Who caught the case about the old man's corpse that was left in the trunk?

I'm usually gone during the day (when UM airs), so I tape the show. I always do crunches on the floor when watching it --- BAD idea! This case comes on, I'm doing some fast crunches (probably not paying the close attention that I should), and this dead man's face comes on the screen!
GOOD LORD! :eek:

The image of his face will haunt me for months! I had a hard time getting to sleep because of it!

Thankfully there was an update telling us it was solved. So I'm thinking.... Since it's solved, and showing the image would only be relevant to solve the case, can't they edit that part out? Lifetime butchers a lot of things anyway. I think they should, but I'm probably just a wimp. LOL
After all, Robert Stack does give you a warning.

I guess here's my own warning:
Never watch UM while doing some fast crunches on the floor with the remote out of reach!

I totally agree

I agree as well. That was hands down the most disgusting thing ever shown on UM and was much scarier than any composite sketch.

I've brought it up before but I still don't understand why they had to use a drawing of the man who committed suicide in the church. He poisoned himself and was found right away so its not like there was any trauma or it would have been a gross picture but this guy who had been decomposing for who knows how long they have no problem showing his face on tv. Plus they had the same goal for both stories....to identify them.

I've brought it up before but I still don't understand why they had to use a drawing of the man who committed suicide in the church. He poisoned himself and was found right away so its not like there was any trauma or it would have been a gross picture but this guy who had been decomposing for who knows how long they have no problem showing his face on tv. Plus they had the same goal for both stories....to identify them.

Well, I would say that it was a matter of network policy issues. The church suicide was originally shown on NBC, and since NBC is a non-cable network, there must have been a rule against showing close-up shots of a corpse (distant shots appear to be a different matter, since NBC aired the Jeffrey Digman segment, which included a distant shot of Digman's body). Since cable channels have generally more freedom than non-cable networks, it didn't appear to be too much of a problem for Lifetime to show the actual morgue photo of the steamer trunk corpse.

I should also add that John Walsh once fought with the Fox network to get them to show a morgue shot of a deceased Jane Doe on America's Most Wanted. Initially, there objections as Walsh was told that Fox wouldn't allow it, since there were obviously rules against showing such photos on primetime. Ultimately, he got his way, and the morgue shot in question was aired, and the case was eventually solved.

Well, I was surprised that they showed it, as UM has always stayed away from that sort of thing. I think it was definitely a good thing, as it gave the story more of an impact by actually SEEING the dead body.

As far as NBC not allowing dead bodies to be shown, I too do not understand why the "William L. Toomey" who was found dead in the church was not shown. He probably would be identified by now.

I DO remember (and this segment is re-ran on Lifetime often) the "Melvin Eugene Hansen" segment where the guy dies in the doctor's office late at night, and it is found out that he was murdered to collect on insurance money. They showed a photo of the man's dead body on the office floor (complete with creepy music)--and it WAS the actual dead body--not a re-created photo because they showed his driver's license immediately after and it was the same guy.

Anyhoo, that's my .02.

I saw it tonight. I didn't think that was the segment because somehow I got it into my head that the man was found in the trunk of a car. Still I kept my hand over my face for much of it. Especially when Robert mentioned that they were going have to show the only known photo of the man. Then I fast forward it because my mother was coming up the stairs. I skipped to the part where the update was and then I went back a little bit. I managed to catch a glimpse of the man from the eyes up and that was enough. Anyone else notice something not quite right about his forehead? I realize it was taken after he was dead and that's probably why. Did they ever mention how long he had been dead for? In between the FF and the Rewind I didn't catch the warning that Robert gave. What did he say more or less?

omg:

... I thought that the picture they showed was a sketch of the man in the morgue. Was that his actual picture? Creee-py!

*gonna go hide under the bed now* :eek:

But on a happier note, wasn't this crime solved?

... I thought that the picture they showed was a sketch of the man in the morgue. Was that his actual picture? Creee-py!

*gonna go hide under the bed now* :eek:

But on a happier note, wasn't this crime solved?

