Did anyone see that segment on Friday about the kid who was killed in Spokane, Washington in the 1980s? During the reenactment, they showed the kid (or the actor) in the hospital with bruise marks all over his face. The police said they he died as a result of a hit and run, although his parents think he was killed in a fight (with baseball bats, etc). I think the parents are right. All of those bruise marks suggest being beaten up. That's a spooky case. I hope it gets solved somehow. The poor guy had his whole life in front of him.

I'm trying to think of this case - It's an old episode right from the early 90s - It's not Chad Maurer who was locked in the trunk of a car in a garage because that was in Chicago. It isn't Jeremy Bright either who disappeared at the Coos County Fair in Oregon - Those were both similar cases where either the person disappeared or was later found and assumed suicide. I'm drawing a blank here though

Later.

yea i was really hoping for an update in this case, since I had never seen it before. Its sad how it ended, and I think it did involve foul play. I don't really know if it had to do with the encounter about the girl earlier. Its kinda weird how a 13 year old would get killed over a girl. If he was a bit older, maybe i would consider it, but at this age, I can't really believe it. All in all, Im pretty sure this case involved foul play, but most likely had nothing to do with the earlier encounter with the other young boys they profiled. It was past 1 in the morning, so I mean **** happens at that time at night. He was probably just at the wrong place at the wrong time, as Robert Stack finalized at the end of the segment.

What's most bizarre about this case is the fact that his shoe laces were seperated from his shoes - all of which were found 30 - 40 feet from where his body was laying. If he was hit by a car, I highly doubt the impact would actually cause the laces to seperate from the shoes.

He was probably killed for no reason - just the fact that this person/persons liked to kill people.

Strange thing though - When I was 13, I was never allowed to be out with friends at 1:00 in the morning. That kind of caught me by surprise but I guess all kids have different curfews.

His name was Russell Evans.

I have been looking for anyone who has any info on this case. My mom was actually on UM about this case. She found him and called the cops. I am trying to find a copy of the episode. Any ideas on how?

E-mail me combatkellie@hotmail.com

Was this the one where the passersby and paramedics saw a boy looking down from the side of the hill?

I have been looking for anyone who has any info on this case. My mom was actually on UM about this case. She found him and called the cops. I am trying to find a copy of the episode. Any ideas on how?

E-mail me combatkellie@hotmail.com

If your mom was the one that found him, I'm sure she could tell you more of what she saw than anything we could find. But still, I have this segment on tape so I went back and looked at it to get the extra details for you. Here they are –

Spokane, Washington – At 1:05 a.m. on June 4, 1989, Sandy Ferris and a friend were driving home when they found 13 year old Russell Evans lying in the middle of the road. He appeared to have been hit by a car. When Ferris rushed over to Russell and asked him what had happened, he never answered her. Instead, he continued to shout, “Brian, help me!!!” Russell was rushed to Sacred Heart Hospital at 1:30 a.m. and his parents were notified. Several hours later at 9:10 a.m., he died.

To this day, Spokane police still maintain that Russell died because of a random hit and run accident but a number of unanswered questions point to a more sinister scenario. Both of Russell’s parents believe that their son was murdered. Here are the events that happened and what took place afterwards.

On June 3rd, just a few hours before his death, Russell was hanging out at a local park with his friend Aaron and a group of other friends when two teenage boys approached Aaron. They started to get in a fight over Aaron’s girlfriend. Russell broke up the fight and told both of the boys to get lost. One of them shouted back that Russell better watch out because he was going to get some of his “homeboys” after him. The two teens then got back into their car and drove off. Russell and his friends eventually left as well.

Russell spent the remainder of the evening at a friend’s house. At midnight, he called his dad to tell him that he was coming home. He started walking down the street when he ran into another one of his friends, Sade. They made small talk for several minutes about what had happened at the park earlier before going their separate ways.

Police believe that around 12:30 a.m., Russell was hit by a hit and run driver, just two blocks from his home. Apparently, the impact was so hard that his shoes and shoelaces both separated from each other and flew off of his feet. It is estimated that his body flew around 75 feet before hitting the ground. Later, a Forensic Pathologist would state that Russell was hit in the back and that his injuries were in fact consistent with those of a hit and run victim. But Russell’s parents don’t buy that theory.

Russell’s shoes and shoelaces were found downhill from his body around 86 feet away. There was also 3 separate pools of blood that were found as far as 50 feet away from where is body was found. Stupidly, police reports never pinpointed the exact spot where the body was found. Sandy Ferris later took Russell’s parents to where she had found Russell. More confusion happened as they looked over the details of this case.

1. There was blood found on one of the shoelaces. If his body was struck by a car so hard that his shoes literally separated from his feet, how did the blood get on the shoe lace?

2. There was a never a long bumper shaped bruise found on his back. Instead there were several irregular patterns of bruises all over his back. If the bumper of the car struck his back like the police believe, there would have been a long bruise to match it.

3. If his body flew 75 feet through the air, there would have been massive scraping from where he hit the pavement. No such scraping was ever found, though.

