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David Chung goes missing
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Cooley agrees to give Simpkins a ride to his Grandfather's house in Tennessee
Simpkins asks Cooley to give him a ride to his grandfather's house in Tennessee. Cooley agrees but tells him Chung is coming to Tennessee as well. According to Simpkins, following an argument with his parents, Chung is running away from his home to live with Cooley who in actuality only had plans to rob Chung. Simpkins also tells investigators he had met Chung at least 2x prior to the trip to Tennessee because his roommate sold him drugs. -
David Chung's car found
Car was discovered in a wooded area of Humphreys County. Jamie Cooley has ties to this area, possibly family or friends. -
David Chung reported missing
David Chung's parents reported him missing the day after he walked away from his Alabama home. His car was discovered the same day in Tennessee. -
Johnnie Luna Disappeared
Johnnie walked away from his mother's home in Davidson County- Nashville, Tennessee. He was a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic and his disappearance wasn't seriously investigated due to his mental state and the likelihood he walked away on his own. I do not know the exact date he was reported missing but it was at least days after he left because it wasn't uncommon for him to disappear for days due to the mental illness. This explains why police didn't connect his vehicle to him until later. -
Deborah Luna found deceased
Deborah Luna, wife of Dean Luna (Johnnie Luna's brother) was found hanging in a brush fire. Authorities believe accelerants were used to burn the body- even though the ME ruled it a suicide. There is a good chance Dean & Deborah Luna could have encountered Simpkins & Cooley traveling through rural Cheatham County. Possible drug activity as a motive to rob or murder Deborah. Hiding facts about drug abuse would shine a new light on the odd account Dean gave authorities. -
Johnnie Luna's car discovered
According to articles I found, Johnnie's car was found days after he disappeared- no exact date given. I assume at the time his vehicle had not been entered into any database because police impounded it with no knowledge it was connected to a missing person. Later on the connection was made and evidence was collected. More than likely Johnnie was already deceased in the wooded area 30 yards away. -
David Chung's body found
Chung's body was found in thick brush 3 miles from where his car was discovered. He had been stabbed to death. Simpkins admitted his involvement but said Cooley was the actual killer and racism and robbery were the motives to "take care of him". -
Dean Luna Indicted for disposing of her body/ arson
Dean Luna was indicted by a grand jury for disposing of a body and arson in connection with Deborah Luna's death. Cause of death was strangulation but it could not be determined whether it was suicide or foul play definitively. According to investigators there wasn't any evidence Dean murdered Deborah so he wasn't charged for murder. Makes no sense why a person would burn a body they didn't harm or have an insurance stake against. The couple were drug addicts which could have led to robbery. -
Johnnie Luna's Body Discovered
Body was discovered by hunters 30 yards from where his car was discovered in a wooded area of Shelby County near Westover Alabama. Jamie Cooley's grandmother lives 1 mile away from the site. He was found with rope attached to his clothed, skeletonized remains. A knife was found in his vehicle that may or may not be a weapon used to attack him. Further, I'm not sure if a definitive cause of death was ever able to be determined. Circumstances point to homicide though. -
Van Phillips found deceased
Robert Simpkins was found guilty of the December 1995 murder of Van Phillips. Phillips was found bound with rope and stabbed over 90 times after a sexual encounter with Simpkins- a known prostitute. Bryan Noble was charged as his accomplice and admitted to plans of robbing Philips but denied killing him and said Simpkins was the actual killer.