This is a case of dogged and determined Law Enforcement people simply not letting go, finding the body of Christine Elkins and putting away her killers. The men doggedly pursuing the case where ATF agent Michael Schmitz, ATF Special Agent Mark James, Supervisory Agent Duane Nichols and Maryville cop Randy Strong. The case started out with SA James wanting to build a case against local thief and thug Tony Emery, who had then decided to distribute Methamphetamine, using violence and intimidation to corner the meth market in Northeast Missouri. The ATF caught a break when a former pusher for Emery, 32 year old Christine Elkins, decided to turn informer against Emery, and his cousin, Herb "Tug" Emery. She had peddled meth for Emery for 18 months. Emery had heard that cops had been around to see Christine Elkins, so with his cousin and a friend, Bobby Miller, they planned to kill her, wrap her in a rug and dispose of her in a barrel filled with cement.
At her home, Christine was bludgeoned to death, wrapped in a rug, placed in the boot of her car and it was driven away, never to be seen. Not for years. Law enforcement searched extensively for the missing Christine, and the break came when Herb Emery mentioned to an associate that they had disposed of a body. This associate, unknown to Emery, was in fact a Federal Informant, who duly passed on this information. They realised he had discussed the murder of Christine Elkins. Ten months after her disappearance, Tony Emery received 9 years for drug offences in Colorado During this time, searches were made of possible dump sites, such as rivers, gravel pits, etc but as the years passed, nothing was found.
Mike Schmitz did a cold case review, along with Maryville detective Randy Strong. But parole time was nearing for Tony Emery, so pressure was put on. Enough circumstantial evidence was gathered to charge Herb Emery with her murder. He decided to turn State's Evidence. Meanwhile, a witness had been located who had told Tony Emery how to get rid of a car, by dumping it in the Missouri River. A specialist search team called Necrosearch did a survey of the river, currents, depths and calculated the best place to look. They then located an incredible 11 cars in the Missouri River. Ten were duly dragged out but were not the car belonging to Christine. The last car was checked by a diver who was able to remove the licence plate. It was Christine`s. She had been found. Her body was wrapped in a rug in the boot. An unforgettable image was that of Randy Strong holding the number plate aloft in the divers` boat.
Tony Emery went on trial for murder. Herb Emery gave evidence for the Prosecution. He received 22 years, but his cousin received Life Without Parole, a fitting end to this hardened killer and thug. The case is an outstanding example of cops simply not giving up.
While so tragic this case has always fascinated me. I bet I have seen it on TV no less than five times. I really admire the guys who stayed on the job and got it done! Guys like that gives cops a good name! This crime was we told this morning on TV a show called The investigators. Even though I've seen it multiple times, I watched it again this morning and I will probably watch it again the next time it comes on.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what program aired this? I have seen it once but can’t remember which one it is.
DeleteForensics Files or Cold case.
DeleteChristine was my first friend and gave me my first job when I moved to Maryville in 1989. She was a smart and talented woman that unfortunately found herself in a terrible mess because of Meth. I was the last person to see her before she entered that death trap. I was also unhappy with the lack of protection but I was impressed that Randy Strong and others worked consistently for nearly 9 yrs to bring Tony down and give her family and friends some closure. I love and miss her always.
DeleteTSmith: This was indeed tragic for Christine, but without victim-blaming, she did not 'find herself' involved in drugs, as though she was entirely a victim of circumstance; she chose to involve herself and paid a terrible price. She chose to involve herself with dangerous people doing dangerous stuff that wrecks lives. To this extent she was personally responsible. Yet of course her murder was appalling and a gross price for her foolishness.
DeletePlease forgive my error; "gives" should have been "give." Is there no way to edit?
ReplyDeleteRip christine
ReplyDeleteWHAT I DONT UNDERSTAND IS, IF SHE OFFERED TO BECOME AN INFORMANT, WHYBQAS CHRISTINE AND HER FAMILY NOT GIVEN POLICE WITNESS PROTECTION.
ReplyDeleteANY ONE WOULD KNOW SHE WOULD BE KILLED????
So true
DeleteThat's exactly what I'm thinking especially when they knew how dangerous this man and his helpers were. It's almost like they will do whatever it takes to bring someone down and damn the consequences if the informant gets hurt or murdered.
DeleteThe reason why she wasn't protected by the ATF is because of Agent Mike Schmitz. Others under his watch. Who have become informants for him have also been murdered by the people their informing on. Agent Mike Schmidt's doesn't give a crap about an informant! All he cares about is securing his case for court! That is why Christine Elkins died!
DeleteYour article is wrong. It happened in Northwest Missouri, not Northeast Missouri.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that too. I don't think the person who wrote this has ever been out of England.
Delete"I don't think the person who wrote this has ever been out of England."
DeleteHow ironic. A Yank criticising a geographical error who thinks that England=UK... :)
Also wrong was the location she was killed. It was in Emerys home not hers.
ReplyDeleteWhy was she in the home of the man she feared would murder her for snitching on?
DeleteBack then she might even know he knew she was talking to the police that's why but now these days we know when people might think we working for the police but back then they might have didn't know
DeleteI done watch this show many times 😀 n I like looking up the people also I be all in these crime show y I don't know
ReplyDeleteI worked as production assistant for the New Detectives TV show for the re-enactment of the discovery of the car in the River. I remember how they spotlighted the diver surfacing with the license plate in his hand. A search result I found said the car was in the river near Maryville. I could have sworn it was south of St. Joe. It was quite an ordeal how they used GPS and magnetometers to identify hot spots to check in order to reduce the danger for the divers.
ReplyDelete