Russell’s parents hired another Pathologist to investigate. He agreed with the initial ruling but concluded that Russell was in a fight just before he was killed. Russell’s parents agreed with that and came up with their own version of what happened. They believe he was attacked with a baseball bat or a 2 by 4 by several boys. Finger bruises to Russell’s face, nose and upper arms (as if he had been held down) would seem to coincide with that.

The two teens that started the fight at the park earlier cooperated with Police questions and even volunteered to take a polygraph test which they passed with flying colors.

At the crime scene, Sandy Ferris believes that Russell himself gave an important clue – yelling for Brian to come and help him. He yelled as if Brian was within ear distance like he was supposed to be there. After police arrived and Russell’s body was being placed in the ambulance, Sandy Ferris turned around and saw a boy in white shorts and a white t-shirt running away from the scene. When she walked over to a police officer to tell him about the boy, she was told to get out of the way and remain on the sidewalk. She believed that the boy was probably Brian.

Russell did in fact have a friend named Brian. When Russell’s father later asked Brian what he was wearing that night, Brian said he was wearing a white t-shirt and white shorts but that he was nowhere near the area where Russell was found. However, he later told police that he never even owned a white t-shirt or white shorts. Police came to the conclusion here that the boy was probably a curious stranger that happened upon the scene and was wondering what had happened.

Still, Brian’s name would surface again a short time later. When Russell’s mother arrived at the hospital, a nurse told her that a boy named “Brian” had recently called the hospital asking how Russell was doing. At this time, nobody else knew that Russell had been injured so how Brian knew to call the hospital was beyond them, unless he really knew more than he was saying.

In the end, the Evans’ believe that their son was killed because of a fight that got out of hand. But even if they are wrong, the fact remains that somebody is still responsible for Russell's death.

Hi, My name is Calley. My mother, Sandy Ferris, was the one that found Russell Evens. My freind Kellie was the one that found this site for me. I just got done reading your reply to her questioning about the spokane death. Growing up with my mom being on this show and living in Spokane for almost my whole life, I have heard lots of different ideas about what happened that night. My brother and I have had all sorts of friends there, friends that know people that know that truth about that night. We have heard that it is gang related and that the two guys that Russell got into a fight with ealier that night we in fact part of a gang. Russell's friend Brian, from what we heard, was part of this gang that killed Russell. There are people, Brian included, that know the real truth with what happend that night. At the time of the death, my brother was the same height as Russell. Our mom, Sandra Ferris, had my brother stand infront of a car; if Russell was hit by a hit and run driver his knees would have been broken and they weren't. So, we also believe that he was not killed by a hit and run driver but by a gang of Spokane.

My mother is no longer alive, she passed away in October of 2003. Till the day of her own death she was hunted of what happened that night. But she is in Hevean with Russell now, and she can rest at ease knowing the truth. Something she has wanted since that horrible night.

combatkellie, I'm sorry to hear that your mother passed away. You should be proud that she was kind enough to wait with Russell until paramedics arrived and thoughtful enough to help his parents out with the case.

The gang theory seems like the most likely scenario. But I would have to wonder what the motive was. Would a gang of thugs kill somebody just because he broke up a fight? Unless Russell had some enemies that we didn't know of, what would be justified as killing him? I've never been in a gang so I don't know how their psycho warped little minds work.

That Brian kid knows what happened that night, but unless his conscience ever gets to him, the case remains unsolved. If it was gang related, the gang must be sitting pretty knowing that the police are completely convinced that this was a hit-and-run accident.

I don't think that those guys meant to kill him. Russell Evans mother even stated that it was probably a fight that got out of hand. It's sad that this still hasn't been solved and the people responsible, whether it was a hit and run driver or a group of kids, have gotton away with it for the past 16 years. I agree with dynoguys earlier statement though. Why the heck was that kids parents letting him walk home by himself at 1 am instead of going to pick him up? He wasn't even out of Junior High yet. I understand that Russell looked older than 13 but it seemed to me that his parents gave him more freedom than a kid his age should have had.

Hi, My name is Calley. My mother, Sandy Ferris, was the one that found Russell Evens. My freind Kellie was the one that found this site for me. I just got done reading your reply to her questioning about the spokane death. Growing up with my mom being on this show and living in Spokane for almost my whole life, I have heard lots of different ideas about what happened that night. My brother and I have had all sorts of friends there, friends that know people that know that truth about that night. We have heard that it is gang related and that the two guys that Russell got into a fight with ealier that night we in fact part of a gang. Russell's friend Brian, from what we heard, was part of this gang that killed Russell. There are people, Brian included, that know the real truth with what happend that night. At the time of the death, my brother was the same height as Russell. Our mom, Sandra Ferris, had my brother stand infront of a car; if Russell was hit by a hit and run driver his knees would have been broken and they weren't. So, we also believe that he was not killed by a hit and run driver but by a gang of Spokane.

