of vanilla flavor. It's smooth, multi and a little on the lighter side, so pretty easy. Drinking ABV 5.5 garage grade three and three quarter bottle caps out of five. And Captain, let's give some thanks and praise to our good friends that helped us fill up the old garage fridge.
The Captain (2:16)
Yeah, big. We like you. Jib goes out to Carlo in Avon, Connecticut.
Nick (2:20)
Next up, here's a cheers to Don from Hampstead, New Hampshire.
The Captain (2:24)
Big tall canes in the air too, Linda. And parts unknown, here's a shout out.
Nick (2:29)
To Doc Triple Z from Boynton Beach, Florida. And last but certainly not least, we have Christy Kelly and her fiance Greg from Reynoldsburg, Ohio. They are getting married in May. So everyone raise a glass to toast their wedding. They would probably want glasses of champagne. We have beer. But anyway, congratulations to you crazy kids. And thank you, thank you to everyone that helped us out with this week's beer run.
The Captain (2:57)
Yeah, BWR Beer run for everything. True crime. Check out True Crime garage dot com. And while you're there, sign up on the mailing list. And Colonel, that's enough of the be.
Nick (3:08)
All right, everybody, gather around. Grab a chair, grab a beer. Let's talk some true crime. There are few things more tragic and senseless than the murder of a child. When that child also has a child of his own, the tragedy intensifies beyond comprehension. How could a chance encounter at a local agricultural fair, presumably a very wholesome activity, turn so deadly when Jimmy Townsend of West Monroe, Louisiana, was attacked and beaten to death an entire grieving community wanted answers. Could it have been jealousy of a gifted golden boy that prompted the attack? Were his assailants perhaps envious of the prize he had recently won? Or was the motive even more sinister? Regardless, the merciless beating callously administered on that terrible night would forever rob his parents of their only child and deny a daughter the opportunity to ever know her father. This is True Crime Garage West Monroe in Monroe, Louisiana. Sometimes known as the Twin Cities, these are cities that are both part of the Bible Belt in the United States that are situated about 100 miles east of Shreveport, Louisiana. This is where this week's True Crime story will take place. Monroe is the ninth largest city in Louisiana. In the mid-1980s, as with today, Monroe possessed a very diverse population. Back then, the area boosted a youthful demographic, with a significant portion of the population being under the age of 18. The economy was fueled primarily by manufacturing and retail, and a significant number of educational institutions are located in the area. In the 1980s, one of the premier events in the region that occurred during this era was the Arkla Misfit Fair. First introduced in 1975, the fair rapidly evolved into the region's annual highlight, becoming an integral part of local culture. Ultimately, this was an annual fundraising event that everyone looked forward to. Along with livestock and agricultural displays, the family friendly event included games, rides, music, food and craft exhibits. It was here, at this seemingly innocuous event that Jimmy Townsend would become embroiled in an argument that would cost him his life. We need to go back to December of 1971. On December 20, 1971, James Allen Townsend, soon to be known to all as Jimmy, is born to James Allen and Rita Gail Townsend in West Monroe, Louisiana. He was and will be the only child born to the couple. Jimmy grows up in West Monroe with a passion for playing sports, and he rapidly gains a reputation as an extremely gifted athlete. By the time he's a student at Riser Middle School, his physical attributes and superior athletic ability win him praise and accolades in several sports, notably baseball, football, and boxing. Besides securing a spot on the All Star team, he also excels academically and socially, and he fits in with every team that he joins. His coaches and trainers have nothing but praise for the young man, the the one that they describe as a sturdy young man with the looks, maturity, and athletic abilities of someone far exceeding his years. Jimmy's parents are both extremely supportive of their son's endeavors, but his father. His father's working for an oil pipeline, so he is frequently unable to attend Jimmy's sporting events. Due to this demanding job, Jimmy's mother, Gail, more than makes up for his absence by attending virtually all of her son's games and practices. Now let's go to 1985. By this time, James is known to all as Jimmy. He is 13 years old. He's an 8th grader still living in West Monroe, Louisiana. He's attending Riser Middle School. He is the pride and joy of his parents. Although only a junior high school student, Jimmy was already an accomplished athlete who excelled in school team sports. Given his natural abilities and athletics, it was not surprising that he also enjoyed hobbies like bowling, fishing and hunting, as well as riding his bike all over West Monroe. By all reports, the bright and engaging young man was well liked within his school and throughout the community. His name frequently appeared in hometown newspapers, underscoring his outstanding achievements in local sports. Jimmy's athletic career was at the center of his mother Gail's universe. And the young athlete had no shortage of male role models and encouraging figures, often finding inspiration in his coaches and athletic instructors. And the admiration seems to be mutual as many of these adults in his orbit had nothing but praise for the remarkable young man.