A 35 year old man is found dead is found in a truck under a bridge
In the early morning hours of March 16, 1973, the quiet of Vonore, Tennessee, was broken by the discovery of a bullet-riddled tractor-trailer parked beneath a bridge. Inside the cab, slumped over the wheel, was the body of 35-year-old John Raymond Constant, Jr., a Caucasian male. He had been shot at least 17 times with a high-powered rifle and a shotgun. The gruesome scene was first happened upon by a local resident who noticed the truck's flashing hazard lights. Investigators quickly determined that the murder had likely occurred elsewhere, as there was a conspicuous lack of blood in the cab, suggesting Constant had been killed the previous day, March 15th, and his body later moved to this location.
The investigation into Constant's death almost immediately pointed towards organized crime. Rumors swirled that Constant, who his own family admitted was not a 'sterling character,' had been involved with the notorious Dixie Mafia, allegedly transporting untaxed cigarettes and stolen goods. His mother and sister told law enforcement that he had been planning to leave his criminal life behind and was on the verge of becoming an informant. This revelation led investigators to believe his murder was a silencing tactic by the criminal organization. The theory gained more traction when, just a few months later, a friend of Constant's, Ray Owenby, was also shot and killed.
For years, the case grew cold, a chilling piece of local lore. Then, in 1982, a witness, under hypnosis, identified Harold Buckner as one of two men seen with Constant on the night he was killed. The other man was identified as Marvin Ray 'Big John' Pittman, a known drifter and suspected hitman for the Dixie Mafia. Buckner was arrested and charged, but the case against him crumbled due to a lack of evidence, and the charges were eventually dropped. Pittman himself was found dead from a gunshot wound in Tampa, Florida, in 1975, his death ruled a suicide, though many suspected it was connected to his criminal activities.
Decades passed, and the murder of John Raymond Constant, Jr. seemed destined to remain an unsolved mystery. However, in a surprising turn of events in December 2018, a terminally ill individual came forward with new information. This led to the February 2019 arrest of Max Benson Calhoun, who was 21 at the time of the murder. Calhoun's father had owned the car wash where some believed Constant had been killed. Calhoun was indicted for first-degree murder and pleaded not guilty. His attorney filed motions for bond and to have the case dismissed. Ultimately, in a move that brought fresh disappointment to those seeking justice for Constant, all charges against Calhoun were dropped in April 2021 due to insufficient evidence. To this day, the murder of John Raymond Constant, Jr. remains officially unsolved.
