Beverly McGowan & Elaine Parent - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

nohwheregirl · 07-19-2004, 11:47 PM

I was just watching Court TV's documentary on Elaine Parent who murdered Beverly McGowan in Florida. If you don't remember, it's the case where the victim was badly mutilated (hands, feet, etc cut off) to hide her identity. The killer was known as "Alice" and stole Beverly's identity to fly to London.

I know there's been some debate on whether Parent acted alone in this brutal murder or with a male accomplice as was originally suggested by the 2 radicallly different descriptions given by witnesses. The first description was of a gorgeous blonde with large breasts. The second was a man dressed in drag wearing a bad Cleopatra wig. I personally believe that Parent acted alone...she was not the type of person to "work" with anyone else. She was dubbed the "Chameleon" by law enforcement.

Something hit me tonight that i never noticed before. The composite sketch of the "man" in the Cleopatra wig posing as Beverly McGowan looks EXACTLY like an actual photo of Beverly McGowan! I was wondering if anyone else had seen this or noticed it. I tried to find the photos on the internet so you could compare them, but no luck so far.

kamy · 07-05-2007, 02:57 PM

This is one of my favs, so creepy!

The composite looked to me as if it was a man with crazy black hair and a rough complexion. I would definetely be interested in seeing a pic of Beverly looking like that, as of now, I see no resemblence!

nohwheregirl · 07-05-2007, 04:13 PM

I have since found the pics and posted them in another thread. Here you go:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...1&postcount=11

kamy · 07-05-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nohwheregirl

I have since found the pics and posted them in another thread. Here you go:
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...1&postcount=11

Okay, that is pretty wierd, I'm not going to lie! Maybe that pic was the inspiration for the disquise. While, I don't see Elaine Parent working with anyone, the ladies at the travel agency said they thought it was a man in drag. Also, there was a Sam character. Very disturbing..........

nohwheregirl · 07-05-2007, 11:34 PM

Yeah, I agree that this is definitely one of the most disturbing cases ever featured on UM. Beverly was sweet person who unfortunately crossed paths with one of the most depraved human beings on the face of the planet.

AVERMAN · 07-06-2007, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nohwheregirl

Something hit me tonight that i never noticed before. The composite sketch of the "man" in the Cleopatra wig posing as Beverly McGowan looks EXACTLY like an actual photo of Beverly McGowan! I was wondering if anyone else had seen this or noticed it. I tried to find the photos on the internet so you could compare them, but no luck so far.

If my memory serves me well, the guy who dressed up in the wig was intending to look like Beverly McGowan.

Hambone2421 · 04-19-2010, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nohwheregirl

Something hit me tonight that i never noticed before. The composite sketch of the "man" in the Cleopatra wig posing as Beverly McGowan looks EXACTLY like an actual photo of Beverly McGowan! I was wondering if anyone else had seen this or noticed it. I tried to find the photos on the internet so you could compare them, but no luck so far.

I believe that was the point, to look like Beverly McGowan in case someone asked for ID while using the credit cards. This is one of my all time favorite/scary episodes of all time. I remember seeing the sketch and getting the chills. Has a motive ever been discovered in this murder? I know Elaine Parent did it, but sheesh, mutilating and killing someone for only $1000?? The brutality in this case makes it seem like it was a boyfriend that killed her since there was so much overkill and since they tried to conceal her identity but for it to be someone she barely knew just doesnt make sense. I wonder why she was killed?

SageSlowdive · 04-21-2010, 04:56 PM

I also believe there was a man involved....all of the sales people said it was a masculine man dressed as a man, and Elaine was quite buxom, so I find it hard she could pass as a man passing for a woman.

Hambone2421 · 04-22-2010, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SageSlowdive

I also believe there was a man involved....all of the sales people said it was a masculine man dressed as a man, and Elaine was quite buxom, so I find it hard she could pass as a man passing for a woman.

