The Unsolved Murder of Mischelle Lawless: A Case of Wrongful Conviction and Lingering Questions

The Discovery of Mischelle Lawless

• 💔 On November 8th, 1992, 19-year-old Mischelle Lawless was found bludgeoned and shot to death in her car near Benton, Missouri.
• 🚗 The crime scene, detailed in a police audio clip, showed signs of a violent struggle, including blood splatter, shell casings, and a trail leading over a guardrail.
• 🌟 Mischelle was described as a petite but strong-willed young woman, a freshman in college, and involved in various community activities.

Initial Investigation and Joshua Kezer's Conviction

• 🕵️ Police initially focused on Mischelle's boyfriend, Leon Lamb, who was the last to see her alive, but he was cleared after passing a polygraph.
• 🗣️ A lead emerged from jailhouse informants claiming a 17-year-old named Joshua Kezer confessed to the murder.
• 📸 Mark Abbott, the man who found Mischelle's car, identified Kezer from a photo lineup, though he was not entirely certain.
• ⚖️ Despite a lack of physical evidence and Kezer's claims of never knowing Mischelle, he was charged and convicted of second-degree murder based on informant testimony and a questionable identification.

Reopening the Case and Exoneration

• 🔍 In 2005, a new sheriff, Rick Walter, reopened the case, suspecting issues with the original conviction and facing death threats for his decision.
• 🤥 An outside investigator discovered that the jailhouse informants had received deals for their testimony and admitted to lying.
• 🧪 The prosecution's claim of blood on Kezer's jacket and car was revealed to be false; luminol tests showed no blood.
• 🎭 A key witness from Mischelle's friend circle, who testified to seeing Kezer arguing with Mischelle at a Halloween party, later recanted, stating she was mistaken and pressured by the then-sheriff.
• 👨‍⚖️ In 2009, a judge declared Joshua Kezer an innocent man, and he was released after serving 16 years in prison.

The Search for the Real Killer

• ❓ The investigation into Mischelle's murder remains open, with potential suspects including Mark Abbott, the man who found her body.
• 👨‍Identical twins Mark and Matt Abbott are under scrutiny, with DNA evidence found on Mischelle's clothing that cannot be definitively attributed to one twin over the other.
• 💔 Mark Abbott made conflicting statements about finding Mischelle and allegedly made incriminating remarks to others.
• 📞 The sheriff remains optimistic about solving the case, believing that justice will eventually be served for Mischelle Lawless and her family.