Vanessa Richardson

Beard later claimed that he was tipsy but not drunk when he did this, though he did have a reputation for drinking heavily. He didn't think much of the call with Howard Durian, and within a few weeks, it had completely slipped from his memory. When a sheriff's deputy showed up at his work and took him in for questioning, Beard was confused. He didn't know what he'd done wrong.

Beard later claimed that he was tipsy but not drunk when he did this, though he did have a reputation for drinking heavily. He didn't think much of the call with Howard Durian, and within a few weeks, it had completely slipped from his memory. When a sheriff's deputy showed up at his work and took him in for questioning, Beard was confused. He didn't know what he'd done wrong.

And he didn't know he would spend the next 18 years trying to explain why he'd called Vicki's family. After State Trooper Alkire identified Jacob Beard, he pressed the local man on his whereabouts on June 25, 1980, the day of the murders. Beard had a surprisingly clear memory of that day, even though more than two years had passed.

And he didn't know he would spend the next 18 years trying to explain why he'd called Vicki's family. After State Trooper Alkire identified Jacob Beard, he pressed the local man on his whereabouts on June 25, 1980, the day of the murders. Beard had a surprisingly clear memory of that day, even though more than two years had passed.

He said he was working at the tractor sales company until the late afternoon when he left to visit a customer. He finished the house call around 5.15, then drove home, ate a quick dinner, and headed back into town for a school board meeting. He said he arrived at the meeting around 7 or 7.30. He didn't see any Rainbow Gathering participants that day.

He said he was working at the tractor sales company until the late afternoon when he left to visit a customer. He finished the house call around 5.15, then drove home, ate a quick dinner, and headed back into town for a school board meeting. He said he arrived at the meeting around 7 or 7.30. He didn't see any Rainbow Gathering participants that day.

Beard didn't say anything incriminating, so Alkire had no choice but to let him go. Then, Alkire got to work trying to verify his story. First, he checked if others saw Beard at that school board meeting. Several people did, so it seemed like he was telling the truth from 7.30 onward. Alkire tried to verify the house call he made by checking the company time cards.

Beard didn't say anything incriminating, so Alkire had no choice but to let him go. Then, Alkire got to work trying to verify his story. First, he checked if others saw Beard at that school board meeting. Several people did, so it seemed like he was telling the truth from 7.30 onward. Alkire tried to verify the house call he made by checking the company time cards.

The card did note that he finished the job at 5.15 p.m., but it didn't include the name of the customer he claimed he visited. Also, the time was written in pencil, which Alkire found strange. But without anything else to connect Beard to the crime, the trooper was stuck. The following year, in 1983, the investigation into Beard began to pick up speed.

The card did note that he finished the job at 5.15 p.m., but it didn't include the name of the customer he claimed he visited. Also, the time was written in pencil, which Alkire found strange. But without anything else to connect Beard to the crime, the trooper was stuck. The following year, in 1983, the investigation into Beard began to pick up speed.

But to say things got complicated is a bit of an understatement, so bear with me for a moment. First, Beard suddenly recalled something new about the day of the murder. He said he was driving home from the house call around 5.30 p.m. when he saw a few locals hanging out in their cars near the entrance to Droop Mountain State Park.

But to say things got complicated is a bit of an understatement, so bear with me for a moment. First, Beard suddenly recalled something new about the day of the murder. He said he was driving home from the house call around 5.30 p.m. when he saw a few locals hanging out in their cars near the entrance to Droop Mountain State Park.

This was very close to Briary Knob, where Vicki and Nancy's bodies were found. Beard recognized one of the cars. It belonged to a friend from high school named Christine. While he claimed he didn't see Christine there, he did allegedly see her boyfriend and his close friend. Beard remembered seeing two more figures inside one of the parked cars. He implied that they were the Rainbow Girls.

This was very close to Briary Knob, where Vicki and Nancy's bodies were found. Beard recognized one of the cars. It belonged to a friend from high school named Christine. While he claimed he didn't see Christine there, he did allegedly see her boyfriend and his close friend. Beard remembered seeing two more figures inside one of the parked cars. He implied that they were the Rainbow Girls.

The detective remained skeptical. To him, it really seemed like Beard pulled all of this out of thin air. Then there was another dubious story about a corn chopper. According to a police report, Beard allegedly said that a third woman was killed alongside Vicki and Nancy, and he knew what happened to her. Beard was running some crops through a corn shopper when two men arrived at the property.

The detective remained skeptical. To him, it really seemed like Beard pulled all of this out of thin air. Then there was another dubious story about a corn chopper. According to a police report, Beard allegedly said that a third woman was killed alongside Vicki and Nancy, and he knew what happened to her. Beard was running some crops through a corn shopper when two men arrived at the property.

One of them was Christine's boyfriend, and both of them looked frustrated. Then Christine's boyfriend did something truly shocking. The report said that he opened up his companion's truck and pulled out a lifeless female body. She was pale and thin, covered in dark grey fabric. The two men hoisted her up and placed her body in Beard's corn chopper. Then they flipped the machine on.

One of them was Christine's boyfriend, and both of them looked frustrated. Then Christine's boyfriend did something truly shocking. The report said that he opened up his companion's truck and pulled out a lifeless female body. She was pale and thin, covered in dark grey fabric. The two men hoisted her up and placed her body in Beard's corn chopper. Then they flipped the machine on.

There was absolutely no evidence that this story was true, but for the sake of the investigation, Alkire eventually sent the corn shopper to a state crime lab for forensic testing, and they found no trace of human blood or tissue. Next, another Pocahontas County resident went to police and implicated a local businessman who'd also been mentioned in Jacob Beard's corn chopper story.

There was absolutely no evidence that this story was true, but for the sake of the investigation, Alkire eventually sent the corn shopper to a state crime lab for forensic testing, and they found no trace of human blood or tissue. Next, another Pocahontas County resident went to police and implicated a local businessman who'd also been mentioned in Jacob Beard's corn chopper story.