Frank Casteel Dead at 71 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 05-31-2019, 07:21 AM

Link

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Online state records confirm that Frank Casteel, the man convicted in 1997 of killing three ATV riders on Signal Mountain, has died in prison. The Tennessee website for felony offender information lists Casteel as deceased. He was 71 years old.

Casteel was convicted in 1997 in the deaths of Richard Mason, Earl Smock and Kennith Griffith in July, 1988.

The men were last seen on their way to ride ATVs to one of Signal Mountain's favorite swimming spots, the Blue Hole. But they never returned home.

Police began an intensive search, and ultimately found their ATVs covered in blood nine miles from the entrance of the swimming hole, but no sign of their bodies. The bodies were found four days after officials recovered the ATVs, all with shotgun wounds.

It took nearly 10 years to connect the dots in the case, using several pieces of evidence and a sound recording of Frank Casteel.

Casteel's mistress, Marie Hill, also came forward to police about letters she had received during their relationship which was around the same time of the murder. The letters were sent to her anonymously. The letters were from Casteel's wife, Suzie, with hopes to break-up Frank and his mistress's relationship.

Police arrested Casteel arrested on April 15, 1997. His defense was that he and his wife were out camping on some of the land he owned on Signal Mountain the night of the murders, and did not hear any gunshots. But prosecutors said Casteel was angered by the sound of ATVs on what he believed was his property in the middle of the night.

A jury later convicted Casteel of the murders, and he was eventually sentenced to life in prison.

The criminal court of appeals ordered a new trial after his 1998 conviction, stating that some evidence should not have been allowed in trial.

A second jury convicted Casteel again in 2003, and he spent the rest of his life behind bars. He had been eligible for parole in 2024.

NewsChannel 9 is working to learn more information about Casteel's death. This story will be updated.

TheCars1986 · 05-31-2019, 07:33 AM

Maybe I'm confusing this with the Rhode Island murders, but wasn't there some sort of local groundswell to free Casteel because people believed he was innocent?

dynoguy88 · 05-31-2019, 07:41 AM

I wonder if this means Casteel's insufferable son will finally stop his crusade to convince people his father didn't kill the three men.

justins5256 · 05-31-2019, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

Maybe I'm confusing this with the Rhode Island murders, but wasn't there some sort of local groundswell to free Casteel because people believed he was innocent?

Yes. I believe his son was leading the charge.

sdb4884 · 05-31-2019, 10:47 AM

Good, burn in hell you bastard.

Fletch · 05-31-2019, 11:02 AM

Good riddance.

PracTz · 05-31-2019, 11:17 AM

Does anyone know if he was still married at the time of his death to Mrs. Casteel who was the one who sent poison pen letters evidently detailing the murders to his then-mistress in order to try to scare the mistress away from 'her man' but the mistress wound up not only dumping him but ALSO going to the authorities with the letters! THEN Mrs. Casteel screamed at his sentencing 'No! No! He's INNOCENT!' but, this time, no one believed her.
If they stayed married, I wonder if Mrs. Casteel actually thinks she somehow 'won'?

5thcorps · 05-31-2019, 12:48 PM

I'm glad to see this vile piece of trash finally below ground. His son's awful defense of him made me sick.

StackTime · 05-31-2019, 01:18 PM

Good riddance to this piece of trash. Not quite in the Oba Chandler league, but not far behind.

At any rate, one of the replies mentioned his wife, and it got me curious.

If I recall correctly several eyewitnesses saw a woman near a car on the side of the road near the murder site (or maybe the dump site) the night of the murders, trying to divert traffic. Was this ever explained - who it was, what they were doing, and why?

tsaun · 06-02-2019, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StackTime

Good riddance to this piece of trash. Not quite in the Oba Chandler league, but not far behind.

At any rate, one of the replies mentioned his wife, and it got me curious.

If I recall correctly several eyewitnesses saw a woman near a car on the side of the road near the murder site (or maybe the dump site) the night of the murders, trying to divert traffic. Was this ever explained - who it was, what they were doing, and why?

Ugh, Oba Chandler

Another scumbag who proclaimed his innocence but was 100% guilty.

Glad the state of Florida took care of him.

xxxxmattxxxx69 · 06-02-2019, 06:04 PM

Him and Edward Harold Bell can go straight to hell. Maybe some other dirtbags from UM can go under this year too

Drakken · 06-03-2019, 08:06 PM

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

TheCars1986 · 06-07-2019, 01:46 PM

I've been doing somewhat of a deep dive into this case recently and it looks like Casteel's son has his own Youtube channel. Just yesterday he uploaded a video (not sure if it's police video, or video for Casteel's defense) of the area that the 3 men would have traversed through (including Casteel's property) to get to the swimming hole they intended to go to. There's nothing graphic, it's just someone filming the ride they would have taken to get to the blue hole. It can be viewed here.

I've also read several articles which say that Casteel kept a log book of people who trespassed on his property and detailed his interactions with them. They say that Casteel was getting angry about trash being left behind but that he agreed to let people cut through his property to get to the swimming hole as long as they cleaned up their trash. I don't understand what would make the guy go from camping with his wife to murdering 3 guys who simply were riding ATV's to get to the swimming hole. Was there any other motive other than trespassing that was presented?

