In another case of "Oh crap, I missed it except for the last few minutes", On the Case with PAULA ZAHN aired a 1 hour episode on this case. I would be VERY interested in seeing this and hope they rerun it because I have never seen the full case on UM, only the update. I'm still confused as to how and when this show aired and figured it may have been filmed for the Final Appeal series.

But...in the few minutes I saw, there were some interesting nuggets of info I gleaned:

-John Purvis (probably with the help of his family) filed a lawsuit and was awarded a million dollars for wrongful conviction. :clap

-In another example of "only a stupid Florida jury could come to that decision", a jury decided that Shane's murder was "an accident" and considered that while determining the sentences for Paul Hamwi and Paul Serio. Boo, hiss!

According to the ID schedule, it is scheduled to be rerun this Saturday (October 5) at 2:00 pm, Eastern Time. The episode is titled "A Call For Justice."

I just watched the show. I had hoped they would show a recent interview with Purvis (I assume he's still alive) but they just showed a picture. It was so disappointing that the one who actually killed Susan never got any jail time since they had to have his testimony to convict Paul Hamwi. One thing they mentioned that UM never did was the killer for hire had said from the beginning he couldn't kill a child so Paul Hamwi was supposed to call a friend of Susan's to go check on them and thus find the baby alive. He never called anyone so apparently he wanted his daughter to die that horrible way. :mad:

I was always under the impression that the full segment about the John Purvis case never aired. Since Purvis unexpectedly wound up being released in between the filming of the segment and the airing, UM just showed a truncated version of the story with the update. Since the case was solved, I'm not sure they ever bothered to air the full version.

I was always under the impression that the full segment about the John Purvis case never aired. Since Purvis unexpectedly wound up being released in between the filming of the segment and the airing, UM just showed a truncated version of the story with the update. Since the case was solved, I'm not sure they ever bothered to air the full version.

If the full segment had in fact been broadcast, it could have been shown on the short-lived spin-off Final Appeal: From The Files of Unsolved Mysteries.

ah, thank you for that info Kane.

I recall mentioning about how Hamwi was supposed to have prevented Shane's death, but never did. I found that to be particularly cruel on his part to let his own daughter die in such a horrible fashion. I wish him the worst.

The episode talked about John's life in prison. As you can imagine, for someone with schizophrenia, and being a non-criminal put in amongst a lot of hardened criminals, his life wasn't very pleasant for those years. Talked about how he got skin cancer because he would stay out for so long and his mother wasn't around to tell him to go inside, and how his teeth rotted because his mother wasn't around to tell him to brush his teeth. Also said how John would be at the end of a line of 30 people waiting to use the phone, and when he would make it to the front of the line, he was bullied back to the end of the line before getting to use the phone, a process that was repeated several times in one setting. But they did say that John always remained a positive person despite the cruel hand that had been dealt to him.

The UM segment (or update) never delved into how Serio and Beckett (I think his name was) got in the house. I had always assumed they broke into the house, but the episode revealed that Serio and Beckett concoted a ruse in which they went to Susan's house pretending to have information that would help Susan Hamwi in her dealings with her ex-husband. Susan recognized them as acquaintances of her ex and let them in the house. She turned around to get them a glass of water when they beat, choked and stabbed her. :(

The UM segment (or update) never delved into how Serio and Beckett (I think his name was) got in the house. I had always assumed they broke into the house, but the episode revealed that Serio and Beckett concoted a ruse in which they went to Susan's house pretending to have information that would help Susan Hamwi in her dealings with her ex-husband. Susan recognized them as acquaintances of her ex and let them in the house. She turned around to get them a glass of water when they beat, choked and stabbed her. :(
Wasn't she also sexually assaulted? This had to be one of the most despicable crimes on UM. :(

ah, thank you for that info Kane.

I recall mentioning about how Hamwi was supposed to have prevented Shane's death, but never did. I found that to be particularly cruel on his part to let his own daughter die in such a horrible fashion. I wish him the worst.

