Another Old UM story I have not seen in 11, 12, maybe even 13 years. I recall the woman was black, and had been assaulted so badly that she was not able to speak, so the detective went to her bedside in the hospital and asked her to squeeze his hand if she knew her attacker. She gave a response that she did, and he told her that he would go through the alphabet and wanted her to squeeze his hand when he recited the first letter of the person's name. She responded when he said W. And this is all I remember. Maybe this is the Wadada case, but than again maybe not. If it is not, can anyone give me details as to where it happened, and when(month/year)?

Another Old UM story I have not seen in 11, 12, maybe even 13 years. I recall the woman was black, and had been assaulted so badly that she was not able to speak, so the detective went to her bedside in the hospital and asked her to squeeze his hand if she knew her attacker. She gave a response that she did, and he told her that he would go through the alphabet and wanted her to squeeze his hand when he recited the first letter of the person's name. She responded when he said W. And this is all I remember. Maybe this is the Wadada case, but than again maybe not. If it is not, can anyone give me details as to where it happened, and when(month/year)?

Yes it is the Wadada case. The victim was white though (Wadada was black) and her name was Sarah Beard. I have it on tape (its on volume 4 actually) so let me know if you need to know anymore details and I can rewatch it.

Just when it actually took place. I recall from reading Lifetime's website that it was somewhere in near University New Mexico, though it did not specify the town. Also if you know the original date that it aired, that would do. I recall that it was some time between 94-95 though it could have been first shown in 93.

Just when it actually took place. I recall from reading Lifetime's website that it was somewhere in near University New Mexico, though it did not specify the town. Also if you know the original date that it aired, that would do. I recall that it was some time between 94-95 though it could have been first shown in 93.

It happened on or very near 12/8/88 in Albuquerque. It said her apartment was very near the University of New Mexico. I have the NBC episode of this that aired in 6/94 but its a repeat. I believe this is the original airing:

February 2, 1994

Reports include the 1932 discover in Wyoming of a small mummified human; a viewer top leading to a suspect's arrest in Canada; a series of Mississippi jail deaths that may be linked to racially-motivated crimes of the 1960s; the search for a New Mexico rapist.

Thanks. I have yet to see a rerun of it. Was it ever solved?

Was it ever solved?

I couldn't find out anything about it on the net so I don't know if he was ever captured.

I couldn't find out anything about it on the net so I don't know if he was ever captured.

I haven't had any luck either. I guess our best hope would be to contact the authorities in New Mexico, and ask them about the current status of that case.

I remember seeing this case for the first time in 1998 when I was 9. The sketch of Wadada's disfigured hand scared the hell out of me!

I remember seeing this case for the first time in 1998 when I was 9. The sketch of Wadada's disfigured hand scared the hell out of me!

Cases like this make me leery of guys with long dreadlocks. As for men with medium-sized or short dreadlocks, however, I'm okay with them.

Cases like this make me leery of guys with long dreadlocks. As for men with medium-sized or short dreadlocks, however, I'm okay with them.

Yep its the long dreadlocks you have to be weary of....:lol:

An interesting note about this segment. I was reading some of the posts on the jump the shark website where people were discussing when and if they thought UM jumped the shark. Anyway some guy mentioned he had to ride on an airplane with the guy he recognized as the actor who played Wadada on UM and talked about how totally freaked out he was to have to ride on the plane with him. Thought you guys might find that interesting. :)

Yep its the long dreadlocks you have to be weary of....:lol:

An interesting note about this segment. I was reading some of the posts on the jump the shark website where people were discussing when and if they thought UM jumped the shark. Anyway some guy mentioned he had to ride on an airplane with the guy he recognized as the actor who played Wadada on UM and talked about how totally freaked out he was to have to ride on the plane with him. Thought you guys might find that interesting. :)

That is pretty wicked. Thanks for sharing w/ us crystaldawn

Cases like this make me leery of guys with long dreadlocks. As for men with medium-sized or short dreadlocks, however, I'm okay with them.


Kane never ceases to crack me up. :)

I have been waiting to see a rerun of this for years. My brother and I used to freak my sister out by chanting, in a whisper, "Wadada...Wadada..." Wow, talk about evil.

So I just searched MySpace for Wadada and I was surprised that it turned up 3 pages!!! Wonder if any of them is the Wadada that hurt that girl Sarah Beard.

So I just searched MySpace for Wadada and I was surprised that it turned up 3 pages!!! Wonder if any of them is the Wadada that hurt that girl Sarah Beard.

This guy was a scumbag. Not only for what he did to Sarah, but because he leeched off starving college students. Like we have any money.

This guy was a scumbag. Not only for what he did to Sarah, but because he leeched off starving college students. Like we have any money.


I'd really like this guy caught too. Doubt he's on MySpace but you never know. Anyone know where I can see a pic of him?

I'd really like this guy caught too. Doubt he's on MySpace but you never know. Anyone know where I can see a pic of him?

There was a composite shown on UM. Maybe someone can do a screen grab.

close to artist's rendition:

http://www.poster.net/marley-bob/marley-bob-joint-5000321.jpg

:lol: :lol: Sooooo close......!

If alive today (Intelius lists her), she's 37 and still in New Mexico. However , Newsbank turned up no articles or mentions of a Sarah from New Mexico or this case. Also, if she knew Wadada, she or one of her friends must have some more information about him. It's possible this took place in either Albuquerque or Rio Rancho (20 minutes away from Albuquerque according to Mapquest).

