I don't know if it was mama or somebody said don't touch it. D amonRaines@walkerschools.org. We werent sure if wed be able to locate the exact spot where Eric, Gypsy and the truck were found but we saw a small wooden cross adorned with flowers sitting just off the path beside a mudhole. Some of the programs offered include special education, gifted education, and English as a second language. Weve been told countless times that murderers including those responsible for Erics death, are still walking free because they are long time police informants and are being protected by law enforcement or others in positions of power. View Marion Walker's profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Eldridge is located in northwest Walker County in the north-central part of the state. The story has always been told that turkey hunters found Eric & Gypsy in the burned truck that Saturday morning. This is where they pulled the truck back and dug through the truck. And I, I ask him, had it been processed and he told me that they had all the information and evidence they needed, but he would never elaborate. While many others at the scene that day walked pretty freely around the crime scene, which was never secured or taped off, Erics family stood in front of the school and waited. Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. var slotId = 'div-gpt-ad-countyschoolcalendar_com-medrectangle-3-0'; It serves high school students in Walker, From Business: The Walker County Public School System governs various educational institutions. We got several calls giving us tips. FAFSA Code: // Main Campus , , // CY16 Default Rate: %. This trip to the school was one of our very first stops. Elevation: 505 feet. www.patreon.com/secretscrime. "No one should suffer like this, no one.". It is a part of, From Business: It is the policy of the Alabama State Board of Education and Bevill State Community College, a postsecondary institution under its control, that no person shall,, As an overall could not pick better school for my boys to attend. var zoneid = '30'; 15.8. If you was broke down on the side of the road, hed pull over and help you. Copyright 2015WBRC. var alS = 2021 % 1000; Year after year, his mother Tobbie Stover has refused to give up, hopeful that one day she might get some answers, and some closure. Tonya Mauldin and a couple other family members had been asked by Tobbie to take photos that day. We couldn't see the sheriff. If you are left still wanting even more content, please check us out on Patreon. The district also values community involvement and encourages parents and community members to get involved in the education of their local schools. The district also includes holidays and teacher workdays in the calendar. the mirror off of the pickup truck was left in the mud hole and Eric had washed his vehicle the day before and I asked if they would get the mirror. . In Michigan, Walker is ranked 612nd of 1091 cities in Public Schools per capita, and 594th of 1091 cities in Public Schools per square mile. . Your email address will not be published. Placing the number in perspective, 250 to 300 teachers are out on a typical day, Ontiveros said. And, uh, it was obvious he didn't care. Call the sheriff's office at 205-302-6464 if you a tip about this case. Simmons Elementary School offers a variety of academic and learning programs. Distrust of law enforcement seems to be deeply ingrained in many in the area. }else{ But they left all the ashes and stuff there. We hadnt even met with Tobbie and Erics brother, Chris, yet. A family is awaiting answers after Eric Cates and his dog, Gypsy, were found dead March 21, 2015, in Walker County (Photos courtesy Cates/Stover family). Schools . var container = document.getElementById(slotId); var ins = document.createElement('ins'); To some, this is going to seem like unusual behavior but the school is located in the immediate vicinity to meth cooking operations, what some have referred to as a long standing chop shop and quite a few other illegal activities. Other tips claimed Eric was killed by a man who lived in what is referred to as The Camp over a debt he supposedly owed. High School is a part of the Walker County Board of Education. Download the Free Blackboard District App. Eric interceded and protected them from their abusive men. For Mac OS users, there is a system setting that may not allow you to tab onto several types of elements in a web page. The calendar for Walker County Schools is established by the districts school board and follows the traditional school year calendar. He called his brother, BB, to tell him hed killed a turkey that morning and he also mentioned the burned truck behind the school. The primary coordinates for Empire Junior High School (historical) places it within the AL 35063 ZIP Code delivery area. And, uh, its like I just became family instantly like he justwed stand for hours and talk. I've got the button at the house, put up. We lost touch after I quit school and then when I started back at the store working for Harold Jo, he would come in and get checks cashed and stuff like that. The mission of Walker County Schools is to ensure students graduate ready for college, work, and life. Courtland High School If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here. APN 11141. Horace was an outstanding Dora area citizen and a member of the Walker County Board of Education. Our school has a student salon/clinic where you will work on real clients while you learn to build your own book of business. I couldn't get any questions from the sheriff, chief deputy, the