SPEAKER_02 0:00

In Tragedy, a true crime podcast, we discuss missing persons' cases, violent crime, and other sensitive topics that may be difficult for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised. Our show is a place where every story matters and every voice deserves to be heard. To support this podcast, you can subscribe at www.tragedy a true crime podcast.com for early access to new episodes. And join our Facebook community, Tragedy a True Crime Podcast, for updates, discussions, and ways to support the families we feature. Before we hear from Thomasine Butler, Latanya's mom, we have some updates regarding this case and how it's progressing. So to remind everyone, one of the reasons why we are supporting this family is because we couldn't find any media coverage about Latanya's death. In fact, the only reason that we even knew about it was because of one comment that someone made on a local Facebook page that was really a post about Jody Kilgore. And someone commented, what about that young black woman who was killed in Sopchoppi?

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Yeah, and keep in mind too, I remember when we first looked at that, we're like, okay, first of all, what are you talking about? And then we did some our some of our generalized research as we as we do with every case, and we found absolutely nothing. So initially I didn't even think it was true.

SPEAKER_02 1:29

Yeah, fortunately, Latanya's cousin Vicki, who you heard from last week, she commented on that same post. And that is how I found Vicky. So this person commented, and Vicki said, That was my cousin. You know, I wish somebody would do something to support us. And so I immediately reached out to Vicki through Facebook and she responded immediately. And that's how we started. And after I first spoke with her, you know, we started, as you were mentioning, we started to do a little bit of research. Generally, we can go, you know, to Google, say for example, when we were learning about Ian Rogers, and we were able to find several articles about him and sort of build a little bit of background. But what happened with Latanya was very different. There was nothing. I couldn't, I checked WTXL, WCTV, the local news affiliates there. I checked social media. I searched her name on all of the local Facebook groups that I'm on, and I really was finding nothing. And it was very, very baffling. And Vicky, you know, said, Well, she's my cousin. I know this happened. And we weren't denying that it didn't happen. We were just very surprised that there was no coverage on it. So to um get started, then after we had spoken with Vicky and with her help, we were able to get Latanya's death certificate. And her cause of death is listed as homicide. Well, then we knew we definitely have an unsolved homicide in Waucala County. And we were able then to connect with Vicky and Crystal and Thomasine, who you will hear from now, to be able to tell Latanya's story. And it's our one-year anniversary of our podcast this week. And we were reflecting on why we really started this work. And there were two main things that really led this work. And one is providing a platform for families and friends of victims of unsolved crimes to tell the story of their family member of their lost one. And our second purpose really is to provide exposure, bring exposure to cold cases, unknown cases, stories that are happening to marginalized people. And with this particular case, because there was nothing out there, we do want to talk about how our work with support from Vicky and Thomasine and Crystal has really changed the scope and the nature of Latanya's story.

SPEAKER_01 3:57

Yeah, one thing that's really compelling too is the things that have changed as far as the progress of this story. So again, we've already stated there was nothing going on. There was nothing in the news, there was nothing going on with law enforcement. As far as they're concerned, it's closed case. And that's just not the case anymore. So what's happening now is to start with, one of the best updates we have for this case is there is, I wouldn't say it's open yet. It's kind of interesting. This is kind of in a weird state right now, but the point is, is they're talking to law enforcement, law enforcement's responding. They've stated and said things like, we're going to get this case reopened. They're talking with the state attorneys, they're requesting documents. Now I find it interesting that they're requesting documents from each other that we already have. So we'll be providing those to them as well, trying to help kind of expedite this process. But the good news is this conversation is happening now.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

Yes, Thomasine did call the Walcala County Sheriff's Office probably within a week of when we first spoke with Vicky, asked for someone to come out, and someone came out, and they have now recently they've assigned a detective who is a part of um violent crimes division at the Walcala County Sheriff's Office. This is a lieutenant, and she's been in really close contact with Vicky as far as kind of what they need. Now, I do want to echo what you said it today, actually, we found out that the state's attorney's office is requesting um the death certificate. And actually Vicky even said, she said, Can you remind me, does the death certificate say homicide? Because she doesn't have it. Thomasine has it. And I said, Yes, it does. You sent me a picture. And she said, Well, the state's attorney's office is asking for the death certificate, which is kind of what you're talking about. And I'm like, Well, I don't understand. You know, we have it. So obviously, you know, Thomasine and Vicky have it. So I mean, there is some movement, but it is a little bit confusing. Like, we have it. So why do they need to request that we can just give it to them?

SPEAKER_01 5:54

And we just got it from them. That's which makes it even more interesting. So yeah, it's definitely government work for sure. But so then the other thing, the other big um change is again, we talked about before in this conversation that there's been no media coverage. Would you like to talk about what's happening with the media?