My mother is no longer alive, she passed away in October of 2003. Till the day of her own death she was hunted of what happened that night. But she is in Hevean with Russell now, and she can rest at ease knowing the truth. Something she has wanted since that horrible night.

I just saw this segment today and I am sorry that your mother (the person who found Russell) passed away. Obviously, Brian is the one who could break this case wide open. He is an adult now and one would hope that the guilt that he must feel would eventually get to him and get him to spill.

the interesting thing, as stated by combatkellie, that I have never thought of, is the gang angle. I do remember now having friends who had moved here from Seattle and heard stories in general. I know spokane isn't seattle, but they are both in washington. I have heard that Seattle has a really bad gang problem, and they have different initiation rituals all the time, most stemming from urban legends(the headlight flashings, etc...). It could be possible that maybe the people who killed him weren't even in the gang, although I bet they were. Most teenagers that age want to be accepted, and in that area maybe being in a gang was the thing that made people cool, who knows. Anyways, I know it wasn't a hit and run. I wasn't allowed to be out til 1 am at that age, although, if it is a city like the one I grew up in, when you live there all your life and so has your family, they are a little more lenient about letting you rome the neighborhood afterhours.

Most teenagers that age want to be accepted, and in that area maybe being in a gang was the thing that made people cool, who knows.

Well you're correct that all kids, and to a certain extent everyone, wants to be accepted. But that would suggest every kid in town is a member of the gang, which I find highly unlikely.

I bring up this old thread because I just rewatched this segment tonight. This is another case where I feel law enforcement didn't do justice in their investigation. How the hell do the shoe laces become separated from the shoes and they say that is part of being hit by a car? I'd like to see them recreate that one.

I know spokane isn't seattle, but they are both in washington. I have heard that Seattle has a really bad gang problem...

That is funny because I have a friend who grew up in Spokane. She said it had a ton of crime and many people there nicknamed it "Spo-Compton." I never realized it before, but watch reruns of COPS and you will realize how often they are in Spokane (they only go where they know there will be action). She said they had a lot of issues and a lot of crime when she was growing up, so the gang angle doesn't seem so far-fetched.

Makes you wonder if the cops didn't care and just mailed it in, were afraid of gang retaliation (far-fetched, but you never know), or if they thought a 13-year-old white kid wouldn't be involved in a gang fight.

One thing is for sure: this was no simple hit and run. That boy got beat up... bad.

I wonder about the laces and why they were out of the shoes...

Did the killer(s) transport him by grabbing his laces to hold up his feet, causing the laces to slip out?

Were they planning on restraining him with them?

Also, I seem to recall some issues in the late 80s early 90s with certain color shoelaces (particularly in combat boots) symbolizing different things (straight edge, neo-nazi, unity, etc). I wonder what color his laces are and if they could have sent the wrong message (intentionally or unintentionally)


Some articles about the case/filming:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19901026&id=eDESAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j_ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=5487,3975558

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19900701&id=kjwVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eQgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5914,202472

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1345&dat=19920727&id=jssSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AfoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2455,3579869

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19900420&id=qzgVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TwgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7002,6191812

Some articles about the case/filming:

Hey, Necco -- thanks for posting the articles! Nice work! :clap

I picked up a couple of things that I didn't know before. In the first article, it says police thought he was either a victim of a hit-and-run or that he "committed suicide by jumping in front of a car." Really? That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. You want to kill yourself so you jump in front of a car a 1am on a side street? Not a high likelihood of dying and it still wouldn't explain the "Brian... help me!" comments. Good stuff, Spokane PD.

It did say in the last article that the police wish they had "done some things differently." Wow. That's the understatement of the year.

The witness saw his socks laying in the road but later the cops couldn't find them and assumed they had been discarded at the hospital. Again, top-notch PD work.

I have the feeling the cops found this poor kid and just assumed it was a simple hit-and-run so they did a half-assed investigation. Then later when the parents complained, the cops wouldn't admit fault and simply used the Occam's Razor theory even though the evidence doesn't support that.

I can't imagine the hell these poor parents went through and continue to go through, never having closure on this. The articles also say many suspect it was a youth gang beating but like so many other cases (Jennifer Pratt, Chad Maurer, etc.) people were/are afriad to talk.

A couple of years later a similar murder, started by just kids harassing each other, happened to a 12-year-old in Clarkston, Washington, but in this case the victim lived long enough to stagger into a Pizza Hut before collapsing and the killer was caught.

Bumped as it's come up again.

the interesting thing, as stated by combatkellie, that I have never thought of, is the gang angle. I do remember now having friends who had moved here from Seattle and heard stories in general. I know spokane isn't seattle, but they are both in washington. I have heard that Seattle has a really bad gang problem, and they have different initiation rituals all the time, most stemming from urban legends(the headlight flashings, etc...). It could be possible that maybe the people who killed him weren't even in the gang, although I bet they were. Most teenagers that age want to be accepted, and in that area maybe being in a gang was the thing that made people cool, who knows. Anyways, I know it wasn't a hit and run. I wasn't allowed to be out til 1 am at that age, although, if it is a city like the one I grew up in, when you live there all your life and so has your family, they are a little more lenient about letting you rome the neighborhood afterhours.

