Unnamed Friend

How did David react to all this?

So what exactly was going on with Karen and her good friends Kathy and Bill Bona? Rumors flew through town, of course, and into the ears of local reporters like Janice Broach of NBC affiliate WMC in Memphis.

So what exactly was going on with Karen and her good friends Kathy and Bill Bona? Rumors flew through town, of course, and into the ears of local reporters like Janice Broach of NBC affiliate WMC in Memphis.

The rumors, which the Bonas deny, were that they were swingers and that Karen was part of their group.

The rumors, which the Bonas deny, were that they were swingers and that Karen was part of their group.

Shocking or maybe not. In Dyersburg, that kind of thing was well-worn gossip. There was even a name for the local swingers club that supposedly operated here years ago. The Pink Poodles Club. What can you tell me about the, what is it, the Pink Poodle Club?

Shocking or maybe not. In Dyersburg, that kind of thing was well-worn gossip. There was even a name for the local swingers club that supposedly operated here years ago. The Pink Poodles Club. What can you tell me about the, what is it, the Pink Poodle Club?

Jason Creasy, one of the hosts of that Halloween party, has lived in Dyersburg for more than two decades.

Jason Creasy, one of the hosts of that Halloween party, has lived in Dyersburg for more than two decades.

Karen's friend Jenny didn't like all the swirling rumors. Anyway, wasn't Karen on her way to a divorce? Jenny remembers being happy that Karen seemed to be finding herself even as her marriage fell apart.

Karen's friend Jenny didn't like all the swirling rumors. Anyway, wasn't Karen on her way to a divorce? Jenny remembers being happy that Karen seemed to be finding herself even as her marriage fell apart.

But her family was struggling with this new Karen. Was she out at night a lot, eventually?

But her family was struggling with this new Karen. Was she out at night a lot, eventually?

And she would go anyway?

And she would go anyway?

But to be gone for days without word to anyone? That made no sense to nine-year-old Ashley.

But to be gone for days without word to anyone? That made no sense to nine-year-old Ashley.

Somewhere in her child's mind she knew, they all did, the awful truth they would be forced to face.

Somewhere in her child's mind she knew, they all did, the awful truth they would be forced to face.

With each passing day and no news of Karen, her family and friends were enveloped by the fear of exactly what her absence meant.