Labyrinth Of Lies: The Murder Of Melissa Sowders.

Melissa Rene Sowders

"To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...

but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.

I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.

Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.

Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.

That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,

God picked me up and hugged me and He said, 'I welcome you.'

It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.

As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.

I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.

There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man.

God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.

And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.

And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.

God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years

because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.

But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.

Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.

But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.

But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.

I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.

There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;

but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.

It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...

that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,

then you can say to God at night......'My day was not in vain.'

And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,

knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.

So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,

just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.

When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;

I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,

remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me."

-Ruth Ann Mahaffey 

She was born on June 19th, 1987 in Houston, Texas to Sonia Newsom. Melissa was a 26-year-old mother of four and pregnant when she went missing on Thursday, December 26th, 2013. 

"Love you guys. Sorry I haven't been around much before. But now that I'm with Jason, I will be around a lot more. I missed you guys. Merry Christmas,"  read Melissa's father as he clung to every last word Melissa wrote on his Christmas card. He last saw his daughter Christmas Day, just hours before she vanished.

This was the first time in years that Melissa got to spend with her family. In the past, her now estranged husband, Matthew Sowders, wouldn't really let her spend time with her family. But now they weren't together and she was with someone new, her childhood friend, Jason Sanford. Jason was the father of the baby boy growing in Melissa's tummy. This was the couple's first holiday together and sadly it would also be their last.

Melissa was in the middle of a messy divorce after being together nine years. She had granted Matthew full custody of her kids while she got her finances in order. She knew that Matthew's adopted father and well-respected journalist, David Sowders, would help him out until she got on her feet.

Melissa had never been away from her kids for Christmas before, so the day after, she met Matthew around 11 a.m. at McDonald's in the area of Interstate 45 just north of FM 1960, in northwest Harris County.  Jason was on the phone with Melissa until Matthew showed up. That was the last time he'd ever talk to her again.

Jason waited all day for Melissa to call him after she was done spending time with her girl's. Around 7 p.m., Jason still hadn't heard from Melissa nor was he able to get a hold of her, so he went to the Harris County Sheriff's Office to report her missing. They notified her family and now the frantic search for Melissa began.

Harris County Sheriff's Office deputies and volunteers searched around the area where Melissa was last seen and came up empty handed.

The next day, less than 24 hours after Melissa disappeared, a neighbor of Matthew called 9-1-1 with a story to tell. She said that she visited Matthew and saw feet on the ground. The 9-1-1 operator sent an officer to talk with the neighbor in person. When the officer arrived, the neighbor told him that she had knocked on the door of Matthews apartment. And that when Matthew answered the door she asked him why his daughter was crying. He said that his daughter was just upset. That is when the neighbor noticed the feet on the floor. She told the officer that they looked like female feet. The neighbor then said she asked Matthew "Whose feet are those behind the couch?"  And that Matthew had replied, "It's none of your business." And then he slammed the door.

After talking with the neighbor, deputies were sent to Matthew's apartment. They knocked and announced themselves, but no one answered, so cops barged through the door. Inside there was no body or apparent evidence of a crime. However, Matthew was called down to the police station for questioning.

When Matthew arrived at the station, officers asked him if anything crazy happened. He replied no, but then went on to claim that he and Melissa were still intimate and Jason didn't know. Matthew also claimed that before she left that night, that Melissa said that she was a horrible mother. He said that she then left on foot after she turned down a ride that he had offered.

Officers then asked Matthew about the neighbor that came for the unexpected visit, the one that had called 9-1-1. Matthew denied that the neighbor ever stopped by. They then asked him if he would take a polygraph test. Matthew responded by saying, "I'll be clear soon enough. We don't need the poly to do anything." He then told officers to look into Jason.

That evening, Melissa's car was found abandoned in a transport company parking lot on the North Freeway just north of Richie Road, near Cypress Creek.

Police pulled Jason's police record which was revealed to be violent. Just three months before Melissa disappeared, Jason was arrested for assault. This made investigators question his involvement in Melissa's disappearance so they pulled him in for questioning. During the interview, it was revealed that Jason was going through a divorce. And the assault charge was from him getting into a fight with his best friend that he found out was sleeping with his wife. Jason also offered to take a polygraph.

Police then talked with Melissa's best friend. She claimed that Matthew was obsessed with Melissa and that he was possessive and wanted her back. The best friend also said that Melissa was afraid of going over to his apartment. She claimed that Matthew even tried to kidnapped Melissa from work one night.