Here is a link I'm sure that you're familiar with as it's JS's list of the airdates for all the FA broadcasts:

http://www.unsolvedmysteriestelevision.com/

As you can see the case of John Purvis is not among them. I remember speaking with JS once and he pointed out that there were an inordinate amount of "Final Appeal" cases included on UM in the months after the "Final Appeal" spinoff was cancelled. His gauge on the situation and I believe he is right is that a ton of FA segments were ordered for the spinoff but ultimately were never aired because the spinoff ended so quickly. A lot of these migrated over to "Unsolved Mysteries" but in the case of John Purvis, his case just never made air. There is also obviously a question as to whether the case of Thomas Drake was ever aired anywhere prior to it's inclusion on the Farina broadcasts.

PS: For those who might not be aware, one possible reason that Purvis' case was never aired is because he was released from prison before his case ever had a chance to make air. The UM spinoff "Final Appeal" aired in the autumn of 1992 and was cancelled before year's end. Purvis was released from prison in January of 1993 before a lot of the unaired FA segments were absorbed into UM broadcasts. So speculation is that UM chose to just air an update to the case, possibly out of respect to the Purvis family, if nothing else (the audience would not be familiar with his plight, his case having never been aired) detailing Purvis' release from prison.

The episode talked about John's life in prison. As you can imagine, for someone with schizophrenia, and being a non-criminal put in amongst a lot of hardened criminals, his life wasn't very pleasant for those years. Talked about how he got skin cancer because he would stay out for so long and his mother wasn't around to tell him to go inside, and how his teeth rotted because his mother wasn't around to tell him to brush his teeth. Also said how John would be at the end of a line of 30 people waiting to use the phone, and when he would make it to the front of the line, he was bullied back to the end of the line before getting to use the phone, a process that was repeated several times in one setting. But they did say that John always remained a positive person despite the cruel hand that had been dealt to him.

I feel so terribly for that poor man. Even IF he did commit a crime (which he absolutely did not), general population in prison is absolutely no place for him.

before a lot of the unaired FA segments were absorbed into UM broadcasts.

So any segment that was shown under the category "Final Appeal" was actually originally in the chute for Final Appeal: From the Files of Unsolved Mysteries and didn't make it?

Are there examples of FA episodes that later were spliced into UM reruns? I know there was a UM segment on Jeffrey MacDonald, but it seems there was also a FA episode as well. Is the segment just the edited-down FA episode shown within a UM episode?

So any segment that was shown under the category "Final Appeal" was actually originally in the chute for Final Appeal: From the Files of Unsolved Mysteries and didn't make it?

Only within the parameters of the time frame of which we're speaking of, which would be around 1993. Most of the FA cases that aired on UM from that time frame I believe to have been originally produced for the "Final Appeal" spinoff. I don't have time at the moment to research exactly which cases these were but if you go on UM wiki, you'll find a listing of FA cases from this period. Michael Lloyd Self is one I can think of that was more than likely produced for the "Final Appeal" spinoff

Are there examples of FA episodes that later were spliced into UM reruns? I know there was a UM segment on Jeffrey MacDonald, but it seems there was also a FA episode as well. Is the segment just the edited-down FA episode shown within a UM episode?

If we are talking pre-Farina, then Jeffrey MacDonald was the only case that was aired on FA and later spliced into an UM syndication. You can easily tell by the fact that the lettering (for lack of a better word) that they use to identify whom they are interviewing is different on the MacDonald segment than on any of the UM segments. This however, only rings true if you are watching the "Lifetime" syndication of the segment as hosted by Robert Stack. Once the Farina episodes hit the air, all sorts of things as we know were changed.

To answer your second question, yes all of the FA segments whether it be the aforementioned MacDonald segment or any of the FA segments spliced into the Farina episodes have been edited from their original broadcast form. You have to remember that the "Final Appeal" spinoff was itself a one hour television program and featured only one appellant per week so that left room to include a great deal of information on the appellant they were profiling that particular week.