I agree. I think she had to have an accomplice. The lady at the travel place said it looked like a buff man in a wig. What I don't understand is the viciousness behind this murder. Elaine barely knew Beverly. Most murders that are this vicious are done by someone who knows the victim and the viciousness is due in large part to the perpetrator trying to conceal the victims identity, much like in this case with Beverly's head and hands being cut off. Its one thing to steal someones identity and money but its something completely different to kill someone, especially in this way.

kamy · 04-22-2010, 10:49 AM

The original segment had the update stating Parent had been found and killed herself, but it did say that the "Sam" character was still wanted. Spike's UM left mention of him out, so are they convinced it was Parent dressed as Beverly afterall (even though it was described as a man in drag)?

Hambone2421 · 04-22-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamy

The original segment had the update stating Parent had been found and killed herself, but it did say that the "Sam" character was still wanted. Spike's UM left mention of him out, so are they convinced it was Parent dressed as Beverly afterall (even though it was described as a man in drag)?

I hope they aren't convinced it was only her because I really believe she had an accomplice. Perhaps this accomplice was just another man Elaine was manipulating to get what she wanted?

Drakken · 04-22-2010, 02:30 PM

Elaine Parent was a master con woman and mistress of disguise. She knew the tricks to pass off as a "masculine" woman. I do not think she intented to pass off as a man, but as Beverly McGowan.

If she had an accomplice, she would have been seen at least once with him/her. The fact that "Bev/Sam" was always seen alone makes me think Elaine was Sam and she was trying to confuse authorities.

Hambone2421 · 04-26-2010, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drakken

Elaine Parent was a master con woman and mistress of disguise. She knew the tricks to pass off as a "masculine" woman. I do not think she intented to pass off as a man, but as Beverly McGowan.

If she had an accomplice, she would have been seen at least once with him/her. The fact that "Bev/Sam" was always seen alone makes me think Elaine was Sam and she was trying to confuse authorities.

That very well could be but it doesnt explain the brutality of this crime. Did Elaine Parent murder anyone else that we are aware of? If not, why Beverly McGowan? Its not like Beverly was rich, as Elaine only took her for $1000.

Mastermind · 04-26-2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

If she had an accomplice, she would have been seen at least once with him/her. The fact that "Bev/Sam" was always seen alone makes me think Elaine was Sam and she was trying to confuse authorities.

1. Elaine Parent had to have had someone help her with the money side of things. There is at least one accomplice in that.

2. It's very common for con artists to work in pairs. Con artists like thieves tend to run in the same circles. They learn from another, contract one another and share leads.

3. It should be considered that Beverly mcGowan is in all likelihood..not the only victim of Elaine Parent. There are others out there.

Quote:

Its not like Beverly was rich, as Elaine only took her for $1000.

The money may be only part of it. Elaine may have gained much more by simply using Beverly's identity. In fact Beverly McGowan;s identity may be the true valuable thing here.

lilmissd · 05-27-2010, 07:18 PM

This is so weird. Bev wasn't attractive, wasn't wealthy, or famous. There has to be a piece of the puzzle missing somewhere. Why would Elaine choose her? It doesn't make sense that she would choose someone so ordinary. I know Bev had a good job and a nice house, but why didn't Elaine/Alice take her house? She was planning on living there anyway as "Alice", why not live there after she killed Beverly, that doesn't make sense. And why steal someone's identity just to fly to London? Why didn't she go as "Alice"? She had to know that Beverly had family and friends who would look for her if she was missing. And I don't know how she thought that by mutilating the body she would be concealing Bev's identity. As long as you have someone's blood and tissue samples you can get their DNA, and also the tattoo's and other mark's on Bev's body were overlooked which made the identification of her body much easier. I definitely don't think money was her motivation here, because she was killed for such a pittance. I think she was jealous of Beverly in some way and had some hatred toward her, which would explain the brutality in the way she was killed. Elaine Parent was definitely a looney, with many more mental problems than we'll ever know about!

