Digest

This episode of Southern Fraud True Crime delves into the perplexing case of Carrie Lawson's kidnapping in 1991. Carrie, a young lawyer from a prominent family in Jasper, Alabama, was abducted from her home after a ruse involving a fake medical emergency for her father-in-law. The kidnapper demanded a $300,000 ransom, which was later increased to $400,000. Despite the FBI's involvement and the efforts of the Lawson and Smith families, Carrie's whereabouts remain unknown. The episode highlights the FBI's missteps in the investigation, including failing to warn local law enforcement about the ransom drop, misplacing audio recordings of Carrie's phone calls, and failing to track the ransom money. The episode also discusses the media frenzy surrounding the case and the community's involvement in the search for Carrie. The episode concludes with the discovery of audio recordings of the kidnapper's phone calls, which provide valuable clues about his identity and location. However, Carrie's case remains unsolved, leaving listeners with a sense of mystery and unanswered questions.

Outlines

00:00:18

Jasper, Alabama: A Charming Town with a Dark Secret

This Chapter introduces the town of Jasper, Alabama, a seemingly idyllic small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. The chapter describes the town's history, its tight-knit community, and its picturesque town square. However, it also hints at the darker side of Jasper, mentioning the opioid epidemic and the presence of both blue bloods and those struggling with poverty. The chapter concludes by introducing the Lawson family, a prominent family in Jasper, who would become the victims of a shocking kidnapping.

00:02:08

The Kidnapping of Carrie Lawson

This Chapter details the events leading up to Carrie Lawson's kidnapping. Carrie, a young lawyer from a wealthy family, had recently married Earl Lawson, another lawyer from a prominent Jasper family. The chapter describes their happy marriage and their successful careers. However, their idyllic life is shattered when Carrie is abducted from her home in the early morning hours. The kidnapper uses a ruse involving a fake medical emergency for Earl's father to lure the couple out of their house. The chapter concludes with the kidnapper forcing Carrie into their SUV and driving off into the night.

00:11:50

The FBI Takes Control

This Chapter focuses on the FBI's involvement in Carrie's case. The chapter describes how the FBI quickly took control of the investigation due to the unusual nature of the kidnapping and the ransom demand. The FBI set up headquarters at Earl and Carrie's home and waited for the kidnapper's call. The chapter details the kidnapper's demands for a $300,000 ransom and the FBI's decision to comply with his demands. However, the chapter also highlights the FBI's missteps, including failing to warn local law enforcement about the ransom drop, which led to the kidnapper abandoning the plan.

00:26:42

The Search for Carrie

This Chapter describes the extensive search efforts undertaken by law enforcement and the community to find Carrie. The FBI worked tirelessly to collect leads and interview potential suspects. The chapter details the Smith family's public pleas for Carrie's release and the $100,000 reward they offered for information leading to her whereabouts. The chapter also highlights the community's overwhelming support for the Lawson and Smith families, with hundreds of residents volunteering to search for Carrie. However, despite the massive search effort, no significant clues were found for several days.

00:39:34

A Breakthrough in the Investigation

This Chapter details a significant breakthrough in the investigation. Law enforcement recovered three audio recordings of the kidnapper's phone calls to Earl. The recordings revealed the kidnapper's North Alabama accent and provided valuable clues about his identity and location. The chapter also includes excerpts from the audio recordings, which reveal the kidnapper's anger and threats towards Earl and Carrie. The chapter concludes with the FBI's decision to release the audio recordings to the public in hopes of identifying the kidnapper by his voice.

Keywords

Q&A

• What happened to Carrie Lawson?

  Carrie Lawson, a young lawyer from a wealthy family in Jasper, Alabama, was kidnapped for ransom in 1991. Despite the FBI's efforts and the community's involvement in the search, her whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

• What were some of the FBI's missteps in the Carrie Lawson case?

  The FBI made several missteps in the Carrie Lawson case, including failing to warn local law enforcement about the ransom drop, misplacing audio recordings of Carrie's phone calls, and failing to track the ransom money. These missteps may have hindered the investigation and contributed to the case remaining unsolved.

• How did the community respond to Carrie Lawson's kidnapping?

  The community of Jasper, Alabama, rallied around the Lawson and Smith families in the wake of Carrie's kidnapping. Hundreds of residents volunteered to search for her, and the local media covered the case extensively. The community's overwhelming support for the families highlighted the tight-knit nature of the town and the sense of shock and outrage that the kidnapping caused.

• What clues were found in the Carrie Lawson case?

  The most significant clue in the Carrie Lawson case was the discovery of three audio recordings of the kidnapper's phone calls to Earl. These recordings revealed the kidnapper's North Alabama accent and provided valuable clues about his identity and location. However, despite these clues, the case remains unsolved.

• Why is the Carrie Lawson case still unsolved?

  The Carrie Lawson case remains unsolved because the kidnapper was never identified or apprehended. Despite the FBI's efforts and the community's involvement in the search, no concrete evidence was found to lead to the kidnapper's arrest. The case highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in investigating and solving kidnapping cases, especially when the perpetrator is determined to remain anonymous.

Show Notes