1990 UM fan · 06-07-2019, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

Was there any other motive other than trespassing that was presented?

Makes me wonder if Richard Mason had a run-in with Frank Casteel before, as he and his wife Martha lived nearby.

Hambone2421 · 06-09-2019, 08:44 AM

You just hate to see it...

05-31-2019, 07:21 AM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,349	Frank Casteel Dead at 71 Link CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Online state records confirm that Frank Casteel, the man convicted in 1997 of killing three ATV riders on Signal Mountain, has died in prison. The Tennessee website for felony offender information lists Casteel as deceased. He was 71 years old. Casteel was convicted in 1997 in the deaths of Richard Mason, Earl Smock and Kennith Griffith in July, 1988. The men were last seen on their way to ride ATVs to one of Signal Mountain's favorite swimming spots, the Blue Hole. But they never returned home. Police began an intensive search, and ultimately found their ATVs covered in blood nine miles from the entrance of the swimming hole, but no sign of their bodies. The bodies were found four days after officials recovered the ATVs, all with shotgun wounds. It took nearly 10 years to connect the dots in the case, using several pieces of evidence and a sound recording of Frank Casteel. Casteel's mistress, Marie Hill, also came forward to police about letters she had received during their relationship which was around the same time of the murder. The letters were sent to her anonymously. The letters were from Casteel's wife, Suzie, with hopes to break-up Frank and his mistress's relationship. Police arrested Casteel arrested on April 15, 1997. His defense was that he and his wife were out camping on some of the land he owned on Signal Mountain the night of the murders, and did not hear any gunshots. But prosecutors said Casteel was angered by the sound of ATVs on what he believed was his property in the middle of the night. A jury later convicted Casteel of the murders, and he was eventually sentenced to life in prison. The criminal court of appeals ordered a new trial after his 1998 conviction, stating that some evidence should not have been allowed in trial. A second jury convicted Casteel again in 2003, and he spent the rest of his life behind bars. He had been eligible for parole in 2024. NewsChannel 9 is working to learn more information about Casteel's death. This story will be updated.

05-31-2019, 12:48 PM	#8
5thcorps Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 27, 2018 Location: VT Posts: 157	I'm glad to see this vile piece of trash finally below ground. His son's awful defense of him made me sick.
	__________________ "Your lights are a laugh!"

05-31-2019, 07:33 AM	#2
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,606	Maybe I'm confusing this with the Rhode Island murders, but wasn't there some sort of local groundswell to free Casteel because people believed he was innocent?

05-31-2019, 07:41 AM	#3
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,672	I wonder if this means Casteel's insufferable son will finally stop his crusade to convince people his father didn't kill the three men.

05-31-2019, 10:47 AM	#5
sdb4884 UM Meme Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 01, 2008 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,234	Good, burn in hell you bastard.

05-31-2019, 11:02 AM	#6
Fletch Cabin fever Frequent Poster Join Date: May 10, 2002 Posts: 485	Good riddance.

05-31-2019, 11:17 AM	#7
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	Does anyone know if he was still married at the time of his death to Mrs. Casteel who was the one who sent poison pen letters evidently detailing the murders to his then-mistress in order to try to scare the mistress away from 'her man' but the mistress wound up not only dumping him but ALSO going to the authorities with the letters! THEN Mrs. Casteel screamed at his sentencing 'No! No! He's INNOCENT!' but, this time, no one believed her. If they stayed married, I wonder if Mrs. Casteel actually thinks she somehow 'won'?

05-31-2019, 01:18 PM	#9
StackTime Here's the kicker Frank Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 17, 2008 Location: For heaven's sake don't buy these coins Posts: 248	Good riddance to this piece of trash. Not quite in the Oba Chandler league, but not far behind. At any rate, one of the replies mentioned his wife, and it got me curious. If I recall correctly several eyewitnesses saw a woman near a car on the side of the road near the murder site (or maybe the dump site) the night of the murders, trying to divert traffic. Was this ever explained - who it was, what they were doing, and why?

06-02-2019, 06:04 PM	#11
xxxxmattxxxx69 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 12, 2010 Location: MA Posts: 398	Him and Edward Harold Bell can go straight to hell. Maybe some other dirtbags from UM can go under this year too

06-03-2019, 08:06 PM	#12
Drakken Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 21, 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 364	Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.

06-07-2019, 01:46 PM	#13
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,606	I've been doing somewhat of a deep dive into this case recently and it looks like Casteel's son has his own Youtube channel. Just yesterday he uploaded a video (not sure if it's police video, or video for Casteel's defense) of the area that the 3 men would have traversed through (including Casteel's property) to get to the swimming hole they intended to go to. There's nothing graphic, it's just someone filming the ride they would have taken to get to the blue hole. It can be viewed here. I've also read several articles which say that Casteel kept a log book of people who trespassed on his property and detailed his interactions with them. They say that Casteel was getting angry about trash being left behind but that he agreed to let people cut through his property to get to the swimming hole as long as they cleaned up their trash. I don't understand what would make the guy go from camping with his wife to murdering 3 guys who simply were riding ATV's to get to the swimming hole. Was there any other motive other than trespassing that was presented?

06-09-2019, 08:44 AM	#15
Hambone2421 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 08, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 2,066	You just hate to see it...