The unsolved murder of Megan Curl

[James T]

Most likely the possible witness at the club & the murderer are one & the same. Likely this guy wanted rough sex, she didn't, or she backed out of sex having agreed-so he tied her down & raped her. Then when she threatened to go to the cops he killed her & set her body on fire.

[Mysteryphile]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

I don't get it...if this was supposedly Megan's ex-boyfriend who came over to her apartment, why did she tell her friend, "Oh that's my friend from the club"? Why wouldn't she say "that's my ex boyfriend"?

I can think why she might have said it even if it were her ex. She had probably told her neighbor all about her awful abusive ex boyfriend. Then he turns up. She (Megan) wants to talk etc...with him. Neighbor comes over. Megan is too ashamed/embarrassed that this is the bad ex right here so she says "Oh this is a guy from the club." just to cover.

[TheCars1986]

The investigators obtained DNA back in 2005 and sent it for testing. This was shortly after Purvis died. IMO, the investigators believed Purvis was the killer and were waiting for the DNA to match to close the case. It didn't, and that's why the case has never been closed. I still contend that if the police believed Purvis was involved, they more likely than not had questioned Megan's neighbor. She either said the person wasn't Purvis or wasn't 100% certain in identifying him. He had the motive, but then again he had an airtight alibi for the time of the murder.

[terrytowel]

This March will mark 25 years since the murder of Megan Curl - and it is still unsolved

[IBMcginty]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

The investigators obtained DNA back in 2005 and sent it for testing. This was shortly after Purvis died. IMO, the investigators believed Purvis was the killer and were waiting for the DNA to match to close the case. It didn't, and that's why the case has never been closed. I still contend that if the police believed Purvis was involved, they more likely than not had questioned Megan's neighbor. She either said the person wasn't Purvis or wasn't 100% certain in identifying him. He had the motive, but then again he had an airtight alibi for the time of the murder.

One of a number of UM cases that could be solved with FGG.

Good news is a bipartisan bill "The Carla Walker Act" has been introduced to provide Federal funding to solve cases like this.

[TheCars1986]

One little detail of this case that has bothered me is that when the fire department showed up to the apartment, they couldn't gain entry and had to break down the door. They didn't say anything about the door being obstructed, but if it were, how would the killer have been able to get out of the apartment? Did he use a key? Also not mentioned in the UM segment, but her friend said that when Megan initially got back from the club she started to cry and say she just wanted a man to love her. A few minutes later is when the presumed killer pulled in to the parking lot. But he just sat there. Didn't get out. Didn't call over to Megan. Nothing. That is not something someone showing up with the intention of getting intimate with someone would do.

[Lieutenant Bookman]

I see mentions in the thread about Megan having a restraining order against Tim Purvis. Is that true? I couldnt find any other sources to corroborate that detail. If so, it definitely doesn’t make sense with respect to the neighbors account as Megan wouldn’t be casually sitting and chatting in her apartment with someone she has a restraining order against.

[rerungirl]

I just wanted to check and see if there have been any updates on this case. Megan was just so vulnerable, telling her neighbor she just wanted someone to love her. Seems especially cruel if the killer is someone who knew her. Horrible either way.

[TheCars1986]

Megan's apartment door was locked from the inside when the firefighters arrived on scene. This means that either her killer had a key, or that he left the apartment by not using the front door. I also forgot that Megan was kicked out of the Electric Cowboy nightclub for dancing "provocatively". She was seen talking to the man in the cowboy hat composite at the Electric Cowboy on and off throughout the evening, and witnesses said he had bought her one or two drinks. But when she was kicked out of the Electric Cowboy, she went to a different club for a few hours before getting a ride home with one of the employees from the second club. She arrived back home at around 1:30 a.m. One hour later is when her neighbor went up to check on her, and saw the mystery man inside Megan's apartment. The fire department was called at around 4:00 a.m. that morning, so her murder had to have happened relatively quickly after the neighbor came to check on her. She was found tied to the bed, wearing a night gown, which would indicate she intended on being intimate with the man that night.

I can't shake the feeling that this was some sort of setup by someone else who wanted Megan dead for whatever reason. The stranger from the club (and honestly it could have been one from either club she went to that night; details on her interactions at the second club are scarce) could have showed up at the house (her address could have been given to this person prior), and they go back to her apartment under the ruse of a possible hookup. Then once she's tied to the bed, she's murdered. It just doesn't make much sense for a guy from a club showing up to a woman's apartment that he just met that night with the intention of hooking up, and then by all appearances she was willing to let the guy in that night and go through with it, so why escalate to murder and then setting her body on fire?