Let's distinguish between real gangs - Bloods, Crips, MS-13, etc. and the poser wanna-bes that pass for "gangs," who would piss themselves if you brought them to real gang territory.

I'm not saying these posers can't be dangerous (although the majority of their crime tends to be petty); but if they were involved in Russell's death, it's more likely that it's because they got outplayed by a 13-year-old and, humiliated, killed him in a revenge that got out of hand.

Sad thing is, the cops should have been away to break these posers, including this "Brian" pretty easily; but it already seems obvious cops didn't do a good investigation on this one.

I bring up this old thread because I just rewatched this segment tonight. This is another case where I feel law enforcement didn't do justice in their investigation. How the hell do the shoe laces become separated from the shoes and they say that is part of being hit by a car? I'd like to see them recreate that one.

It did say in the last article that the police wish they had "done some things differently." Wow. That's the understatement of the year.

The witness saw his socks laying in the road but later the cops couldn't find them and assumed they had been discarded at the hospital. Again, top-notch PD work.

I think one thing to remember was that this was the 1980s.

Not everyone was an armchair detective back then like they are now, so law enforcement could probably get away with doing a half-assed job because who was ever going to do a double-take on it? Sure justice had to be upheld but as long as the detective or sheriff scratched or rubbed the pathologists back for him, everyone was happy. Heck, even to get information or corroborate leads from a dept in another county could take months if they even played ball at all, in some cases it never happened. Now it can be done in days or even hours or minutes with departments more willing to co-operate with each other.

Back then I don't think they could've ever predicted how information would be shared and spread around and that nearly 20 to 30 years later a bunch of us would be on the internet going over the case with a fine-toothed comb.

I think it's more the attitude, if we just get by that's exactly what we'll do - no effort required :|

This is Brian, and I can say that I was in no gang, nor was Russ, however, there were crips and bloods in Spokane, and smaller gangs stemming from those. I see that a lot of people have watched the episode about Russell's death and have made several speculations as to the cause. My family and I moved about a year after Russ passed, before the taping of the episode, and the show made no effort to contact me regarding any circumstances they made of referred about me. I was happy when I heard that Russ's case was going to be on Unsolved Mysteries. Although, I do have on problem with the airing. I was with Russ earlier that day playing basketball at a friends house, along with others, then a few of us went back to Russ's house afterwords. Later on that night some of us went to the bowling alley were we frequented often. There was a small scuffle which didn't involve Russ at all. It wasn't much later that I separated from Russ. So as I was at home sleeping, I get a call from a friend whom told me that Russ had been killed, I think this was around 5am. So what makes me upset about the episode is that it appears they have the same person reenacting me playing basketball with Russ earlier and that same person reenacting the person the paramedics say they saw in the distance.

As for Russ calling out for Brian, well, I'll just leave that one alone.

I liked Russell Evans very much, and still miss him! If I knew, or ever did, know what happened that night I wouldn't lie. But I would also like to give my thoughts to his family. I was told that a few years after Russ died, his Father did too.

This is Brian, and I can say that I was in no gang, nor was Russ, however, there were crips and bloods in Spokane, and smaller gangs stemming from those. I see that a lot of people have watched the episode about Russell's death and have made several speculations as to the cause. My family and I moved about a year after Russ passed, before the taping of the episode, and the show made no effort to contact me regarding any circumstances they made of referred about me. I was happy when I heard that Russ's case was going to be on Unsolved Mysteries. Although, I do have on problem with the airing. I was with Russ earlier that day playing basketball at a friends house, along with others, then a few of us went back to Russ's house afterwords. Later on that night some of us went to the bowling alley were we frequented often. There was a small scuffle which didn't involve Russ at all. It wasn't much later that I separated from Russ. So as I was at home sleeping, I get a call from a friend whom told me that Russ had been killed, I think this was around 5am. So what makes me upset about the episode is that it appears they have the same person reenacting me playing basketball with Russ earlier and that same person reenacting the person the paramedics say they saw in the distance.

As for Russ calling out for Brian, well, I'll just leave that one alone.

I liked Russell Evans very much, and still miss him! If I knew, or ever did, know what happened that night I wouldn't lie. But I would also like to give my thoughts to his family. I was told that a few years after Russ died, his Father did too.

Brian,

If this is Brian, and I only say that because it's the internet, we'd love to hear more about what you think happened that night or what your thoughts are on the whole situation? Also, did you moving out of the area have anything to do w/ Russell's death or no? We would love to hear what other people in the area thought of Russell's death around the time that it happened.

Also, why do you say, "We'll just leave that one alone"? Was there a reason you think he called out that name?

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1314&dat=19900420&id=qzgVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TwgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7002,6191812

Wow - thanks for posting this. The layout of the crime scene (inset in the article) led me to finding it on Google Maps.