SPEAKER_02 6:11

Yeah, so we understand from Vicky that she herself has been interviewed by a local reporter from WTXL and that also Thomasine and Crystal will be interviewed. Now, we've also this is all very recent, just within the last 24 hours. Um, that reporter is relaying to Vicky that she needs to speak with the state's attorney's office and with the sheriff's office before she moves forward with the story. Again, we don't understand um why, but apparently there's that's part of the procedure. The good news is that when Vicky did contact this reporter, she did come and speak with her. They've done the interview. So now we're just waiting to see if they actually run the story. And this this happened with some, you know, with Ian, and you know, the the reporter came and did the story, and it was weeks, I think even months before it was actually aired. But there is some movement. Um, there will hopefully be some media, local media coverage. And so that's big, right? More exposure, more people hearing um Latanya's name and hearing about what happened to her.

SPEAKER_01 7:17

Yeah. And lastly, you know, one of the things that we look at is, you know, obviously we're a social media platform. That's what we're trying to do. And that's what, you know, it's that's that's kind of how we're getting the word out. And we do look at a lot of metrics. Now we don't, I don't look at the metric from the perspective of here's how good we're doing. I look at the metric from the perspective of how many people are are saying this person's name. We because we talked about the importance of people's name getting said. And so what's nice about it is from a download perspective, you know, just since we started talking about Latanya story, over 1,500 people have listened to that story in 72 different countries and over over a thousand cities. And so this went from being a story that was not even known in Waucala County itself to now this is known across the world. And we're gonna keep pushing that and keep getting those numbers higher and higher. And um, as far as even the exposure, you had some additional numbers on your side.

SPEAKER_02 8:10

Yes, on our Facebook page, Tragedy a True Crime Podcast, when I post an episode, I can see what Facebook calls post reach. And the first episode that we did on Latania has 11,000 people who that post was pushed out to. So I and I I watch them pretty consistently. The others are pushing like 3,000, 4,000. Um, but that 11,000 post reach is our second highest of any post I've ever made in that group, as far as how many times Facebook has pushed that post out to people.

SPEAKER_01 8:42

So no matter what, you know, if we haven't accomplished anything at all, what we have accomplished is now when you go onto the internet and you search for Latanya's story, you're gonna find something. You're gonna find us talking about it. I'm hoping you're gonna find whatever WTXL is putting together. So hopefully they, you know, whatever approvals they need to go, they can get that story posted. And you're gonna you're gonna be able to see her name and you're gonna be able to hear her story.

SPEAKER_02 9:06

And we will continue to update everyone uh as we hear what happens with the state's attorney's office if Vicky does end up going up there. If they do choose to reopen the case, we will update you all accordingly. And now that we've provided those updates, let's get into our interview with Thomasine, Latagna's mom. Welcome to Tragedy, a true crime podcast. I'm Elisa.

SPEAKER_01 9:32

And I'm Michael.

SPEAKER_02 9:33

Today we're honored to be joined by someone whose love for Latanya runs deeper than words can fully capture. Her mother, Thomasine Butler. There is no way to measure a loss like this and no easy way to speak about it. But through that grief is also a story of love, of connection, and of a bond that continues even in absence. Miss Butler is here to share her daughter with us, not just the loss, but the life, the memories, the moments, and the person Latanya was to those who knew and loved her most. Miss Butler, thank you for being here and for trusting us to help tell Latanya's story, and welcome to the show. Thank you. Perfect. All right, before we talk about Latanya, we would like to know a little bit about you. So tell us about you.

SPEAKER_00 10:23

Uh my name is Thomasine Butler, and I'm Latanya's mother, and she was the uh youngest of 34 children I had. And what oh go ahead. That's about it, yeah. She was the youngest one of 30 my favorite children I had, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:45

And what are some of your favorite memories of Latanya?

SPEAKER_00 10:51

Oh Lord, um me and her used to ride to the store together. We used to do things together. Just about every little thing we used to kind of like do together. We was we was mother and daughter, but we was friends too. We were just everything. Everything um a mother could ate for and a daughter, yes.

SPEAKER_02 11:19

Yes, I think I understand. I have um one child and also a daughter, and that there's something really special about that relationship and the things that we do with our daughters now. I don't have a son, but I feel like it's a little different than things that we do with our daughters. I took trips with her and we go to the spa and things like that. So I do understand it a little bit. Yeah. What would you like people to know and our listeners about Latanya's story and what happened to her?