So I just searched MySpace for Wadada and I was surprised that it turned up 3 pages!!! Wonder if any of them is the Wadada that hurt that girl Sarah Beard.

Wadadda is a very common name in African and Carribean world.

Its been supposed that Wadadda went back to the French Carribean, which in unfortunately means he probably will never be found, given how easy it is to hide in those communities.

Hiding in the French Carribean is like hiding in Siberia, Russia or Katmandou.

That's what I thought too, he went back to the Caribbean. Never find him there. That piece of ****.

I just watched this episode. it is crazy to think this guy may have never been caught considering how well known he is. I must say UM did a great job of creeping people out. the claw drawing was more scary than a mug shot. this dude must be in jail or out of the country? either that or he did a great job hiding.

This is a very unique UM case in which the victim, her family and many of her acquaintances actually knew the attacker personally, but none of them ever learned his last name! And obviously, no one ever took a photograph of him since they had to rely on a composite sketch.

You'd think this one would be solvable, but it seems Wadada never told his acquaintances too much about himself and was able to live without leaving a paper trail.

I also suspect Sarah Beard was not his first and last victim either.

Just started watched this episode.

While in the hospital, Sarah could not communicate verbally, however she was alert and aware. Her father asked her to squeeze his hand as he spelled his own name through the alphabet and she squeezed, indicating she knew her father was speaking to her and she knew his name.

He asked her if she knew her attacker. She squeezed his hand, acknowledging that, yes, she knew him.

They then went through the alphabet again to spell the attacker's name. When the got to W her parents asked if it was "william" the answer was no. They asked if it was "wadada" she squeezed her dad's had to answer yes, BUT....

The cops could do nothing because she could not verbally name her attacker!?

Her jaw was broken, she'd been beaten in the head with a hammer at least 11 times, and the doctors weren't sure that she'd ever be able to speak again. I mean, come on! Steven Hawking hasn't communicated verbally in years. Does that invalidate what he "says"?

IMO, Sarah named her attacker by the only means of communication she had. What the heck was up with that excuse?

Oh, and once she could finally speak, weeks later, the cops kept interviewing her and made her name the attacker verbally during several different interviews.

Did this cause a delay in the investigation? Did it contribute to messing up the case and not finding the guy, or did they start looking for him when she first named him with the hand squeezes?

Just started watched this episode.

While in the hospital, Sarah could not communicate verbally, however she was alert and aware. Her father asked her to squeeze his hand as he spelled his own name through the alphabet and she squeezed, indicating she knew her father was speaking to her and she knew his name.

He asked her if she knew her attacker. She squeezed his hand, acknowledging that, yes, she knew him.

They then went through the alphabet again to spell the attacker's name. When the got to W her parents asked if it was "william" the answer was no. They asked if it was "wadada" she squeezed her dad's had to answer yes, BUT....

The cops could do nothing because she could not verbally name her attacker!?

Her jaw was broken, she'd been beaten in the head with a hammer at least 11 times, and the doctors weren't sure that she'd ever be able to speak again. I mean, come on! Steven Hawking hasn't communicated verbally in years. Does that invalidate what he "says"?

IMO, Sarah named her attacker by the only means of communication she had. What the heck was up with that excuse?

Oh, and once she could finally speak, weeks later, the cops kept interviewing her and made her name the attacker verbally during several different interviews.

Did this cause a delay in the investigation? Did it contribute to messing up the case and not finding the guy, or did they start looking for him when she first named him with the hand squeezes?
I watched this one a few weeks back myself. and I can't get it out of my head because of the waddada and the mugshot. I'm sure they were probably looking for him asap as he would have been a suspect once she identified him nonverbally. it may not have been enough to charge him, but enough to question him and force a confession. I imagine he probably left the area right after the attack. the dude seemed psychotic, not just because of the way he attacked her, but the way he was talking to her during the assault. Or as bob stack said about other cases, high on drugs. I hope this dude got what was coming to him.

close to artist's rendition:

http://www.poster.net/marley-bob/marley-bob-joint-5000321.jpg
I would replace his hand with chupacabra's claw

I find it very likely that Sarah and her friends may have really known nothing about the guy. There's always mysterious drifters that hang around college campuses. For instance there was one guy that would just hang around the art department at my school and he only ever identified himself as "Blade of Grass". No, I'm not kidding. No one ever knew his real name and he disappeared a few months back. These kinds of people are usually very nice and interesting, but they do tend to leech off friendly students (like Wadada did).

Furthermore, maybe Wadada wasn't even his real name. Maybe he had a more "normal" name and chose it to identify with his heritage. Of course, I have no proof but i find it very possible.

I find it very likely that Sarah and her friends may have really known nothing about the guy. There's always mysterious drifters that hang around college campuses. For instance there was one guy that would just hang around the art department at my school and he only ever identified himself as "Blade of Grass". No, I'm not kidding. No one ever knew his real name and he disappeared a few months back. These kinds of people are usually very nice and interesting, but they do tend to leech off friendly students (like Wadada did).

Furthermore, maybe Wadada wasn't even his real name. Maybe he had a more "normal" name and chose it to identify with his heritage. Of course, I have no proof but i find it very possible.
true, it appears he was a leach and probably went to another college campus in the US unless he left the country.
I don't understand how you can do this to people. One of the more brutal attacks I've seen on UM and it is unfortunate that he got away considering how quick she was able to identify him.

