by George Jared
MELBOURNE, Ark. – Could investigators possibly find answers about the killing of Rebekah Gould after all these years? New information suggests they’re trying.
The Arkansas State Police have conducted numerous interviews with witnesses in the last several weeks in connection with the unsolved murder of college student Rebekah Gould, two sources with knowledge of the situation said. Several of the witnesses are connected to the only publicly named suspect in the case, Gould’s former boyfriend Casey McCullough.
Author/journalist George Jared, who wrote about the 22-year-old’s disappearance in his books Witches in West Memphis … and another false confession and The Creek Side Bones … reality is more horrifying than fiction, called ASP lead detective Mark Hollingsworth this week to inquire about these new potential leads, but Hollingsworth didn’t return those calls. Jared was present on Sept. 27, 2004, when Gould’s body was found off an embankment on Arkansas 9, a rural thoroughfare that connects Melbourne to Mountain View in the Ozark hills.
There has been renewed interest in the 22-year old’s unsolved murder after it was recently featured on the Dr. Oz show. It’s the subject of the podcast series Hell and Gone.
The morning she disappeared, the college student dropped a friend off at work around 8 a.m. The friend was Casey McCullough. She stopped at a convenience store to buy a few things and then returned to his house in Guion, just outside of Melbourne to collect her possessions.
Rebekah was supposed to pickup her sister, Danielle, and the duo was slated to return to northwest Arkansas that afternoon where Rebekah attended college.
She never arrived.
The next day, police decided to inspect McCullough’s home. An investigator with the Izard County Sheriff’s Department, Charlie Melton, contacted McCullough, who didn’t go home after work that night. He stayed the night at a friend’s house.
I’ve been told, however, McCullough returned to his home the next morning to grab a fresh set of clothes for work. He noticed laundry folded on his bed, but strangely he didn’t notice blood strewn in the house. He left, unaware anything was amiss, or so he claims. It’s strange because her car and possessions were still there.
Later in the day, the young man and the officer returned to his home. Rebekah’s keys, car, purse, and other possessions were there, but she was not.
A breakfast biscuit was still sitting in the microwave. She bought it the day before at the store. Blood soaked sheets were discovered in the washing machine. A mattress had been flipped. The other side was covered in blood.
One week later, her body was discovered. In The Creek Side Bones Jared gives a description of what he saw.
I walked down a steep hill. Searchers cordoned an area. It was then that I saw Rebekah Gould. It shocked me. It was a moment that pierced my heart into eternity. It’s a moment that changed me forever. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.
I was in a state of shock. It was the first time I’d seen a murder victim. She laid there in a shirt and panties. Her blonde hair was in a clump. Others noticed her belly-button ring. I did not. I was too horrified to take notes. I returned to the Izard County Sheriff’s Department. Larry was there.
He asked me if they’d found a body. I told him he needed to talk with the sheriff. He put his hand on my shoulders and asked a second time if they’d found her. Sincerity beamed in the beleaguered father’s eyes.
I told him it was true. He was now the father of a murdered woman.
Tears flowed. He bolted into the building, seeking answers. I talked with him one more time that day. He said his focus would be to find her killer or killers. I hoped his anguish would be short-lived, and culprits would be caught.
I returned to the scene later in the day. She was covered with a tarp or other type of covering. The smell at that time was unforgettable. In my first book, I omitted a description of what I saw the first time. I didn’t want the family to read it. I didn’t know how much they knew about it.
McCullough was interviewed by police more than once, but he was ultimately cleared in the murder. At the time he freely talked about the case with Jared, but in recent years he has steadfastly refused to return Jared’s phone calls and messages. The veteran journalist said it’s strange that he refuses to talk to anyone about the case.
Gould was killed from a single blow to the head and the murder weapon was likely a loose piano leg inside McCullough’s house, according to the autopsy report. There were no signs that she had been sexually assaulted, but the report noted that the advanced decomposition of her body made it hard to determine if she’d been raped. Jared thinks she wasn’t because she still had a shirt and panties on when she was found. A rapist would not have put her clothes back on her.
McCullough reportedly lives in the same house where Gould was murdered. Dr. Larry Gould has been critical of the investigation into his daughter’s death and thinks police should release more information about what happened to his daughter.
For years, police honed in on a Mountain View man and interviewed him numerous times. The man, first name is Chris, vehemently denied any involvement when interviewed in the pod cast series Hell and Gone.
