Mini Episode: The Mysterious Disappearance and Murder of Steve Gaddy: The Vanishing Cookie Salesman of Jacksonville, Alabama

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What happens when a devoted cookie salesman vanishes without a trace? On August 5, 1974, Steve Gaddy left his home in Jacksonville, Alabama, for what was supposed to be an ordinary workday, only to never return. In this gripping episode of "Murder in Your Backyard," we recount the harrowing events that led to the discovery of Steve’s abandoned delivery truck and the tireless search that ensued. The investigation took a dark turn when his body was found with a fatal gunshot wound, leaving his family and the community in shock and desperate for answers.

Join us as we revisit the relentless efforts of law enforcement, family, and volunteers who were determined to find out what happened to Steve. We'll delve into the chilling details of his last known movements, the subsequent arrest and release of a suspect, and the frustrating lack of leads that have kept this case open for decades. With reward money growing and memories fading, we reflect on the enduring mystery and urge anyone with information to come forward, keeping the hope for justice for Steve Leonard Gaddy alive.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The year of 1974 holds one of Anniston, alabama's
stranger unsolved murder cases.
A hard-working family man goesmissing.
As the reward, money incomingtips and time grows on, the
memories, secrets and peoplefade.
This is Murder in your Backyardwith the tale of the Cookie man

(00:21):
.
It's a normal Monday morning onAugust 5th 1974.
Cookie salesman Steve Gaddywakes up to his usual big
breakfast and kisses his wife.
As he holds her close, he saysthe words Goodbye, I love you.
As the time edges near 7am hewalks out of his Jacksonville
home, entering the white companytruck which reads Murray's

(00:42):
Quality Cookies.
As she watches him drive away,as she did so many times before,
she never expects this to bethe last time that she will ever
see him.
Steve was typically home by 5pm.
As the clock rang 6, mrs Gaddybecame worried sick.
Around 7 pm Anniston policereceive a report that a white
delivery truck has been parkedsince noon.

(01:04):
Upon arriving at the corner of14th Street and Boynton Avenue,
they find the truck to be mostlyempty.
Some of the cookie boxes havebeen damaged, reportedly by
neighborhood children.
Police find a billfold with afolded $10 bill, also a driver's
license with the name SteveLeonard Gaddy.
There is no sign of blood.

(01:24):
There is no sign of a struggleand there is no sign of Steve.
Currently this is a missingpersons case.
The truck is impounded.
While it is examined forevidence, mrs Gaddy has asked
for a description of her husband.
Mrs Gaddy and her father retracea portion of the route that
Steve had taken.
That morning the pair begantalking to neighbors near the

(01:47):
area where the truck was found.
No one could be of help.
One woman stated that shedidn't see anything, then
follows up by saying she didn'tlike to get involved in things
like this.
The next day, police officers,county Sheriff's deputies,
anniston Rescue Squad membersand volunteers search up and
down along the area where thetruck was recovered.
Coming up shorthanded, theymake process back to Gaddy's

(02:10):
delivery route.
Police also begin talking tosome of Gaddy's customers.
The County Road Departmentpumps out some of the water near
the wells of the city dump andnothing turns up.
Officers start checking intoGaddy's background to see if he
has any debts or personalproblems.
Everything seems normal.
Mrs Gaddy said that the next twodays of the home are filled
with family and friends, but itfelt so empty, staying up day

(02:34):
and night waiting for his return, hoping that possibly someone
would call demanding money.
She never gives up hope.
That is until Thursday night at9 pm.
After a telephone call frompolice, she is told that her
husband has been found on thewest side of Anniston with one
single gunshot through his back,killing him instantly.
On the rainy and humid day ofAugust 8th, police get a phone

(02:55):
tip that Gaddy's body is in awooded area off of Crane Avenue
southwest of Randolph ParkSchool.
When they arrive, gaddy's bodyis found laying face down in a
clearing surrounded by piles ofdebris.
Rain had washed away mostphysical evidence.
The gunshot wound is from a.38.
According to police, theybelieve Steve may have been
abducted by one or more personswhile making a stop at Bush's

(03:17):
Grocery located at 1300 West15th Street.
$53 had been stolen In 1975,police make an arrest.
The man is charged and has abell set.
He is later let go becauseinformants refused to testify
against him.
Police scenario, however,believes that this is the work
of three men two who abducted MrGaddy and took the truck and a

(03:39):
vehicle which followed behind.
Mrs Gaddy's last knownstatement about the death of her
husband is I know somebody sawthis, somebody somewhere had to,
but they're afraid to getinvolved.
Reward money grew from $1,000up to $16,000 throughout the
years, and flyers were hangingall the way up until the late
80s or early 90s.

(03:59):
If you know anything about themurder of Steve Leonard Gaddy,
contact the Anniston PoliceDepartment at 256-238-1800.
Tune in next time on Murder inyour Backyard.