Last week, Jess introduced us to the tragic story of Heather Rich of Waurika.
Sixteen-year-old Heather Rich went missing after sneaking out the night of October 2, 1996, and her body was later found in Belknap Creek with severe, fatal wounds; so bad that she could only be identified by a ring. Local law enforcement initially treated her disappearance as a runaway case, so Heather’s parents, Duane and Gail Rich, conducted their own inquiries. Investigators from Montague County, Jefferson County, the FBI, and the Texas Rangers interviewed many people but faced a community “code of silence.” Attention focused on a party at Josh Bagwell’s house the night she vanished and on several local youths—Curtis Gambill, Randy Wood, and Josh Bagwell himself—whose behavior and histories (including violence, drug use, and prior offenses) raised suspicion. Forensic evidence later linked Bagwell and Gambill.
Ranger Lane Akin, emotionally affected by the case, and Montague County investigators pursued leads that culminated in the arrest of Gambill, Wood, and Bagwell on October 25, 1996. Under interrogation, Curtis Gambill gave a detailed account implicating Randy and Josh, claiming Heather had been intoxicated and assaulted before being taken to the creek and shot; Randy’s statement aligned closely but portrayed himself as fearful and passive, while Bagwell refused to speak. Curtis failed a polygraph; Randy passed. The scene, witness remarks, and the presence of a matching shotgun—along with confessions and inconsistent accounts—drove the investigation forward.
This is part 2 of 3.
Listener discretion is advised this week.
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