If you mean the "Steamer Trunk Corpse" case, yes that case was solved...at least in part. The man was positively identified as Jack F. Watkins. A woman named Nancy Jean Siegel was charged with stealing social security payments from Watkins in 2003.

Here's a link on a 2003 article:

http://www.nbc4.com/news/2413445/detail.html

Now I know really what you guys are talking about. I had no idea they showed a picture of the way he looked at autopsy. I always thought they just had the black and white one. I still only saw part of it and for not even a second. Made me sick no less. I wonder why UM didn't give more of a warning. I guess they didn't want to discourage people from looking at it.

According to UM the man's first name is Jasper and the woman they arrested was charged with his murder. I guess even after so many years since it's premier UM still knew how to shock people! :eek:

You know I noticed on the Shelly Malone segment that aired today that at the end they show a flyer and it has a picture of her face post mortem and it was almost as bad as the steamer trunk guy! She had a lot of bruises and it seemed to be swollen. I don't think it even resembled the other pictures shown of her. Anyone else notice it?

Another thing about that segment, don't you find it strange that none of her friends or her boyfriend who were close by when she was trampled wanted to participate in the segment? Its seems odd if it were as cut and dry as they said and she was bucked off and then trampled by her horse that they wouldn't have thought twice about being interviewed. My two cents anyhow.

You know I noticed on the Shelly Malone segment that aired today that at the end they show a flyer and it has a picture of her face post mortem and it was almost as bad as the steamer trunk guy! She had a lot of bruises and it seemed to be swollen. I don't think it even resembled the other pictures shown of her. Anyone else notice it?

Another thing about that segment, don't you find it strange that none of her friends or her boyfriend who were close by when she was trampled wanted to participate in the segment? Its seems odd if it were as cut and dry as they said and she was bucked off and then trampled by her horse that they wouldn't have thought twice about being interviewed. My two cents anyhow.

I saw that too! I was looking at it and I thought to myself, 'No, that can't be her! Doesn't look anything like her!' It was so creepy to realize that was her after death.

The steamer trunk case....is this on the DVD or did you guys see it on t.v.? :confused:

The steamer trunk case....is this on the DVD or did you guys see it on t.v.? :confused:

It's not available on DVD.

Its been on Lifetime before, I've taped if off of there.

Yeah, the Steamer trunk case is one of those cases that I seem to catch a lot on Lifetime. That's why I initially asked "Didn't they catch the perp?"

Both cases are incredibly sad.

Now I know really what you guys are talking about. I had no idea they showed a picture of the way he looked at autopsy. I always thought they just had the black and white one. I still only saw part of it and for not even a second. Made me sick no less. I wonder why UM didn't give more of a warning. I guess they didn't want to discourage people from looking at it.

Well, Stack mentioned in advance that the photo was going to be difficult to view. So he was warning us.

According to UM the man's first name is Jasper and the woman they arrested was charged with his murder.

That's right. Upon further research, I learned that "Jack" was actually his nickname.

I also came upon an article related to the case. It is dated August 29, 2004.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40381-2004Aug27.html

Sorry to dredge up old posts like this, but I found this while searching for another case. This really was indeed a creepy case, and that photo from the morgue is permanently ingrained in my memory unfortunately (a couple of years later, ugh). I read in article posted in another thread that this man had never been reported missing by his family. Um...was there ever any reason for that? Because that just strikes me as really odd...

jeez, so many squeemish people, here, if you watch unsolved murders, obviously sooner or later you will see a body, so you kinda knew it was a possibility. Its a part of life and crime solving, so I think its an important reality you all need to just get used to !:rolleyes:

If Im thinking of the same case, they showed a closeup of the dead mans head, with his eyes bulging out. I agree, that was a bit too much for TV.

The Cber

I see what you're saying mistagee but no one enjoys looking at a dead body. This man (Jasper I believe was his first name) didn't just drop dead of a natural death. He had been murdered and his body stuck in a trunk for how many days or weeks before he was found. I believe they showed the autopsy photo and if I recall correctly his eyes were open and had the most horrifying expression on his face. They don't even show pictures that gross on the news.

