NQL Case File

Circumstances

Date of Disappearance

September 5, 1990

Notes

McFry was last seen in Anniston, AL on September 5, 1990, alone in his mother's trailer home. Before he disappeared, neighbors had witnesses an unidentified blue van loitering near the trailer home. He spent most of the day working outside and was planning to take a bath there. His mother had left to spend the night at her sister's across the street, and when she returned the following day he wasn't there. Strangley, the lights and TV remained on and he left his wallet behind. His vehicle (Ford Maverick) was discovered later abandoned, but inside was a blanked with blood, hair, and tissue as well as potential fragments from a bullet. The initial suspect was David Ronald Chandler who was accused in 1991 of having hired a hit man to McFry as part of a revenge killing that also resulted in the death of James Burrows (Case #2650). The suspicion was that Chandler (a local drug dealer) though McFry and Burrows had stolen drugs from him and so ordered that they be killed. The 'hit man' told police that he had thrown McFry's remains in a well after killing him. Later, the 'hit man' withdrew his confession and other witnesses recanted their accounts; Chandler was given a life sentence instead of the death penalty. Some believe that Burrows and McFry may have been killed by Jimmy Steed, a man who was also a suspect in the disappearance of his wife Karen (Case #2615). He was convicted for the murder of another woman in 2015 and sentenced to 105 years.

Location of the Disappearance or Crime Scene

Home

Potential Circumstances

Abandoned Vehicle, Alone, Drug Trafficking, During a Crime, Night, Prior Communication, Prior Unusual Behavior, Visiting Friends or Family

Vehicle

Ford Maverick

License Plate

Photo of Vehicle

Suspect

Suspect Description

Photo of Suspect