[Hambone2421]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

Megan's apartment door was locked from the inside when the firefighters arrived on scene. This means that either her killer had a key, or that he left the apartment by not using the front door. I also forgot that Megan was kicked out of the Electric Cowboy nightclub for dancing "provocatively". She was seen talking to the man in the cowboy hat composite at the Electric Cowboy on and off throughout the evening, and witnesses said he had bought her one or two drinks. But when she was kicked out of the Electric Cowboy, she went to a different club for a few hours before getting a ride home with one of the employees from the second club. She arrived back home at around 1:30 a.m. One hour later is when her neighbor went up to check on her, and saw the mystery man inside Megan's apartment. The fire department was called at around 4:00 a.m. that morning, so her murder had to have happened relatively quickly after the neighbor came to check on her. She was found tied to the bed, wearing a night gown, which would indicate she intended on being intimate with the man that night.

I can't shake the feeling that this was some sort of setup by someone else who wanted Megan dead for whatever reason. The stranger from the club (and honestly it could have been one from either club she went to that night; details on her interactions at the second club are scarce) could have showed up at the house (her address could have been given to this person prior), and they go back to her apartment under the ruse of a possible hookup. Then once she's tied to the bed, she's murdered. It just doesn't make much sense for a guy from a club showing up to a woman's apartment that he just met that night with the intention of hooking up, and then by all appearances she was willing to let the guy in that night and go through with it, so why escalate to murder and then setting her body on fire?

Wasn't Megan autistic or something? I could swore that was mentioned in the segment or even on this thread. I always figured she trusted the wrong person because of that.

[tvscript124]

Originally Posted by Hambone2421

Wasn't Megan autistic or something? I could swore that was mentioned in the segment or even on this thread. I always figured she trusted the wrong person because of that.

It was mentioned in this thread. If anything, it makes her murder more horrifying. It's sad to say, but if you read about autism, there are men who prey on neurodivergent women because they think they are easier targets. Neurodivergent women (and men too) are also the targets of bullying and abuse, more so than neurotypical people. Neurodivergent people sometimes don't read social cues and can be very innocent, and are different. They also tend to be isolated, even though IIRC Megan was very friendly and outgoing. Bullies and predators seize on someone being perceived as isolated.

Also, not to minimize autistic men's struggles, but autistic women often are pressured to "fit in" and act like other women (no niche interests, socializing like everyone else, having the same interests). They also get bullied by other women for not acting like everyone else. so they have to "mask". And women are expected to be "nice" and non-confrontational anyway.

[Mike82]

Originally Posted by tvscript124

Neurodivergent people sometimes don't read social cues and can be very innocent, and are different. They also tend to be isolated, even though IIRC Megan was very friendly and outgoing. Bullies and predators seize on someone being perceived as isolated.

Agreed all all counts. Source: am diagnosed Autistic who was also the only "new kid" in school growing up.

I had her pegged as "one of us" just like I did within minutes of watching Gordon Page Jr. I suspect that she was duped by someone pretending to do some "adult" activity, was willing to be tied up, and once she was completely defenseless, they attacked. Why? Probably the same reason the school bully did the things he did to me: for pure sadistic pleasure. Either way what a disgusting human being to do such a thing.

[TJ]

Lamont At Large visited some of the locations and her grave.

Unsolved Murders --- Megan Curl--- Lufkin, TX

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by Mike82

I suspect that she was duped by someone pretending to do some "adult" activity, was willing to be tied up, and once she was completely defenseless, they attacked. Why? Probably the same reason the school bully did the things he did to me: for pure sadistic pleasure. Either way what a disgusting human being to do such a thing.

I could be wrong, but this strikes me as more of a personal killing rather than a random sadistic murder. Someone took the time to tie her up and essentially tortured her before killing her. I can't shake the feeling that this was a setup that involved more than one person. And her ex-boyfriend could still have been involved, but the man the neighbor saw could've been an accomplice.

[Mike82]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

I could be wrong, but this strikes me as more of a personal killing rather than a random sadistic murder. Someone took the time to tie her up and essentially tortured her before killing her. I can't shake the feeling that this was a setup that involved more than one person. And her ex-boyfriend could still have been involved, but the man the neighbor saw could've been an accomplice.

It strikes me as both: an ex or some past partner was out for blood and convinced someone with even less of a conscience to do this sadistic killing. Either way I 'm sad that Megan never got justice but it's also par for the course for those of us on the spectrum.