Thursday night, Nov. 1, at Facebook.com/NEAReport, George Jared will join Stan Morris to discuss the new information and leads in the case. Like and follow us on Facebook to get the alert when we go live.
Casey isn’t a suspect in the murder. He hasn’t been since the first week. He has an airtight alibi and would never have hurt her besides. He doesn’t do interviews about the case now because he has a family to protect. He’s fully cooperated with police every time they’ve wanted to speak with him all these years and they’ve never put him back on the suspect list. Also this article is wrong about him living in the same place. And it’s lazy journalism. The author is probably just looking for a new angle to ride the wave of the renewed interest in the case. The Dr. Oz show and the Hell and Gone podcast both left off investigating him further because he’s not a suspect, and they have better leads to pursue.
This is not lazy journalism. These are the facts. He does live in the same trailer house where the murder occurred. I was a reporter for a local newspaper the week she went missing in 2004 and have been writing stories about it ever since. In fact, I interviewed him in 2005, I believe. The Hell and Gone podcast is now squarely focusing on him. If his alibi is airtight, and it might be, then he or the police need to release it. Releasing video of him at work will in no way impact the integrity of the investigation, and it would mean he wouldn’t have to deal with this scrutiny anymore.
In reference to him still living in the same house, I apologize that my information was outdated. I thought he wasn’t there now since he had moved away for about ten years. He only moved back a few years ago.
However, here’s where your lazy journalism comes in. The title of your article is “McCullough still a suspect in the Gould slaying?”
yet in the article you admit that the state police in charge of the investigation cleared him of being a suspect very early on. Since then, the police have never listed him as a suspect in the case. They have proof that he could not have killed her.
Despite that, and knowing he is not a suspect, you wrote this entire article under the premise that he is still under suspicion. And what new evidence have you raised to support your premise?
“…At the time he freely talked about the case with Jared, but in recent years he has steadfastly refused to return Jared’s phone calls and messages. The veteran journalist said it’s strange that he refuses to talk to anyone about the case.”
Wow. Great “evidence” there. You reference “new information” and “new leads”, but never actually state what they are or how they link to Casey such as to inspire this “news” article.
Also. He doesn’t want to speak with you (after answering your questions several times already) so you try to craft this article, with a title that’s tantamount to libel, to cast suspicion on him? Yeah, I can see how that’s really professional journalism there. No wonder he doesn’t want to speak with you anymore.
Like I said. Lazy journalism. At best. Tantamount to libel at worst. If you’re going to use your platform to harass innocent people, then you should find a different profession.
It’s more than a little interesting that Casey speaks freely with Rebekah’s sisters, and has agreed to be interviewed on their blog. With more to come from what they say.
https://justiceforrebekahgould.com/2018/12/04/a-discussion-with-casey-mccullough-part-1/
I understand that you are just an internet troll trying to prove how smart you are. The title is asking a question, one that would be posed to the police by a journalist. It could be yes or no. I’m glad he’s speaking to the sisters, although his answer about returning to the trailer is suspect, to say the least.
His wife told me in July 2016 he would love to talk to me again, had read my book in which I included a chapter about this case, and she even gave me his new cell number after a nice 10 minute chat. She told me he remembered speaking to me more than once. I called and left messages at the new number. Two and half years later still waiting. Contacted his wife a second time, and she was totally different. I know for a fact he and people close to him have been interviewed several times in the last couple of months, which is new news.
As far as me finding a new profession … after all the numerous awards and best selling books I’ve written, I think I’m good. Do a quick internet search and you will get the picture. I’m sure you are a friend or family member trying to protect him, and I understand that. But, there’s a lot of questions out there that need to be answered. Remember, there’s a dead woman in the ground who should be raising a family and enjoying a career right now. Instead, she’s rotting in the ground because a monster stole her life.
it is cory mccullough, dont care what all they say about how it could not be him. He needs to be checked out and get this solved. At the time he was protected by the code of blue silence from how I remember it. I also remember the investigators of izard and stone and baxter county couldnt solve any type of crime without informants coming forward.