Yeah, there are creepers on my college campus as well. One strange person claims he's an alumni, but I don't believe it for a second. He tried to bother me freshman year, but after I finally told him to go away, he hasn't bothered me. I saw him once this year (I'm about to graduate) and gave him the stinkeye and he left me alone. I have to admit that the Wadada thing was on my mind, but I luckily do live with three other girls on the top floor of a building.

Yeah, there are creepers on my college campus as well. One strange person claims he's an alumni, but I don't believe it for a second. He tried to bother me freshman year, but after I finally told him to go away, he hasn't bothered me. I saw him once this year (I'm about to graduate) and gave him the stinkeye and he left me alone. I have to admit that the Wadada thing was on my mind, but I luckily do live with three other girls on the top floor of a building.
I joined the air force after high school and am getting my degree online instead of going to a traditional school. Sometimes I wish that I could have gotten the college campus experience because it looks so fun. So I can't really relate to what you all are saying about drifters. But when I do go to college campus areas it does look like it would be easy to blend in because they are like their own towns. I currently live in a city near cincinnati ohio. I see and hear about students getting attacked on campus all of the time. ONe of my close friends actually got mugged when he was jogging on campus at night(thinking that it was safe for him to jog there). People break into their dorms attack them after dark, etc. college students are easy victims to inhumane animals like wadada/ted bundy/etc. luckily those types of people are few and far between. I think most college crimes are petty so there isn't a whole lot to fear?

I joined the air force after high school and am getting my degree online instead of going to a traditional school. Sometimes I wish that I could have gotten the college campus experience because it looks so fun. So I can't really relate to what you all are saying about drifters. But when I do go to college campus areas it does look like it would be easy to blend in because they are like their own towns. I currently live in a city near cincinnati ohio. I see and hear about students getting attacked on campus all of the time. ONe of my close friends actually got mugged when he was jogging on campus at night(thinking that it was safe for him to jog there). People break into their dorms attack them after dark, etc. college students are easy victims to inhumane animals like wadada/ted bundy/etc. luckily those types of people are few and far between. I think most college crimes are petty so there isn't a whole lot to fear?

I go to a private university in Los Angeles, and we have less than 10,000 undergrads and graduates combined. And even though we're on the smaller side, drifters can totally blend in. There have been weird guys who have managed to sneak into residence halls, but luckily, no one ever got hurt. I routinely walk around late at night and have never had a problem (though I do try to keep a level head and make sure to have my guard up). The most violent crime that ever happened on campus (that I know of) is that when we had a festival where other college students come and listen to bands, a student got stabbed randomly but luckily was alright. The festival has a lot of drug users in attendance and people get high out of their minds, but our campus security is really good about looking out for us. I know that the bigger colleges, such as Cal Polytech where Kristin Smart vanished, all have higher rates of sexual assaults and violence. I guess that's to be expected when you have way more students and a bigger campus.

Oh, and our housing is pretty good. If you're an underclassman, at night to get in you have to be checked in. Since I'm a senior, my building doesn't have that but all rooms need cards (and corresponding codes) to get in. So it's very difficult to have someone break into your room. A couple months ago people ripped off window screens and stole laptops, apparently. I'm too high up for anyone to do that, so I feel pretty safe.

I would definitely NOT feel safe if I attended USC. I hear about bad things going on there all the time. If you didn't already know, it's in a very unsavory part of L.A. and crime rates are awful. And a lot of the housing is around campus rather than on it. I would not feel at ease ever and wouldn't do half the things I enjoy doing now on my own campus. It's a great college, but I like my sense of security here.

Yeah, luckily codes and cards are becoming mainstays in on-campus housing at schools. Drifters and such can totally blend in well, even the most eccentric ones. I do remember something in the UM segment about Sarah being an art student, and as an art student myself I can totally admit that the most bizarre and eccentric drifters could totally blend in. Case in point, the Blade individual at my school. He would just hang around the art building and observe the drawing classes and even play the pianos in the adjoined music department building. He always had a billion interesting stories to share so he made friends with people quickly.

I find it more likely that Wadada continued drifting around colleges than that he returned to the French Caribbean. But then again, the information on him is so limited that we can't really make a whole lot of assumptions on if he had money to flee, etc.

Yeah, luckily codes and cards are becoming mainstays in on-campus housing at schools. Drifters and such can totally blend in well, even the most eccentric ones. I do remember something in the UM segment about Sarah being an art student, and as an art student myself I can totally admit that the most bizarre and eccentric drifters could totally blend in. Case in point, the Blade individual at my school. He would just hang around the art building and observe the drawing classes and even play the pianos in the adjoined music department building. He always had a billion interesting stories to share so he made friends with people quickly.

I find it more likely that Wadada continued drifting around colleges than that he returned to the French Caribbean. But then again, the information on him is so limited that we can't really make a whole lot of assumptions on if he had money to flee, etc.
I was actually thinking earlier that maybe he is frequenting foreign colleges(knowing that many college students in the USA would be looking out for him after that UM segment went on the air)

But you never know. He might have blended easily somewhere and was never caught.

I go to a private university in Los Angeles, and we have less than 10,000 undergrads and graduates combined. And even though we're on the smaller side, drifters can totally blend in. There have been weird guys who have managed to sneak into residence halls, but luckily, no one ever got hurt. I routinely walk around late at night and have never had a problem (though I do try to keep a level head and make sure to have my guard up). The most violent crime that ever happened on campus (that I know of) is that when we had a festival where other college students come and listen to bands, a student got stabbed randomly but luckily was alright. The festival has a lot of drug users in attendance and people get high out of their minds, but our campus security is really good about looking out for us. I know that the bigger colleges, such as Cal Polytech where Kristin Smart vanished, all have higher rates of sexual assaults and violence. I guess that's to be expected when you have way more students and a bigger campus.