When these FA segments were later spliced/absorbed into UM they were edited somewhat in order to feature them within a sixty minute episode (give or take commercial breaks) of UM which almost always featured several segments per episode.

In that vein, it is also likely that the cases originally produced for the spinoff "Final Appeal", that were absorbed into the 1993 season of UM were also likely edited somewhat for the same reason I mentioned above. So when we are watching for instance the case of Michael Lloyd Self we are likely not watching the case as it was originally intended to be broadcast as part of the "Final Appeal" spinoff. The reason being is that when the decision was made to air that case on UM after "Final Appeal" was cancelled, there would've needed to have been some editing done to it, in order to absorb it into a sixty minute UM broadcast which would likely feature several other cases within that time slot.

Well actually, Dr. Jeffrey McDonald was doubled up with Port Chicago Mutiny.

Well actually, Dr. Jeffrey McDonald was doubled up with Port Chicago Mutiny.

Right. I know that one made it to UM as well because I used to have it in my collection. In the version I had, it was pretty clear that it was much older footage with very late '90s-2000s style lettering, and in the Stack voiceover update at the end it was clear his voice was weaker, indicating it was might have been redone for UM about that timeframe. At least I think that's what happened. Unless there's an earlier UM version floating out there.

I don't know if Dan Montecalvo was intended for FA, but it definitely made it to Lifetime with Stack as the host.

I don't know if Dan Montecalvo was intended for FA, but it definitely made it to Lifetime with Stack as the host.

Are you certain? After wiseguy jogged my memory, I do recall the mutiny case also being featured on UM as narrated by RS. But Dan Montecalvo? I know it featured in a Farina episode but I don't ever recall it being absorbed into a RS narrated UM episode.

Are you certain? After wiseguy jogged my memory, I do recall the mutiny case also being featured on UM as narrated by RS. But Dan Montecalvo? I know it featured in a Farina episode but I don't ever recall it being absorbed into a RS narrated UM episode.

I am 99% certain that I saw Montecalvo on Lifetime with Stack as the host. It may have been wedged in with the even rarer late 90's CBS segments (produced around the same time as the Sarah Powell segment) shown on Lifetime. It was only one time, and the only reason I remember it was because of Montecalvo's line, "But I could still see dat moustache!"

I am 99% certain that I saw Montecalvo on Lifetime with Stack as the host. It may have been wedged in with the even rarer late 90's CBS segments (produced around the same time as the Sarah Powell segment) shown on Lifetime. It was only one time, and the only reason I remember it was because of Montecalvo's line, "But I could see see dat moustache!"

Interesting! I've probably been watching UM regularly since it started it's syndication on "Lifetime" around 1992/1993 and in that time span probably saw most of the episodes they chose to syndicate. That being said however, there are some anomalies that were only aired a handful of times in unique timeslots.

The most obvious one being Tara Calico which was only aired a few times during the early syndication years and usually in early morning timeslots.

Interesting! I've probably been watching UM regularly since it started it's syndication on "Lifetime" around 1992/1993 and in that time span probably saw most of the episodes they chose to syndicate. That being said however, there are some anomalies that were only aired a handful of times in unique timeslots.

The most obvious one being Tara Calico which was only aired a few times during the early syndication years and usually in early morning timeslots.

Definitely saw the Tara Calico episode on Lifetime syndication too. As far as I know, the only "Final Appeal" segments that made it to Lifetime (with Stack as the host) were: Jeffrey MacDonald (very rare), Dan Montecalvo (99% sure about this one), Stuart Heaton, Tommy Zeigler, Rick McCue, John Branion, Johnny Lee Wilson, the Dowalibys, Patricia Stallings, Larry Race, Frederick Young, and the updates to Tony Miller and John Purvis. I'm probably missing some, but those were the ones I could think of off the top of my head that I saw on Lifetime.

I'm fairly certain that I saw Montecalvo's segment when Lifetime used to air UM at 12:00 and 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday back around 2003-2004.