How certain it is that Rebekah was in the gas station Monday morning? Is she on camera? Is it possible that the clerk could be mistaken and saw her there Sunday morning? What if that’s what Casey meant by the timeline being wrong. Did anyone see Rebekah when she dropped Casey off at work or could someone else have driven her car to make it appear that way? Maybe Casey’s vehicle was already in the location his friends drive him to later to get it. Was there ever an explanation as to why his truck was in that location? Just some questions and thoughts I’ve had after listening to the podcast.
and that monster has a name.. I think it may be C***Y…Sound’s more like lazy police work, maybe one good ole’ boy to another, believing that he couldn’t have done it and doesn’t want to investigate further and actually say they goofed up the whole thing. Sad .. she’s dead and if Casey was so in love as everyone claimed wonder why he is so unwilling to talk, his new family obviously knows and doesn’t seem that good of a reason not to.
How pathetic. Nobody is here to hear you talk about your rewards. BTW, what kind of so-called “award winning journalist” refers to himself in third person in his own articles or books? Yuck. The pretentiousness is just dripping off of you at this point. You are almost rivaling Catherine for who has the biggest ego. There are people who genuinely want to solve this case for that poor family. Then there are people who ride this poor girl’s death in hopes of a glimpse at some semblance of the limelight. Which group do you honestly believe that you fall into? Shame on you and shame on Catherine.
I’ve rarely seen a journalist refer to themselves in the third person that much. Sure, its necessary on rare occasions. But good journalism doesn’t include the journalist as becomming part of the story.
Other than that, you do great work. This is just meant as a journalistic tip from someone who knows 🙂
Also, to the other guy… cough*Casey*cough ~You know you did this. Give it up. The police likely never released you as a suspect…they just didn’t have enough evidence. Its looking like they might have the evidence now. The clock is running out for freedom. Enjoy it
So how many times has Casey admitted to killing her while drunk?
You were just asking a question… riiiight. More like you were inciting a witch hunt. You knew what you were doing. If you want to be treated like an idiot I’m happy to oblige, but don’t pretend that you were ignorant of the effect your “article” would have. If you don’t want to listen to what the actual police leading the investigation have repeatedly said, that’s your business. But innocent people’s lives are involved here and you creating a hostile environment for them only pours salt in an already painful wound. Either way, I’ve said all I care to to you. But since I’m apparently just an “internet troll” let’s see what Rebecca’s family thinks shall we? And the police in charge of the investigation.
Tiffany Ballard Moore
“I spoke with Lieutenant Kim Warren today. She has given me permission to quote her. She informed me that she and Detective Simons are not working with George Jared, AK Barns, or Catherine Townsend on the Rebekah Gould investigation. Lt. Warren is aware that these individuals are using her name to gain some element of credibility.
Lt. Warren also stated that AK Barns, George Jared and Catherine Townsend are hindering the investigation. She stated that if they really wanted to help with the case, they wouldn’t be sharing information that could hurt the case. Lt. Warren and Detective Simons are only working with Rebekah’s family.
All tips are to go to law enforcement. Tips should NOT be sent to any of the aforementioned names.
Our family appreciates and supports Detective Dennis Simons for everything he has done, and continues to do, for Rebekah’s case.
Dennis Simon 870-269-4237
Lieutenant Kim Warren 870-741-2136”
From
And again
Tiffany Ballard Moore
“I was asked to be on the podcast because Rebekah was my sister. We grew up in the same house together until I left for college. Rebekah decided she wanted to go to the university so she moved and she was living with me in Fayetteville at the time all this happened. I said no to being on camera because I saw the motives. The goal for certain people are to get rich and I wasn’t going to help them do that. You see the only people that knew Rebekah were me, my sisters and my mom. Over the years I was asked multiple times to go on camera and give my story but I chose not too. The people I’m talking about only wanted to use us to get information on Rebekah because they didn’t know her and they didn’t have access to information that we had. I’m glad I made that decision. Unfortunately for Catherine, her podcast and everyone else if I had decided to go on camera the podcast would have been very different. I can say without a doubt in my mind that the podcast was nothing but rumors and it ended with a lie. I can say that with 100% confidence and solid proof to back it up. Due to our sisters case being an ongoing investigation we can’t disclose all the information that we have but we can point out the lies.”
Has anyone put this to thought ?——- when she was killed at Casey’s- (whoever it was) after striking her in the head , they panicked drug her body outside, put her in their vehicle, dropped her off by the dump- THEN took their car to the car crushing place out by Timbo. Anyone ever think ab that? I was told that “story” about four years ago. Was a little more detailed and even got it out of the person who may of done it. But everyone has so many different lies and “stories” you really don’t know who to believe. I’ve been obsessed with this case and listening to the podcast. I’ve prayed and thought about Rebekah and thought who could get away with something like this? Right in our back yard! -I’m just a local, have been my whole life. Anyone want to clarify my theory? I know it’s not the best. But I hope it might help a little.