Oh, and our housing is pretty good. If you're an underclassman, at night to get in you have to be checked in. Since I'm a senior, my building doesn't have that but all rooms need cards (and corresponding codes) to get in. So it's very difficult to have someone break into your room. A couple months ago people ripped off window screens and stole laptops, apparently. I'm too high up for anyone to do that, so I feel pretty safe.

I would definitely NOT feel safe if I attended USC. I hear about bad things going on there all the time. If you didn't already know, it's in a very unsavory part of L.A. and crime rates are awful. And a lot of the housing is around campus rather than on it. I would not feel at ease ever and wouldn't do half the things I enjoy doing now on my own campus. It's a great college, but I like my sense of security here.
Well that's good, I'm glad you are safe and I do agree with you about USC. I've been there once(not on the campus, but near there). Typically it is more dangerous in larger urban areas of campus' especially like Cincinnati. University of Houston is in a terrible area too(probably one of the worst areas i've ever seen for a major college). It is weird because Cincy is such an old run down city and there will be ghettos that border high society areas(kind of like LA in a sense I guess). The campus is pretty much surrounded by ghetto, but people are typically safe there. I deal with the Air Force ROTC there. But here lately there have been a lot of night prowlers and muggings. I guess all it takes is one idiot to ruin it for everyone. I think there is one prowler going around the campus and has yet to be caught. I'm not sure if it is a student or an outsider...or if they have been caught because it has been a while since I have heard about a crime which is good.

Thought I read on these boards ol' Wadadda was recently caught? If I remember it was about 3-4 months ago...Im going to search through the boards and see if I can find it

I have searched the boards and looked on the news and nothing saying he's been caught...but I was POSITIVE I'd read it on here...hmmm....

Thought I read on these boards ol' Wadadda was recently caught? If I remember it was about 3-4 months ago...Im going to search through the boards and see if I can find it

I have searched the boards and looked on the news and nothing saying he's been caught...but I was POSITIVE I'd read it on here...hmmm....
Yeah I haven't heard anything. Not updated on the wiki site either. It sucks when we know the suspect and you still can't find him. He probably left the country and blended instanly since he was fluent in other languages. I think if he stayed in the USA it is likely he would have been found rather quickly?

Yeah I haven't heard anything. Not updated on the wiki site either. It sucks when we know the suspect and you still can't find him. He probably left the country and blended instanly since he was fluent in other languages. I think if he stayed in the USA it is likely he would have been found rather quickly?)

Well maybe he wouldn't have been because I am sure there are areas in america with a large population of...tobago (is that where he was from?) people..so if he was there he would just blend in with the other people and wouldnt stand out as much.

I asked CrystalDawn and for sure he hasn't been caught yet.

i always felt it was likely that he might of already been a criminal and maybe has been to jail for unrelated charges. I mean, noone even knows his real name.

Heck, he even could be dead now for all we know. Very unlikely he gets caught for this crime in my view.

Some even suggest that the name "Wadada" was an alias. There is a jazz composer by the name of Wadada Leo Smith that also sometimes has dread locks. I wonder if this perp used his name as one of his few aliases?

I'm also curious to know if the statute of limitations for rape in New Mexico have run out in this case already since it's been 23+ years since Sarah was bludgeoned and raped.

I'm also curious to know if the statute of limitations for rape in New Mexico have run out in this case already since it's been 23+ years since Sarah was bludgeoned and raped.

I'm terrible at understanding written law but here's what this site has to say (WARNING slightly GRAPHIC LANGUAGE):

http://www.theforensicnurse.com/Rape_and_sexual_assault_Statute_of_limitations_by_state.cfm#NM

Prosecution may commence at any time after the occurrence of a capital felony or a first degree violent felony...

...Criminal sexual penetration in the first degree is a first degree felony and consists of all sexual penetration perpetrated ... by the use of force or coercion that results in great bodily harm or great mental anguish to the victim...

I snipped out a bunch of info. The full text is at the link.

To me, that sounds like the crime committed against Sarah is a 1st degree felony without a statute of limitations. Although... I don't know what the law was at the time of her attack and if that old law would apply or if this law would be the one that's applicable to her case.

I remember seeing a program about a woman (in California, I think) who was raped and by the time they found her attacker, the statute of limitations had just run out. It was only 6 years, IIRC.

Also according to the link above, in NM if there is DNA available the statute of limitations on lesser crimes doesn't start up until the DNA is matched against a suspect. Then the clock starts ticking.

)

Well maybe he wouldn't have been because I am sure there are areas in america with a large population of...tobago (is that where he was from?) people..so if he was there he would just blend in with the other people and wouldnt stand out as much.

I asked CrystalDawn and for sure he hasn't been caught yet.
very true, he could blend in somewhere. especially somewhere like florida or New York City. I just figure he may have gone out of the country at first where maybe he wasn't being searched for.

Some even suggest that the name "Wadada" was an alias. There is a jazz composer by the name of Wadada Leo Smith that also sometimes has dread locks. I wonder if this perp used his name as one of his few aliases?

I'm also curious to know if the statute of limitations for rape in New Mexico have run out in this case already since it's been 23+ years since Sarah was bludgeoned and raped.