I see what you're saying mistagee but no one enjoys looking at a dead body. This man (Jasper I believe was his first name) didn't just drop dead of a natural death. He had been murdered and his body stuck in a trunk for how many days or weeks before he was found. I believe they showed the autopsy photo and if I recall correctly his eyes were open and had the most horrifying expression on his face. They don't even show pictures that gross on the news.

Exactly. Seeing a dead body when it is prepared for burial is one thing. Seeing a battered corpse with an obvious death grimace on it's face is quite another. Didn't you know that mistagee? That's probably why people can't get used to it in any way possible.

Just my $.02.

Ok, I see your point, I guess Im used to it, having grown up overseas, the news always shows everything, so seeing one face on UM for me was a piece of cake compared to what South America and Europe would show......A dead grimace I guess is kinda scary, maybe they should have warned viewers of what they were going to show. I wish they would relaunch that show, how amazing would it be, and we could all work as staff on the show :p ;)

Ok, I see your point, I guess Im used to it, having grown up overseas, the news always shows everything, so seeing one face on UM for me was a piece of cake compared to what South America and Europe would show......A dead grimace I guess is kinda scary, maybe they should have warned viewers of what they were going to show. I wish they would relaunch that show, how amazing would it be, and we could all work as staff on the show :p ;)

Yea I would love to answer phones in the telecenter if the show were revived. What a cool job that would be! :)

Well actually its funny you should mention that because RS does warn viewers that the picture is graphic. I guess its the morbid curiousity in us all that drives us to peek at it at least once. I know I did. Of course every other time I've watched the segment when RS warns us I look away.

While I'm a regular viewer of crime shows which display graphic photos, that photo did make me wanna puke:. You talk about seeing death but have you ever smelled it?

While I'm a regular viewer of crime shows which display graphic photos, that photo did make me wanna puke:. You talk about seeing death but have you ever smelled it?


While I'm a fan of Forensic Files and Autopsy, which aren't afraid to show a few photos, and as an added bonus I worked in a hospital so I've "smelled it".

But I can honestly say, if I'm not ready(and that is the key) it can gross me out plus I don't do well with Trauma.. you can make me watch surgeries all day long (and those don't smell like daisy's either:p ) but show me somebodies broken finger when I'm not ready and even I get a little quesey.

While I'm a fan of Forensic Files and Autopsy, which aren't afraid to show a few photos, and as an added bonus I worked in a hospital so I've "smelled it".

But I can honestly say, if I'm not ready(and that is the key) it can gross me out plus I don't do well with Trauma.. you can make me watch surgeries all day long (and those don't smell like daisy's either:p ) but show me somebodies broken finger when I'm not ready and even I get a little quesey.

If I had a choice, I'd pick seeing over smelling.

Oh most definately.. my job sometime required filming or photographing and I can tell you there is helpful sense of detachment when viewing things through a lense, but precious little can be done for your sense of smell.

Well, actually, in the Dr. Richard Boggs segment, I dont think the dead guy they showed, was the real guy, it was an actor, there was a forensic files segment on a few days ago and they showed the real guy's photos both alive and dead on the floor in Boggs's office.

As it t urns out, Boggs was gay, Hansen and Hawkins were both either gay or bi too. Boggs had actually targeted another guy for the scheme two weeks before Ellis Henry Green, Boggs attacked him in his office with a stun gun but the guy was able to overpower Boggs and escape.

Two weeks later, Melvin Eugene Hansen accompanied Boggs to another gay bar, where they met Ellis Henry Green, they had never met him before and Green just had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and looking similar to Melvin Eugene Hansen since Boggs had a beard at the time of his death and was also HIV positive which Hansen claimed to be but wasnt. Green was also easy to overpower once they got back to Boggs's office because as the UM segment said, Green was nearly 3 times the legal limit for driving, he was very drunk.

Boggs and Hansen were both convicted and were both sentenced to life in prison without parole, John Hawkins was captured after about 3 and a half years on the run and he was also convicted and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Now THAT'S juicy! :) Thanks for the update, though. I don't remember if UM ever updated the segment or not.

