The Kerosene Killer

April 18th (12:00 - 2:00 AM)

April 18th, 2005, 12:18 AM

Creek County, GA

Hazel Falls Police Department

"911, what is your emergency?" said the operator.

"There is a fire out'der off Juniper road. Anybody called that thing in?" The man said with a thick southern accent.

"What is the nearest intersecting road Sir?" Operator.

"Mill Road, It's right past the Old sawmill, out'der in the woods I can see the smoke coming from over yonder. I don't think nobody live back there." Replied the man

12:45 AM

Detective Henry Shepard's Home

Hazel Falls GA

A cell phone rings on the nightstand. Shepard sleeping in his bed quickly grabs the phone answering it. "Hello? What!?" said the half-asleep Detective as his eyes sprung open with concern. "I'll be right there" he stated hanging up the phone. He jumped out of bed and began getting his clothes from the closet. As he was rushing to put on his pants, hopping up and down making a loud thumping noise. A woman in his bed rolls over gruntingly. "Honey, what the hell are you doing?" the woman said.

"Sorry Hun, I got a call and I have to go now!" Shepard said expressing concern.

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

"Yes, I just got to hurry" he said as he finished buttoning his shirt. He quickly kissed the woman and rushed out the door with a final "I love you" before exiting the room.

Detective Henry Shepard has been living in this town for the last year after being offered the detective position in a small rural town. He thought it would be a more relaxing life for him and his family after having worked in the Atlanta homicide division and he'd see more than enough horrific things for one life. He was ready for a simple and safe life for his wife and daughter. Shepard was 45 years old and had short salt and pepper hair usually styled with a part off the side so his hair would swoop over his head, a formal business look. He had a 5 O'clock shadow most of the time. Slim fit build with light-colored skin, almost pale.

1:00 AM

As Shepards car approached the scene, there were police cruisers and fire trucks parked along the road. Red, Yellow, and Blue lights were strobing through the darkness of the long road that had no streetlights. As Detective Shepard exited his vehicle the scent of burnt pine and flesh flowed through the breeze. He made his way through the tree line down a small trail of fresh footprints. The long grass of the wooded area was bent down from various officers and firefighters walking back and forth from the street to the scene. As he got to the end of the short trail there was a small opening with a lack of trees, this was an open area where animals would likely graze.

In the middle of the small field, there was a tall log staked into the ground standing roughly 6 feet tall, It seemed to stand upright perfectly without tipping. At the base of the post on the ground, the charred body of the victim leaned to the right of the post. Another detective larger then Shepard with a slight beer belly, dirty blond hair, trimmed very short almost buzzed with a well groomed beard, was already examining the body turning his head in disgust from the smell covering his mouth and nose making eye contact with Shepard.

He approached Shepard with a look of terror in his eyes. "I've never seen anything like this before Shepard" Detective Myers said

Shepard sighed "Do we have an I.D. on the body?"

"No I.D. yet, just the girl. Jane doe, she looks young, who would do something like this?" Myers replied

"That's what we are going to find out Nate." Shepard said as he walked up to examine the body.