The Heaven LaShae Ross Case
by Malcolm Maddox
CBS 42 News
2008-02-22 20:00:00.0
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Some experts say a child a child goes missing every 40 seconds...over 2,000 per day and many of those cases go unsolved. Those numbers don't reflect the families rocked by these individual tragedies.
“I was so angry at God. You created me, you created her, why did you let this happen to her?"
No parent should have to endure what Beth Thomas has had to live through.
"It took me maybe four years before I could even say a good prayer and pray the way I needed to pray and break down and say, ok now I understand. This is what happens this is life,” said Thomas.
"August 19th, 2003, we had an 11-year-old girl disappear while she was walking from her trailer in Willow Brooke trailer park to the bus stop,” said Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Captain Loyd Baker.
That girl was Beth Thomas' youngest daughter Heaven LaShae Ross and Captain Loyd Baker of the Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide unit has been trying to find her since day one.
"We enlisted the help of several investigative agencies, including the FBI. Including their behavior science unit out of Quantico and even to this day, one of the agents from that unit is working closely with us on this case,” said Baker.
In addition to the extensive law enforcement effort, Baker says there was an equally impressive showing of community support. Hundreds of volunteers and investigators invested thousands of hours in a desperate attempt to locate the 11-year-old Ross.
"As time passed, we realized the chances of her being found were diminishing and we knew we may be dealing with a murder," said Baker.
Family and friends tried their best to support Beth in her moment of need, but as they learned there can be no consolation for the loss of a child.
Ross’ brother, Blake Lowery, said, "You have no clue. I mean I can understand it because I see how she looks or whatever, but I really don't know how she feels. I know it's hard. It's got to be.”
"I couldn't get the pain to stop. The pain was so unbearable, that I thought I was going to drink myself to death,” said Thomas.
The case gradually began to grow cold, but after years of tireless searching, investigators got their first big break in the case when the body of Heaven LaShae Ross was found here in this abandoned house on Creek Road in Holt.
"It took over three years just to find where she was. There's obviously hold back information in this case. We're just saying that we have good evidence, the suspect list has been narrowed considerably, and there's evidence that we've had tested and received results on and other evidence that we're still waiting on results,” said Baker.
“We're more at ease now. Now I know where she is and I now she's resting now. Now I don't have sleepless nights. Now I don't have worrying fits. Yes I tend to get emotional on her birthday on her anniversary, at Christmas. I get emotional, but not to the extent that it was, because I had her with me the whole time, but now I have her with me,” said Thomas.
Beth Thomas says she feels better than she has in a long time, and she is waiting for the day Heaven receives her justice and you may be able to help.
If you have any information that will help close this case, you are urged to call the Tuscaloosa Sheriffs Office at 205-752-0616.
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