Another 9-1-1 call came in.

Operator: "Harris County 9-1-1. Do you need police, fire, or ambulance?

Caller: "Police... I need to turn somebody in."

The caller was scared and wanted to remain anonymous. She told the operator that she was a really good friend and lover of Matthew Sowders. She claimed that he visited her after Melissa went missing. Matthew had came over at night soaking wet from head to toe with his truck was all muddy and with a story of what happened to Melissa.

Caller: "He said that he blacked out and snapped and choked her to death and dumped her body in Spring Creek in a trash can.

Saturday, Texas EquuSearch volunteers looked for Melissa on foot, by boat and by ATV along and near Cypress Creek. Crews scanned the bottom of the creek, and a helicopter flew overhead to do the same. 

An anxious and hopeful Jason, arrived to lend a hand.

Investigators then asked Matthew's girlfriend, the anonymous caller, if she would wear a wire and get him to confess again. The girlfriend agreed and three days later, she recorded a conversation between her and Matthew. During this conversation, his girlfriend asked him what his lawyer said. Matthew said that he told his lawyer everything that happened and the lawyer said he had a good case. Matthew went on to tell his girlfriend that he thought he could get away with murdering Melissa since no body had been found. His girlfriend then urged Matthew to turn himself in and that Melissa deserved a proper burial. Matthew said he'd think about it.

In the meantime, authorities searched the area of Cypress Creek where Matthew liked to fish. It is now January 2nd, 2014, and searches noticed something down stream, below the water. It was a body with a tattoo near the hip bone that read, "Matt." Later the coroner confirmed that the body was Melissa's.

The discovery of Melissa's body tore her family and Jason's heart out.

Due to the weather and Melissa's body being submerged in water, the coroner couldn't find the exact cause of death, but they did rule her death as homicidal violence.

Authorities were able to get a warrant for Matthew's arrest. With undercover special ops teams watching his house, police arrested Matthew as he attempted to leave the house with his dad. He was charged with Melissa's murder.

Once Matthew was in custody, he was informed that they had found Melissa's body. With tears in his eyes Matthew stated that he wouldn't talk to anyone but his lawyer. 

Matthew appeared in court on capital murder charges involving Melissa and the unborn child. Prosecutors were sure that Matthew knew that Melissa was pregnant when he killed her. They also thought that that was probably the motivation behind her murder, but weren't sure that they could prove it beyond a reasonable doubt. So prosecutors had no choice but to vacate the capital murder charge for a murder charge.

Matthew plead guilty to murder and was given a 60 year sentence with the possibility of parole after 30 years. His father said that he was proud of coming forward and doing the right thing.....

Melissa's children remain with Matthew's parents and will grow up without her.

Who Killed Angie Barlow?

Angela Jeana Ann Barlow

"I'm a firm believer that the truth will always come out. You might as well save you the energy and just be honest from the start."

23-year-old Angie Barlow was an independent woman and she lived everyday like it was her last. She loved her family, friends and her dog Pablo. She was born on August 21, 1993, in Denver, Colorado, the oldest daughter of Stephen and Christina (Barlow) Kramer.

Angie had obtained her high school diploma through the Career Center. While in high school, she had been a fantastic athlete, having participated in softball and bowling. She loved being with her sisters and seeing activities that they participated in.

Angie and her roommate, 24-year-old Mona Jackson were basically sisters. Their families' had pretty much adopted each other. The two women moved from Muncie, Indiana where they had been living together since they were 18, to an apartment in Indianapolis. Angie danced at local clubs, but did do private parties on occasion.

Just a couple of weeks before Halloween, Angie received a text from a woman wanting to surprise her husband for their anniversary. The number was unknown both to Angie and Mona. The woman also never mentioned her name. For Mona it wasn't adding up and she begged Angie not to take the job. But Angie was too headstrong to listen and she took it.

Two weeks later, On October 26th, 2016, which was on the night of the party, Angie got a text from the client, "i want our bra and panties to match, anything black and red?"

Angie replied yes. Then took a screen shot of the the address and the gate code posted in the text message that she needed in order to enter the apartment complex. Angie always took a screen shot of the address she would do a private party at and would send it to Mona. When she sent the screen shot to Mona for this party, Angie attached this text...

A few hours later, at 11:45 p.m., Angie sent a Snapchat to Mona of herself in what appeared to be the bathroom of the party. And that was the last time her friends or family heard from Angie. The next day her mother tried in desperation to get a hold of her. Voicemails and text messages went unanswered.