Basically it's close to 1230 S Ray St.; where Thor and Ray make an upside-down-'Y'. Seeing the Google "Street View" just made it all the more creepy.

As for Russ calling out for Brian, well, I'll just leave that one alone.



A very odd thing to say, this is up there with Paul Pollis saying he didnt intentionally hurt his wife or Donnie Hansen just going back to feed his dog...tell us more!

Ok, I posted this in another thread, but I see it is relavant here as well. First though let me say i am intrigued about Brian posting on this thread. If it is in fact the same Brian and not someone just playing games, you could indeed shed some light on this case if you are willing. I hope you will write in again with more info.

Anyway, here are my thoughts pasted here from another thread on this case (sorry, i know it is a bit long winded):

"Hi all, I am new here but I saw this post and after just reviewing the segment for accuracy, I felt compelled to dive right in.

Ok, UM does tend to over dramatize many of the cases they recreate. However, look at the facts that are stated even by the police in this case.

1) According to the police report, the boy's body was found nearly 75 feet from the supposed point of impact yet Pools (not small drops or spatter) of blood found in several different spots (at least 3 pools were noted in the segment). These pools were found as far as 50 feet from where the body lay. These pools were closer to the supposed point of impact. After being hit by a vehicle, blood drops or spatter would be expected to be found. Pools would not (at least not they way they describe the incident). The fact that they were discribed as pools of blood would indicate that Russell was at each location for at least several seconds or longer depending on how bad he was bleeding.

2) Russell's shoes and shoe laces were found seperated from each other (total of 4 locations noted for each shoe and each shoe lace) 86 feet from where he was found. They were closer to the point of impact (which would be consistant with a hit and run (HR) but they are further away from where he was found than from where he was allegedly struck by a vehicle.

3) Shoes coming off of a body in a HR is common but no matter how fast a vehicle is going when it hits someone, I have never heard of shoe laces being completely displaced from a pair of shoes upon impact. Not only one set of laces, but two? And how would both of these come to land in what should have been about 11 feet behind the point of impact?

4) The body being thrown as far as it was and up hill. In the segment they note that the incident took place on a hill. The police say that the vehicle hit Russell and threw him over 75 feet up hill from the point of impact. While I suppose the incident taking place on an incline is probably a moot point, I find it interesting to note that with this boy being about 6'3", even at age 13 he must have been at least 150 pounds or more, how fast do they think this vehicle was traveling in order to throw the body so far?

5)-If "Bryan" and the unidentified bystander (one and the same or not) have nothing to do with the crime, how could the person that phoned the emergency room and gave his name as Bryan have even known about the incident so quickly after it happened? In many cases, this type of early knowledge of a crime from a caller tends to be thought of as being from a person involved in the crime and would be very carefully investigated. That does not seem to have been done here.

After all is said and done in the segment, there are a lot of unanswered questions. Not the kind like "who is Bryan?", but the kind that the police could easily answer.
-Were there any tire marks left on the road?
-Were local body shops checked for anyone seeking front end repairs at the approximate date of the crime?
-If their theory of a HR is correct, how do they explain pools of blood found in the road?

These questions alone if answered could impact the status of this case greatly. Unfortunately after so long it is doubtful anything will come out to solve the case, but you never know. I do feel it is unlikely that a large group of teenagers as shown in the segment could keep quiet for so long. I would suggest this theory:

At some point that night Russell got into an argument with some older teenagers. While walking home one or maybe two of these older teens have either followed him or happen upon him. They hit him with there vehicle. His shoes come off on impact. Russell attempts to escape but is staggering. The older teens get out of the vehicle and begin to beat him. Somewhere along the line they pull him into their vehicle and begin to drive away. before the vehicle gets more that a few dozen feet, Russell manages to escape from the vehicle (or is thrown) to the spot where he is found. The older teens see an approaching car and leave rather than going back for him. One of them may have even returned to the seen (the bystander in white who was perhaps "Bryan").

This scenario would explain just about everything except for the shoe laces being removed. I got nothing for that. This could seem a bit over dramatic, but the police probably have something they are holding back from the public for investigative purposes. The detective interviewed stated that Russell was struck at least partially by a hood ornament. But with nothing said about a blood trail from where the shoes were laying to where Russell was found and given the other just plain weird elements of the case, this seems at least possible to me. Anyone else have any ideas?"

Brian, if you are still viewing the site and not taken back by the other posters, I would appericate if you could answer a few questions for me.

1. Do you believe the police report?

2. If not, then do you think its gang related?

3. Was there any other people named Brian, he knew?

4. Was Russel well liked by other kids?

5. If not, did he have any enemies minus those at the school?

6. Was in any romantic relationship prior to his death?

Thank you for your time.

Very good questions Lotjx.

I do hope that Brian posts again. It would be interesting to get other perspectives on this as well. UM has so little time to devote to each segment it is obvious that many details are edited out. Plus, with only the police and select others to draw upon for source material, it would be very difficult to determine what is relevant to put in the segment and what is not.