The most obvious one being Tara Calico which was only aired a few times during the early syndication years and usually in early morning timeslots.

Sorry DD for continually picking your brain (and sorry wiseguy for OTing on your thread), but I remember reading old discussions about the early morning half-hour slots on Lifetime (I didn't start watching UM on Lifetime until about 2003 or 2004) and remember Tara Calico being mentioned as one of the segments that ended up there as well as Keith Reinhard. Were there any others?

Sorry DD for continually picking your brain (and sorry wiseguy for OTing on your thread), but I remember reading old discussions about the early morning half-hour slots on Lifetime (I didn't start watching UM on Lifetime until about 2003 or 2004) and remember Tara Calico being mentioned as one of the segments that ended up there as well as Keith Reinhard. Were there any others?

Those are the ones I remember although there are a few segments which have never reached syndication in any form.

The case of Doyle Wheeler was allegedly never syndicated for example because there was a lawsuit filed in regards to the profiling of the case.

Janet O'Regan was the first "Lost Loves" case ever profiled on the series and has never been syndicated apparently because although the case was solved as a result of the broadcast the family that O'Regan located as a result of the broadcast allegedly threatened to sue Unsolved Mysteries because they publicized their father's wartime affair.

The case of Todd McAfee was broadcast once I believe during the summer of 1989 and never broadcast again. It is believed that some scenes from this segment may have found their way into the 1989 introduction montage as there are some scenes in that introduction that don't match up elsewhere.

There is also a case of a murderous Wisconsin cult that was featured on the show in the late nineties that to my knowledge never reached syndication. I saw it but once around 1998/1999 and can't recall if it was a special alert type segment or not but it did involve recreations something several of the special alert cases did not.

The case of Todd McAfee was broadcast once I believe during the summer of 1989 and never broadcast again.

Strange. I wonder why.

It is believed that some scenes from this segment may have found their way into the 1989 introduction montage as there are some scenes in that introduction that don't match up elsewhere.

The scene with the man aiming a rifle as the camera closes in on him is definitely from the Todd McAfee segment.

There are quite a lot of segments that haven't made it to Lifetime. There are numerous other threads, I think the largest one is one I started.

Wow, that's the first I've heard of the murderous WI cult.

I had a bit of communication with Todd Mcafee's sister awhile back. This is what she had to say: "The unsolved mysteries episode was basically a wild goose chase and they have a different suspect and accomplices but haven't not brought formal charges from this case against him. The Manatee County Sherrif's Dept has been working on it."

Weird. I remember hearing about the housekeeper being involved, but this sounds like someone else entirely. I wish I had more info.

There are quite a lot of segments that haven't made it to Lifetime. There are numerous other threads, I think the largest one is one I started.

I love that thread. I think it should be a sticky.

I had a bit of communication with Todd Mcafee's sister awhile back. This is what she had to say: "The unsolved mysteries episode was basically a wild goose chase and they have a different suspect and accomplices but haven't not brought formal charges from this case against him. The Manatee County Sherrif's Dept has been working on it."

Perhaps the time spent on the segment concerning the men and woman at the gas station is a big part of why that one never made it to syndication. Great to hear that it's being actively worked.

This is such a sad case. How that precious died alone in her crib. Thinking her mommy was ignoring her...I could cry!

This was horrific crime. And, it's horrible that John Purvis spent years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

This is further proof that disabled/poor/uneducated people end up getting screwed by the system far more than wealthy, educated people who have money to hire expensive lawyers. I.e., Purvis should never have been talking to LE without an attorney/advocate present.

I am 99% certain that I saw Montecalvo on Lifetime with Stack as the host. It may have been wedged in with the even rarer late 90's CBS segments (produced around the same time as the Sarah Powell segment) shown on Lifetime. It was only one time, and the only reason I remember it was because of Montecalvo's line, "But I could still see dat moustache!"

7 years later and I am now 99% certain that when I saw the Montecalvo segment it was on the Farina reboot.