• Menu
  • Menu
Camp Scott

Camp Scott

City/Town:
Location Class:
Built: 1928 | Abandoned: June 13, 1977
Status: EndangeredPrivate Property
Photojournalist: AbandonedOK TeamBilly DixonDavid LindeJohnny Fletcher

 

Camp Scott

Camp Scott Map
Camp Scott Map

First opening on August 11, 1928 as Camp Ma-Del-Co and running for just a two-week period. Costs ran at either $5.00 for the first five days or $9.00 for the entire ten-day stay. The camp and the 240-acres it sits on were owned by the Tulsa Scout Council, there were a total of twenty buildings on the property at the time of opening complete with plumbing and running water. Camp activities included swimming, CPR training, archery, pathfinding, bridge building, bird study, insect life, and leadership skills. Just a few short years later it got the name Camp Scott, it would keep this until and well after its closing.

Over the next almost five decades the camp held numerous events including the Rancho Festival, Water Carnival, and Oklahoma Academy of Science’s annual meeting and even at one point holding the State Conference of 1947. Continuing to teach kids vital skills and the greatness of the outdoors, attendance was all but low with attendance reaching 4,606 girls attending the camp in 1957 alone. In 1977, Camp Scott was celebrating its 49th year as a keystone of the Tulsa-based Magic Empire Girl Scout Council when tragedy struck.

In April of 1977 during an on-site cadet weekend, camp aide Michelle Hoffman found her and her campmates’ tent ransacked and some donuts that she had brought from home, emptied. In the empty box with the crumbs, she found a few pieces of tiny steno notebook paper with strange and threatening words written on them. On two or three pages was the word “kill” repeatedly written over and over again. Written on a fourth page was something even more threatening, “We’re on a mission to kill three girls.” Hoffman, concerned about the strange occurrence took the note to the camp director, who said she would check into it. She later learned that a group of girls at camp that weekend had supposedly confessed to doing the incident. Because summer camps are rife with ghost stories and such, the note was assumed to be a prank and discarded.

Camp Scott
Girls Tent Provided by The Oklahoman

June 12, 1977, was the opening day of Camp Scott, hundreds of girls were dropped off by their parents for what they thought would be days of fun and the outdoors. Around 6 pm a thunderstorm hit the Mayes County area, and everyone throughout the camp huddled into their tents. In Tent #7 located within the Kiowa Camp area were three campers, Lori Lee Farmer (8 yo), Doris Denise Milner (10 yo), both native Tulsans, and Michele Guse (9 yo) of Broken Arrow.

“Dear Mom and Dad and Misti and Jo and Chad and Kathy. We’re just getting ready to go to bed. It’s 7:45. We’re at the beginning of a storm and having a lot of fun. I’ve met two new friends, Michele Guse and Denise Milner. I’m sharing a tent with them. It’s started raining on the way back from dinner. We’re sleeping on cots. I couldn’t wait to write. We’re all riding letters now ’cause there’s hardly anything else to do. With love, Lori” Final letter from Lori Farmer

At around 6 a.m. the following morning, a camp counselor on her way to the shower found one of the victims’ body in her sleeping bag on the trail to the showers. The frightening discovery was soon made, all three girls in tent #7 had been murdered. The camp scott bodies had been left on a trail leading to the showers, about 150 yards from their tent. Two of the girls were bludgeoned to death and the third being strangled, and horrifically sexually assaulted. Between 2:30 and 3 a.m. on June 13, a landowner heard “quite a bit” of traffic on a remote road near the camp. A red flashlight found on top of one of the girls’ bodies displayed a fingerprint on the lens, but it has never been identified, as well as a footprint from a 9.5 shoe size was also found in the blood in the tent.

Camp Scott
Trackers search for evidence Provided by The Oklahoman

Word to other camps all across the state such as Camp Red Rock spread quickly and security was increased at all other locations. All of the girls at Camp Scott were sheltered from the news and evacuated from the property and brought to Tulsa for their parents to pick them up. The Magic Empire Council, owner of Camp Scott at the time came under immediate fire for contacting their insurance provider and attorney before notifying the parents of the deceased of what had happened to their children. Camp Scott quickly became a massive crime scene with the entire property scattered with police and the FBI. The case sparked the largest manhunts in Oklahoma history having over six hundred volunteers coming out to search and costing over $100,000.

After bringing in tracking dogs, police believed they had located the murder weapon on June 16, publicly revealing it to have been a crowbar. While no camp scott murders suspects had been officially identified yet, the press were already speculating that an escaped convict by the name of Gene Leroy Hart may have been involved. Police had also located a cave around a few miles away that appeared to have had someone living in it. Inside the cave were eyeglasses stolen from Camp Scott, duct tape that matched the tape found at the scene, a flashlight battery, and two photographs featuring three women that investigators linked to Hart. The cave was a few hundred feet from a cellar and foundation that had been Gene Hart’s childhood home. Writing on the wall of another nearby cave read, “The killer was here. Bye bye fools. 77–6–17″.

Gene Leroy Hart had been convicted in Mayes County of kidnapping and sexually assaulting two pregnant women. He was taken into prison on 10-15-1966 and given two ten-year sentences to be served concurrently. In 1973 he had escaped with two other inmates from Mayes County Jail, remnants of his childhood home being only a few miles from the Camp Scott site speculation of him being the murderer spread like wildfire. And by the end of the month, Gene Leroy Hart was charged with first-degree murder. On July 30, 1977 using the American Indian Movement as a spokesperson, Hart denied having any role in the girls’ deaths but said he would continue running out of fear that if he were to surrender he would “have the hell shot out of him.”