I would think attempted rape is going to be the least of "wadada's" worries-he basically tried to murder her and would have succeeded if her mom hadn't have found her.

As we all know there is no statue of limitation on murder...so whenever the police finally find him he'll be going away for a long time.

Sort of related..... yesterday I was half watching some show on ID or one of those channels and they were talking about a murder in NM that happened quite a while ago. Maybe the 70s or very early 80s?

New Mexico used to have a 15 year statute of limitations on murder! In the case presented, since that law was in place at the time, even if the killer was caught now he'd couldn't be tried because the old law applies.

So crazy. And I was under the impression that no state had statute of limitations on murder, ever. How frustrating would that be, trying to solve a cold case only to find out that it can't even be legally prosecuted.

I would think attempted rape is going to be the least of "wadada's" worries-he basically tried to murder her and would have succeeded if her mom hadn't have found her.

As we all know there is no statue of limitation on murder...so whenever the police finally find him he'll be going away for a long time.

She survived though, so I'm hoping they can at least push an attempted murder charge on him.

I just watched this episode. it is crazy to think this guy may have never been caught considering how well known he is. I must say UM did a great job of creeping people out. the claw drawing was more scary than a mug shot. this dude must be in jail or out of the country? either that or he did a great job hiding.

Yes. That claw hand was just eerie!

It sounds to me like Wadada was that freak on campus that everybody knew about and just about everybody liked. Because of that, it makes me wonder if he was able to convince any of the students to cover for him.

Yep its the long dreadlocks you have to be weary of....:lol:

An interesting note about this segment. I was reading some of the posts on the jump the shark website where people were discussing when and if they thought UM jumped the shark. Anyway some guy mentioned he had to ride on an airplane with the guy he recognized as the actor who played Wadada on UM and talked about how totally freaked out he was to have to ride on the plane with him. Thought you guys might find that interesting. :)


I've often wondered if people have called police on the actors playing the roles of the killers, since they are always played by "unknowns", thinking the actor was the killer himself.

I've often wondered if people have called police on the actors playing the roles of the killers, since they are always played by "unknowns", thinking the actor was the killer himself.

Yes, it has happened before. I remember reading a news article about this happening to the guy who played Michaela Garrecht's (sp?) abductor.

It was incredibly good thinking on the part of the parents to get Sarah to identify her attacker so quickly, it's only a shame that it didn't help apprehend the offender. He was definitely a creepy and dangerous type who needed to be stopped. I hope he didn't do this to anyone else although, sadly, that's probably a forlorn hope

Watching this segment again on the web, I thought it was strange that Sarah was initially going to allow Wadadda to remain in her room alone so that he could access whatever it is that he wanted to borrow while she went off to the university campus. Don't misinterpret what I mean by this comment -I'm not saying she did anything wrong but I just found it strange that she was prepared to put that amount of trust in him. He must have been a very convincing con artist

I hope someday that justice catches up with him

It was incredibly good thinking on the part of the parents to get Sarah to identify her attacker so quickly, it's only a shame that it didn't help apprehend the offender. He was definitely a creepy and dangerous type who needed to be stopped. I hope he didn't do this to anyone else although, sadly, that's probably a forlorn hope

Watching this segment again on the web, I thought it was strange that Sarah was initially going to allow Wadadda to remain in her room alone so that he could access whatever it is that he wanted to borrow while she went off to the university campus. Don't misinterpret what I mean by this comment -I'm not saying she did anything wrong but I just found it strange that she was prepared to put that amount of trust in him. He must have been a very convincing con artist

I hope someday that justice catches up with him

I agree with you, that surprised me too. I wonder what role he played within that group of friends, it would be interesting to know more about him. From what I gathered, and I only saw it once, I don't think he was a student, but he wasn't a street person either, he was someone who just hung around. I wonder if this is one of these situations where, given his accents, dreadlocks, etc, he was a bit of a character, someone everyone knew, or was proud to say they knew. This is a little complicated to talk about because it involves race (I'm black by the way) but there is no other way to talk about what I want to say about this episode without referencing it.

I wonder how much they knew about him, if they considered him a genuine friend, or if he was someone who was exotic, and entertaining because of his Ethiopian/Jamaican background. The reason this is significant, especially if this was a liberal arts college or some school where everybody is trying very hard not to appear racist, sometimes people can go so far in the other direction that they end up doing stupid things with black people that they would never do with a white person, out of condescension.

For example, if Wadadda were white, and more obviously attracted to her, would she have let him in while she was by herself and turned her back on him. Maybe Sarah had second thoughts about letting him in by herself, but worried that she didn't want him to think she was being extra careful around him because he was black. There also seemed to be a weird age difference in the reenactment (could have been the actor.) Was he enrolled at the school, or just hanging out on a college campus, did anyone know anything about his background, and what the f*** was going on with his hand (did they even ask if it was accident...the segment said a birth defect.) That might have made one feel uncomfortable (the drawing was scary enough) but could have been another reason one might choose feel sorry for him, or to not set a proper boundary. (I don't want him to think I'm rejecting him because of his deformed hand.) He might have played on all of this to get what he wanted or manipulate their trust.

I'm speculating a lot here, and maybe the trust was there and none of the above is true, he'd never been violent before and he just snapped. But it is sad because Sarah seemed very generous to him (help yourself to whatever you want with the paintbrushes) but at her own peril. He was clearly psychotic in the end, and I wonder if some danger signs got missed in their group of friends because he was so "exotic", "fascinating" and with this interesting name, nobody took a second look.

