Two Public Servants, Two Decades Apart, One Familiar Crime Scene: The Murders of Dorthy Estep & Beth Hicks

Box in the Basement

In the shadowed silence of a Texas highway, a chilling discovery sends ripples through the heart of McLennan County. It's late at night, September 30th, 1985, when Texas State Trooper Richard Coddle, guided by intuition and duty, investigates an abandoned car off US Highway 84. What he finds inside the trunk ignites a mystery that has endured for decades—the remains of 32-year-old Dorothy Estep, a dedicated social worker from the nearby town of Mexia.

Welcome to "Box in the Basement," a podcast where hosts Arlene and Leah delve into the darkest unsolved mysteries and cold cases of Texas, starting with the haunting story of Dorothy Estep. In a narrative woven from the fabric of 1985—a year marked by global tensions, cultural shifts, and technological milestones—we invite you to explore a case that remains as perplexing as the era it emerged from.

Dorothy, known for her compassion and commitment to protecting children, vanished under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind a daughter and a community grappling with loss. The only clues: a car abandoned on a lonely highway, a body concealed with deliberate care, and a life cut tragically short.

As we peel back the layers of this enigmatic case, we're transported to Mexia, Texas, a small town with a rich history and a population that's remained constant despite the ebbs and flows of fortune. Here, in 1985, amid the backdrop of Reaganomics, the Space Shuttle Atlantis's maiden voyage, and the ubiquitous tunes of Dire Straits and Madonna, Dorothy Istep's life came to an abrupt and violent end.

But who would want to harm Dorothy, a woman devoted to the welfare of the most vulnerable? The investigation, led by Texas Ranger Sergeant Bob Prince, uncovered few leads and no suspects, leaving a community in search of answers. Could the key to solving this cold case lie in the tangled web of Dorothy's professional and personal life, or is it buried deeper, in the secrets that small towns keep?
We also delve into another Texas mystery, a woman twenty years later, three hours south, and also a public servant is found dead.
Police discover the body of Beth Hicks in her truck outside her trailer park one month before her wedding.
Who killed these women?
Join us for another episode of "Box in the Basement."
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