Six Inches Deeper, The Disappearance of Helen Hanks (With Author Dr. William Rawlings)

On this week’s episode we interview author Dr. William Rawlings about his book, Six Inches Deeper, The Disappearance of Helen Hanks. On August 31, 1972, Hellen Hanks, a pretty, thirty-four-year-old mother of three disappeared from her place of employment at Wilcox Advertising in the far-south Georgia town of Valdosta. After a brief investigation by local and state authorities, the case went cold. In the fall of 1980, a farmer clearing a field south of town discovered a buried object, a box containing the dismembered remains of the missing woman. After several months of investigation, police arrested "Foxy" Wilcox, his son Keller Wilcox, and two long-term employees of Wilcox Advertising. Keller was charged with Hanks' murder and the others with concealing a death. Keller and Foxy were members of a prominent and wealthy Valdosta family. To defend their case, they hired famed defense attorney, Bobby Lee Cook of Summerville in northwest Georgia. Keller Wilcox's murder trial in January 1982 pitted Cook against a local prosecution team led by district attorney Lamar Cole. The case against Wilcox was entirely circumstantial, making the outcome uncertain. After a trial marked by controversy and conflicting testimony, Wilcox was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, all the while proclaiming his innocence. This true story has all the elements of intrigue: money, power, sex, race, the haves vs. the have-nots, and death.  This is Just One More Question. If you like what we do, rate, and review the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Every positive review helps new listeners find the show. Send us your questions about the books or cases we profile. Tweet them to @just1morepod with the hashtag (#) questions.  Or you can send an email to [email protected].  The Executive Producers of “Just One More Question” are Marc Veazey and Aleks Litts. Our Assistant Producer is Kaci High. Our music is by Da Sein.  We are your hosts, Marc Veazey and Aleks Litts, and this has been “Just One More Question.”