God bless
P.s just remember—you never truly get away with anything, everyone is judged and pays for their own actions , in life and in death! The killer isn’t going to get away with this he will get caught – and it will be soon.
And again.
Tiffany Ballard Moore
“I was asked to be on the podcast because Rebekah was my sister. We grew up in the same house together until I left for college. Rebekah decided she wanted to go to the university so she moved and she was living with me in Fayetteville at the time all this happened. I said no to being on camera because I saw the motives. The goal for certain people are to get rich and I wasn’t going to help them do that. You see the only people that knew Rebekah were me, my sisters and my mom. Over the years I was asked multiple times to go on camera and give my story but I chose not too. The people I’m talking about only wanted to use us to get information on Rebekah because they didn’t know her and they didn’t have access to information that we had. I’m glad I made that decision. Unfortunately for Catherine, her podcast and everyone else if I had decided to go on camera the podcast would have been very different. I can say without a doubt in my mind that the podcast was nothing but rumors and it ended with a lie. I can say that with 100% confidence and solid proof to back it up. Due to our sisters case being an ongoing investigation we can’t disclose all the information that we have but we can point out the lies.”
Did I say troll? I meant clown. Police don’t “work” with journalists Colby Kelley. Only an idiot wouldn’t understand that. I’ve never spoken to Kim Warren and the last time I spoke to Dennis was in 2016 when he sneaked into one of my book signings to uncover what “I knew about this case” according to him. I’ll bet you feel like a fool getting all these details wrong like where he lives and Catherine not pinning this on him, and if you don’t you should. I talk to Danielle Gould on a daily basis and she has flat out said Casey did it, and she’s done so on social media. Tiffany thinks her wealthy dentist dad did it. What a joke, clown! What lies has she uncovered? Zilch clown. All she does is throw shade at me and Catherine because we won’t interview her and other people like her dad and sister are getting all the attention in this case. She never talks about who killed her sister, only her dad that she says she hates and the journalists covering this case, clown. Keep defending, and most importantly keep clowning. You’re good at that just like your momma would tell ya! And p.s. If he’s innocent I’m sure he’s getting ready to sue his former co-worker who said he was a murderer and Catherine. But, wait. That would open him up to discovery. Oh, no. He wouldn’t be dumb enough to do that would he, clown? No lawsuit is coming and the friend could be charged with a crime for giving a false statement to police and guess what clown. He won’t be charged with anything … clown. Keep clowning and the people who want that poor murdered girl’s case solved will keep fighting to make it happen.
LOL… George spanks troll… uh hem, clown.
Your the biggest coward. Protecting him because u probably know the truth out of everyone and thsts why your defending him so much cause he will probably kill you to !
*you’re
As in “You’re an idiot”
Colby colby colby… you are cheer captain of a condemned man.
You are going to look oh so foolish when the ray of sunshine finally breaks through the eternal darkness of Casey’s soul.
Cheer not for the condemned and the coward, save your best spirit fingers for the murdered girl who died a violent death and was left to her own devices to rot.
If this was your sister, I have a feeling you would be singing a different tune. Do you know a different tune because the one you are singing in every post is becoming tiresome. You know what happens to a mind when it hears the same tune or noise for days on end… it goes mad, it believes what I tell it to believe. Open up your mind because you do not want me to do it for you. Your intelligence level on this thread shows me just how easily you can be manipulated. Your subpar attempt at correcting everyone’s grammar shows me that you try hard and be superior. Would you like me to tell you more about yourself Colby?! Because by playing on your beliefs,fears and weaknesses I will exploit you in words like you never thought possible. I am the true Alpha & Omega and I will troll you like you troll everyone else in this thread like you never thought in your wildest dreams was possible. -TNIT
Wow….you’re a piece of work George Jared! All I’ve got to say is lawyer up! You will need a very good attorney soon!!