The information Brian gave definately puts a different light on what may have happened. Also, UM generally has to speculate while recreating events. I can see where Brian would be upset by having the same actor play the bystander that played him in the segment. That kind of thing was an obvious mistake made by UM just for the fact that they didn't have enough info to make such an assumption. It was simply a guess based on the facts available.

Either way...be it a hit and run or a beatdown...it's murder.

Either way...be it a hit and run or a beatdown...it's murder.

Very true. The police sure dropped the ball on this one. I just can't believe there are no active leads for them on this. i know that there are cases sometimes and that is just how they end up, but look at just the few things that have been dug up on this board about this case.

And take into account cases like Martha Moxley. That was solved after like 30 years and it too was a case that was considered a case with no active leads. Maybe if Mark Furman feels he needs to redeem himself once again he will look into this case. But then again he thinks he has solved JFK's assassination... yeah, I can't even type that and keep a straight face.

(from "Chucky Brown", who says he is the Brian that was friends with Russell Evans and likely the Brian who Russell was calling out for that night.)

"This is Brian, and I can say that I was in no gang, nor was Russ, however, there were crips and bloods in Spokane, and smaller gangs stemming from those. I see that a lot of people have watched the episode about Russell's death and have made several speculations as to the cause. My family and I moved about a year after Russ passed, before the taping of the episode, and the show made no effort to contact me regarding any circumstances they made of referred about me. I was happy when I heard that Russ's case was going to be on Unsolved Mysteries. Although, I do have on problem with the airing. I was with Russ earlier that day playing basketball at a friends house, along with others, then a few of us went back to Russ's house afterwords. Later on that night some of us went to the bowling alley were we frequented often. There was a small scuffle which didn't involve Russ at all. It wasn't much later that I separated from Russ. So as I was at home sleeping, I get a call from a friend whom told me that Russ had been killed, I think this was around 5am. So what makes me upset about the episode is that it appears they have the same person reenacting me playing basketball with Russ earlier and that same person reenacting the person the paramedics say they saw in the distance.

As for Russ calling out for Brian, well, I'll just leave that one alone.

I liked Russell Evans very much, and still miss him! If I knew, or ever did, know what happened that night I wouldn't lie. But I would also like to give my thoughts to his family. I was told that a few years after Russ died, his Father did too."


We know you were out there that night when Russell left his friend's house after midnight. He was saying your name when someone willing to help found him. You're willing to post on here. Tell us what happened that night.

Wow, thank you for posting DEvans2221. It is interesting to hear from a family member on the subject. with the anniversary of Russell's death coming up, I hope that perhaps some break in the case may come about to bring you, your friends and family some peace in this matter.

What you said sure stirs things up a bit. I do wonder about some things in this case. I guess I have always thought that the police may have just botched the investigation and have since tried to cover their tracks by sweeping it under the carpet. But if what you say is true, it sounds much more like an in depth cover up. I can only think of a few reasons they would go to such lengths right from the start. Is it possible they were directly involved in his death? Or that a family member of a police official (or something of that nature) was involved?

I am also very curious curious as to the significance of the shoe laces. Before it was just an odd fact that they would be separated from the shoes, but if it is true that they were then "lost", I have to wonder why? That seems very strange. Forensic investigation at that time was not what it is today. I would think that if they indeed "lost" the laces, it must be that they are a large piece of the puzzle.

It also sounds as though you feel Brian was not only there, but directly involved. Makes me wonder if my theory in a previous post is more accurate than I thought.

I hope that DEvans2221 will write in again. I wish you and your family the best and hope that one day this case can be stamped "solved".

(from DEvans2221)

"Wow, I am so surprised and kind of happy that people are still talking about this. I am Russell's little sister, and I am sure (for everyone wondering) that was Brian posting previously. I saw him posting on a facebook page about it and asked him to take it down. He said he took it down out of respect. I know Brian was there and knows what happened; that is not a question in my mind. At this time in the investigation I am more interested in having the Spokane police officers responsible for this botched investigation brought to justice."

I am also glad to see you post here. I'm sorry for your loss and also hope that we will find out more about what happened. I read the rest of your message and interestingly we're about the same age.

Anyway, I agree that it probably was Brian posting previously. His screenname "Chucky Brown", is the name of a basketball player that I know for a fact played professionally for the Yakima Sun Kings in the CBA (at least during the 1994-1995 season, maybe other seasons as well). Since you know that the city of Yakima is also in the state of Washington, I wouldn't be surprised if he knew of Chucky Brown because of that.

Now it's officially been 21 years since this happened. Brian needs to tell us or someone what happened since he was at the scene when everything went down with Russell Evans.

Wow, interesting information. This story has always haunted me, I guess because the police did such an awful job with it, it broke my heart for Russel's family. I can only imagine how frurstrated they must be.
I definitely think he was beat up and now no one wants to talk. One day this case will be solved. The truth always comes to light.

It's very sad that this case remains unsolved. From what I've heard about Spokane, there is a lot of drug activity. It leaves me wondering if Russell was killed by some drug dealers for getting involved with in his friend's fight.

