The continuous sound of a car horn alerted authorities to a distressing situation in a quiet town. Concerned residents contacted the police after hearing unusual noises, including banging and popping sounds, emanating from a nearby property.
Upon investigation, law enforcement found a six-year-old boy sitting in a truck outside a house, repeatedly honking the horn. The child informed the officers that his mother had entered the house hours earlier but had not returned.
Subsequently, the boy’s grandparents were summoned to care for him, while police explored the residence. Despite initial concerns of a potential threat, no one was found inside the house. However, a tragic discovery awaited them in the basement.
Inside, authorities found a deceased woman, identified as 28-year-old Crystal Hawkins, lying on a waterbed with a fatal gunshot wound. Nearby, a Doberman pinscher also succumbed to a bullet. Further search revealed the body of Scott Johnson, Crystal’s ex-partner, who had taken his own life with a gunshot, leaving a poignant note behind.
The incident, a murder-suicide that occurred in May 1993, shocked the town of Vinton, Iowa. Author Rachel Corbett, in her upcoming book “The Monsters We Make: Murder, Obsession, and the Rise of Criminal Profiling”, delves into the personal impact of the case, recalling her childhood interactions with Johnson.
Corbett’s in-depth research and consultations with experts shed light on the complexities of such tragic events. The crime statistics and psychological insights she gathered highlighted the patterns and risk factors associated with murder-suicides, offering a glimpse into the mind of the perpetrator.
The poignant narrative serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence. For those affected, support services like the National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline and AAFDA are available to provide assistance and advocacy. Corbett’s book, set for release in November, aims to raise awareness and understanding of such heinous acts while honoring the memories of the victims.