Sherlock: the one that got away
James Nichols of Poughkeepsie, NY, died in December of last year, aged 82. When nobody claimed his estate, county officials ordered his house to be cleared out, and last week a contractor found the body of Nichols's wife who went missing
twenty seven years ago. The body was found behind a false wall, bound with rope in the foetal position, wrapped in plastic, and with a fatal blow to the head.
According to Dutchess County medical examiner Kari Reiber: It is being ruled a homicide.
Don't you think it's a little early in the investigation to be ruling out other avenues of enquiry, Kari? (rolleyes)
After JoAnn Nichols went missing, a typewritten note was found (by her husband), and a telephone call from her was also received (by her husband). So the authorities seemingly didn't follow up on her disappearance. Although detective Paul Lecomte said: We did have some unanswered questions regarding him.
Unfortunately, Paul, it's a bit late now. He got away.