Around 5 p.m., remembering the screen shot that Angie had sent her, Mona went to the address where her friend was last known to be. When she tried to punch the code for the gate in it didn't work and no one answered either. Mona then decided to climb over the gate. When she got to the apartment it was totally cleaned out. Mona, with Angie's mom in tow, then went to the police station and reported Angie missing.

Angie's family and friends organized a search party and handed out flyers. And police got a hold of the apartment's surveillance video, which showed Angie's blue Pontiac G 6 leaving at about 3:30 a.m. with another vehicle following behind. Who was in either vehicle could not be seen, but police could see the license plate of the second car. The car that was following Angie's was registered to a woman named Raven Miller. It turned out that Miller and a man named Baron McCulloh had been the hosts of the private party that Angie was hired to dance at.

Investigators found out that Angie knew Miller and McCulloh from one of the clubs that Angie danced at. Angie had major issues with Miller and if she had known who was hosting the party, she never would have agreed to the job. Police questioned Miller and McCulloh. The couple said that yes, the party was at their apartment, but that they never left. Investigators had nothing to hold the couple on, so they had to let them go.

On November 8th, 2016, just eight miles from the apartment that Angie's car was seen leaving from, it was found, in a place that Mona had already checked. Angie always had kept her car clean, but now it was trashed inside and out.

Then Angie's grandmother had someone steal money from her bank account. In May 17, 2017, a search warrant is served at a home on E. Streeter Avenue in Angie's home town of Muncie. FBI, IMPD and Muncie Police were all involved in the search. Four people were taken into custody from the home. It was unclear whether this had anything to do with Angie's disappearance.

Michelle Brown was arrested on related charges. Even though Brown knew Angie's grandmother's bank routing and account number, she claimed that she didn't know Angie or her grandmother. The three other people taken into custody were all arrested on unrelated charges.

Four weeks later, on June 20, 2017, Indianapolis Police received a tip that they will find Angie's body at a property on the city's northeast side. Police said they found a body shortly before noon hidden under some brush at a home on E. 43rd Street. The house had been vacant for a while. The body turned out to be that of Angie.

Fast forward to 2020, Angie's case is still unsolved and her family and friends are still searching for answers and trying to get justice for Angie.

Were you or someone you know at a party at 7652 Harcourt Road in Indianapolis on the evening of October 26th, 2016?

If you have info, please call the Indianapolis Marion County Police Department at 317-327-3811 (Case Number: PD16130374) or Anonymous TIPS can be called in to 1-800-222-TIPS.

Justice For Angie

Blair Adams Thought There Was Someone Out To Get Him And Then He Wound Up Dead.

Robert Dennis Blair Adams

He was born on December 28th, 1964, in Surrey, Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, Canada to Sandra Edwards. He had a brother named Tom Weland. 

In 1995 Adams found himself at a job prefab construction working for his stepdad at SS Cedar Homes. The job ended up taking him to Germany where in November of 1995 he met a woman at a party, and they begin dating. To his new girlfriend he was known as gentleman and a great boyfriend, but to others he was known becoming aggressive or confrontational.

He also had a history with alcohol and substance abuse and there were times that he expressed concern of people coming at him or spreading rumors about him. 

By the summer of 1996, 31-year-old Adams was back in Canada working as a construction site foreman. He was a hard worker and boasted about his job to all his friends. He also started attending Alcoholics Anonymous. At that time, he was described as a well-rounded, fun-loving, friendly and happy person, but as time went on this calm and cheerful man changed into an anxious and extremely paranoid person with constant mood swings. He also started growing uncharacteristically careless at work and stopped attending AA. He hadn’t been sleeping well either and when his mother asked him what was wrong, he said, "I don’t think I should tell you about it." And that was it, Adams never did tell Sandra what was wrong.

It turned out that Adams thought that someone was out to kill him, so he quit his job and made plans to skip town.

On Friday, July 5th, Adams stopped at his local bank, withdrew his savings and emptied his safe deposit box of more than $6,000 in cash and thousands more in jewelry, gold, and platinum. 

The next day, Adams went to Courtenay, BC, to visit his uncle. However, his uncle wasn't home, so Adams left.

On July 7th, he attempted to enter the United States via ferry. He was flagged as a possible drug courier due to the large amount of cash he had with him. He was asked if he had any prior convictions of drug or assault charges. He lied and said that he had none and when it was found out that he did, Adams was denied entry.

He then visited a girlfriend in Vancouver, a friend in New Westminster, and his mother, Sandra Edwards.