Casey has family in law inforcement . Police in Melbourne are as crooked as the road to Casey’s house , not all are but the ones covering for him I bet they can not sleep at night probly on high anxiety meds and very stressed and actually p there pants over the Jennifer . B solving this so saddle up Casey and Tiffany and all envolved u are all so guilty infact Tiffany probly has affair with Casey during his and Rebecca’s dating years and she loves Casey possibly so we will soon know and can’t wait to see who all is in on it poor rebbkka
It’s all that small town Arkansas bullshit. It’s all about who you know. Am I correct that Casey has family in law inforcement? I’ve lived in several different counties in AR since 1989. I have never known corruption like the corruption in these little counties. Especially the dry ones. They need to chill and have a beer. Honestly though, the evidence against Casey is insurmountable. But he will never be brought to Justice, not in that podunk town, not with so many folks protecting him. I wish those same folks had protected Rebekah as much as they are him. The whole thing is tragic.
Sadly, I have had run-ins with both Tiffany and Gabrielle Ballard. The are both drama queens. They are trying to make their dad pay for the fact that they had to suffer when their parents split. That’s a family issue that has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with this case. The only thing those two are worried about is their 15 minutes of fame on the back of their dead sister. I mean Tiffany, before she was ran out of Mountain View, started a rumor about a very good friend of mine. She knew it was a lie, however, she had the gall to come to that same friends funeral three days after she started the rumor. Crying and making a scene, if I had not been held down by 6 men and women, I would have kicked her ass. She sobbed and said that she was a “best friend”. But then the next day, she was talking shit about my DEAD friend again. And notice that these two sisters care nothing about finding the killer, they only care about making their daddy pay because he cut them off. Well, honestly I don’t blame him. The are jealous of Danielle because she is an ADULT and can put her differences ASIDE to find out who killed her sister, so she is working with her FATHER, who is also searching for the killer, and the other two are pissed. That is the truth!
So to the troll “clown” is wrong ***Casey*** Is and always will be the number 1 suspect! No one would have killed Rebekah in that trailer and then try and clean up the mess but the actual person who lived there. A random killer isnt going to take the time and wash sheets not knowing when the actual homeowner would be coming home among so many other things. I worked on this investigation as a family friend for years. I concur with everything that George Jared has to say about the case. I also know for a fact that Rebekah sisters besides Danielle are only interested in the bitterness that they have with their father not any care about trying to find their sisters killer. Tiffany Ballard is just upset that she isnt getting the handouts from her father anymore and so is Gabbi!! I knew Gabbi long ago in Little Rock when she was a stripper long before I knew her dad. He tried everything to help those girls…. they refused to help themselves. Ask Tiffany Ballard if she had her father at her wedding just some years back?! She invited him and he was present. He gave her money and when he cut that off she went for his character and for his throat. Tiffany & Gabbi didn’t have a great relationship with Rebekah but Danielle did. Also think about this one telling piece of body language. ***Casey** after Rebekah disappeared couldn’t even help look for his missing girlfriend, he wouldn’t return Larry’s phone calls wouldn’t meet with him and could not look him in the eye. After Rebekah went missing on that day Danielle maintains that all of a sudden communication when calling Casey’s phone went unanswered which is strange because she said, up until that point ***Casey*** was always quick to answer his phone. If you weren’t guilty… you as a boyfriend or even a friend would lead the charge in finding out what has happened. Banding together with your girlfriends family to find her and find out what happened to her. Only a guilty person would become a coward and or would hide out… Casey not only hid out but he fled… he moved that is until the smoke had cleared. Then you know what he did… he moved right back into the trailer were his girlfriend was murdered.. the very same trailer that he is now raising his family in. Could you do that?! Only a person with little or no remorse could do that A killer… with no conscience or connection to his then murdered girlfriend. Casey this is to you… your day of reckoning is coming and it’s coming from within. You may be surrounded by the small town code of keeping your mouth shut but there is not a day that you are not sitting in judgement and there is not a day that your own psyche isn’t condemning you. The proverbial noose is tightening and it’s just a matter of time before you crack. Stay hidden and stay quiet it just makes you look as guilty as you know that you are my friend. When you slip and you will… Its going to be oh so precious to see you reap what you have sown. Who am I… I am a former special operations interrogator that if given the chance would and could make you sing LOUDLY for your sanity. I Will always be watching you Casey … no harm in watching you squirm with your own anguish until spill your coward guts all over the confession table. -TNIT
It literally only takes a person with a room temperature IQ to see that Casey is guilty. It sounds like some of Rebecca’s family are real pieces of work too. Not interested in finding out the truth, just trying to keep themselves relevant. It is disgusting how people are like vultures circling victims’ stories like these to only see what they can get out of it for themselves. I hope they all get what they have coming and that the shame and guilt erodes them from the inside. Trust me, we all see through the facade.