I'm NOT making light of what happened, but when she squeezed her father's hand at the letter W, and the parents say, almost in unison, "Was it Wadadda?" I wasn't prepared for that and I was like, WHO? That made me also wonder, as the parents clearly knew his name, how much she'd spoken about him, was he a good friend and in everyone's lives, what role he played.

I remember watching this originally at night all alone, back when lifetime ran UM reruns at nighttime. Late 90's or early 00's...oooh I will NEVER forget that compo sketch. I finally caught this episode tonight & oooh I feel for Sarah.

I will say as a single woman living alone I woulda pretended to not be home, or met him outside and said I was leaving w/o letting him in. To me I think Sarah was just a very nice & trusting person. Race aside if a dude shows up unexpected that sends off alarms. Unless she let him in before and earned trust..well than that could be any of us letting him in.

I wonder if in this day and age due to social media and cellphone cams if Wadada woulda been easier to have caught. Everyone seems to love to post pics especially college age kids. Sooo glad Sarah's mom checked up on her. Has anyone heard any updates on this case?

I remember watching this originally at night all alone, back when lifetime ran UM reruns at nighttime. Late 90's or early 00's...oooh I will NEVER forget that compo sketch. I finally caught this episode tonight & oooh I feel for Sarah.

I will say as a single woman living alone I woulda pretended to not be home, or met him outside and said I was leaving w/o letting him in. To me I think Sarah was just a very nice & trusting person. Race aside if a dude shows up unexpected that sends off alarms. Unless she let him in before and earned trust..well than that could be any of us letting him in.

I wonder if in this day and age due to social media and cellphone cams if Wadada woulda been easier to have caught. Everyone seems to love to post pics especially college age kids. Sooo glad Sarah's mom checked up on her. Has anyone heard any updates on this case?

Sadly, no. I wonder where Sarah is today? I tried finding her on Facebook and other places but no trace of her.

My daughter is is college,and yes,a lot of students,(at least where she is),tend to be very trusting of their peers,not locking their doors and such,letting others come and go in their room,much of the time.In fact if they lock their door,others tend to make fun of them and consider them untrusting and overly cautious,so I can see where Sarah made that mistake.It is a shame,and a shame that Waddida hasn't ever been caught.

This case has always spooked me. I saw it when I was a kid, probably 9 or 10, and it really gave me nightmares. I wonder how no one has been able to locate Wadada? You'd think with the claw hand that someone would have found him! He needs to be caught.

Watched this one for the first time in a long time yesterday.

I'm not entirely convinced he's fled to Guyana, or the Carribean, or wherever. He was apparently very poor and I don't know where he would have come up with the money for an out-of-country trip. Unless he just gave people the impression he was poor. I doubt he's in the immediate area, but perhaps still in the country and remains unidentified due to him being on the fringes of society.

One thing I'm curious as to why everybody liked this guy. He was quite obviously a mooch and his only reason for being on campus was to take money and things from already cash-strapped students. He was the type of guy most people would have told to 'take a hike' long ago. All it would have taken was one call to campus security and he would have been kicked out and told not to return.

I think Wadada must have been a smooth talker and outwardly friendly for so many students to befriend and give him money and support. The fact that Sarah let him into the apartment and was going to let him stay there while she went to class speaks volumes about his ability to appear charming and harmless.

I would think that he would have been caught because of his distinctive claw-like hand, but the UM segment is 20ish years old and I don't think this case is so publicized. Hopefully someone will spot him someday.

I think Wadada must have been a smooth talker and outwardly friendly for so many students to befriend and give him money and support. The fact that Sarah let him into the apartment and was going to let him stay there while she went to class speaks volumes about his ability to appear charming and harmless.

That may be true, but if he looks anything like his composite sketch, he must have looked creepy.

Cases like this make me leery of guys with long dreadlocks. As for men with medium-sized or short dreadlocks, however, I'm okay with them.



:lol: :blush: :tv:

I doubt he's in the immediate area, but perhaps still in the country and remains unidentified due to him being on the fringes of society.

One thing I'm curious as to why everybody liked this guy. He was quite obviously a mooch and his only reason for being on campus was to take money and things from already cash-strapped students. He was the type of guy most people would have told to 'take a hike' long ago. All it would have taken was one call to campus security and he would have been kicked out and told not to return.

Some of these rapist/killers are quite charming and personable people ....or at least they appear so on the surface. Wadada could have been friendly , personable ,or charming or even all three and that would have been enough to get him a few friends in any size campus which is what happened......

I dont know about cash strapped but by the mid-70`s onwards lots of students were starting to have nice decent cars and a bit of extra $$$

fast forward to today for example students have lots of expensive electronics and not to mention that many students on campus are just beginning to experience their first taste of independence hence quite a fair few are .......how can I put it nicely .....naive :) hence people like Wadada can quickly charm their way into their affections and get stuff off them ....

I doubt he's in the immediate area, but perhaps still in the country and remains unidentified due to him being on the fringes of society.

This is exactly what I think, too. I don't think this is a guy who's riding a commuter train with everyone else at 7 A.M. or visiting the same gas station for a cup of coffee before going to work in the morning.

I know there's another thread out there but this is one case that relates to some other cases Ive seen The eye witness sketches on allagash abductions and chupacabras. The sketches look like waddadaas claws.

But seriously how was this rapist never caught?