Well, I was surprised that they showed it, as UM has always stayed away from that sort of thing. I think it was definitely a good thing, as it gave the story more of an impact by actually SEEING the dead body.

As far as NBC not allowing dead bodies to be shown, I too do not understand why the "William L. Toomey" who was found dead in the church was not shown. He probably would be identified by now.

I DO remember (and this segment is re-ran on Lifetime often) the "Melvin Eugene Hansen" segment where the guy dies in the doctor's office late at night, and it is found out that he was murdered to collect on insurance money. They showed a photo of the man's dead body on the office floor (complete with creepy music)--and it WAS the actual dead body--not a re-created photo because they showed his driver's license immediately after and it was the same guy.

Anyhoo, that's my .02.

I remember this one. I was surprised that they showed it like it was nothing. It didn't bother me though because it looked like the guy was sleeping.

I remember this one. I was surprised that they showed it like it was nothing. It didn't bother me though because it looked like the guy was sleeping.


Yeah, this one didn't bother me too much either, it looked like he was sleeping indeed. This case intrugues me but I haven't seen it since I was a kid. Is it on any of CD's disks?

Yeah, this one didn't bother me too much either, it looked like he was sleeping indeed. This case intrugues me but I haven't seen it since I was a kid. Is it on any of CD's disks?

Yes the man in steamer trunk as well as the Dr. Richard Boggs case are both on the volumes.

Cool. Thanks. How are you CD? I've missed you all!!!!

Cool. Thanks. How are you CD? I've missed you all!!!!

I'm great. Glad to see you back around here! I hope your wedding and honeymoon went well. :)

Wonderful! Too bad it's over! It was great. Thanks.

Did they find out who the guy was who poisoned himself in the church? Are there any more links o updates or articles on that case?

Did they find out who the guy was who poisoned himself in the church? Are there any more links o updates or articles on that case?

I have tried to find out online about this case to no avail. I did locate a website for the church and emailed someone there and inquired if there were any updates. That was months ago and I never heard back.

I have tried to find out online about this case to no avail. I did locate a website for the church and emailed someone there and inquired if there were any updates. That was months ago and I never heard back.

Hard to believe with all the clues, NO ONE can identify this guy. The clothes, the belt, his tan "swimmer-like" body... No offense, but you can see a homeless person going unidentified. This guy obviously took care of himself. Has no one missed him?

*shakes head*

While searching on Google, I did find this (far from solving the case, it is interesting):

One year after Father Ryan’s brutal death, and three weeks after James Harry Reyos was charged with murder, a man entered the Sacred Heart Church in Boise, Idaho, USA. He wanted to take confession and, whilst waiting his turn, swallowed a cyanide tablet. Within seconds he died. It is presumed he underestimated the time it would take for the cyanide to take effect.

In the man’s pocket was a note, signed with the false name ‘Wm. L. Toomey’ (it is known the name was false because of the way in which the signature was written. It did not appear that the man was used to signing that name) and a large amount of money ($1900), which, the note explained, was to cover the costs of his funeral with any excess money being donated to the church. The man’s identity remains a complete mystery, although it was determined his distinctive belt was bought from a gift ship in Arizona, but those who have studied the curious incident believe the man was responsible for killing another priest, whose murder has remained unsolved.


Sorry if that info has been posted before. I've never heard of a connection trying to be made between the suicide and the murder of priets. I do remember UM doing that story on priests being murdered, though.

Hard to believe with all the clues, NO ONE can identify this guy. The clothes, the belt, his tan "swimmer-like" body... No offense, but you can see a homeless person going unidentified. This guy obviously took care of himself. Has no one missed him?

*shakes head*

While searching on Google, I did find this (far from solving the case, it is interesting):

One year after Father Ryan’s brutal death, and three weeks after James Harry Reyos was charged with murder, a man entered the Sacred Heart Church in Boise, Idaho, USA. He wanted to take confession and, whilst waiting his turn, swallowed a cyanide tablet. Within seconds he died. It is presumed he underestimated the time it would take for the cyanide to take effect.

