The Most Famous Crimes in Lubbock History Part 2: On Forensic Files

If you missed Part 1 about the infamous Suitcase Killer, you can read about it here. 

How do you prosecute a murder when there is no body to be found?

With ground-breaking investigators and forensic experts from around the world, and an extremely dedicated prosecution team. The murder of Scott Dunn and the subsequent trial of his murderers in Lubbock was so remarkable that it became an episode of Forensic Files (season 4, episode 2, "The Killing Room" 1999).

Read More: New Docuseries Brings Andrea Yates Trial Back Into Focus

Made For TV Murder

Of course, there were also some made-for-TV details that producers of Forensic Files must have salivated over- a "cross-dressing" date (excuse the 1991 term, please), a flashy car, a massive blood stain, and a convicted female murderer willing to speak on camera. The forensics were top-notch, too. A successfully tried murder case with only one small body part to prove that Scott had died in what must have been an extremely brutal beating.

An Empty Grave

For decades, Scott Dunn's grave remained empty at Lubbock Cemetery.

YOUR LIFE ON EARTH WAS BRIEF
BUT YOU LEFT A LASTING MEMORY

The headstone also has an image of his beloved car, a Camaro he named Yellow Submarine. When Scott went missing, his girlfriend, Leisha Hamilton, offered to help his father find Scott on the condition that she would be allowed to keep the beautiful sports car. That certainly isn't suspicious at all.

Read More: Execution Of Cedrick Ricks In Texas For Double Murder

Justice For Scott, And A Discovery 21 Years Later

Jim Dunn, Scott's dad, fought long and hard for justice for his son- including contacting the VIDOCQ Society, which investigated the case pro bono. Even Scotland Yard became involved after reviewing the evidence. Richard Walter, a forensic pathologist who donated his time and expertise to the investigation, was able to convince authorities that Scott could not have possibly survived with his skull fragment that was found, along with a giant blood puddle, inside his apartment.

Leisha was tried and convicted based on the blood and missing carpet in the apartment she shared with Scott, and because her hair was found attached to duct tape used to patch the missing flooring. She was sentenced to 20 years and served every single year, despite appeals and parole hearings. She is free now.

In 2016, medical experts were finally able to confirm that the remains found by utility workers were those of Scott Dunn. His family was finally able to lay his body to rest. I was unable to find if they actually buried him in Lubbock; perhaps they thought he had been in a shallow grave here long enough.

This article is dedicated to the memory of Roy Carper, who worked tirelessly on this historic case, and who was the loving dad of a dear friend of mine.