Camp Scott
Provided by The Oklahoman

Hart was arrested finally found and arrested ten months later on April 6, 1978 at the home of a Cherokee medicine man after a local tip came in about his whereabouts. He was deemed fit to stand trial which was slated to start on March 19, 1979. Although the local sheriff thought Hart to be “one thousand percent” guilty a local jury acquitted him of the charges and he was found innocent on March 31, 1979. Hart would return to prison at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary serving 145 to 305 years for his previous crimes of rape, kidnapping and burglary, charges unrelated to the Girl Scout slayings. The Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders is still to this day an unsolved crime in rural Mayes County, Oklahoma. On June 4, 1979 after only being back in prison for a little over a month Gene Leroy Hart collapsed from a heart attack and was pronounced dead at the McAlester Regional Hospital.

June 13th, 1977 was the last day that Camp Scott was open after nearly 50 years of hosting Girl Scouts, it closed its doors and never reopened. Two of the families later sued the Magic Empire Council and its insurer in a $5 million alleged negligence action when the girl scouts were murdered at the camp. The civil trial included a discussion of the notes from April 1977 that would be brought up among evidence cited in trying to prove the Girl Scouts should have been alert in advance to possible danger. The fact that tent #7 lay 86-yards from the counselors’ tent. The defense suggested that the future of summer camping, in general, hung in the balance. In 1985, by a 9–3 vote, jurors sided with the camp. Magic Empire Council decided to sell the entire property and remnants of the camp buildings in 1988

Richard Guse, the father of Michele Guse, went on to help the state legislature pass the Oklahoma Crime Victims’ Bill of Rights and the Oklahoma Victims’ Compensation Board. Sheri Farmer, the mother of Lori Farmer, went on to found the Oklahoma Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children a support group to help those grieving.

After years and years of multiple DNA tests with no definitive answers and the main suspect deceased, it seemed as though most citizens had just accepted that the case would never be officially closed. But as of May 2022 investigators say recent DNA testing has ruled out every single possible suspect, except one. Mayes County Sheriff Mike Reed has spent the last nine years digging into this case after Lori Farmer’s parents asked him to give the case a fresh look. Reed said there’s no doubt in his mind, that the evidence shows, Gene Leroy Hart is the killer.

“I pray that there’s something that we’ve done that gives the family a second of something that even resembles closure or acceptance or something I pray that. But as far as peace, there is absolutely nothing about this case that has given me one second of peace. Period. From watching the pain on the family to having to go through the crime scene before during and after, from watching the legal system to watching the parole board, to watching how this whole thing played out, to watching how people would use this to springboard their own personal agendas, there ain’t nothing about this whole thing that is peaceful. It is evil.”

Lori’s mother, Sheri Farmer, said “It’s a journey I wouldn’t wish on anyone. It’s shocking. It’s different than a death. It’s different than a loss because our daughter was murdered. It was intentional and she died with two other little girls that we don’t want to forget either.”

The conspiracy theories surrounding this case can now be put to rest. The case can now be closed after a long 45-year journey.

Article by AOK Photojournalist Emily Cowan.

We want to give a huge thanks to Kevin Weaver over at GirlScoutMurders.com for giving us a personal tour and his help researching.

THIS SITE IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THOSE THAT TRESPASS WILL BE PROSECUTED.




Bibliography
Southerland, Paul B. [Photograph 2012.201.B0408B.0201]photographJune 25, 1977; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc413727/accessed March 12, 2021), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[Photograph 2012.201.B0251.0822]photographJune 2, 1978; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc340017/accessed March 13, 2021), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

“2 May 1940, 3 – The Oklahoma Daily at Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, www.newspapers.com/image/674423407/?terms=camp%20scott&match=1.

“27 Feb 1958, 3 – Sand Springs Leader at Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, www.newspapers.com/image/596786019/?terms=camp%20scott&match=1.

“29 Aug 1988, 55 – The Daily Oklahoman at Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, www.newspapers.com/image/451710826/?terms=camp%20scott%20open&match=1.

“3 Aug 1928, 1 – Grand Valley Times at Newspapers.com.” Newspapers.com, www.newspapers.com/image/587009105/?terms=camp%20scott%20open&match=1.

East, Michael. “Unsolved Mysteries: Horror at Camp Scott: The Girl Scout Murders.” Medium, 28 Feb. 2021, medium.com/the-mystery-box/horror-at-camp-scott-the-girl-scout-murders-78195eb3eb49.

“Girl Scout Murders: A Timeline of Events from the Murders in June of 1977.” Tulsa World, 8 June 2017, tulsaworld.com/girlscoutmurders/girl-scout-murders-a-timeline-of-events-from-the-murders-in-june-of-1977/collection_c2b5fa1d-1d3b-5aad-8ea4-07cab08c6701.html.

Tim Stanley Tulsa World. “Girl Scout Murders: Strange ‘mission to Kill’ Note Leaves a Mystery, Stirs Conspiracies.” Tulsa World, 8 June 2017, tulsaworld.com/girlscoutmurders/girl-scout-murders-strange-mission-to-kill-note-leaves-a-mystery-stirs-conspiracies/article_b480318f-eb5b-500d-8688-6d325f5c3b25.html.

4.3 11 votes
Article Rating

If you wish to support our current and future work, please consider making a donation or purchasing one of our many books. Any and all donations are appreciated.

Donate to our cause Check out our books!

Emily Cowan

Emily is a two-time published author of "Abandoned Oklahoma: Vanishing History of the Sooner State" and "Abandoned Topeka: Psychiatric Capital of the World". With over two hundred published articles on our websites. Exploring since 2018 every aspect of this has become a passion for her. From educating, fighting to preserve, writing, and learning about history there is nothing she would rather do.