He told his friend about quitting his construction job and seemed anxious and didn't want to stay at his apartment. He then told his friend that someone was out to kill him.

In the early morning hours of July 9th, Adams was discovered by Canadian border patrol officers attempting to cross the border on foot at the Pacific Highway Border Crossing. Adams had scratches covering his legs and hands and he matched the description of a man implicated in an automobile theft of a blue car. Adams had appeared dazed but proclaimed his innocence to the authorities. Police had no evidence to connect him to the stolen blue car so they released him back into Canada.

A friend later told authorities she saw Adams driving a blue car, not his usual Chevrolet Chevette, the day before. Adams had abandoned his Chevette at the Vancouver International Airport and rented a Nissan Altima there.

On July 10, 1996, he made it across the border to Seattle. He then ditched the rental car at the Seattle airport and purchased an overnight, one-way flight to Washington D.C. He arrived at Dulles International Airport in the early morning on Wednesday, July 10. He rented a white Toyota Camry about 6:45 a.m., and began the 7-hour drive to Knoxville, Tennessee. Later that morning, on U.S. Route 250 in Troy, Virginia, Adams backed his car into another motorist's vehicle, causing minor damage. The driver of the car told detectives that Adams "seemed nice, but was in a hurry."

Adams arrived in Strawberry Plains, on the outskirts of Knoxville, Tennessee sometime around 5 p.m. on July 10th, 1996.  He was at a BP gas station calling a tow truck driver after the key to his rental car didn't work. The tow truck driver, Gerald Sapp, said that Adams appeared to be having trouble mentally. Adams was using the wrong key on his rental car. 

"I asked him to look in his pockets," Sapp said. "I said, 'If you drove this thing up here, you gotta have another key in your pockets.' And he wouldn’t look. So I thought he was nuts. He was bound and determined that he had the key he needed for that car."

Sapp arranged for the rental car to be taken to and auto body shop and then dropped Adams off at the nearby Fairfield Inn. Sapp said Adams walked off without his bag. Sapp took it to him, then went home.

The then-newly-opened Fairfield Inn was located across Interstate 40 from a construction site. There Adams purchased a room with a $100 bill about 7 p.m., then walked away without getting his change. The clerk repeatedly tried to call his room, but there was no answer. Later it was determined that Adams never entered his room.

Hotel surveillance video footage showed him entering and exiting the lobby five times within 40 minutes. Hotel employee Ticca Hartsfield stated, "He just was very nervous, agitated, expecting someone to come in on him even though there wasn’t anybody there. I don’t know who he was looking for, but he was waiting for somebody to walk in for him.”

Authorities believe that Adams then left the hotel on foot and went to get something to eat. He was supposedly spotted by two customers at a nearby Cracker Barrel, they both allegedly saw Adams with another man who was never identified. Their stories differed on what that man looked like.

Another unconfirmed sighting was when three employees at the T&R Truck Stop on Deep Springs Road in Dandridge, which was 30 minutes from Knoxville, claimed they saw Adams there between 9:30-10:30 p.m., flipping through tattoo magazines and talking to an unidentified man about Canadian money.

Around 7:30 a.m. on July 11th, construction workers discovered Adams body in the construction site parking lot across the street from the hotel he was staying at. He was "half-naked" with his pants off and shirt open.  His pants, shoes, and socks were lying near his body. Scattered around his body was German, Canadian, and U.S. currency totaling nearly $4,000. In addition to the money found with the body, police also located a black duffel bag which contained maps and travel receipts and a fanny pack which held 5 ounces of gold bars, gold and platinum coins, jewelry, a pair of sunglasses and the key that belonged to the Toyota Camry that Adams had lost. 

The autopsy report concluded that Adams a recently ate lettuce, meat and shrimp. He had sustained many cuts and abrasions. The Knox County Sheriff’s Department has speculated some of the wounds came from fending off an attack. Adams died from a single blow to his stomach. His official cause of death was ruled sepsis stemming from an abdominal perforation. He also had a wound to his forehead, which police determined was caused by a crowbar or a club. It was also believed Adams had been sexually assaulted, though no DNA evidence was found to confirm this suspicion.

The only physical DNA evidence found at the scene was one strand of long hair that was gripped in Adams's hand. 

Adams' case remains unsolved.

If you have any information about this case, please call the Cold Case Unit of the Knox County Sheriff’s Department at 865-215-2675, or by e-mail at coldcase@knoxsheriff.org.