In the man’s pocket was a note, signed with the false name ‘Wm. L. Toomey’ (it is known the name was false because of the way in which the signature was written. It did not appear that the man was used to signing that name) and a large amount of money ($1900), which, the note explained, was to cover the costs of his funeral with any excess money being donated to the church. The man’s identity remains a complete mystery, although it was determined his distinctive belt was bought from a gift ship in Arizona, but those who have studied the curious incident believe the man was responsible for killing another priest, whose murder has remained unsolved.


Sorry if that info has been posted before. I've never heard of a connection trying to be made between the suicide and the murder of priets. I do remember UM doing that story on priests being murdered, though.

Nice research Todd! I had never heard that he was a possible suspect in a priest's murder either.

Yes, I remember seeing James Harry Reyos's case on American Justice. Reyos claimed he was innocent of the 1981 murder of Father Patrick Ryan who was founded murdered in an Odessa, Texas hotel room. Reyos in 1982 was extremely drunk in Albequerque, New Mexico when he called the police and claimed he had murdered Father Ryan. However the evidence in this case does show that Reyos may not have killed Ryan as Reyos was in Hobbs, New Mexico which is several hours from Odessa and it was determined that Reyos would have had to travel over 100 miles an hour both to Odessa and then back from Odessa to Hobbs, so I dont know what to think. Apperantly Reyos and Ryan did know each other and Reyos admitted to having had a sexual relationship with Father Ryan, however he denied killing him, in fact, Ryan had left Reyos in Hobbs the day before his death, so I dont even know if Reyos would have had a car.

Reyos was convicted of Father Ryan's murder, mainly because the jury said that while there was really no evidence tying Reyos to the scene or the murder, they didnt understand why he would confess to killing Father Ryan if he didnt do it so they convicted him. Reyos was sentenced to 38 years in prison and he was released from prison in 2003.

Hmm I remember seeing the 'old man in the steamer trunk' case a couple of times and don't remember anything noteworthy about it.
If they showed the body, it wasn't disturbing enough to remember.

So the dead bodies were shown on Lifetime but not NBC? They are included on the DVDs, presumably?

So the dead bodies were shown on Lifetime but not NBC? They are included on the DVDs, presumably?

They are on the dvds that I make if thats what you're asking. They're not on any boxed sets. As far as the "man in the steamer trunk" one it was on a later UM and I believe after NBC stopped airing UM. The man who died of cyanide poisoning in the church and the Richard Boggs case were both on NBC but they didn't show pictures of the actual body in either of those.

They are on the dvds that I make if thats what you're asking. They're not on any boxed sets. As far as the "man in the steamer trunk" one it was on a later UM and I believe after NBC stopped airing UM. The man who died of cyanide poisoning in the church and the Richard Boggs case were both on NBC but they didn't show pictures of the actual body in either of those.

I thought they did show the dead guy's face in the Boggs case...but now I think about it, it could of been The New Detectives?

I thought they did show the dead guy's face in the Boggs case...but now I think about it, it could of been The New Detectives?

Well they did show a polaroid of a dead body but it was the same guy who played the victim in the segment so it wasn't the actual victim. New Detectives could have very well shown the actual body.

If you mean the "Steamer Trunk Corpse" case, yes that case was solved...at least in part. The man was positively identified as Jack F. Watkins. A woman named Nancy Jean Siegel was charged with stealing social security payments from Watkins in 2003.

Here's a link on a 2003 article:

http://www.nbc4.com/news/2413445/detail.html

This may sound stupid, but the picture isn't by chance part of the article, is it? I was wanting to read it but didn't want to risk seeing it again. I tried to get my husband to preview it for me, but he's never seen it, and after I told him about, he wasn't exactly willing to humor me. :( I feel terrible that I'm so afraid of that poor old man, but I can't help it. That picture has literally been the only thing that has ever frightened me to tears.

This may sound stupid, but the picture isn't by chance part of the article, is it?

I just checked it out and no there isn't a picture of the dead body on there. There is a picture of the murderer and a nice picture of Jack Watkins when he was alive. Looks like a nice guy.