View Locations
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

280 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Joli Farmer
Joli Farmer
9 years ago

I am Lori's sister. It is interesting to read all these comments. While many of the things posted here are not true, I am deeply touched by the overriding theme….that you all remember my sister and the two other girls, that after all these years your hearts are still tender toward the victims and their families, and that your lives were also changed in some way on that fateful June night. I have never seen this website before. It amazes me that people are still so intrigued by this case. Why is that?

Karin Thomas
Karin Thomas
Reply to  Joli Farmer
9 years ago

Joli, i was a teenager working at a girl scout camp in michigan when this horrific event happened. I remember exactly when a meeting was called and we were told of this and shock and tears is what i remember. That night we had to go to our units and sleep in the same type of tents. Camp was forever changed. The serenity of camp became flood lights and regular patrols, fearful of copycat crimes. Our hearts and souls went out to the families and we grieved along with you for the loss of the girls. This stays with me… Read more »

Joli Farmer
Joli Farmer
Reply to  Karin Thomas
9 years ago

Karin, thank you for sharing that with me. It is interesting to me that you were so impacted by this event all the way in Michigan. I appreciate your kind words and thank you for remembering the girls after all these years.

blue
blue
Reply to  Karin Thomas
8 months ago

And we pray it never happens again.

Archer
Archer
Reply to  Joli Farmer
9 years ago

Jolie: At the time of the murders, I was living in Muskogee and now live in Broken Arrow where the Guse's live. The reasons I am still interested and grieving with you at the loss, is that all three girls were all so beautiful and it bothers me that any person or persons could be so wicked as to do this kind of thing. I also shudder because my interpretation of the facts would have me believe that more than one person would have to have been involved that night and even if Hart were guilty, there is at least… Read more »

Dawn Byrum
Dawn Byrum
Reply to  Joli Farmer
8 years ago

Joli, I stay connected to the case because 3 beautiful young girls lost their lives to a senseless crime. Who knows what those girls could have became! They came from loving families and the public who remember look at those faces fell in love with them too! I was only 4 when this happened…and I am 40 now…I hope there will be an answer to who killed these innocent girls some day! They and their families need justice and the killer(s) need to be punished!! I have a 12 year old daughter and I couldn't imagine what it would be… Read more »

Joli Farmer
Joli Farmer
Reply to  Dawn Byrum
8 years ago

Thank you Dawn!

Joe
Joe
Reply to  Dawn Byrum
6 years ago

In my humble opinion, Crying Wolf helped deliver justice by making sure the guilty party would suffer death. It was no coincidence that on June 4th with thunder overhead, Gene died of a MASSIVE heart attack.

shelia cooper
shelia cooper
Reply to  Joli Farmer
8 years ago

Joli, I'll try to word this just right. When all this happened in 1977, I had children Lori's age and a little bit older. I lived in a community, just across the lake from camp Scott. The name was Lake Crest. I was friends with some who lived in Locust Grove. The news traveled fast.Of course this scared us to know there was a killer amoung us.When Peter Weaver asked for volunteers to look for Hart, I went to Sam's corner to volunteer. Some of us especially the women left the search because we were told we could not arm… Read more »

Joli Farmer
Joli Farmer
Reply to  shelia cooper
8 years ago

Thank you for sharing that Shelia. I may contact you some day to hear more. I appreciate your kindness.

breechica28
breechica28
Reply to  Joli Farmer
8 years ago

iam part of the Girl Scouts of western Oklahoma , I ve been in Girl Scouts for about 7 or 8 years and this story defistated me , joli I'm so sorry for your loss and I can't imagine how horrible it must have been to find out your sister was brutally murderd at camp . I'm in awe of your bravery . keep on living your life and may your sister rest in peace

Laura Smith
Laura Smith
Reply to  Joli Farmer
8 years ago

Dear Joli Farmer, my deepest condolences for you & your family. Being that I was born & raised in northeast Oklahoma, this tragedy has always been like an open wound that has never healed. In 1977 I myself would have only been 7 but still have vivid memories of my family talking about for years after. I also think the reason people are still intrigued by this case is because it really has no closure.

Cindy Hicks
Cindy Hicks
Reply to  Joli Farmer
8 years ago

I was set to go to Camp Scott with the next group. I was scared and I have seen the toll it took on a certain family in Broken Arrow due to the lose of their daughter

Margee Lavoie
Margee Lavoie
Reply to  Joli Farmer
7 years ago

Hi Joli – I am still tied to this case, because I was at that camp that night. It has haunted me since the night it happened. I also knew Lori Lee. She was in my 3rd grade class at Jenks, and I still have our class picture. Knowing her made the whole thing even more frightening to me as a child. I was unable to stay alone in my house from that point until I was about 15. This is a case that will probably stay with me until I die.

Mae
Mae
Reply to  Joli Farmer
7 years ago

I was in college when all this took place; just 19 years old. I wasn't as well read about current events at that time. (even though this was national news) I saw something the other day in the media about this horrific event and decided to read the article. I live in a neighboring small town and have been in that area many times without realizing the history of what took place there. It brought sadness when I realized what had transpired. I have granddaughters now and cannot even fathom something of this magnitude happening to them or any other… Read more »

John David Pitcher Jr
Reply to  Joli Farmer
7 years ago

I was a phlebotomist at St John's and saw the agony of you father at the time of the horrible event. My grandfather's sister and husband, Florence and Harry Scott had donated the land for the camp and others. My sisters had gone to camp there. As a physician now I still remember the event and the effect it had. I hope the kindness that I show each day reflect love for others.

