HORRIFIC photos show the blood-soaked tent from the infamous girl scout murders that resulted in the rapes and murders of three children. In 1977, buses full of girl scouts arrived at Camp Scott near Tulsa, Oklahoma, hoping for summer fun but the trip turned deadly during the first night.
Three girls were murdered at Camp Scott in 1977 and the case still remains coldTwitter/@ABC2020
HuluLori Lee Farmer, 8, Michelle Guse, 9, and Doris Denise Milner, 10, were found beaten and murdered in sleeping bags '/ ' Three girls \- Lori Lee Farmer, 8, Michelle Guse, 9, and Doris Denise Milner, 10 \- were found brutally beaten and murdered after they were mysteriously abducted from their tent. A months-long investigation led to the identification of a suspect, a Cherokee man named Gene Leroy Hart. However, after a controversial trial, Hart was ultimately acquitted, leaving the state with even more questions. Premiering tonight, ABC will cover the shocking mystery of the "Girl Scout Murders" on 20/20. READ MORE UNSOLVED CASES
SCOUT MURDER SUSPECT Who was Girl Scout Murder suspect, Gene Leroy Hart?
HUGE UPDATE Man arrested on two counts of murder five years after Delphi deaths "I knew it was a scene of great trauma because there was so much blood on the floor of the tent," said Michael Wheat, former photographer and reporter for The Pryor Jeffersonian. "All of my pictures are in black and white. My memories were in technicolor," he said of the horrific nature of the crime. Harvey Pratt, former Agent for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations also gave insight on the case during the program. "When you see things like that, you're almost in shock that somebody could do those kind of things to another human being," he said. Most read in The US Sun VLAD'S SICK Besieged Russian troops 'eating ZOO animals to stay alive on Ukraine frontline' HORROR WRECK Celeb hangout owner & his son killed in crash that trapped them in burning car DRUMMING UP TROUBLE Kardashian fans 'scared' for Kourtney & say Travis is 'too controlling' TRAGIC END Missing pregnant mom and baby found dead after eerie online messages uncovered BLOODY HELL King Charles reveals he's related to sinister figure from history SECONDHAND GLAM I spent $2k on Kylie Jenner's used clothes & looked like a Shrek character "A child. An innocent, little child. My God, what happened inside of that tent?" Photos Wheat took at the time show the sheriff and other members of the police looking at what appeared to be a "cluster of sleeping bags," which was eventually revealed to be the deceased girls. "You try to isolate from the trauma," said Wheat. "It's been 45 years since this happened and it still comes back to me." NEW DEVELOPMENTS While the case remains cold, this year has provided new developments in the investigation as well as more interest. Authorities announced that DNA evidence strongly linked Hart to the murder, ruling out all other possible suspects. Hart died two years after his acquittal while serving time in prison for previous rape, murder, and kidnapping convictions. ABC News senior affairs correspondent Deborah Roberts said in a teaser for the show that alternative theories placed investigators at the center of the case. "Over the years, there have been all kinds of theories," she said. "There have been suggestions that maybe some of this evidence could have been planted by investigators." However, Mayes County Sheriff Mike Reed immediately denied the claims, believing that it was Hart to committed the murders. "There was a lot of different opinions that was out there when we started looking into the case I was like ...my gosh this is overwhelming almost'," he said. "If I wanted to plant these pictures to put Gene Hart there, because I know they're his, why in the world wouldn't I just walk out here anywhere at the camp at the scene and just drop them and just walk off?" Reed added. He explained that DNA testing proved Hart's guilt, however, it's officially been ruled inconclusive. "All the DNA testing that has been done on the case it excludes every suspect that I've ever heard or know of that's been brought up in this case except for one person," said Reed. Read More on The US Sun
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SHE SAID YES! 1000-lb Sisters' Tammy is engaged to Caleb after accepting proposal in rehab Camp Scott never reopened following the murders and was eventually shut down. The Girl Scout Murders airs Friday, November 4, at 9pm ET/8pm CT.
...It's been 45 years since this happened and it still comes back to me,' said photographer Michael WheatTwitter/@ABC2020
DNA evidence may have linked longtime suspect Gene Leroy Hart to the crimeTwitter/@ABC2020