investigator, which, and I know the investigator was running his legs out that first few days. That day over yonder he told us he didn't have the manpower to, to do that case. It is a wonderful elementary school. Walker County Schools. if (document.context) document.write ("&context=" + escape(document.context)); And then as the weeks wore on, with no communication with the sheriff's department after giving information, you know, leads and tips, the breakdown in the communication was, was very evident, not only us but other departments. Not long after I opened the store is when #$%^&* came in in a truck similar to Erics and got, I think it was like a 5 gallon jug of gas. Congratulations to Cristen Bridges on being chosen alternate. We also have our 1st zoom call for Patreon coming up in the next couple weeks where you get to ask us anything. Walker County Schools. Um, and after, well, Wednesday when we hadn't heard anything, um, I just called Wayne and told him I was going to see the sheriff's office and see who I could talk to. "You just pray that it's not," said Stover. Could it be that these informants take that role as a hopeful get out of jail free card? At one point someone told them the weapon had been hidden in the rubble of the old Empire School where Eric and Gypsy were found. So I know Eric didn't drive hisself there and park it there and that mudhole. We seen it laying there. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Georgia Chickamauga Walker County School District Cherokee Ridge Elementary School. If he wasn't available, we'd give it to the chief deputy bridges. Become a patron of Secrets True Crime Podcast today and lets solve these cases TOGETHER. Empire has a post office with ZIP code 35063. Once the tow truck left with Erics truck, the Walker County Sheriffs Office allowed the family to walk behind the school. What was left of them 2 piles was still there. Um, looked like little volcanoes on each side where the truck had been parked, where they had taken and raked out the debris from the fire and just left it there in a pile. Still, Stover said, its welcomed progress. WALKER COUNTY, AL (WBRC) - were found inside a truck found near the old, abandoned Empire School. var zoneid = '30'; I cant tell you the number of comments weve received with these sentiments. Additionally, the district has a strong focus on technology integration, with many classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards, tablets, and laptops. It will all come together at some point.. Local residents were able to walk back and see Eric and Gypsys bodies in the vehicle. The district also places a strong emphasis on character education, helping students develop good behavior, decision-making skills, and a positive attitude.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'countyschoolcalendar_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-countyschoolcalendar_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Overall, life at Walker County Schools is focused on providing students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to succeed in school and in life. They had SUV pulled into the right and had a couple of little clear plastic totes in it. The school provides, From Business: The Walker County Center of Technology, also known as WCCT, is an educational institution that offers academic programs. As mentioned previously, Eric and Gypsy were found behind the old Empire School. The abandoned, partially burned school is quite the eye sore these days. So all of us, was like really, I mean we can, we can go back there. He said he cant yet say more. Your support as a patron of Secrets True Crime Podcast helps us cover the expenses associated with producing a high quality podcast, traveling to conduct fieldwork and interviews, and obtaining the tools and equipment needed to conduct a thorough investigation. Teacher workdays are also scheduled throughout the year. The person of interest was at one time Cates boss at a trucking company, but Stover said theyd had a falling out shortly before Cates and his dog were found slain and its not the first time his name has been mentioned in connection with the investigation. The primary coordinates for Empire Junior High School (historical) places it within the AL 35063 ZIP Code delivery area. And then I asked him had the dog been taken to Auburn? Exclusive Curriculum Providing future beauty professionals with updated technical and business skills. When Sheriff Nick Smith was elected in 2019, the case was once again revisited and ultimately the sheriffs office sent the Cates case to the State Bureau of Investigation. In an attempt to acknowledge them all, . Tobbie and Erics brother, Chris, described what they saw that afternoon as they walked behind the school. BB drove over to the school to take a look at the truck. All of the investigative tools and resources are provided by Echo 7 Foxtrot. The district operates 15 schools, serving students in grades K-12. The next day she got a call that she couldn't believe. As the tips came in, Tobbie and the rest of Erics family sent them directly to the investigators with the Walker County Sheriffs Office. Ill also post the link on our Facebook page. Nothing had prepared Tobbie for the secretive town of Empire where many of the residents have fine tuned their skills at misdirecting any investigation into what happens in that town. - Curates over 4,000 data driven lesson plans for 20+ learners in a year. We have it filled with great information about Susan and Evan and will be regularly adding new content about Eric and Gypsy.