Nathanael
Nathanael
Reply to  Joli Farmer
6 years ago

Ma'am I dated a woman named Brandy Michelle Halsted. Now Brandy Michelle Leach. I have reason to believe Brandy's UNCLE JIM CAVALIER OR HER UNCLE JOHN COMMITTED THESE CRIMES. THEY LIVE AT THE CAVALIER RANCH ONE PROPERTY North of the camp. Gary Hart was sleeping with the Sheriff's wife so they blamed him. Even if Hart was guilty he had an accomplice. The 2 OSBI agents are making tins of money off of this tragedy from their books. So much money they opened their own movie production company , Barrister Studios. Brandy Michelle Halsted was raped and molested by her… Read more »

Tiger
Tiger
Reply to  Nathanael
5 years ago

Nathanael Its Tiger. email me.

nightywolfy123@gmail.com

Trev62
Trev62
Reply to  Nathanael
2 years ago
Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Nathanael
2 years ago

Do you think it was Jon Charles Cavalier or James Cody Cavalier. This youtube link that Trev62 posted makes me think even more that it was one of the cavaliers because the men who were stalking the premise the night before had camo pants and military boots. There is military history in the Cavalier family. Google searches show they possibly lived at 9879 South 440 in Locust Grove, horrifically close to Camp Scott and an easy shot to the Kiowa tents.

Last edited 2 years ago by Finding the Truth
San
San
Reply to  Joli Farmer
6 years ago

Joli , I was a young mom of three daughters at the time this happened,I can't even find the words for this act of violence against these innocent children. I couldn't imagine the pain and suffering the families were going through,but I knew if, I lost even one of my daughters this way it would be something I might not recover from. Even though I didn't know these little girls,as a mother for the victims and their family my heart broke ,as did many others and it sent a new and frightening view of how dangerous the outside world could… Read more »

Kim
Kim
Reply to  Joli Farmer
6 years ago

Joli I didn't know that Lari had a sister. I only new of her brother. The hole thing really bothers me still. Because the winter before my troop went to the very unit and stayed in the same exact tent your sister was taken to early from this world. I am so sorry that happened. I met your father one night when I was in the ER at St. Johns and told him the story that happened to me one night to the four other girls and myself. And our troop leader didn't believe us. I have wondered many times… Read more »

Valerie
Valerie
Reply to  Kim
5 years ago

I am reading up on this case Kim and I would really like to know what happened to you.

Angela
Angela
Reply to  Kim
5 years ago

Kim, can you please share what happened to you and the four other girls?

Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Kim
2 years ago

Hmm if it has happened prior and the Cavalier ranch is positioned so nicely to have access to that tent, it makes you wonder how long the cavaliers have been doing this over the 50 years. I am still looking but the ranch is possibly the location at 9879 South 440 in Locust Grove. Google that and then directions to Camp Scott. They are horrifically close and the Kiowa tent is stuck out like it is meant to be.

Ryan Braschler
Ryan Braschler
Reply to  Joli Farmer
6 years ago

Hi Joli,

I'm a reporter with Channel 8 in Tulsa. I'm pursuing a story on what happened in 1977 and the nearly 40 years since. I hope this message finds you well. I'd like to sit down and talk with you, if you'll give me a chance. Please email me at rabraschler@sbgtv.com and we can exchange numbers, if you would like to.

Thanks,
Ryan Braschler
Reporter – KTUL
rabraschler@sbgtv.com

JAy
JAy
Reply to  Ryan Braschler
1 year ago

Hello I was in Mayes county jail in 1999 and there was a man that was in there with me. As man that I believe was definitely off the rocker alittle bit but he did tlk bout all the time, he’d say something like, ‘ the girls are sleeping. No more camping there it’s bad. Or something to that effect. I can’t remember very well but I do know his name n I heard that they had him in for questioning as well. And this guy is from locust Grove . Please contact me. Thank u

sam wilkerson
sam wilkerson
Reply to  Joli Farmer
5 years ago

Because it broke our hearts at the time, and it still does.

Taylor
Taylor
Reply to  Joli Farmer
3 years ago

Joli, I'm a student studying criminal justice and cold cases. In my free time I often find myself spending hours researching cold cases and other cases involving terrible incidents and horrifying situations. I had a peaked interest in the case of your sister and the other two young girls. As being 1/2 Native American (Cherokee specifically) the involvement of Gene Leroy Hart intrigued me. I have personally been to the camp site. Being a born and raised Urbexer (Urban Exploration, if you aren't farmiliar), I found myself and a few friends taking a road trip down to Oklahoma to see… Read more »

Trev62
Trev62
Reply to  Taylor
2 years ago

https://youtu.be/GWRKbOL7lhI
Tell me she looks guilty here’s the answer or rather at least half of it I’m willing to bet

Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Trev62
2 years ago

The Cavaliers would need an accomplice in the camp. It was probably her.

Oklahoma LEO
Oklahoma LEO
Reply to  Trev62
4 months ago

The YouTube link is inactive. Are you aware of a current active link?

Sharon
Sharon
Reply to  Joli Farmer
1 year ago

The interest will be there until the person or persons responsible are caught and punished for these heinous crimes on three innocent children. At the time my daughter was the age of one of the girls. My heart hurt for the families of all of them for what they were having to experience.

Steve Hall
Steve Hall
Reply to  Joli Farmer
10 months ago

Because you and most of all Lori and her two friends matter

Renee
Renee
Reply to  Joli Farmer
4 months ago

Joli, I worked with Michelle Guse’s father. He was such a kind man. The families of the victims have stayed in my thoughts through these years. I was 7 when this happened, and I was terrified to be alone. May God bless you, your family and all of those affected by this horrible act.

Barbie
Barbie
12 years ago

I worked at the Girl Scout office when the murders happened. I was only in my 20's but I remember the tour of the camp I was given as a new employee. Even as a young adult I was struck with how dangerous the camp layout felt to me. I thought, "I would not let a child of mine come here." There was a haunting uneasiness about the place before the murders. I have always felt Hart did not commit the murders and it was someone who lived close around the area. My hope is that they are not there… Read more »

Nathanael
Nathanael
Reply to  Barbie
6 years ago

Ma'am they live one property North at the Cavalier ranch. I dated Brandy Michelle Halsted and she admitted her uncle raped and molested her. He was the one that committed these acts I know it! Her uncle's name is Jim Cavalier,it either him or John. Not Jon Cavalier the grandfather but John Cavalier the uncle. Her mom Jacque Cavalier/Easton owns 10 acres and a historic ranch home her father Jon Cavalier died left her. Jacque said she doesn't want to come to her own property/home because of the "Memories." Jim Cavalier and Jacques's brothers need to be tested for DNA… Read more »

Renee Cypert
Renee Cypert
Reply to  Nathanael
6 years ago

It's a small world. I met the cavaliers including daisy years ago. I was married to her great nephew. Wow, never thought about that. They were such nice people. He had fought in WW2.

Tiger
Tiger
Reply to  Renee Cypert
5 years ago

I can vouch for Nathanael. Jim Cavalier IS responsible and he didn't act alone.

Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Tiger
2 years ago

Is it Jim, the brother of Jon “Pee Wee” Cavalier?

Or possibly PeeWee’s son James Cody Cavalier. Take a look at Jon cavalier’s obituary on tributearchive.com

Last edited 2 years ago by Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Tiger
2 years ago

Did this Jim Cavalier you suspect go by the name Jimmie?

CURTIS CRESS
CURTIS CRESS
Reply to  Tiger
8 months ago

well the letter that was discarded said we that means more than one and the fellow they believe did it would not have admitted to anything if he was protecting someone else

Charlotte Mallow
Charlotte Mallow
Reply to  Nathanael
2 years ago

There’s an article from Channel 8 out of Tulsa in which Jim Cavalier states that he may have been on the jury when Gene was tried? That just gave me the creeps.

Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Nathanael
2 years ago

If you look at the obituary for Jon “Pee Wee” Cavalier, at tributearchive.com, you can see a huge list of names and many people (brothers and sons) are named Jim or James or John, I even see Jacque in there. I would love to hear your thoughts on of those names/people you think did it.

Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Nathanael
2 years ago

I’m leaning towards Jimmie S Cavalier.
The brother of Pee Wee, listed in the obituary as the 1 brother Jim Cavalier.
The Jimmie name is from google and it shows he has a wife Margaret who goes by Peggy, the wife of the brother in the obituary.
Did this Jim Cavalier you suspect go by the name Jimmie?

Last edited 2 years ago by Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Nathanael
2 years ago

I know I’m posting alot but 40 years ago says that Jon Cavalier the Grandfather would be in his 30s so his children would be most likely too young. Unless this Jim Cavalier was a teenager when he commited these crimes. I’m wondering if it is Brandy’s greatuncle the brother of Jon the grandpa: Jim Cavalier married to Peggy Cavalier.

Last edited 2 years ago by Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Nathanael
2 years ago

Man. Reading more and more about this stuff. So James C Cavalier is only in his 30s according to what I am finding and Jon C Cavalier is 78. It is so hard to find info about this family. They have so many similar names and they all seem to share so many of the same P.O. Boxes. So Jon Charles Cavalier and James Cody Cavalier are brothers but the recordss are saying they are like 40 years apart in age. Doesn’t seem right. I hope you see this and can shed some light on the true full name of… Read more »

Allen farley
Allen farley
Reply to  Finding the Truth
1 year ago

Sometimes siblings are generations apart especially with re-marriage.. change of life children….extra marital affairs incest etc.

Last edited 1 year ago by Allen farley
J. Kit
J. Kit
Reply to  Nathanael
4 months ago

We now know DNA evidence has just now finally proven Gene Leroy Hart was in fact the killer. The evidence is indisputable. The Cherokee Nation was hiding and protecting him.

J. Kit
J. Kit
Reply to  Nathanael
4 months ago

DNA evidence has recently proven that Gene Leroy Hart was in fact the killer. The evidence is indisputable. His DNA was all over the evidence and crime scene. The cave he was hiding in was just a feet away from the foundation of his childhood home. There was no other suspects DNA anywhere.

Cindy Clark
Cindy Clark
Reply to  Barbie
2 years ago

I went to camp Scott the year before the murders and stayed in the same tent. It was such a peaceful, happy and magical place.

CURTIS CRESS
CURTIS CRESS
Reply to  Barbie
8 months ago

in the letter it said we that means more than one

LethlDsage
LethlDsage
3 years ago

I stayed at Camp Scott many times. At least once or twice on Spring weekend campouts as the “little sister” of a Scout and daughter of a chaperone; three or four times as a young Scout for Spring and fall campouts; and for three two-week summer camping sessions. I loved all the adventures I had at Camp Scott along with the “Vanilla” and “Chocolate” swim sessions in the pool, the camp tables and tripod stools we learned how to lash together, how to gather wood and quickly build hot campfires and the arts and crafts I experienced which were usually… Read more »

platon20
platon20
1 year ago

Gene Leroy Hart is the murderer and all the evidence points to him. He knew the area well He was an excellent outdoorsman He was tied to the cave via the photograph of a woman at the jail he was at; he was one of only 2 people who had access to that photo and the other one has a rock tight alibi 500 miles away from the crime scene. The cave where the photograph was found also had 1/2 piece of ripped newspaper; other 1/2 was found in a flashlight at the murder scene Hart had a fetish for… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by platon20
Sharla K Downing
Sharla K Downing
Reply to  platon20
1 year ago

One of the lead investigators was a Native man, so that card is out the window! I don’t understand how anyone can investigate this story and come to any other conclusion. GUILTY

Kawee
Kawee
12 years ago

My father worked the case against Hart. Speaking with him about the investigation and reading about it over the years, I'm 100% sure Gene Leroy Hart commited these murders. He was an evil spirit of a person. I was never allow to go to girl scout camp growing up even though I was a Brownie and Junior because my father wa so traumitizsed. The camp my girls go to looks just like this one, but of course it's not delapitated. This doesn't give me the creeps like the other properties. Its just very very sad. It's so strange how some… Read more »

Terri
Terri
Reply to  Kawee
12 years ago

"Someone Cry For The Children" is a very intense, very well-written book that is available on Amazon. I highly recommendthe book. If you didn't think Hart was guilty before reading this book, you will have no doubt of his guilt after reading the book. I was a frequent camper at Camp Scott in the early to mid 1960's. Many great memories!

