We are told that loss and grief, ultimately, lead to acceptance. But closure can be complicated. In this story, it has been built for decades for a family waiting for its angel to come home.
For more than 38 years investigators didn’t know who she was, until now. The murder mystery has stumped investigators for years and only ended after someone called in a tip about the crime, which led to successful DNA testing.
Shirlene “Cheryl” Hammack was murdered on Halloween in 1981 in Quitman, Ga., and buried in a shallow grave in a cornfield.
Hammack’s body was found partially covered by freshly cut limbs and foliage in an apparent attempt to hide her. She had a stab wound to the abdomen and evidence of strangulation. She was believed to be between 18 and 24 years old at the time.
Shortly after her death, George Newsome, 52, was arrested. He was a member of a traveling fair that was in Quitman and authorities believed she worked for the fair as well. When he was arrested, Newsome possessed a stolen motor home from another state. A search of the motor home found the rope used to strangle Hammack.
Newsome was sentenced to life in prison, he died of natural causes behind bars in 1988 when he was 58. Newsome went to his grave without ever revealing Hammack’s identity to investigators, either because he wouldn’t say it or because he didn’t know.
Hammack was buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Quitman, Ga., in a plot labeled, “Known only to God.”
Without identification, authorities labeled her “Jane Doe” until a woman snapped a photo of her grave marker on the 37th anniversary of the murder and posted it on Facebook.
According to AWM, for three decades, the case went cold. Then someone called in with a tip that led to a positive ID. She saw the police sketch pop up on Facebook. The woman believed the victim was her missing friend, Cheryl Hammack. Police did a DNA test with those supplied by Hammack’s relatives and found a match. Finally, she may rest in peace.
Source: AWM
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