07-19-2004, 11:47 PM	#1
nohwheregirl THE Mystery Machine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Posts: 1,057	Beverly McGowan & Elaine Parent I was just watching Court TV's documentary on Elaine Parent who murdered Beverly McGowan in Florida. If you don't remember, it's the case where the victim was badly mutilated (hands, feet, etc cut off) to hide her identity. The killer was known as "Alice" and stole Beverly's identity to fly to London. I know there's been some debate on whether Parent acted alone in this brutal murder or with a male accomplice as was originally suggested by the 2 radicallly different descriptions given by witnesses. The first description was of a gorgeous blonde with large breasts. The second was a man dressed in drag wearing a bad Cleopatra wig. I personally believe that Parent acted alone...she was not the type of person to "work" with anyone else. She was dubbed the "Chameleon" by law enforcement. Something hit me tonight that i never noticed before. The composite sketch of the "man" in the Cleopatra wig posing as Beverly McGowan looks EXACTLY like an actual photo of Beverly McGowan! I was wondering if anyone else had seen this or noticed it. I tried to find the photos on the internet so you could compare them, but no luck so far.

07-05-2007, 02:57 PM	#2
kamy UM Fanatic Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 25, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 625	This is one of my favs, so creepy! The composite looked to me as if it was a man with crazy black hair and a rough complexion. I would definetely be interested in seeing a pic of Beverly looking like that, as of now, I see no resemblence!

07-05-2007, 04:13 PM	#3
nohwheregirl THE Mystery Machine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Posts: 1,057	I have since found the pics and posted them in another thread. Here you go: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/...1&postcount=11

07-05-2007, 11:34 PM	#5
nohwheregirl THE Mystery Machine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Posts: 1,057	Yeah, I agree that this is definitely one of the most disturbing cases ever featured on UM. Beverly was sweet person who unfortunately crossed paths with one of the most depraved human beings on the face of the planet.

04-21-2010, 04:56 PM	#8
SageSlowdive the real hank queen Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2010 Posts: 659	I also believe there was a man involved....all of the sales people said it was a masculine man dressed as a man, and Elaine was quite buxom, so I find it hard she could pass as a man passing for a woman.

04-22-2010, 10:49 AM	#10
kamy UM Fanatic Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 25, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 625	The original segment had the update stating Parent had been found and killed herself, but it did say that the "Sam" character was still wanted. Spike's UM left mention of him out, so are they convinced it was Parent dressed as Beverly afterall (even though it was described as a man in drag)?

04-22-2010, 02:30 PM	#12
Drakken Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 21, 2007 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 364	Elaine Parent was a master con woman and mistress of disguise. She knew the tricks to pass off as a "masculine" woman. I do not think she intented to pass off as a man, but as Beverly McGowan. If she had an accomplice, she would have been seen at least once with him/her. The fact that "Bev/Sam" was always seen alone makes me think Elaine was Sam and she was trying to confuse authorities.

05-27-2010, 07:18 PM	#15
lilmissd Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 28, 2007 Location: AZ Posts: 172	This is so weird. Bev wasn't attractive, wasn't wealthy, or famous. There has to be a piece of the puzzle missing somewhere. Why would Elaine choose her? It doesn't make sense that she would choose someone so ordinary. I know Bev had a good job and a nice house, but why didn't Elaine/Alice take her house? She was planning on living there anyway as "Alice", why not live there after she killed Beverly, that doesn't make sense. And why steal someone's identity just to fly to London? Why didn't she go as "Alice"? She had to know that Beverly had family and friends who would look for her if she was missing. And I don't know how she thought that by mutilating the body she would be concealing Bev's identity. As long as you have someone's blood and tissue samples you can get their DNA, and also the tattoo's and other mark's on Bev's body were overlooked which made the identification of her body much easier. I definitely don't think money was her motivation here, because she was killed for such a pittance. I think she was jealous of Beverly in some way and had some hatred toward her, which would explain the brutality in the way she was killed. Elaine Parent was definitely a looney, with many more mental problems than we'll ever know about!