Gene
Gene
Reply to  Terri
9 years ago

"Tent Number 8" will certainly bring doubts to your intellect about Gene Leroy Hart being the sole perp, if even guilty at all. Even though "Someone Cry For The Children" was a good book there are some facts it just simply seems to ignore, like the simple logistics of how the crime went down. Lori Lee Farmer and Michele Guse were murdered in the tent and then carried 150 yards in their sleeping bags. Doris Denise Milner was led with her sleeping bag, or carried to the same location and then killed. I don't believe one person could have done… Read more »

@PreciousLambKni
Reply to  Gene
8 years ago

I certainly agree, from day one I've always thought this does not look like a crime that could be committed alone, how would you possibly wrangle three girls by yourself? You'd be liable to have one get free for sure….

Joe
Joe
Reply to  @PreciousLambKni
6 years ago

you're disgustingly massive used to play a physical sport and you basically have demonic powers. You could strangle two of them at the same time with one hand rather quickly before the 3rd would wake up. I would say it was all Gene.

R. barr
R. barr
Reply to  Joe
3 years ago

They were also bludgeoned so I supposed one person could do that at the same time too? The foot print did not match, nor did the fingerprint. He was guilty of raping not murder nor were they children that he raped. Criminals tend to have a certain type as their victims and rarely stray from that preference. Hard to believe he would change course and target children.

Robin
Robin
Reply to  R. barr
27 days ago

Ted Bundy killed young women and young girls.

Robin
Robin
Reply to  Gene
27 days ago

It’s possible. They were small children and sleeping. They were also in sleeping bags, which hinder movement.And it was dark. However it was not quiet that night. There were other girls making noise at various times. They think that Lori and Michele were killed in the tent. He could have killed them before they even woke up. Look at what Ted Bundy did in Florida. He beat four women ,killing two of them. And they were adults. Killing two small children in sleeping bags wouldn’t be that hard. And Denise probably would do what he told her because she was… Read more »

Sylvia Scott
Sylvia Scott
Reply to  Kawee
11 years ago

Kawee, are you in CA or was your father in later years. My cousin mentioned to me last night she had met someone who's father worked the case. My cousin is about 75 years old and attended the camp. Her sister was a counselor also-anyway-we're looking for a copy of the book if ever find one please let me know.

Laygoon
Laygoon
Reply to  Kawee
10 years ago

My sister was at the camp the week before the murders. My family followed the investigation and trial closely. I was very young at the time, but it all made a huge impression on me. I read the book when I was in college and had a hard time sleeping after that. I will never forget the faces of those girls in the newspaper. I never let my girls go to G.S. camp and I thoroughly inspected the safety of their church camps before allowing them to attend. Hart definitely committed the murders. Even though he is gone, the horrific… Read more »

Okie-D
Okie-D
Reply to  Kawee
10 years ago

I just finished reading "Someone Cry For The Children" (Jan 2013)….had looked & looked everywhere – found it on ebay ("Tent #8" is there as well) but as a Tiak Council GS out of Seminole, that sadly, was my last year in GS's…but as an adult I was involved in Law Enforcement, so in reading the book…I was familiar with the terminology used & I must say the authors Michael & Dick Wilkerson, and all involved – I wouldn't have been able to sleep at night until I had the killer in custody, which Gene Leroy Hart had priors against… Read more »

Jeremy Cummings
Jeremy Cummings
Reply to  Okie-D
2 years ago

Thank you for your words.

Robin
Robin
Reply to  Okie-D
27 days ago

The thing that bothers me is that he was in jail and had escaped before.And yet he managed to escape again. They should have done a better job to keep him locked up since he was a violent sexual predator. If they had those girls would probably be alive today.

Sydney Stoever
Sydney Stoever
5 years ago

I am from Tulsa, Oklahoma, but I am very familiar with the incident at Camp Scott and was taught about it at a young age. My mom was actually a member of the same troop as the three girls that were murdered. My mom was supposed to be on that camping trip, but she had gotten sick right before and was unable to go. I'm very thankful that my mom wasn't able to go on that camping trip, and I know she is as well. It has still, however, caused her to be terrified of tent camping, to the point… Read more »

Billie Erickson
Reply to  Sydney Stoever
3 years ago

I actually remember reading about a little girl who was supposed to go to camp and she fell ill and wasn’t able to attend. As a result of this tragedy I wasn’t allowed to go to GS summer camp, I didn’t know about the murders then. I jhst remember mentioning my desire to attend camp and my mother’s face just like she would faint dead away, and I was informed I would not be attending camp! I am from Oklahoma by the way!

monika
monika
11 years ago

How sad, and it hits a nerve with me because I used to go to sleep away camp in New york from the time i was about 6 to 17 but we slept in bunks (cabins) and there were four counselors to 8 campers in the same cabin. and growing up I never once thought something like this could happen. Camp is supposed to be a safe and fun place for children to experience nature and make new friends. Looking at the layout of the camp I am wondering why on earth would parents send their kids here? did the… Read more »

Mark Ruffin
Mark Ruffin
Reply to  monika
11 years ago

Good saying because i agree 100%.Why was it layed out like that.