Hmm....

It's very sad that this case remains unsolved. From what I've heard about Spokane, there is a lot of drug activity. It leaves me wondering if Russell was killed by some drug dealers for getting involved with in his friend's fight.

Hmm....

That is the most likely scenario.

someone mentioned bryans older sister being found dead at a party and that death still being unexplained.

why was this 13 year old out so late? Was bryan in on the killing? Whats the chance that the group of teens that kills him randomly bumps into him while he was jogging home?

btw this is a great UM case and should be discussed more. We need to put a lock on the wackers thread, that is such a lame case.

someone mentioned bryans older sister being found dead at a party and that death still being unexplained.

why was this 13 year old out so late? Was bryan in on the killing? Whats the chance that the group of teens that kills him randomly bumps into him while he was jogging home?

btw this is a great UM case and should be discussed more. We need to put a lock on the wackers thread, that is such a lame case.

wait, what? I've never heard that about Bryan's sister before. Do you have a link or other info? I could have sworn there was a larger thread on Russell Evans, but damned if I can find it.

I don't know if kids being up late happened a lot in the late 80's when this occurred, but I can tell you that kids are up late all the time now. I work at a hotel and the careless parents let their kids as young as a handful of years old stay up as late as 3 a.m. It's a common occurrence. I don't agree with it, but it's common. It's annoying as hell because I have to listen to them and deal with noise complaints. Don't get me wrong, I like kids. But the parents should know better than that. And then they all want late check-outs because they didn't go to bed until near morning.

I think I speculated a while back that Russell probably wasn't the intended target, but just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I think Russell was part of a group of kids, in fact, one of the other kids had gotten into a scuffle with some other kids that had confronted them. I think they chanced upon him walking home and seized the opportunity. I get the feeling Brian wasn't involved, but probably knows what happened.

And a lock on the Wackers thread? Nuh-uh! :lol:

i read about bryans sister on an older thread on the same case yesterday, cant remember which one. The more time goes on, the less likely this case will be solved in my view.

the wackers case seems like some sort of big elaborate insurance scam!!!!!

One day this case will be solved. The truth always comes to light.

It's nice to believe that, but unfortunately, that isn't true.

Anyway, this case has always interested me, not only because of the mysteriousness of it, but because I grew up in WA State. When things hit close to home, they naturally become more interesting.

(from "Chucky Brown", who says he is the Brian that was friends with Russell Evans and likely the Brian who Russell was calling out for that night.)

"This is Brian, and I can say that I was in no gang, nor was Russ, however, there were crips and bloods in Spokane, and smaller gangs stemming from those. I see that a lot of people have watched the episode about Russell's death and have made several speculations as to the cause. My family and I moved about a year after Russ passed, before the taping of the episode, and the show made no effort to contact me regarding any circumstances they made of referred about me. I was happy when I heard that Russ's case was going to be on Unsolved Mysteries. Although, I do have on problem with the airing. I was with Russ earlier that day playing basketball at a friends house, along with others, then a few of us went back to Russ's house afterwords. Later on that night some of us went to the bowling alley were we frequented often. There was a small scuffle which didn't involve Russ at all. It wasn't much later that I separated from Russ. So as I was at home sleeping, I get a call from a friend whom told me that Russ had been killed, I think this was around 5am. So what makes me upset about the episode is that it appears they have the same person reenacting me playing basketball with Russ earlier and that same person reenacting the person the paramedics say they saw in the distance.

As for Russ calling out for Brian, well, I'll just leave that one alone.

I liked Russell Evans very much, and still miss him! If I knew, or ever did, know what happened that night I wouldn't lie. But I would also like to give my thoughts to his family. I was told that a few years after Russ died, his Father did too."


We know you were out there that night when Russell left his friend's house after midnight. He was saying your name when someone willing to help found him. You're willing to post on here. Tell us what happened that night.
Wow. "Brian" needs to stop being a coward and help someone's family have some closure. If you know what happened do the right thing and tell someone. Can't believe the dude was complaining about not being contacted by Unsolved Mysteries, when if he had done the right thing there probably wouldn't be a mystery in the first place.

"As for Russ calling out for Brian, well, I'll just leave that one alone."

Is it possible that they were a couple, and he didn't want to explain that since it wasn't related to the crime?

"As for Russ calling out for Brian, well, I'll just leave that one alone."

Is it possible that they were a couple, and he didn't want to explain that since it wasn't related to the crime?
I'm not sure if you are joking. Russell was calling out for Brian's help because he was in danger.

Brian is hiding something. I'd bet money that he had something to do with Russell's demise and/or at the very least knew exactly how it went down.

I wasn't joking, but I may be misremembering the segment. I thought the woman who found him said he was just kind of calling his name ("as if he expected him to be within earshot" was her interpretation). She may have misunderstood why he was saying the name, though.

(Again, I've only seen the segment once and don't remember it vividly! Sorry if this is a stupid suggestion.)

