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Mother's eight-year fight: Drowning victim murdered
14 Mar
Summary
- Mother never believed son's drowning, suspecting foul play.
- A confession led to three arrests for murder after eight years.
- Original investigation dismissed concerns and had procedural issues.
For eight years, Angela Moyers refused to accept that her son, Robbie Crites, drowned in the Jacks Fork River on June 16, 2018. Despite police ruling his death an accident, Moyers noted discrepancies, including injuries on her son's body, fueling her suspicion of murder. She alleged the then-Shannon County Sheriff, Darrin Brawley, dismissed her concerns, labeling the case an open-and-shut drowning.
Recently, a confession has revitalized the investigation. Three men—Ronald D Brawley III, Zachary D Watson, and Austin D Womack—were charged with second-degree murder on March 5. They are accused of assaulting Crites, wrapping him in fishing line, and dumping him in the river. Witness statements and a confession to acquaintances suggest Crites owed money for drugs or was killed for allegedly assaulting someone's sister.
