Three Florida children kidnapped on 9/11 or September 11: Part 8 Amanda Brown

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Detective Michael Hurley was notified that Amanda Brown had disappeared and went to the Crab Hut to look for Willie Crain. Arriving at the Crab Hut at approximately 8:00 a.m., on September 11, 1998, Detective Hurley met Willie Crain’s son in law, Mark Davis and Davis’ wife, Patricia Davis. Patricia is Willie Crain’s daughter.

Mark Davis led Detective Hurley to the Courtney Campbell Causeway boat ramp, where they found Willie Crain’s truck. At approximately 8:40 a.m., Mark Davis and his wife took Detective Hurley and another detective on their boat and found Crain at the Double Branch area of upper Tampa Bay. Crain was in his boat.

The detectives spoke with Willie Crain, who told the detective that he was aware that Amanda was missing. He stated that he had spoke with Kathryn Hartman. Willie Crain agreed to speak with Detective Hurley at his office and offered to give the detective a ride to the boat ramp on his boat. Detective Hurley agreed. As they road back to the ramp, Willie Crain told Detective Hurley that he had spent the previous night with Kathryn Hartman and her daughter.

Willie Crain also told Detective Hurley that his daughter, Cynthia Gay, stated that Kathryn Hartman called her and accused Willie of kidnapping Amanda. Crain stated that he obtained Kathryn Hartman’s phone number from his daughter and called her back.

Crain said that during their conversation, Hartman didn’t accuse him of taking Amanda. He continued saying that he put the phone down and never picked it back up because he had to go crabbing.

“This looks real bad for me,” Willie Crain told the detective.

Willie Crain stated that he went crabbing early that morning because he was concerned that other crabbers were stealing from him. Detective Hurley said that when he met with Willie Crain, he was wearing slickers or rubber pants that were chest high, a blue tee-shirt, a baseball cap, and black loafers covered in mud. Detective Hurley stated that he did not see a maroon colored shirt on Crain’s boat, but that he did notice a small scratch on Willie Crain’s right arm.

Willie Crain then offered to give Detective Hurley a ride to his office, Detective Hurley accepted the ride. Willie Crain gave his son in law, Mark Davis a box of crabs and two boxes of bait. Detective Hurley observed Willie Crain as he removed his slickers. Detective Hurley testified that Willie Crain was wearing jeans and that the zipper was down. Willie Crain told Detective Hurley that he would do whatever the detectives needed to help with the investigation. They went back to the office and Willie Crain was placed in an interview room.

Continue to part 9
 

Three children kidnapped from Florida on 9/11 or September 11: Part 2 Amanda Brown