I found this case, and thought it sounded so much like the Russell Evans case, it's downright eerie.

http://blogs.denverpost.com/coldcases/2014/08/23/denver-11/9194/

What the hell was he doing out at the bus stop at 11:20 p.m. though?

https://spokane.craigslist.org/vnn/5847712176.html

In 1989, Russell Evans was killed, by ex- Ferris high school students; one of them told me he did it and he graduated from Ferris in 1988. This is how I was told, for what happened, which killed Russell Evans: A four door car, full with four 18-20 year old young adults, sitting in the back seats of that car was a Darrel (not Darnel) and the killer Thomas J. GROH (TJ). Thomas J. GROH (TJ) told me they were driving down the hill and they saw a tall kid walking on the side of the road, and Thomas J. GROH said they just wanted to scare the kid; the car pulled up next to Russell Evans, like the "Dukes of Hazard", and grabbed a hold of Russell Evans and took off down the hill, holding Russell Evans along the side of the car. When the car took off, down the hill, holding onto Russell Evans, Russell's long legs, went back and under the rear wheel of the car, while Russell Evans was being held by THOMAS J. GROH (TJ)- through the back door window of the car, and Russell Evans feet were ran over by the rear wheel. That is how Russell Evans shoe was found at the top of the hill, and how the shoe had come off from Russell Evans. At the bottom of the hill, Thomas J. GROH (TJ) let Russell Evans go, and that is were Russell Evans had died. Remember that Russell Evans was a tall 12 year, that maybe was thought to be older, because of his height. Thomas J. GROH, a year after Russell Evans murder, had gone to Washington's Walla Walla state prison, for around 7 years for an assault charge. TJ Groh, is the murderer, who told me he was involved, with what is said above; You can even ask TJ Grohs girlfriend, Holly, I'm sure he told her. Also, if anyone would like to debate me on what I was told, then why don't you first do forensics on the two shoes, found on the hill, for tire rubber. Or do those shoes exist today, in Spokanes unsolved murder evidence department. Or could it be a cover up, because you don't see the reward poster, that was in on the wall, inside Spokane south hills Round Table Pizza, on Regal Street. Thomas J. GROH (TJ) showed me that framed reward poster, at that pizza place, after he said what happened to Russell Evans.

That theory does not account for the defense wounds that were found on Russell Evans during his autopsy.

https://spokane.craigslist.org/vnn/5847712176.html

In 1989, Russell Evans was killed, by ex- Ferris high school students; one of them told me he did it and he graduated from Ferris in 1988. This is how I was told, for what happened, which killed Russell Evans: A four door car, full with four 18-20 year old young adults, sitting in the back seats of that car was a Darrel (not Darnel) and the killer Thomas J. GROH (TJ). Thomas J. GROH (TJ) told me they were driving down the hill and they saw a tall kid walking on the side of the road, and Thomas J. GROH said they just wanted to scare the kid; the car pulled up next to Russell Evans, like the "Dukes of Hazard", and grabbed a hold of Russell Evans and took off down the hill, holding Russell Evans along the side of the car. When the car took off, down the hill, holding onto Russell Evans, Russell's long legs, went back and under the rear wheel of the car, while Russell Evans was being held by THOMAS J. GROH (TJ)- through the back door window of the car, and Russell Evans feet were ran over by the rear wheel. That is how Russell Evans shoe was found at the top of the hill, and how the shoe had come off from Russell Evans. At the bottom of the hill, Thomas J. GROH (TJ) let Russell Evans go, and that is were Russell Evans had died. Remember that Russell Evans was a tall 12 year, that maybe was thought to be older, because of his height. Thomas J. GROH, a year after Russell Evans murder, had gone to Washington's Walla Walla state prison, for around 7 years for an assault charge. TJ Groh, is the murderer, who told me he was involved, with what is said above; You can even ask TJ Grohs girlfriend, Holly, I'm sure he told her. Also, if anyone would like to debate me on what I was told, then why don't you first do forensics on the two shoes, found on the hill, for tire rubber. Or do those shoes exist today, in Spokanes unsolved murder evidence department. Or could it be a cover up, because you don't see the reward poster, that was in on the wall, inside Spokane south hills Round Table Pizza, on Regal Street. Thomas J. GROH (TJ) showed me that framed reward poster, at that pizza place, after he said what happened to Russell Evans.

Was this relayed to the Spokane police? If it's legit (or even if it isn't), it should be reported to them.

Was this relayed to the Spokane police? If it's legit (or even if it isn't), it should be reported to them.

I have no idea, as I stated I just found this post today. This case has always fascinated me for some obvious reasons.

I have no idea, as I stated I just found this post today. This case has always fascinated me for some obvious reasons.

You should probably forward it to them. If you want the Spokane police department's number, inbox me for it.

I have no idea, as I stated I just found this post today. This case has always fascinated me for some obvious reasons.

What are some of the obvious reasons why this case fascinates you? It may be obvious to you, but it's not to others.

The craigslist post is no long active.