SPEAKER_00 11:50

Well, I don't know exactly this well, yeah, I know what happened to her. But she was abused and and then she was staying with a guy. He was much older than she was, and I guess jealousy too on top of it. And I'm thinking he was the one that choked her eye, and after he choked her eye, it farmed into uh it farmed into a clot in her throat and it and it it stopped the oxygen from going to her brains.

SPEAKER_02 12:34

And guess what really Was this a new relationship or had she been with him for quite some time?

SPEAKER_00 12:46

Well, it been it was about uh let me see, about a s it might have been a six month relationship, I'm thinking.

SPEAKER_02 12:57

And she wish she was living with him at the time that this event occurred, is that correct?

SPEAKER_00 13:03

Right.

SPEAKER_02 13:04

Yeah. Um I want you to try if if you can to kind of think about maybe that time period, that six-month period that she was in a relationship with him. Do you remember her saying anything to you about that relationship or um anything unusual or maybe some changes in behavior that you saw during that time?

SPEAKER_00 13:30

Uh let me tell you that I didn't I don't if she she might have spoken to her friend uh Krista about it, but she didn't ever tell me about it.

SPEAKER_02 13:44

And this may be kind of difficult to talk about, but we understand that you went to the place where she was living when you hadn't spoken with her for a day or so. Can you tell us about that day?

SPEAKER_00 13:56

I was at work and it just fell on no no, I was at work and and uh he demand that he the man that she was staying with, he called me and asked me did she go to work today. And I told him no, she didn't come to work today. I was looking for her, but she didn't come. And so uh he said that well I'ma I'ma get somebody to go and look in the house to see what's going on with her. And by that time we went down there and that's when we found her on the uh love seat with a like she was up on the what it was, she was up under the love seat, they had put her up under the love seat and she couldn't get from her pioneer. And then when she was in the hospital, they had security guards up there. I don't know whether the the hospital security guards uh the Leon Canyon uh security guards or whatever, but anyway they had officers up the guard in that room and she was in ICU. Do you know why they assigned guards to to watch the room Yes, because I I'm thinking that the one who choked the eye, they didn't they was I guess hoping he I mean not hoping, but I guess hoping he might try to come back and finish off uh or whatever. I I don't know. But that's what they had there. And she just only lays for two to three days.

SPEAKER_02 15:55

I think two and I correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it was you and one of your other children who went and found her and made the 911 call.

SPEAKER_00 16:09

Yes, um, my son Sylvia Thomas, but he went in the house. It was me and Sandler and him went in the house, and we couldn't find her right then, but we we searched over the house and she was laying up on a a love seat. Somebody had put her up on the love seat that she couldn't get out, and and and my son picked her up, and I thought she was dead, but she wasn't, and she turned her head and that's when Ann Sanders called 911.

SPEAKER_02 16:52

And at what point did um someone from the Wakola County Sheriff's Office come and speak to you? Was that at the hospital or was it on site?

SPEAKER_00 17:02

No, they didn't even come and speak to me. I had I went up there after she passed and everything. We buried everything. Then I went up there to see what I can get done. And they told me that uh they had to uh I don't know what they told me. They they told me they was gonna turn it, no, they told me they was gonna turn it over to the state attorney. That's what it was. Yeah. And I was going up there every month trying to see what was going on, and the only thing the state attorney told me that if don't don't, if nobody don't step up and say they did it, ain't nothing he could do about it.

SPEAKER_02 17:47

Uh fortunately, I was able to get some documentation from the sheriff's office um with the investigation that they did, and that aligns with what you um recall in that they did take a probable cause document to file charges up to the state's attorney's office. But as you just said, the state's attorney's office declined to file those charges and then closed the case.

SPEAKER_00 18:13

Right. Uh-huh. Because they said that and if nobody don't step up and see the thing about it, the the man that she was staying with, they never did arrest him. I don't think they did. They never did. Because he had an alibi that he went to the hospital that that day, that evening. So he had an alibi.

SPEAKER_02 18:40

Yes, I did. But he yeah, I didn't know.

SPEAKER_00 18:42

But he called but he called me from the from where I was working at and told me and asked me hey, she came to work, and I said no. And he said, Well, I'm gonna get somebody to go in my house and see what's going on.

SPEAKER_02 19:03

And we do know from speaking with Crystal that she did witness uh some a conflict between the two of them. Um, I believe it was a couple of days before you all found him. And Crystal spoke with us, and we also see that in the police report. So we do know that she did report this altercation. So I I do think it's it's interesting that um maybe they just needed more information from her or someone to say that they saw him physically putting his hands on her to be able to um move this case forward a little bit. Um also, can you talk about the case being reopened? Because I know that's happened in the last couple of weeks.

