PART 5: The 1970 Murder of Jack McDonald

In October of 1970, a maid at the Travel Inn in Meridian, Mississippi discovered the body of 23-year-old Jack McDonald. He had been murdered by multiple blows to the head with an ax or hatchet-like instrument. The investigation into the murder of Jack McDonald remains unsolved, but today, many believe he may have been murdered by the same man who killed William Kyle, Rose Burkert, and Roger Atkison. In part five we will go over everything we know about Jack's case and the similarities between this scene and the two others we have discussed in this series. We will also take a quick detour and discuss a fleeting theory that Jack's murder was linked to an underground Mafia-esque pornography business (spoiler alert: it was not). Sources:Bell, Dick, Salesman's slaying clues sought, October 29, 1970, Birmingham Post HeraldWhittington, George, Police Seek to Quiz Man About Slaying, October 30, 1970, Clarion LedgerThink Two Murders May Be Connected, December 14, 1970, Clarion LedgerClaybrook, Clint, Jeffco car parts salesman brutally slain in Meridian, October 28, 1970, The Birmingham NewsClaybrook, Clint, Clues absent in salesman's brutal death, October 28, 1970, The Birmingham NewsClaybrook, Clint, Heavy-set young man sought in 'hatchet' slaying, October 29, 1970, The Birmingham NewsClaybrook, Clint, Police hunt 'natty dresser', October 30, 1970, The Birmingham NewsClaybrook, Clint, Police trying to link Meridian, Florida cases, December 9, 1970, The Birmingham NewsMan slain in Meridian, October 28, 1970, The Delta Democrat TimesSearch underway for killer of salesman, December 8, 1970, Daytona Beach Morning JournalSlaying Victim's Car Found in Alabama, December 7, 1970, Fourt Lauderdale NewsSlaying Suspect Search Widened, December 9, 1970, Fourt Lauderdale NewsExcess Fees, December 15, 1970, Fort Lauderdale NewsJurors Get Testimony on Slaying, December 16, 1970, Fort Lauderdale NewsAccused Slayer of Smut Peddler Held for City By St. Louis Police, February 27, 1971, Fort Lauderdale NewsMan Given Life Term in Murder, October 26, 1971, Fort Lauderdale NewsToilet Tank Top Used in Slaying, December 9, 1970, Fort Myers News-PressManhunt Under Way for Slayer, December 8, 1970, The Miami HeraldPolice Identify Man Found Dead, December 8, 1970, The Miami HeraldEgger, Edson, Geiger Report Due Jan 6 Grand Jury Foreman Says, December 19, 1970, The Miami HeraldExtradition of Suspect to be Asked, March 2, 1971, the Miami HeraldPatterson, Robert, Underworld Link to Porno Films, Feb 8, 1971, The San Francisco ExaminerSupport the showIf you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-formIf you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creatorSave $20 on a Buzzsprout paid plan using this referral link!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2372693Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson