May 28, 2025 • 28 mins
On the morning of September 26, 2003, 32-year-old Army veteran and father Eric Nelams stepped outside his Phenix City, Alabama home to head to work—just like he did every other day. Minutes later, he was gunned down in his own carport. Despite witnesses, potential suspects, and a possible motive, Eric’s murder remains unsolved more than two decades later. In this episode, we explore the tragic and frustrating case of Eric Nelams—an honorably discharged veteran, a devoted father, and a man who was deeply loved by his family and community. We examine the suspicious circumstances surrounding his murder, including an alleged fraud scheme, questionable behavior from those closest to him, and early missteps by law enforcement that may have cost investigators valuable time and evidence. Eric’s family, including his sister Cathy and mother Annie, have never stopped fighting for answers. From billboards and petitions to monthly emails to police, their pursuit of justice is as strong today as it was in 2003. *📢 How you can help: *Eric’s case remains open but unsolved. His family is petitioning to have the Alabama Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit take over the investigation. You can support their fight for justice by: Signing the Change.org petition Sharing Eric’s story Following @justice.for.eric.nelams on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X Calling Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP with any tips—even if they seem small 🎧 Subscribe & follow Weird True Crime for more real stories, real people, and cases that refuse to be forgotten. 📩 Have a case you want us to cover? Email us at weirdtruecrime@gmail.com or send us a DM on Instagram. Subscribe on Patreon: www.patreon.com/weirdtruecrime Instagram: www.instagram.com/weirdtruecrime TikTok - www.tiktok.com/weirdtruecrime YouTube - www.youtube.com/@weirdtruecrime Edited by: djaudio
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-true-crime--5679751/support.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-true-crime--5679751/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Fireeyes Media.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It was early morning in Phoenix City, Alabama, and thirty
two year old Army veteran Eric Nelms was heading to work,
just like he did every other day. He walked out
the front door of his home, got into his car port,
and then gunshots.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Neighbors woke to loud booms cutting through the quiet street.
By the time first responders arrived, it was too late.
Eric had been shot multiple times in front of his
own home.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
A crowd quickly gathered dozens of people, including his estranged
wife's ex husband, and several close friends. But what stood
out the most among them was someone who, just dates
earlier had tried to convince Eric to take the fall
for a major fraud scheme that had just been uncovered.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Was this a drive by, a warning to keep quiet,
or something even more sinister.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Before we get into today's case, we want to remind
you to please take a moment to rate us five
stars and leave a review wherever you're listening. It really
does help us grow and continue to share more stories.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Like Eric's, and be sure to follow us on Instagram
and TikTok at Weird True Crime for extra episode content
and good conversation. I'm Gina, and I'm Amber.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
And this is the frustrating and heartbreaking case of Eric Nelm's.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Around five twenty am on September twenty sixth, two thousand
and three, Eric left for work like usual. Just seconds later,
gunfire erupted outside his home inside his estranged wife Tara Jones,
who went by Mollie, later claimed she heard the shots
and immediately grabbed her two children, Eric's stepkids.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
But instead of checking on Eric, she barricaded them in
the master bedroom, pushed furniture in front of the door,
and climbed out the window, with the kids running into
the woods behind the house. And here's what really doesn't
sit right. It took Mollie twenty whole minutes to knock
on a neighbor's door and finally call for help. That
(02:44):
was at around five forty am.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
When first responders arrived, they found Eric unresponsive in the
car port with multiple gunshot wounds. And they weren't the
only ones at the scene. A large crowd had already gathered, neighbors,
friends and am and even Mollie's ex husband.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Eric's mom, Annie said that they were probably close to
a hundred people already there when she showed up. That's
a lot of people to know something so quickly. According
to those close to the case, Mollie allegedly called her
ex husband and several other people before ever dialing nine
to one.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
One, but not Eric's family that speaks volumes and Annie
also noticed something else, two men in handcuffs sitting on
the curb outside the house, but despite being detained, neither
was ever arrested.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Even stranger, those men don't appear in any official reports,
and when Annie asked investigators about them, she was told
they didn't know what she was talking about. But I mean,
maybe they were just in the wrong place at the
wrong time. But still no paperwork. That's kind of hard
to overlook.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Robbery was ruled out pretty quickly. Eric still had his wallet,
car keys, and personal belongings. Nothing was taken. Whoever did
this wasn't after stuff they were after Eric.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Police even considered a drive by shooting at first, but
that theory didn't hold up. Bullet casings, fingerprints, and witness
statements were all collected, but none of it led anywhere.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Kathy, Eric's sister, actually did a lot of investigating on
her own, and she found out that some of the
fingerprints collected at the scene belonged to a police officer.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah, apparently he didn't take proper precautions when he was
processing the scene and left his own prints behind, whichikes,
that's really something that shouldn't be happening, even in two
thousand and three.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Then came a tip that added a whole new layer.
A young girl getting ready for school that morning said
a man running from the scene. She couldn't make out
his face, but she saw him jump into a black
car and speed off.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
And on the way out of the neighborhood, he hit
a curb. That might seem like a small detail, but
it actually ended up being incredibly important. When police looked
into it, they discovered that the car belonged to Stephanie
and Eric Cowling, two people who had known Eric since childhood.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
And here's where things get even weirder. Eric Cowling was
actually at the crime scene that morning, standing among the
crowd while police investigated.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
And the black car that the witnesses saw it was
sold to a neighbor shortly after the shooting. Pretty suspicious timing, right.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
According to Eric's mom Annie. Police did follow up on that.
They visited the car's new owner and took the tires
to compare the marks left on the curb outside Eric's house.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Yeah, guess what, The tires matched. But instead of treating
that like the break in the case, investigators basically dropped
it no further investigation.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
You're probably thinking the same thing we are. How is
that not a smoking gun?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (06:17):
But things with the Callings weren't simple. Between two thousand
and two thousand and three, Eric had been involved in
a check fraud scheme, one that Stephanie and Eric Calling orchestrated.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Stephanie worked at DHL and had set Eric up as
a fake vendor. She processed fake payments in his name.
He'd cash the checks, keep a small cut, and hand
over the rest.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
It all fell apart when DHL ran an internal audit
and discovered the missing funds, and with the scheme exposed,
the Callings were facing serious legal trouble.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Just days before Eric was murdered, the Callings arranged a
meeting with him and Mall. According to court records, it
was to get their stories straight.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Stephanie even pressured Eric to take the blame for the fraud,
but he refused, and a few days later he was
gone to his family.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
The timing wasn't just suspicious, it felt deliberate. Refusing to
take the fall might have made Eric a threat to
everyone involved.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
And it's important to remember that Eric wasn't the only
one involved. There were at least five other people, probably more,
but only he and the Callings were ever listed in
any of the court documents or records.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
The connection between Eric and the Collings wasn't just business.
These were lifelong friends, basically family. That makes it even
harder to process.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Kathy, Eric's sister, gave some really powerful insight into Eric's
personality and how deeply he cared for people, even when
they didn't deserve it. And here's what she had to say.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
You asked it for something, He's gonna give it to you,
go get it. He's gonna help He's gonna help you out.
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
He was just that guy. And his relationships as well,
like he when he was involved with somebody, like he's
totally in every relationship he was in. He they had
kids prior to the relationship, and he literally would treat
each child as though they were his own. There was
no difference in his and there so I think his
(08:33):
involvement is this is him being a people pleaser and
wanted to make people happy and like on so many levels,
like them being his friends and quotation Mark as well
as you know, maybe him thinking that he has he's
the man of the family or our immediate family, and
having to carry the load. I think those are the motive,
(08:56):
the things that drove him to do this, and nobody
can tell me any differently.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
In the days after Eric's death, Kathy even confronted Eric
Kaling outside Annie's house. She asked him directly about his
and Stephanie's involvement.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
And instead of denying it, Eric allegedly said something like,
don't tell the police about it. You'll get Stephanie in trouble.
That's not the kind of thing you say if you're innocent.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Kathy and Annie were so sure of the Cowling's involvement
they went to confront Eric Colling's mom and sister at
their home just a block away from where Eric grew up.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Annie, who calls Eric Cowling, DEDI explained what happened in
her own words.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
I went to his parents' house because Eric calling and
my brother and other friends, we all grew up on
the same street. His mom's house is Lily one block
from where our house is but the same street. I
went to his mother's house that day and I said,
and I don't want to call her name, but I said,
miss Cowling. I spoke to his both his mother and sister,
(10:05):
and his sister I looked them both in the face
and I said, your brother, your son, and his wife
was had something to do with my brother's murder, and
I want you to reach out to him and tell
him to do the right thing. And she started crying,
and his sister crying, and they both you know, he
didn't have anything to do with that, and it just
(10:26):
made me so mad. And I had so much respect
for that lady that I just decided to get up
and leave at that point. But I came and say
what I said, And later my mom had a similar
conversation with the sister and the mother, pleading with them
to talk to him, to see if he'll do the
right thing by my brother, and just you know, whatever
(10:47):
the consequence would have been, he would have at least
stepped up and did the right thing. But that didn't happen,
and it still hasn't happened.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yes, I.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Decided I wanted to speak with the mother as a mother,
a mother to another mother, and I went up there.
Lets you say, his sister then was there and uh,
I begged him to make d D tell the truth.
I said, did he anything to do with that? And
then the sister them says, Sam, I don't believe d
(11:19):
D he did. I said, yes he did. I'm asking
you as a mother to another mother. I didn't get
no result from that. I thought that I could touch
her heart, you know, mother mother talking to her mother,
and they still want All they wanted to do was
save did he That's the whole thing at any cost,
(11:39):
not thinking that he has taken my son in life
and what I got to live with.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
It's honestly just heartbreaking. Any truly believed that mother to
mother did I I'd understand each other, but in the end,
Eric Calling's mother was only looking out for her own kid.
As a mom, I understand wanting to protect your child,
and we've actually had these conversations before, but I honestly
(12:17):
know that if I were ever in that position, I
would support my child, but I wouldn't cover for their actions.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Exactly. I've taught you better than that. You make a mistake,
I will love you and support you, but you're going
to pay for your mistakes. That's the bottom line, one percent.
About a month after Eric's death, Kathy followed up with
two of the officers working the case to see if
there had been any progress. She'd heard rumors that this
was a planned hit, something coordinated by Molly and her
(12:46):
ex husband.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Most people didn't even know about the frauds team. Vanelam's
family had kept that quiet, so Kathy was hoping investigators
were considering all angles.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
And according to her, the officer said that after speaking
with the Cowlings, they were considered the main persons of interest,
possibly even suspects.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
But here's where the frustration really kicks in. If investigators
had that strong of a lead, why weren't charges ever brought.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
The most likely reason is lack of evidence. But even
when the Cowlings were arrested later for the fraud case,
their home was never searched, not even to see if
a weapon might have been there.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
I mean, I get that it was a white collar crime,
but still searching their home for documents could have led
to all kinds of things. A murder weapon notes anything.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
And here's the part that's truly baffling. Eric's family was
told early on that nothing could really move forward in
his murder case until the fraud investigation was done.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
That doesn't make any sense. Why not investigate both at
the same time. It's not like you can't charge someone
for two different things.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
But that's what happened. The fraud case dragged on for years,
and by the time it wrapped up, the urgency around
Eric's murder was long gone.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Yeah, what could have been an active investigation basically turned
cold before it ever had a real shot.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Kathy wasn't ready to give up, though. She reached out
to Alabama's Attorney General's Cold case unit and connected with
retired investigator Tony Cassaldo.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
For a while, things were looking promising. Tony was checking
in with her every month, really making her feel like
Eric's case was being prioritized.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
But then, out of nowhere, Kathy got a call from
Jeane Sisson, the head of the cold case department. He
told her Eric's case had been closed because it was solved.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, which it wasn't. According to the Phoenix City Police Department.
The case was still very much open. Cathy tried to
get them to fix the error and take another look,
but no one followed.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Up, and while the fraud scheme remains the most likely motive,
it's not the only factor in play. Eric's relationship with
Mollie had been rocky for a while.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
They separated just six months into their marriage. Eric had
even changed the locks after she moved out, but the
week before his death, she moved back in, and no
one in Eric's family even knew until the day he died.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Annie believes Molly used her kids to convince Eric to
let them come back. Eric had helped raise them. The youngest,
just three years old at the time, thought Eric was
his dad.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And Eric and Molly had known each other since childhood.
He had even helped her escape a dangerous situation after
her ex husband went to prison.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
But after Eric's death, Molly's behavior raised some red flags.
She and the kids moved in with Annie, but her
friends were constantly coming over, having secretive conversations behind closed doors.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
And just days before the life insurance payout, Mollie packed
up the kids and left Annie's house while she was
at work, no warning, no goodbye, and after that she
cut off all communication with Eric's family.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
For over twenty years.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
And let's not forget about Molly's ex husband. He'd recently
been released from prison for a separate murder charge.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
There was tension between him and Eric, likely because Eric
had stepped up as a father figure while he was incarcerated.
Annie said a witness told her the ex husband had
been tracking Eric's schedule in the days leading up to
the murder.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
There were even rumors about a meeting where Molly, the Cowlings,
and several others talked about wanting Eric gone.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
If that's true, it could mean multiple people were either
involved or aware of what was coming.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
One witness reportedly gave this information to law enforcement, but
again it was never investigated.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
In early twenty twenty four, Kathy reached out to a
private investigative group called IRIS Investigative Strategies. They specialized in
cold cases, and their lead investigator, Douglas McGregor, agreed to
review Eric's case completely free of charge.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
All they needed was access to the case files. They
even offered to sign a non disclosure agreement so nothing
would leave the police department. They just wanted to help.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
But Phoenix PD refused to release the files. No explanation,
no compromise, just a flat out no.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Now to be fair, if the case is still technically active,
that might be why, But given how little movement there's been,
it seems like they could have used the.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Help, especially when the offer came in with confidentiality built in.
These weren't random internet saluths, they were professionals.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Kathy did share that someone from the cold case unit
was finally brought in to review the files again in
spring of twenty twenty four, but that was the last
time anything happened.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
And what's so frustrating about cases like this is that
there are clearly people who know something. It only takes
one person coming forward to change everything, but.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
So far no one has and it's.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Easy to get lost in the twists and theories. But
at the center of this is a man, a real person,
someone who mattered deeply to his family.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
So before we go any further, let's talk about who
Eric Nelms really was be on the headlines in the
case files.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Eric Bernard Nelms was born on June tenth, nineteen seventy one,
in Columbus, Georgia. He was raised by his mom Annie
and his stepdad Eddie.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Kathy was his big sister, just under two years older,
and the two of them were incredibly close. She even
said that even though she was older Eric always felt
like a big brother.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Eric had this huge magnetic personality. He was the guy
who would give you the shirt off his back, always helping,
always showing up.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Annie said that he bought people's shoes, fed them, gave
them clothes, and sometimes even invited people into his home
if they had nowhere else to go.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Kathy shared this beautiful memory about his energy and presence
growing up.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Let me get my taser ready. So when we were
growing up, my brother was always the joker, Like he
was the person in the room that would just light
up a room. Or when he comes around, if you're
feeling sad, he's gonna change the energy and make you happy,
like he's gonna say or do something that's gonna make
(20:20):
you like laugh or smile, or he wants to bring
out that good in you and the best in you,
Like he's that person. And he had such a charismatic
or magnetic personality, Like in our neighborhood, he would he
was very popular, like when we would go to my
grandmother's house. Because he's so short and stature, And I
(20:42):
keep saying that in everything, because I want to just
emphasize that his height had nothing to do with how big.
His personality was like everybody would just see him and
love him. They were like, where are you going? You know,
he would say something funny, like to the elders in
it and where my grandmother lived in the projects in
things City. They were like, Eric, they just may call
(21:02):
him eerily for some ready early where are you going?
He was like, hey, man's such and such and smiling.
You know, he has his chest poked out and his
head is up high in he's walking like he's a
mighty mouse. And that's what type of person he was.
And even when we were in high school, like I
cited the story in another interview, I was the older
(21:23):
one and he was the youngest, but everybody thought that
he was older because he's way more popular than I
am and I'm in the band and all these other activities.
But he's known for being a popular guy. So they
would always refer to me as Eric's sister. Oh you're
Eric's sister, so it's funny, and I was okay with
(21:44):
that because just just how it was. But that's like
my mom mentioned, he's very friendly, outgoing, charismatics. He wasn't
a troubled person.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
After high school, Eric went to Devrye University in Atlanta,
and then joined the army in nineteen ninety. He wanted
something more than what their small town had to offer,
and he wanted to provide for his son Antonio.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
During his time in the military, Eric was stationed all
over Fort Leonard Wood, Germany, Fort Campbell. He earned medals
for sharpshooting and training excellence. He even served in the
Persian Gulf.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Cathy told us that when Eric died, the only things
she wanted from his home were his dog tags, medals,
and certificates.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
He didn't just exist in the army, he excelled in
When he died, that was one of the few things
that I took from his home because I didn't want
anything else. I wanted his medals, I wanted his certificates,
I wanted his doll tags, and I gave one. It
was two. I gave one to my son and one
to his son, because I wanted them to have something
(22:55):
of his and to take pride in it and be
proud of who he was. Because I knew eventually this
story about the chicks would come out. But what I
don't want to happen is this white collar crime to
overshadow all of his goodness. This is just one thing
out of many good things that he did, so I
(23:16):
want that to be emphasized in this interview because he
was an awesome person. And I'm not just saying it
because he was my brother. It's fects, it's truth.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
After being honorably discharged, Eric moved back to Phoenix City
and started working at Kodak Polychrome, a company that specialized
in printing and graphic arts.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
And even though he was busy with work, he made
time to drive up to Kentucky often to see his son, Antonio.
They were really close despite the distance.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Eventually, Eric married Molly just six months before his death,
and he officially became a step dad to her two children.
Kathy and Annie haven't been able to stay in touch
with Molly's kids, but they still care about them deeply.
They were just children when all of this happened, and
they carry their own kind of trauma.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Kathy said she still loves them just as much now
as she did then.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Antonio, Eric's son, was only nine when he lost his dad.
He's now grown and has a daughter of his own.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Kathy and Annie have stayed close to him, and Kathy
shared more about what it's been like watching him grow
up without his father.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
My nephew is my brother, but with a different complation,
like his physique, his spatial features, his personality like he's
laid back in East Chill, just like his dad, and
thinking that he grew up without a father is just
heartbreaking to me. And I can't. He doesn't want to.
(24:50):
He doesn't want to do the East podcast like just
like me. He said he was in a dark place
about it too, so he loved his dad. He grew
up without a father. I would never know the impact
that had on his life or what it still has
on his life, because it doesn't go away. It can be.
It's almost twenty two years. It still feels like yesterday.
(25:15):
We're just not going to the motions of the funerals
all this stuff, but it still hurts to this day.
And my nephew was robbed of having a father, and
he has a child now who would again never know
her grandfather. She can only hear names and see pictures,
but she won't know the greatness that he had. And
(25:40):
I hope that that comes out of her personality as
much as it does with my nephews.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Chris Covey, Eric was only thirty two when he was killed.
He had so much life left to live, so much
more to give, And it's been over two decades with
no justice.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
But his family has stopped fighting Annie Kathy Antonio. They've
been pushing for answers for twenty two years. They just
want accountability.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
The case is still technically open, but despite early leads, witnesses,
and even evidence, it's moved at a painfully slow pace.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
In June twenty twenty four, Alabama Governor Bob Riley offered
a five thousand dollars reward for information. Crime Stoppers added
another five thousand shortly after.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
And in March of this year, Higher Hope Foundation added
yet another five thousand, bringing the total to fifteen thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
And in February of twenty twenty five, Saban Outdoor, a
local Atlanta company, sponsored a billboard campaign along the I
eighty five corridor, making sure Eric's name and face stayed
visible to thousands of commuters.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Kathy has said that awareness is key. She's constantly sharing
Eric's story and encouraging others to sign the petition to
get the Alabama Cold Case Unit officially involved.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
If you want to support follow Kathy on Instagram, TikTok,
and the x at Justice for Eric Nelms. You'll find
links to the petition and her pages in the show notes.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
The bottom line is this case isn't unsolvable. There were
people at the scene that morning, there's evidence, there are witnesses.
All it takes is one solid lead.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
If you know anything about what happened on the morning
of September twenty sixth, two thousand and three, even if
it seems small, please come forward. You can submit anonymous
tips to Alabama Crime Stoppers at three three four two
one five stop, or call the Phoenix City Police Department directly.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
We want to give a huge thank you to Kathy
and Annie for sharing their story with us. Their love
for Eric is so clear, and it's an honor to
help them tell his story the way it deserves to
be told.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
And as always, if there's a case you want us
to cover, reach out through Instagram, our website, or email
us at Weird Truecrime at gmail dot com. Until next time,
stay safe.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
And make good choices. Bye bye.
Fireeyes Media.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
It was early morning in Phoenix City, Alabama, and thirty
two year old Army veteran Eric Nelms was heading to work,
just like he did every other day. He walked out
the front door of his home, got into his car port,
and then gunshots.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
Neighbors woke to loud booms cutting through the quiet street.
By the time first responders arrived, it was too late.
Eric had been shot multiple times in front of his
own home.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
A crowd quickly gathered dozens of people, including his estranged
wife's ex husband, and several close friends. But what stood
out the most among them was someone who, just dates
earlier had tried to convince Eric to take the fall
for a major fraud scheme that had just been uncovered.
Speaker 1 (01:08):
Was this a drive by, a warning to keep quiet,
or something even more sinister.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Before we get into today's case, we want to remind
you to please take a moment to rate us five
stars and leave a review wherever you're listening. It really
does help us grow and continue to share more stories.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Like Eric's, and be sure to follow us on Instagram
and TikTok at Weird True Crime for extra episode content
and good conversation. I'm Gina, and I'm Amber.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
And this is the frustrating and heartbreaking case of Eric Nelm's.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
Around five twenty am on September twenty sixth, two thousand
and three, Eric left for work like usual. Just seconds later,
gunfire erupted outside his home inside his estranged wife Tara Jones,
who went by Mollie, later claimed she heard the shots
and immediately grabbed her two children, Eric's stepkids.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
But instead of checking on Eric, she barricaded them in
the master bedroom, pushed furniture in front of the door,
and climbed out the window, with the kids running into
the woods behind the house. And here's what really doesn't
sit right. It took Mollie twenty whole minutes to knock
on a neighbor's door and finally call for help. That
(02:44):
was at around five forty am.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
When first responders arrived, they found Eric unresponsive in the
car port with multiple gunshot wounds. And they weren't the
only ones at the scene. A large crowd had already gathered, neighbors,
friends and am and even Mollie's ex husband.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Eric's mom, Annie said that they were probably close to
a hundred people already there when she showed up. That's
a lot of people to know something so quickly. According
to those close to the case, Mollie allegedly called her
ex husband and several other people before ever dialing nine
to one.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
One, but not Eric's family that speaks volumes and Annie
also noticed something else, two men in handcuffs sitting on
the curb outside the house, but despite being detained, neither
was ever arrested.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Even stranger, those men don't appear in any official reports,
and when Annie asked investigators about them, she was told
they didn't know what she was talking about. But I mean,
maybe they were just in the wrong place at the
wrong time. But still no paperwork. That's kind of hard
to overlook.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
Robbery was ruled out pretty quickly. Eric still had his wallet,
car keys, and personal belongings. Nothing was taken. Whoever did
this wasn't after stuff they were after Eric.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Police even considered a drive by shooting at first, but
that theory didn't hold up. Bullet casings, fingerprints, and witness
statements were all collected, but none of it led anywhere.
Speaker 1 (04:27):
Kathy, Eric's sister, actually did a lot of investigating on
her own, and she found out that some of the
fingerprints collected at the scene belonged to a police officer.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Yeah, apparently he didn't take proper precautions when he was
processing the scene and left his own prints behind, whichikes,
that's really something that shouldn't be happening, even in two
thousand and three.
Speaker 1 (04:54):
Then came a tip that added a whole new layer.
A young girl getting ready for school that morning said
a man running from the scene. She couldn't make out
his face, but she saw him jump into a black
car and speed off.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
And on the way out of the neighborhood, he hit
a curb. That might seem like a small detail, but
it actually ended up being incredibly important. When police looked
into it, they discovered that the car belonged to Stephanie
and Eric Cowling, two people who had known Eric since childhood.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
And here's where things get even weirder. Eric Cowling was
actually at the crime scene that morning, standing among the
crowd while police investigated.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
And the black car that the witnesses saw it was
sold to a neighbor shortly after the shooting. Pretty suspicious timing, right.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
According to Eric's mom Annie. Police did follow up on that.
They visited the car's new owner and took the tires
to compare the marks left on the curb outside Eric's house.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Yeah, guess what, The tires matched. But instead of treating
that like the break in the case, investigators basically dropped
it no further investigation.
Speaker 1 (06:11):
You're probably thinking the same thing we are. How is
that not a smoking gun?
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (06:17):
But things with the Callings weren't simple. Between two thousand
and two thousand and three, Eric had been involved in
a check fraud scheme, one that Stephanie and Eric Calling orchestrated.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Stephanie worked at DHL and had set Eric up as
a fake vendor. She processed fake payments in his name.
He'd cash the checks, keep a small cut, and hand
over the rest.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
It all fell apart when DHL ran an internal audit
and discovered the missing funds, and with the scheme exposed,
the Callings were facing serious legal trouble.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
Just days before Eric was murdered, the Callings arranged a
meeting with him and Mall. According to court records, it
was to get their stories straight.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Stephanie even pressured Eric to take the blame for the fraud,
but he refused, and a few days later he was
gone to his family.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
The timing wasn't just suspicious, it felt deliberate. Refusing to
take the fall might have made Eric a threat to
everyone involved.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
And it's important to remember that Eric wasn't the only
one involved. There were at least five other people, probably more,
but only he and the Callings were ever listed in
any of the court documents or records.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
The connection between Eric and the Collings wasn't just business.
These were lifelong friends, basically family. That makes it even
harder to process.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Kathy, Eric's sister, gave some really powerful insight into Eric's
personality and how deeply he cared for people, even when
they didn't deserve it. And here's what she had to say.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
You asked it for something, He's gonna give it to you,
go get it. He's gonna help He's gonna help you out.
You know.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
He was just that guy. And his relationships as well,
like he when he was involved with somebody, like he's
totally in every relationship he was in. He they had
kids prior to the relationship, and he literally would treat
each child as though they were his own. There was
no difference in his and there so I think his
(08:33):
involvement is this is him being a people pleaser and
wanted to make people happy and like on so many levels,
like them being his friends and quotation Mark as well
as you know, maybe him thinking that he has he's
the man of the family or our immediate family, and
having to carry the load. I think those are the motive,
(08:56):
the things that drove him to do this, and nobody
can tell me any differently.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
In the days after Eric's death, Kathy even confronted Eric
Kaling outside Annie's house. She asked him directly about his
and Stephanie's involvement.
Speaker 2 (09:12):
And instead of denying it, Eric allegedly said something like,
don't tell the police about it. You'll get Stephanie in trouble.
That's not the kind of thing you say if you're innocent.
Speaker 1 (09:25):
Kathy and Annie were so sure of the Cowling's involvement
they went to confront Eric Colling's mom and sister at
their home just a block away from where Eric grew up.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
Annie, who calls Eric Cowling, DEDI explained what happened in
her own words.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
I went to his parents' house because Eric calling and
my brother and other friends, we all grew up on
the same street. His mom's house is Lily one block
from where our house is but the same street. I
went to his mother's house that day and I said,
and I don't want to call her name, but I said,
miss Cowling. I spoke to his both his mother and sister,
(10:05):
and his sister I looked them both in the face
and I said, your brother, your son, and his wife
was had something to do with my brother's murder, and
I want you to reach out to him and tell
him to do the right thing. And she started crying,
and his sister crying, and they both you know, he
didn't have anything to do with that, and it just
(10:26):
made me so mad. And I had so much respect
for that lady that I just decided to get up
and leave at that point. But I came and say
what I said, And later my mom had a similar
conversation with the sister and the mother, pleading with them
to talk to him, to see if he'll do the
right thing by my brother, and just you know, whatever
(10:47):
the consequence would have been, he would have at least
stepped up and did the right thing. But that didn't happen,
and it still hasn't happened.
Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yes, I.
Speaker 4 (10:58):
Decided I wanted to speak with the mother as a mother,
a mother to another mother, and I went up there.
Lets you say, his sister then was there and uh,
I begged him to make d D tell the truth.
I said, did he anything to do with that? And
then the sister them says, Sam, I don't believe d
(11:19):
D he did. I said, yes he did. I'm asking
you as a mother to another mother. I didn't get
no result from that. I thought that I could touch
her heart, you know, mother mother talking to her mother,
and they still want All they wanted to do was
save did he That's the whole thing at any cost,
(11:39):
not thinking that he has taken my son in life
and what I got to live with.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
It's honestly just heartbreaking. Any truly believed that mother to
mother did I I'd understand each other, but in the end,
Eric Calling's mother was only looking out for her own kid.
As a mom, I understand wanting to protect your child,
and we've actually had these conversations before, but I honestly
(12:17):
know that if I were ever in that position, I
would support my child, but I wouldn't cover for their actions.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Exactly. I've taught you better than that. You make a mistake,
I will love you and support you, but you're going
to pay for your mistakes. That's the bottom line, one percent.
About a month after Eric's death, Kathy followed up with
two of the officers working the case to see if
there had been any progress. She'd heard rumors that this
was a planned hit, something coordinated by Molly and her
(12:46):
ex husband.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Most people didn't even know about the frauds team. Vanelam's
family had kept that quiet, so Kathy was hoping investigators
were considering all angles.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
And according to her, the officer said that after speaking
with the Cowlings, they were considered the main persons of interest,
possibly even suspects.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
But here's where the frustration really kicks in. If investigators
had that strong of a lead, why weren't charges ever brought.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
The most likely reason is lack of evidence. But even
when the Cowlings were arrested later for the fraud case,
their home was never searched, not even to see if
a weapon might have been there.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
I mean, I get that it was a white collar crime,
but still searching their home for documents could have led
to all kinds of things. A murder weapon notes anything.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
And here's the part that's truly baffling. Eric's family was
told early on that nothing could really move forward in
his murder case until the fraud investigation was done.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
That doesn't make any sense. Why not investigate both at
the same time. It's not like you can't charge someone
for two different things.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
But that's what happened. The fraud case dragged on for years,
and by the time it wrapped up, the urgency around
Eric's murder was long gone.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Yeah, what could have been an active investigation basically turned
cold before it ever had a real shot.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Kathy wasn't ready to give up, though. She reached out
to Alabama's Attorney General's Cold case unit and connected with
retired investigator Tony Cassaldo.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
For a while, things were looking promising. Tony was checking
in with her every month, really making her feel like
Eric's case was being prioritized.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
But then, out of nowhere, Kathy got a call from
Jeane Sisson, the head of the cold case department. He
told her Eric's case had been closed because it was solved.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
Yeah, which it wasn't. According to the Phoenix City Police Department.
The case was still very much open. Cathy tried to
get them to fix the error and take another look,
but no one followed.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Up, and while the fraud scheme remains the most likely motive,
it's not the only factor in play. Eric's relationship with
Mollie had been rocky for a while.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
They separated just six months into their marriage. Eric had
even changed the locks after she moved out, but the
week before his death, she moved back in, and no
one in Eric's family even knew until the day he died.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Annie believes Molly used her kids to convince Eric to
let them come back. Eric had helped raise them. The youngest,
just three years old at the time, thought Eric was
his dad.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And Eric and Molly had known each other since childhood.
He had even helped her escape a dangerous situation after
her ex husband went to prison.
Speaker 1 (16:02):
But after Eric's death, Molly's behavior raised some red flags.
She and the kids moved in with Annie, but her
friends were constantly coming over, having secretive conversations behind closed doors.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
And just days before the life insurance payout, Mollie packed
up the kids and left Annie's house while she was
at work, no warning, no goodbye, and after that she
cut off all communication with Eric's family.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
For over twenty years.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
And let's not forget about Molly's ex husband. He'd recently
been released from prison for a separate murder charge.
Speaker 1 (16:43):
There was tension between him and Eric, likely because Eric
had stepped up as a father figure while he was incarcerated.
Annie said a witness told her the ex husband had
been tracking Eric's schedule in the days leading up to
the murder.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
There were even rumors about a meeting where Molly, the Cowlings,
and several others talked about wanting Eric gone.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
If that's true, it could mean multiple people were either
involved or aware of what was coming.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
One witness reportedly gave this information to law enforcement, but
again it was never investigated.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
In early twenty twenty four, Kathy reached out to a
private investigative group called IRIS Investigative Strategies. They specialized in
cold cases, and their lead investigator, Douglas McGregor, agreed to
review Eric's case completely free of charge.
Speaker 2 (17:39):
All they needed was access to the case files. They
even offered to sign a non disclosure agreement so nothing
would leave the police department. They just wanted to help.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
But Phoenix PD refused to release the files. No explanation,
no compromise, just a flat out no.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Now to be fair, if the case is still technically active,
that might be why, But given how little movement there's been,
it seems like they could have used the.
Speaker 1 (18:14):
Help, especially when the offer came in with confidentiality built in.
These weren't random internet saluths, they were professionals.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Kathy did share that someone from the cold case unit
was finally brought in to review the files again in
spring of twenty twenty four, but that was the last
time anything happened.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
And what's so frustrating about cases like this is that
there are clearly people who know something. It only takes
one person coming forward to change everything, but.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
So far no one has and it's.
Speaker 1 (18:50):
Easy to get lost in the twists and theories. But
at the center of this is a man, a real person,
someone who mattered deeply to his family.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
So before we go any further, let's talk about who
Eric Nelms really was be on the headlines in the
case files.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Eric Bernard Nelms was born on June tenth, nineteen seventy one,
in Columbus, Georgia. He was raised by his mom Annie
and his stepdad Eddie.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
Kathy was his big sister, just under two years older,
and the two of them were incredibly close. She even
said that even though she was older Eric always felt
like a big brother.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Eric had this huge magnetic personality. He was the guy
who would give you the shirt off his back, always helping,
always showing up.
Speaker 2 (19:44):
Annie said that he bought people's shoes, fed them, gave
them clothes, and sometimes even invited people into his home
if they had nowhere else to go.
Speaker 1 (19:55):
Kathy shared this beautiful memory about his energy and presence
growing up.
Speaker 3 (20:00):
Let me get my taser ready. So when we were
growing up, my brother was always the joker, Like he
was the person in the room that would just light
up a room. Or when he comes around, if you're
feeling sad, he's gonna change the energy and make you happy,
like he's gonna say or do something that's gonna make
(20:20):
you like laugh or smile, or he wants to bring
out that good in you and the best in you,
Like he's that person. And he had such a charismatic
or magnetic personality, Like in our neighborhood, he would he
was very popular, like when we would go to my
grandmother's house. Because he's so short and stature, And I
(20:42):
keep saying that in everything, because I want to just
emphasize that his height had nothing to do with how big.
His personality was like everybody would just see him and
love him. They were like, where are you going? You know,
he would say something funny, like to the elders in
it and where my grandmother lived in the projects in
things City. They were like, Eric, they just may call
(21:02):
him eerily for some ready early where are you going?
He was like, hey, man's such and such and smiling.
You know, he has his chest poked out and his
head is up high in he's walking like he's a
mighty mouse. And that's what type of person he was.
And even when we were in high school, like I
cited the story in another interview, I was the older
(21:23):
one and he was the youngest, but everybody thought that
he was older because he's way more popular than I
am and I'm in the band and all these other activities.
But he's known for being a popular guy. So they
would always refer to me as Eric's sister. Oh you're
Eric's sister, so it's funny, and I was okay with
(21:44):
that because just just how it was. But that's like
my mom mentioned, he's very friendly, outgoing, charismatics. He wasn't
a troubled person.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
After high school, Eric went to Devrye University in Atlanta,
and then joined the army in nineteen ninety. He wanted
something more than what their small town had to offer,
and he wanted to provide for his son Antonio.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
During his time in the military, Eric was stationed all
over Fort Leonard Wood, Germany, Fort Campbell. He earned medals
for sharpshooting and training excellence. He even served in the
Persian Gulf.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Cathy told us that when Eric died, the only things
she wanted from his home were his dog tags, medals,
and certificates.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
He didn't just exist in the army, he excelled in
When he died, that was one of the few things
that I took from his home because I didn't want
anything else. I wanted his medals, I wanted his certificates,
I wanted his doll tags, and I gave one. It
was two. I gave one to my son and one
to his son, because I wanted them to have something
(22:55):
of his and to take pride in it and be
proud of who he was. Because I knew eventually this
story about the chicks would come out. But what I
don't want to happen is this white collar crime to
overshadow all of his goodness. This is just one thing
out of many good things that he did, so I
(23:16):
want that to be emphasized in this interview because he
was an awesome person. And I'm not just saying it
because he was my brother. It's fects, it's truth.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
After being honorably discharged, Eric moved back to Phoenix City
and started working at Kodak Polychrome, a company that specialized
in printing and graphic arts.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
And even though he was busy with work, he made
time to drive up to Kentucky often to see his son, Antonio.
They were really close despite the distance.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
Eventually, Eric married Molly just six months before his death,
and he officially became a step dad to her two children.
Kathy and Annie haven't been able to stay in touch
with Molly's kids, but they still care about them deeply.
They were just children when all of this happened, and
they carry their own kind of trauma.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Kathy said she still loves them just as much now
as she did then.
Speaker 1 (24:13):
Antonio, Eric's son, was only nine when he lost his dad.
He's now grown and has a daughter of his own.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
Kathy and Annie have stayed close to him, and Kathy
shared more about what it's been like watching him grow
up without his father.
Speaker 3 (24:29):
My nephew is my brother, but with a different complation,
like his physique, his spatial features, his personality like he's
laid back in East Chill, just like his dad, and
thinking that he grew up without a father is just
heartbreaking to me. And I can't. He doesn't want to.
(24:50):
He doesn't want to do the East podcast like just
like me. He said he was in a dark place
about it too, so he loved his dad. He grew
up without a father. I would never know the impact
that had on his life or what it still has
on his life, because it doesn't go away. It can be.
It's almost twenty two years. It still feels like yesterday.
(25:15):
We're just not going to the motions of the funerals
all this stuff, but it still hurts to this day.
And my nephew was robbed of having a father, and
he has a child now who would again never know
her grandfather. She can only hear names and see pictures,
but she won't know the greatness that he had. And
(25:40):
I hope that that comes out of her personality as
much as it does with my nephews.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
Chris Covey, Eric was only thirty two when he was killed.
He had so much life left to live, so much
more to give, And it's been over two decades with
no justice.
Speaker 2 (25:58):
But his family has stopped fighting Annie Kathy Antonio. They've
been pushing for answers for twenty two years. They just
want accountability.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
The case is still technically open, but despite early leads, witnesses,
and even evidence, it's moved at a painfully slow pace.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
In June twenty twenty four, Alabama Governor Bob Riley offered
a five thousand dollars reward for information. Crime Stoppers added
another five thousand shortly after.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
And in March of this year, Higher Hope Foundation added
yet another five thousand, bringing the total to fifteen thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (26:43):
And in February of twenty twenty five, Saban Outdoor, a
local Atlanta company, sponsored a billboard campaign along the I
eighty five corridor, making sure Eric's name and face stayed
visible to thousands of commuters.
Speaker 1 (27:00):
Kathy has said that awareness is key. She's constantly sharing
Eric's story and encouraging others to sign the petition to
get the Alabama Cold Case Unit officially involved.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
If you want to support follow Kathy on Instagram, TikTok,
and the x at Justice for Eric Nelms. You'll find
links to the petition and her pages in the show notes.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
The bottom line is this case isn't unsolvable. There were
people at the scene that morning, there's evidence, there are witnesses.
All it takes is one solid lead.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
If you know anything about what happened on the morning
of September twenty sixth, two thousand and three, even if
it seems small, please come forward. You can submit anonymous
tips to Alabama Crime Stoppers at three three four two
one five stop, or call the Phoenix City Police Department directly.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
We want to give a huge thank you to Kathy
and Annie for sharing their story with us. Their love
for Eric is so clear, and it's an honor to
help them tell his story the way it deserves to
be told.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
And as always, if there's a case you want us
to cover, reach out through Instagram, our website, or email
us at Weird Truecrime at gmail dot com. Until next time,
stay safe.
Speaker 1 (28:25):
And make good choices. Bye bye.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.