SPEAKER_00 19:48

Yeah, I'm glad they opened it back up. It's been 10 years now. And I'm glad they opened it back up because I I I need you get justice. It's been 10 years, and I don't know what happened to her. I know she was choked to death. I know that. Because that's what the autopsies, I mean the uh the uh the death certificate.

SPEAKER_02 20:14

And when you spoke with the sheriff's office just recently within the last few weeks, um, how did that conversation go and what are the next steps?

SPEAKER_00 20:23

Well, I talked to a deputy come out here and talked to me, and he gave me uh investigator's number, and I haven't talked to none of them since.

SPEAKER_02 20:34

So no one has come back to you with a detective or anything like that, except that you have the detective's name at this point.

SPEAKER_00 20:42

Right, right. You talked a little one come wait, one came out here about three or four weeks ago and gave me his name. I don't forgot his name. And then he gave me the case number. But I never I I I ain't they ain't got back with me on nothing yet.

SPEAKER_02 21:06

And that also aligns with the information that I have. Um, the date that the phone call was made and that uh representative of the sheriff's office came out, um, reopened the case, and that they would get back to you with the name of the investigator. Um, so that that is exactly the same thing that I've been reading in the documentation that that I received from the sheriff's office.

SPEAKER_00 21:29

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 21:32

So you talked a little bit about justice. What does justice or accountability look like to you?

SPEAKER_00 21:40

What are what are you saying? What what kind of justice I want, or what what you what is it?

SPEAKER_02 21:46

Yes, exactly. You said you would like justice and and what is justice? I I would late justice.

SPEAKER_00 21:52

I I would I would like for whoever did it to uh spend life. In in prison, yeah, for killing my baby daughter. Not only my baby daughter, any of my children. I had four children. Yeah, and she was the first one die.

SPEAKER_02 22:11

And what would you like for the people in Crawfordville um to do to support you? Is there something that we can ask the community to do for you? I'm what yeah, I'm wondering a little bit about um some of the things that we know have been happening for um another person who was killed in Crawfordville that's unsolved with Jody Kilgore, and how that family gets together and they hold events around the day of his death and his birthday. And I'm just wondering if that is something that you feel like the community could support you with organizing those kinds of things for Latanya.

SPEAKER_00 22:46

Well, I don't have a big family, I only have two sisters and best by it. And I have a friend, maybe, and that's about it. I mean, maybe on her daddy's side, it might could help support it, but that's all that's all the family members I have.

SPEAKER_02 23:11

Yeah, so we hope that um by people listening, because to be honest with you, um, Latanya's name is not a name that that we knew, and it's not a story that we had heard of. And so we hope that our part here by getting her name out and having you and Crystal and Vicki share her story that the community um may maybe they have also not heard about her, and maybe that's the first step in creating some support for you and the family.

SPEAKER_00 23:38

Yeah, but they they have heard Latanya's name. Now they have heard it, you know. But it's been such a long time, a lot of people don't wanna, you know, they don't wanna be a part of nothing. They could, but they don't want to.

SPEAKER_01 23:57

Well, I want to be part of something. And so um one of the things that uh that really kind of struck me, you know, hard when I heard about this case is I was al always under the impression that Jody Kilgore was the only unsolved murder in Waucala County, and then we found out about this one, and I don't think it's right that it's not talked about. It's not the only unsolved. This one appears to also be unsolved, and as a result, I think the community needs to know that.

SPEAKER_02 24:26

So I'd like to uh talk a little bit about what helps you get through um some of the harder days when you think about Latanya and and the lack of justice for her. What helps you get through those kinds of days?

SPEAKER_00 24:40

God, that's what hit me. God. I I I give it, I have to give it to God. I I pray about it daily. You know, I think about it daily. I do.

SPEAKER_01 24:53

Um is there a particular church you go to?

SPEAKER_00 24:56

No, I I used to go to church, but since I had these scrolls and stuff, I I can't go because I'm on a cane and a walker, so I I can't. Yeah. How do you help keep her memory alive? By some time on my phone I got pictures of her and sometime I post pictures of her, sometime and sometime I look at her pictures on uh in the house and stuff.

SPEAKER_02 25:34

That's about it. You mentioned that it's been several years um since let's be uh the twenty-six of this month right here me ten years. Talk about the impact that her death has had on you.

SPEAKER_00 25:56

Oh Lord, it it really it took all I could to get to keep myself together. It drove me into a stroke I'm thinking, and then after my other son died uh not my other son, but my oldest son, he pays the next five years after she did, and that took a toll on me too. So I just give it to God and and and you know let him, you know, help me get through it. So that he the only one that can give me peace.

SPEAKER_02 26:40

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