Robin
Robin
Reply to  monika
27 days ago

Right…I certainly would not feel good sending my child to that campground after that happened. The only use I could see them using it for would be a day camp where the kids go home at night.

Suz
Suz
12 years ago

Respectfully, the murder of the three girls was horrific, to say the least, but I wish they would reopen the camp. Long before these murders took place, Camp Scott was a place filled with gaiety and laughter, not to mention, it was an educational experience. Friendships were made, such camaraderie around the camp fires, and when hiking, there was always the possibility of seeing one of the boys from the nearby camp. The photographs I see on the many websites about Camp Scott, I have those same photographs, but mine contain my camping buddies standing beside me, and that's how… Read more »

Kevin
Reply to  Suz
12 years ago

Well said Suz. If you are the Suz I think you are you know already that I am a fan of the way in which you express your feelings about this special place. Thanks for putting things in perspective for me again. – Kevin

drew
drew
Reply to  Suz
11 years ago

how do i get there?

William
William
Reply to  Suz
11 years ago

You and Bootsy totes hooked up.

Dani
Dani
Reply to  Suz
9 years ago

They need to reopen this. The past is the past. Just saying…

Darby
Darby
Reply to  Dani
2 years ago

The past is not the past when it comes to 3 babies that were murdered.

christian
christian
Reply to  Suz
8 years ago

I will check it out

Robbie
Robbie
Reply to  Suz
8 years ago

I am Bootsy. We stayed in Kiowa tent and had so much fun. We got kicked out after our second trip to Camp Scott. I told my friend to call the Camp Leaders husband a sonofabiscuiteater. She had never heard any kind of cuss words and didn't know she was doing anything wrong. We went on to stay friends for many years after that. That would have been 1968 or 69.

Robbie
Robbie
Reply to  Suz
8 years ago

P.S. Suz, if I had only known my go go dancing was that impressive I might have gone into it professionally…lol.

Brenna Haus
Brenna Haus
Reply to  Suz
7 years ago

I have so many wonderful memories of Camp Scott both with my Girl Scout troop and also from a summer camp experience. Such great memories that I am sad that it was closed after the horrible event that occurred. I understand the concern for safety and the traumatic event were the cause. With respect for the three girls, their families and friends it is understandable but still very sad that a plan could not be developed to reopen the camp.

J.Rowe
J.Rowe
Reply to  Suz
5 years ago

Suz, I'm 62 now, and I remember going to Camp Scott every fall and spring in the mid 60's with my Tulsa troop just for a weekend holiday. I loved it. At night we slept in the tents, 4-6 girls each and there was no adult with us. There were few lights at night. I can remember having been assigned a "bathroom buddy" who was supposed to accompany me (and I her) to the outhouse after dark. Well, I woke my "bathroom buddy" up to walk with me, and she promptly refused and fell back asleep. I made the walk… Read more »

Mary
Reply to  Suz
2 years ago

My brother was in the Boy Scout camp at the time of the murders. It is sad they closed it down because the kids did enjoy the fun times they had there

Nancy
Nancy
2 years ago

I went to summer camp there one year and also a few other times later with my girl scout troop. Years before these murders there was someone stalking. He even came into at least one of the platform tents the summer that I was there about 6 or 7 years before the murders. As I remember it was said that this was not a new occurrence. At least some of the counselors had guns then, and actually fired a shot at him. Too bad they didn’t hit him. From what I have read, it sounds like when the murders happened… Read more »

Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Nancy
2 years ago

6 or 7 years prior to the murders would put Hart in prison for his original crimes that caused him to eventually escape. He escaped four years prior to he murders and it’s hard to find info about what year he was imprisoned for the 2 women rape and burglary charges. If this did go on for years how can it NOT be the Cavaliers.

Sylvia Scott
Sylvia Scott
11 years ago

I made a post earlier about this. The property was sold-Camp Scott could never be again since the Council sold the land. They also tried to sell the parcels that HJ Scott deeded to them as long as they wanted to use the land for the samp. Also, it was not an eerie place and I was in the Kiowa unit when I attended in the 60's. By the way-whoever got onto the property to commit the murders knew it quite well and would have known how to enter it. It was not that easy to get to it without… Read more »

A M H
A M H
Reply to  Sylvia Scott
11 years ago

Since Boy Scout Camp Garland is well east of OK 82 and the site of Girl Scout Camp Scott is just west of OK 82, it doesn't seem at all that someone would come from Camp Garland to commit these heinous murders which happened on the far west part of Camp Scott. Also, since the three caves and the burglarized farm house were just west and southwest of Camp Scott and closest to the Kiowa area where the three girls' tent was, it is more likely that the perp(s) came through the back gate on the west side of Camp… Read more »

TDoug
TDoug
12 years ago

Even in its derilict state, you can see Camp Scott was a pretty cool and fun place. Some of the pictures on this site have a creepy feel to them but, strangely, not these. It's almost as though the goodness and innocence that dwelled here still pervades over the horrendous act that closed it. It Hart did in fact commit these crimes, he not only destroyed the lives of three little girls (bad enough!) but he also ruined what could have been a great life experience for other little girls who would have gone to this camp. What a sorry… Read more »

Charles
Charles
4 years ago

This case has always haunted me. My girls are grown now but when my youngest was little I was a brownie troop leader. I was a single father raising my kids, my daughter wanted to be in Girl Scouts and the troop at her school had no leader. Anyway I did and she was and went to camp for years, her sister did not. When my girls grew up my oldest daughter had severe problems and I ended up raising her daughter. She was in Girls Scouts. She went to camp every year. She was sexually assaulted at a young… Read more »

wonering wanderer
wonering wanderer
10 years ago

If it was up to me Id reopen this case.Theres far too many loose ends.Its sounds to me this was pinned on the closest crazy guy.Its all a little too neat.Im a dad,hunter,and spent many years in the scouts.And went on numerous campouts.So yes kids do sleep very soundly at times.But were talking scout camp here in the middle of the woods at night.No one heard anything?Everyone was asleep?We hardly ever slept much at scoutcamp.We were to busy talking and eating our smuggled in junk food stash.I swear my scout leader could hear our tent being unzipped at night a… Read more »

Joe
Joe
Reply to  wonering wanderer
6 years ago

he was familiar. He was in the woods for years after escaping

blueheroncommunications
blueheroncommunications
Reply to  wonering wanderer
5 years ago

This case was never closed. OSBI (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations) still considers it open. DNA testing was performed about 10 years ago, and a private donor just donated funds for the biological evidence to be tested again. Hoping that advancements will give some answers.