This is exactly what I think, too. I don't think this is a guy who's riding a commuter train with everyone else at 7 A.M. or visiting the same gas station for a cup of coffee before going to work in the morning.
This is an excellent point. I think it's also possible that he covers his "claw" with a glove/mitten to hide it from view whenever he does go out and about in public.

This is an excellent point. I think it's also possible that he covers his "claw" with a glove/mitten to hide it from view whenever he does go out and about in public.

Boy, I don't know. I think the only way he might find out that police know his identity and are after him is if he read it in the newspaper he was sleeping under. He probably doesn't have regular access to t.v., radio, etc.

He left Sarah for dead and probably figured she died, so I think it would come as a surprise to him that not only she lived, but named her attacker.

He probably doesn't have regular access to t.v., radio, etc.


Good point. If he was sponging off people regularly enough to get access to these things, he probably would have been sighted/reported by now.

this case was creepy as hell


I wonder why he performed this brutal attack. It also seemed like they knew each other well

Why could not the University check Wadada's enrollment details or which classes he was in?

Why could not the University check Wadada's enrollment details or which classes he was in?

He wasn't actually a student at the university. I believe the word the segment used to describe him was "hanger-on". He appears to have spent much of his time there sponging off people. I think he probably regularly took advantage of the college students there, who were too young and naïve to realize he was mooching off them without providing anything in return.

hmmm did other students not know who wadada was? Did the school have a large jamaican population? Maybe Wadada lead a transient life because he was an illegal immigrant? No grown man who has a regular job just hangs with college kids. If her parents knew about wadada after Sarah squeezed her dads hand at W, that seems to me that maybe Sarah really trusted wadada to tell her parents about him.

people say his hand was claw like, i am pretty sure you can have surgery to correct that and maybe he did. Wadada seems a lot older in the segment and not really young, again was this not odd?

This case feels so Hollywood (a guy with a claw shaped hand?) makes me wonder if someone else assaulted her (her boyfriend or someone) and she made up Wadada to cover for him

This case feels so Hollywood (a guy with a claw shaped hand?) makes me wonder if someone else assaulted her (her boyfriend or someone) and she made up Wadadamto cover for him
The issue with this theory is that Wadada was well-known on that college campus for sponging off of students, so he can't be fictional. In fact, Sarah had spoken of him to her parents before her attack, which is why they were able to get the hand squeeze from her when saying his name as a guess when she couldn't speak yet.

I wonder if authorities asked other students about this dude? Nobody took a picture with him? Nobody knows him more personally?

He must have lived close to the school no? Seems unlikely he gets caught now

The Wadada segment and the Laura Burbank segment are the two I wish I could watch again. Neither are on Amazon

ZA DA DEE DA DAI GAI
ZA DA DEE DA DAI GAI

I wonder if authorities asked other students about this dude? Nobody took a picture with him? Nobody knows him more personally?

He must have lived close to the school no? Seems unlikely he gets caught now

You're thinking of it like it was the 2000s. Nobody had phones or digital cameras in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The concept of selfies was pretty much non-existent.

In larger and even some smaller college areas and towns, you have people who either dropped out years ago or are just literally hanging around. They know there are students who are living on mom and dad's dime. Students are not typically as savvy about the dangers of people taking advantage because it hasn't happened to them before. Many students are still very idealistic about wanting to save the world and help people. So some guy says he needs help, you help.

As for knowing him, I take it he was known more by reputation than as a person. You see your classmates talk to this guy and assume he must be okay when he comes to you.

I was a freshman in college in 1994. Our college hang around guy was Jeffrey. I lived in a dorm of 400 girls/women. We all knew Jeffrey as the guy who was willing to "drive us if we drank too much." None of us were that stupid. He instinctively knew when to show up for a free meal. He hung around the student center a lot and would always try to bum a drink or a meal off of you, even a few bucks if he thought he could. You mostly saw him near the end of the semester because he knew we were selling back books and had cash. A few months ago a group of us got together to drink and reminisce since it has been almost 25 years since we met. Someone brought up Jeffrey. None of us knew or know his last name. He was just that guy who hangs around. We even joked that if we went back to our old college town that he was probably still there being a bum even though he looked and seemed ancient to us when we were 18-19.

We had a stalker case on our campus a year later. The campus police put up signs telling us to Be On Look Out, using the acronym BOLO. Do you know those girls in the dorm I lived in were so stupid as to think that was the stalker's name - BOLO. I would hear them talking about how someone needed to go see if the police could get BOLO's schedule from the registrar's office. I clearly wasn't at an ivy league school.

You're thinking of it like it was the 2000s. Nobody had phones or digital cameras in the late 1980s or early 1990s. The concept of selfies was pretty much non-existent.

In larger and even some smaller college areas and towns, you have people who either dropped out years ago or are just literally hanging around. They know there are students who are living on mom and dad's dime. Students are not typically as savvy about the dangers of people taking advantage because it hasn't happened to them before. Many students are still very idealistic about wanting to save the world and help people. So some guy says he needs help, you help.

As for knowing him, I take it he was known more by reputation than as a person. You see your classmates talk to this guy and assume he must be okay when he comes to you.

I was a freshman in college in 1994. Our college hang around guy was Jeffrey. I lived in a dorm of 400 girls/women. We all knew Jeffrey as the guy who was willing to "drive us if we drank too much." None of us were that stupid. He instinctively knew when to show up for a free meal. He hung around the student center a lot and would always try to bum a drink or a meal off of you, even a few bucks if he thought he could. You mostly saw him near the end of the semester because he knew we were selling back books and had cash. A few months ago a group of us got together to drink and reminisce since it has been almost 25 years since we met. Someone brought up Jeffrey. None of us knew or know his last name. He was just that guy who hangs around. We even joked that if we went back to our old college town that he was probably still there being a bum even though he looked and seemed ancient to us when we were 18-19.

