Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
295 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Forum Posts for Brenda Howell:
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Just stumbled across some updates about Brenda Jo Howell and thought I'd share something that struck me as really intriguing. I read that her case was reopened in 2007, which got me thinking about the timing and what led to this revival of interest.
While it's clear authorities were looking into Mack Ray Edwards' confessions, I'm curious about what specific evidence or leads might have prompted law enforcement to take another look after all these years. Given that Edwards had claimed responsibility yet no remains were ever found, it makes me wonder if there was an advance in forensic methods or if some new witness came forward decades later? It seems unlikely they'd reopen on a whim.
Also, Edwards worked on highways in California, and I can't help but think how many potential sites there could be connected to his claims, possibly under roadways or other constructions. Anyone else have thoughts on what evidence might have led them to rethink these cases so long after the fact? Could it be forensic advancements, or maybe other cases linked through cold case units sharing more info nowadays? Would love to hear what everyone thinks!
Has anyone else taken a look at the timeline of events surrounding Brenda Jo Howell and Donald Lee Baker’s disappearance? I find it interesting that their bikes were found separately. Brenda’s bike was near Morris Dam while Donald’s jacket was found nearby, but what really gets me is why these items were left behind in the first place. Could it be a potential clue we’re overlooking? It seems odd that someone with Mack Ray Edwards’ experience would leave anything behind at all. I wonder if there’s more to the location or condition of those items that could provide insights into what happened. Maybe someone who knows the area well can weigh in on possible significance or missteps by Edwards? Just some thoughts as I dive deeper into this case. Would love to hear what others think! ?
I've been digging into the case of Brenda Jo Howell and Donald Lee Baker, and something I found really curious is the connection to Mack Ray Edwards. It seems like every time I read about Edwards, more questions pop up. How did he manage to work on highway construction and do all these horrific things without getting caught? It's chilling to think that someone could hide in plain sight like that. Plus, I read somewhere that Edwards was familiar with the San Gabriel area because of his job. Could he have had more hidden spots around the place? I feel like there might be some areas that weren't fully searched back then. Does anyone know if investigators have considered another search in those old infrastructure sites he worked on?