I just checked it out and no there isn't a picture of the dead body on there. There is a picture of the murderer and a nice picture of Jack Watkins when he was alive. Looks like a nice guy.

Heres an interesting link on the case of suicide in church (Be careful, the pic of the dead guy is on there):

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:275319

Heres an interesting link on the case of suicide in church (Be careful, the pic of the dead guy is on there):

http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid:275319

Thanks for the link. Its interesting to see an actual picture of the man who committed suicide and not just a drawing. I think its kind of a stretch for them to think he may have been a murdered. He may have just been a very depressed man who found it comforting to die in a church.

I just remembered this thread right before I was about to come up to this segment on CD's discs. Maybe I'll just skip the segment or watch it tomorrow. Definitely not something I want to look after midnight before bed.

Bump for this thread too, in light of my most recent post.

They are on the dvds that I make if thats what you're asking. They're not on any boxed sets. As far as the "man in the steamer trunk" one it was on a later UM and I believe after NBC stopped airing UM. The man who died of cyanide poisoning in the church and the Richard Boggs case were both on NBC but they didn't show pictures of the actual body in either of those.


Hi,
I'm new on here...I've been doing a lot of research on this case. I would LOVE to see the UM show of this "man in the steamer trunk". Do you have it? If so is there ANY WAY you can send me a copy. Can pay you or whatever...
THANKS and hope to hear back from you soon!!!! THANKS AGAIN!!:)

The Jeffrey Digman body shot always creeped me out.

But something I noticed about it, at least I think I did...

When the actual photo of the Digman body was shown, he was on a bed which was beside what appeared to be a wall.

When they were re-enacting, they said they were using the same room etc. but the bed now appeared to be beside a window or windows with net curtains.

Did I notice this correctly?

The Jeffrey Digman body shot always creeped me out.

But something I noticed about it, at least I think I did...

When the actual photo of the Digman body was shown, he was on a bed which was beside what appeared to be a wall.

When they were re-enacting, they said they were using the same room etc. but the bed now appeared to be beside a window or windows with net curtains.

Did I notice this correctly?

If I remember right, it wasn't the same room, because it was at his parent's house. They had all of the furniture from his room, and had recreated the scene, there.

Just readin' through the threads

I dunno, really I'm not all that bothered by the pics (or footage) of bodies that are shown on shows like UM, Cold Case Files, The First 48, etc.

Not that I enjoy looking at dead bodies but really, pics like that don't scare me. I feel really bad for the deceased person more than anything

The Jasper Watkins pic didn't bother me. To be honest, it really didn't even look real (even though it was). I can understand why UM had to show it because, at the time, there authorities had no real leads and they really needed this guy to be identified -so it was worth a shot

Also, and I'm just guessing here - but maybe it's effective to show the victims in that the person responsible or a person who has vital information may be watching and sees the severity of their actions and/ or the magnitude of the case. As a result, they turn themselves in or come forward with info.

The pics that bother me are the ones where the person's eyes are (usually wide open and/ or are baring teeth - especially when I'm watching UM late at night! -lol (Example: a pic of say, Aileen Wuornos grimacing and making her crazy face creeps me out so much more than a pic of a corpse - but that's just me)

And sure, it's just a picture - it can't hurt us

but we're hard-wired (as animals) to immediately go on the defense whenever we see large, wide eyes and teeth - and it doesn't help when UM (in conjunction with the spooky music) suddenly shows pics like that


So in short:

Pics of dead people really don't bother me as much as pics of living people (or living at the time the pic was taken). It's especially disconcerting when the person in the pic is still at large! :eek:

Anyway, just my two cents

I noticed that too unidentified....I wasn't expecting them to show the actual picture, and frankly, why did they? I mean, it wasn't like he needed to be identified.

Um, Well they did actually... he needed to be identified because the authorities had exhausted all other leads.

They wouldn't have shown the pic if they knew who he was

UM didn't do this for ratings or for shock value

and RS gave fair enough warning

The good thing was the man in the trunk was identified and the person responsible for murdering him was apprehended