We had a stalker case on our campus a year later. The campus police put up signs telling us to Be On Look Out, using the acronym BOLO. Do you know those girls in the dorm I lived in were so stupid as to think that was the stalker's name - BOLO. I would hear them talking about how someone needed to go see if the police could get BOLO's schedule from the registrar's office. I clearly wasn't at an ivy league school.

Welcome! We're happy to have you here!

I think you make an excellent point about how technology has developed since the time of the Wadada case.

I was a freshman in college in 1997 and have very similar experiences to yours. I can see how there are no pictures of Wadada and how no one knew his last name. It's super frustrating given what we have in terms of technology now, but this technology didn't exist back in the 80's and 90's.

LOL at the BOLO story, though. That's hilarious!

its not just the photos, but didn't anyone else on the campus know him? Or at least know him a lot more than Sarah?

Was he more than a friend, a boyfriend(fwb)? Maybe she was too embarrassed to tell her parents that and just told them he was a friend?

my only problem with wadada is that we are only being told vague details about this man.

One would think with this man's very identifiable disability that he would have been located by now, or been seen/turned in by somebody?

One would think with this man's very identifiable disability that he would have been located by now, or been seen/turned in by somebody?

From what I have read, no one seems to be certain of his nationality or even his real name. If he's still alive it's highly likely he's left the country, and I would think law enforcement stopped looking for him awhile ago (the assault was in 1988 so I don't think they'd even be able to prosecute him if he's found).

I was a freshman in college in 1994. Our college hang around guy was Jeffrey. I lived in a dorm of 400 girls/women. We all knew Jeffrey as the guy who was willing to "drive us if we drank too much." None of us were that stupid. He instinctively knew when to show up for a free meal. He hung around the student center a lot and would always try to bum a drink or a meal off of you, even a few bucks if he thought he could. You mostly saw him near the end of the semester because he knew we were selling back books and had cash. A few months ago a group of us got together to drink and reminisce since it has been almost 25 years since we met. Someone brought up Jeffrey. None of us knew or know his last name. He was just that guy who hangs around. We even joked that if we went back to our old college town that he was probably still there being a bum even though he looked and seemed ancient to us when we were 18-19.



This Jeffrey creature sounds like an absolute parasite. I'm surprised you guys just didn't tell him where to go!

From what I have read, no one seems to be certain of his nationality or even his real name. If he's still alive it's highly likely he's left the country, and I would think law enforcement stopped looking for him awhile ago (the assault was in 1988 so I don't think they'd even be able to prosecute him if he's found).

According to what I have read New Mexico does not have a statute of limitations against 1st degree felonies. I am unsure if raping and attempting to murder someone falls in that category in the state of New Mexico. I would hope that it does. But if it does not I believe they have toll laws when someone flees the state or if the perpetrator was not a state resident. My guess is there's a good chance he could still be charged if he were found, but it has been a long time which means he likely fled the area and will not be found. I would like to see laws passed in every state (or perhaps federal) lifting the statute of limitation on rape and similar violent attacks.

According to what I have read New Mexico does not have a statute of limitations against 1st degree felonies. I am unsure if raping and attempting to murder someone falls in that category in the state of New Mexico. I would hope that it does. But if it does not I believe they have toll laws when someone flees the state or if the perpetrator was not a state resident. My guess is there's a good chance he could still be charged if he were found, but it has been a long time which means he likely fled the area and will not be found. I would like to see laws passed in every state (or perhaps federal) lifting the statute of limitation on rape and similar violent attacks.

I definitely agree with that.

I would really like to know why the segment did not make it to Amazon prime. If you're right then it is not due to the statute of limitations. Maybe they have reason to believe he's dead or something? It's so frustrating when I can't find any updates for a case I'm interested in. I hope Sarah Beard is doing well these days.

I definitely agree with that.

I would really like to know why the segment did not make it to Amazon prime. If you're right then it is not due to the statute of limitations. Maybe they have reason to believe he's dead or something? It's so frustrating when I can't find any updates for a case I'm interested in. I hope Sarah Beard is doing well these days.

I don't know either. there are a few that I wonder about as to why they did not make it on to the RS version, but is this segment not on the Dennis Farina version? I only ask because those are still circulating on television and are on amazon as well.

One would think with this man's very identifiable disability that he would have been located by now, or been seen/turned in by somebody?

My exact thoughts after re-watching the episode. You would think a doctor or SOMEONE would notice a guy with a crab hand.

why would any doctor know about his hand condition? how would they tie it to this case that they might have not heard about?

Did wadada even do it? ya i know he existed, but maybe it was actually someone else and it was blame the black guy 101? strange this case is not on amazon and nothing online.

why would any doctor know about his hand condition? how would they tie it to this case that they might have not heard about?

Did wadada even do it? ya i know he existed, but maybe it was actually someone else and it was blame the black guy 101? strange this case is not on amazon and nothing online.

For as "well known" as this guy supposedly was around campus, there's someone out there who knows his real name....i.e. a doctor that treated him as a child, or a dentist, the airline employee telling him to buckle his seat..it's not everyday you see someone walking around with a crab-hand.

True, it is odd this isn't shown anymore....maybe if it were, he'd have been found.