Old Reporter
Old Reporter
11 years ago

I have never written about this before but having been a worker at day camp overnights back in the late 60's I always had to sleep between two tents to insure that city kids didn't get scared or out. But in a thunderstorm it seemed odd to me that no counselor was at theior tent or took then into a tent with other campers.

InactiveOkie
InactiveOkie
11 years ago

In order to believe Hart did NOT commit these murders, you have to be willing to believe all the evidence was fabricated. As to the evidence supposedly left behind when Hart escaped, the Sheriff produced signed property receipts showing Hart took these items with him one of the few times he got out of jail by not escaping. Multiple items tied Hart to the nearby caves, and he had connections in the area. I've never heard anyone say that the perpetrator's hair that was bound up in the tape used to bind the girls was planted. That hair was as… Read more »

OldNews Boy Scout
OldNews Boy Scout
Reply to  InactiveOkie
9 years ago

In response to your post, I personally know that the medicine man was falsely accused of these horrific murders. If anyone disputes his innocence feel free to look up the story of a little known serial killer named "KIller Karl" Myers. Specifically a search for a Claremore, OK newspaper publication called the "Daily Progress" No. 180-March 11, 1998.by editor Lisa Willhoite. The article describes the arrest and conviction of the serial killer Karl Myers and how he committed a few of the crimes but its documented now that he killed atleast 5 people 3 being the girls at Camp Scott.… Read more »

Cari
Cari
Reply to  InactiveOkie
9 years ago

My issue is that from a psychological perspective, his actions make little sense. He had raped pregnant women before. Moving from grown women to children is odd. Sexual predators have their "thing" that gets them going, its very rare for it to be more than one thing. Especially when we're talking adults vs. children. I'd be willing to bet it wasn't him.

Gene
Gene
Reply to  Cari
9 years ago

I've wondered the same thing. If Hart was an adult female predator, then why was he considered also a child predator. Some child predators kidnap and keep under lock and key, a child to which he does unspeakable things year after year, but when they start getting too old, they search for another victim. Hart simply didn't fit the pattern although he was certainly not a person one would want to be buddy buddy with.

Jamie
Jamie
Reply to  Cari
6 years ago

It's not really that odd if he was an escaped convict he had access only to certain things and some people's 'fetish' is simply sadism, which doesn't always hold boundaries the way you think it does.

Corinne
Corinne
Reply to  Jamie
2 years ago

Obviously you are not familiar with the area or the culture in North East Oklahoma. Gene Hart was not deprived of anything during his four years as an escapee’. And therefore was not desperate to the point he would change his M.O!!

Kim
Kim
Reply to  InactiveOkie
9 years ago

And the question that always haunted me from the time the crime happened is why would you risk committing another crime when you spent the energy to escape prison and risk getting caught doing something and be put back inside. Why risk that after 4 years of freedom, why not commit an act much earlier than that?

Kevin
Kevin
Reply to  Kim
7 years ago

Measures of central tendency. That's why.

Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
2 years ago

Sheriff Weaver died this year. His vendetta is over. Maybe reopen the case and give the girls justice? Celia Stall needs to be questioned more.

J Cole
J Cole
6 years ago

I lived in Chouteau, OK (not far from Locust Grove) as a child and remember the area well. After graduating high school, I lived in a Dallas, TX suburb – married with two daughter both of whom were Girl Scouts and I was troop leader for both. When my troops went camping – it was troop camping only. I had a large troop of 21 girls, an associate leader and a first aider – both had girls in my troop. Our troop camping consisted of a weekend in the fall and spring in fully enclosed buildings I never took them… Read more »

Lara Kalen
Lara Kalen
Reply to  J Cole
5 years ago

How wonderful and rewarding your scouting years sound with your daughters.

I am so sorry about the loss of your daughter and 2 grand children. May they remember your love as they are looking down from the heavens at you!

Katie
Katie
6 years ago

I know that all the accounts of the discovery of the bodies state that camp counselor Carla Wilhite found them on her way to the showers. However, if the map shown at the top of this page is accurate, that is either impossible or at least HIGHLY unlikely. The counselors' tent is shown on THIS map right next to a building labeled as housing the shower facilities. Even the most cursory glance at the map quickly shows, therefore, that Counselor Wilhite would have had to CROSS the camp all the way over to the area of the murdered girls' tent… Read more »

Finding the Truth
Finding the Truth
Reply to  Katie
2 years ago

She’s an accomplice for the Cavaliers.

robbie
robbie
7 years ago

I don't think a lot of ppl get that it's not Camp Scott anymore, not owned by the Scouts. Therefore "they" can't reopen it.

devri
devri
12 years ago

Is there any way of contacting the owner of the camp? My friends and I would like to walk through it. ( very respectfully that is) Would that at all be possible? Thanks! =)

Copyright © 2009- - Abandoned Atlas Foundation - board@AbandonedAtlas.com | Designed By Prairie Nation Creative, LLC - Disclaimer

Total
49
Share
280
0
Have history here? Would love hear your stories or your thoughts.x
()
x