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Police Leads Hold Some Promise on 40-Year-Old Case

Posted on: Sunday, 9 April 2006, 03:02 CDT

By Megan Ward, The Shelby Star, N.C.

Apr. 9--Megan Ward

Meganward@shelbystar.com

SHELâ€" Shelpolice have received some promising leads in the Brenda Sue Brown murder case over the last two weeks.

"We’re trying not to get our hopes to high in case things don’t pan out," said ShelPolice Capt. Mark Brooks. "But hopefully, Friday’s chapter of the Brenda Sue Brown story won’t be the final one."

Since the series began running in The Star, Brooks said, the department has received several calls from the public about Brenda’s case.

While he won’t go into detail about the tips, he said a few women reported that when they were little girls living in Shelby, a white man had exposed himself to them. Two days before Brenda was killed, a white man, driving a white car exposed himself to Brenda’s sister Mary.

Every tip, no matter how small it may seem, is important in this case, Brooks said.

"These stories are bringing up a lot of old memories and anything people may remember could help us," he said.

Detectives are investigating all the leads they have received so far, he said.

Brooks believes there is a good chance this case will be solved.

"If there are people who know something about this case and they come forward. But if they go to the grave with that information…." he said, his voice trailing off.

Police seek leads

Shelpolice ask that anyone with information about this case call them or the Cleveland County Crimestoppers hotline. Anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest or conviction will receive a cash reward. Callers need not give their name, even to claim their cash reward.

Shelpolice: (704) 484-6845; Crimestoppers (704) 484- TIPPS (8477).

Megan Ward

meganward@shelbystar.com

SHELâ€" Their phones started ringing two weeks ago. And they haven’t stopped. There have been a few mornings when Brenda’s sister, Patricia Buff will stay in her pajamas until close to lunchtime. The calls start early and she doesn’t have time to get dressed.

Her sister Mary McSwain and their mother Gladys Brown, also receive about a dozen calls a day.

Old friends, extended family, people they used to work with, their doctor’s nurse who watched Mrs. Brown’s children grow up â€" they ask if they are OK, if there is anything they can do and say they hope police will find Brenda’s killer.

"Never would we have thought it would get that much attention," Patricia said. "Momma was surprised at first but said that after Brenda was killed, our yard and our house stayed full for days."

Patricia and Mary say they do not have much experience with the Internet. Neither had been on a message board before. But about two days after the stories began, they learned people were talking about their sister on The Star’s message board. The sisters visit the site three, four, sometimes five times a day.

They are amazed how much people remember and how much they care.

"You know what the best words are in the world are?" said Mary,

"Brenda ain’t forgotten."

On Saturday, the message board had grown to 20 pages. Members discuss the case. They talk about clues, they speculate, they send words of encouragement to the Browns. They also reminisce about what Shelwas like in 1966. They talk about what businesses lined South Lafayette Street, how the landscape has changed and how people have changed.

Members of the message board recently started writing about wanting a memorial service for Brenda. Brenda was buried in Sanford, where the Browns lived before moving to Shelby. Brenda’s brothers and sisters are having her grave moved to Shelin May. They have a plot chosen for her at Sunset Cemetery, near the graves of her grandmother and father.

Patricia said they will have that service for Brenda and announce the date when they have one set.

"We were so down but when these people started writing, it lifted us," said Patricia. "We’re not alone in this."

Here are some posts from the Brenda Sue Message Board:

Pinko Mar 26th, 2006, 11:56am

This new series on the murder of this little girl in 1966 is fascinating. I don't remember ever hearing about it but I would've been only 6 at the time. Does anybody know what house on Cameron street they lived in?

I can hardly wait to read the next few chapters. I feel for her family. It seems sometimes like there's more sexual predators around these days but I don't really think that's true. I think it just wasn't discussed as openly, and maybe authorities didn't know as much about as they do now. But they were obviously there.

Makes you want to hold tight to all the children you know and not let them out of your sight......

Busibeth Mar 26th, 2006, 7:12pm

Boy, I remember it.. and I remember that, like the article said, it changed lives. She was just a little younger than I am (she would have been in my younger brother's class) and I distinctly remember my parents pointing out the location where she disappeared and where she was found. That area sat vacant for years until that church bought the property and built on it. It was always kind of eerie to ride and see that empty lot and know what had happened there. I do remember my parents stressing the importance of never speaking to strangers, etc... Back then, though, we used to walk everywhere ourselves. We lived near the hospital and walked uptown and to the city park all the time.... We still did those things but we were just more careful than before... I'm not sure which house on Cameron Street it was, Pinko... I don't know that we ever rode there..

I agree with you, though.. Its an interesting series... and my heart was broken again, listening to the sisters talk about that day... I hope, with DNA testing and other modern methods they can find out who did it!

sassy1 Apr 2nd, 2006, 9:09pm

the brenda sue case in the paper has me jumping for my paper in the mornings I can hardly wait to read the story every day. I feel for her family. I feel I am involved because the story is told in such depth. I hope the killer can be brought to justice now if DNA can be found. where is she buried? I saw the headstone on the star page, but I just wondered where she is. the pic of her in the casket just freaked me out, she looked like a china doll. my mom and I have talked about it she remembers it well, I was only 2 years old. but I don't remember anyone talking about it when I got older, my grandma still let us go out and play all day.

Oldglory Apr 7th, 2006, 2:33pm

I think a memorial service for Brenda Sue in Shelwould be a wonderful thing!!! I hope the family will like the idea and want to invite the general public? I would love to show my respect to Brenda Sue and the family!!!

Our town and community should do this for Brenda Sue and her family!!!!!

Proud_Country_Gal Apr 7th, 2006, 7:18pm

I have been following the paper and the articles on the murder of Brenda Sue.

I would love to join in on a memorial service for her! (I would be traveling from Georgia)

Laurel Mar 31st, 2006, 9:37pm

I remember it like today. we were friends of the family. it has been with all of us all these years like it has with the family. I would love for the family to have closure as far as the murderer, but this is something they will never get over. it was a terrible time...

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Shelby Star, N.C.

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Source: The Star (Shelby, N.C.)

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