Deanna Crawford, a 21-year-old mother from Glenwood, West Virginia, was tragically murdered in 2002. Her life, filled with challenges such as drug addiction and involvement in sex work, was cut short when her body was found in a remote area, sparking a complex investigation that led to multiple wrongful convictions.
Deanna’s life was not without hardship. Born on February 27, 1981, she grew up in a difficult environment. Her parents, Terry and Brenda, eventually divorced, and Deanna was raised in part by her stepmother, Angie. Despite the struggles she faced, Deanna was known for her bright red hair and infectious smile. She was a loving mother to her almost two-year-old son, who was her pride and joy.
Deanna’s life took a dark turn as she battled a crack cocaine addiction, resorting to sex work to support her habit. At the time of her death, she was living in what was described as a “crack house” with a man named Grant McClure and others. She had previously lived with a man named Mike Sinclair, but details about her life during this period are sparse and mostly derived from court documents.
On August 8, 2002, Deanna’s body was discovered by loggers in a remote area near Hickory Ridge, West Virginia. She was found nude from the waist down, her tank top rolled up, with her pants discarded nearby. The autopsy revealed that she had been strangled, and her body had been left in the area for several days.
Investigators found several pieces of evidence near her body, including cigarette butts, a beer can, a snuff can, and a glass mug. DNA was recovered from the cigarette butts, Deanna’s fingernails, and semen found in her pants, but these leads would later contribute to the controversial investigation that followed.
Initially, Deanna was last seen by a friend named Rachel on August 3, 2002, at the home of Mike Sinclair. Rachel reported seeing Deanna robbing Mike’s home. Deanna was later seen on a security camera at a Speedway on August 4, around 3 a.m., with a man named Ira Crocket, who was not considered a suspect.
The investigation took a significant turn when a man named John Vinton, a regular client of Deanna’s, emerged as a potential suspect. Vinton had reportedly been robbed by a sex worker before Deanna’s death and had asked a local woman, Betty Cull, to find Deanna’s address. On August 5, Vinton allegedly told Cull that Deanna’s body was at Hickory Ridge, exactly where she was found. Despite this, no charges were brought against Vinton, and the case went cold until 2007.
In 2007, a new suspect emerged: Brian Dement, a 26-year-old with severe learning disabilities and mental illness. Dement confessed to Deanna’s murder, implicating three other men: Justin Black, Phillip Barnett, and Nathaniel Barnett. However, Dement’s confession was riddled with inconsistencies, and he later recanted, claiming he had been coerced by police.
Despite the lack of DNA evidence linking the men to the crime, all four were charged with Deanna’s murder. Dement, Black, and the Barnett brothers were all convicted, with Dement pleading guilty to second-degree murder and agreeing to testify against the others.
Years later, new DNA testing revealed that the DNA found at the scene matched a man known as T.S., who was in prison in Ohio for sex crimes involving a minor. Despite this breakthrough, the state initially refused to pursue charges against T.S., and the convictions of Dement, Black, and the Barnett brothers remained.
In 2019, a judge vacated the convictions of Black and the Barnett brothers, while Dement’s conviction was modified to time served, though his conviction was not overturned. The state eventually dismissed all charges against the men, but T.S. was not charged, leaving many questions unanswered.
This case highlights the tragic consequences of wrongful convictions and the challenges faced by those who seek justice. The failures in the investigation, the treatment of vulnerable suspects like Dement, and the reluctance to pursue leads that could have prevented these miscarriages of justice continue to haunt the families involved. The truth about Deanna Crawford’s murder may never be fully uncovered, but her story serves as a powerful reminder of the need for integrity and diligence in the pursuit of justice.