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Don't Tell a Soul

Page 33

by M. William Phelps


  The kitchen table inside Kim Cargill’s home told investigators a lot about her lifestyle in general—and about the moments after Cherry Walker went missing. The presence of various cleaning supplies and products was of particular interest.

  (Photo courtesy of Smith County Sheriff’s Office)

  Kim Cargill’s bedroom, like the rest of her house, was a mess. In her bathroom, the tub seemed to serve as a Dumpster.

  (Photo courtesy of Smith County Sheriff’s Office)

  Among the debris, investigators found a plastic coffee creamer cup identical to the one discovered with Cherry Walker’s body.

  (Photos courtesy of Smith County Sheriff’s Office)

  In Cargill’s laundry room detectives found a sheet—still wet—inside the washing machine. They believed it had been used to transport Cherry Walker’s body from the place she was killed to the dirt road where she was found.

  (Photos courtesy of Smith County Sheriff’s Office)

  This cellphone was one of Cherry Walker’s two most prized possessions. She would never go anywhere without it.

  (Photos courtesy of Smith County Sheriff’s Office)

  Kim Cargill was found guilty for the murder of Cherry Walker and the desecration of her body by fire. Cargill was sentenced to the death penalty.

  (Photo courtesy of Smith County Sheriff’s Office)

  Notes

  1 This interview was recorded, but the conversation here is written using Detective Rathbun’s report, which might be slightly different (he summarized the interview) from the recordings, which I did not have access to.

  2 The “report” cited/quoted here (and used throughout this biographical section of the book and in other sections) is titled Initial Application for Writ of Habeas Corpus. It was filed on August 19, 2014, with the 241 st Judicial District Court in Smith County, Texas, on behalf of Kimberly Cargill, by her appellate attorneys, Brad Levenson, Janet Gilger-VanderZanden and Derek VerHagen. This 193-page document provides intimate details surrounding the life and times of Kimberly Cargill and her parents. Rachel Wilson also testified extensively in court about her and her daughter Kim Cargill’s life, as did Kim Cargill and other family members. Moreover, this Initial Application document was discussed at length during Kimberly Cargill’s appellate hearing and in the judge’s ruling of that appeal, which can be accessed here: http://law.justia.com/cases/texas/court-of-criminal-appeals/2014/ap-76-819.html

 

 

 


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