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Crime Solvers Central
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Forum Posts for Charles Edward Collines:
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Has anyone else noticed how difficult it is to find information on older crimes in small towns like Petrey? The murder of Charles Edward Collins in 1970 baffles me, mainly because it seems to have left so little trace in the media and public records. It’s almost like it was swallowed up by time. I'm curious if others have theories on why cases from small towns like this often fade into obscurity. Is it the lack of resources, or perhaps just that these communities aren't used to dealing with such tragedies? My heart goes out to Charles's family, who must be left with so many questions and no answers. It must be agonizing, not having the closure that comes with knowing what happened. If anyone has strategies or sources for digging deeper into cases like these, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Hey everyone,
I’ve been trying to dig into the unsolved murder of Charles Edward Collins from way back in 1970 in Petrey, Alabama. As many of you probably know, Petrey is a really small and tightly-knit place, and the fact that something like this could happen there is just beyond words.
What really got me thinking is the impact this must've had on Collins's friends and family back then. I mean, in a community where probably everyone knew everyone, this kind of loss must have sent shockwaves through the entire town. I can’t even begin to imagine the fear and grief they must've felt, especially with so few answers available to them.
I've been trying to piece together whatever bits of information I can find, but it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack. I know records were not as well-maintained back then as they are now. Still, I hope that by keeping this conversation going, we can collectively get closer to understanding what happened and maybe even provide a little comfort to those who knew and loved him. If anyone here has any ties to Petrey or even stories passed down over the years, it would be invaluable to hear your thoughts.
Let’s keep this discussion going and hope that one day we find the answers that have eluded Charles’s family for so long.
Stay safe and take care, everyone.
First of all, you are misspelling his name, it's Collines, without the E you won't find the right man. His death was ruled a drowning but the only water in the vicinity of where his body was found was a small mudhole. There was no autopsy done, which would have revealed the truth. But there is absolutely no doubt he was murdered. My dad and Charles were very close growing up, and into adulthood. Charles worked some for my grandfather on his farm,and truthfully Grandaddy made moonshine (best in the state I've heard), my dad and Charles helped him with that too. I have very vague memories of Charles, I can't picture his face, I was only 3 when he was killed. Pop and Grandaddy went to his funeral and Pop said a small caliber bullet hole was clearly visible along his hairline. He once told me a name of the man who shot him, but I'd never heard of him before and it didn't stick. I would love for the truth to finally be revealed , Charles deserves that much, as all parties involved died long ago that's the only justice there will ever be.
I've been diving into the Charles Edward Collins murder case from 1970 in Petrey, Alabama, and something that's been on my mind is the role that the town itself might have played in how this case was handled—or perhaps mishandled. We all know Petrey is a small, tightly-knit community, and I can't help but wonder if the closeness of the townsfolk back then might have affected the investigation.
I've read about small towns where people are reluctant to come forward, either out of fear or loyalty, and I wonder if that contributed to the lack of progress here. Local gossip can be both a valuable source of information and a dangerous spread of misinformation. Did anyone hear whispers that suggested someone might know more than they let on?
My heart truly goes out to Charles's family and friends. It must be incredibly frustrating not to have answers after all these years. It's a stark reminder of how crucial community involvement is in solving cases, especially in places where everyone knows everyone. I'm hopeful for any insights that could bring some closure to this unsettling piece of Petrey's history.
Misshandled is the nice way of putting it. The truth is the man who actually shot Charles Collines (include the E to get the right person) paid off law enforcement. There was no autopsy done, his death was ruled a drowning, but the only water in the vicinity of his body was a small mudhole. He and my dad grew up together and were close friends