1956 Avard Unsolved Mystery

Woods County Enterprise

Thursday, 15 March 1956, Vol. 56 No. 45
Waynoka News – front-page & pg 15
Body of Avard Woman Found in Burned Car

Body burned beyond recognition – suspected assaulted – Found on lonely road about a mile south and 2-1/2 miles west of Hopeton about 1:40p.m., Tuesday afternoon. Loren Goucher was driving tractor a mile south of the scene – Saw something burning – investigated – notified sheriff’s office. State Investigation assigned – two state crime bureau agents were assigned to case. Crime bureau photographer and finger print expert flown to Alva. Mrs. Reynolds beaten about the head and shoulders. Evidence showed the car to have been forced off the south side of the road and into a tree. The car was then pushed or rolled across the road and then down the road about 150 feet where it was set on fire. It is thought a solvent was used because of the intense heat that melted the glass on the driver’s side, interior burned and the tires melted. 1949 Chevrolet traced to R. D. Reynolds was used by his wife to drive to and from college at Northwestern where she was a senior. Reynolds identified clothing found at the scene. Mildred had left the college about noon and was within a mile and a quarter of her home when found.

Officers found second set of tire tracks – It is thought that the second car went west on the road – turned up another road – turned around – came back east on road past the burning car. Shoe and part of bumper was found near tree and fresh blood stains on thistles and weeds nearby. Mrs. Reynolds found in car – her head towards the door away from the steering wheel. She apparently made no effort to escape from the blazing car. Body badly charred with one leg burned completely off at knee. Her husband, R. D. Reynolds, had been teaching in the Avard School for three years. They had been married less than a year. Mr. Reynolds was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Homer Reynolds of Freedom.

Thursday, 22 March 1956-Inquest Done In County Car Death, Coroner’s Inquest slated to began hearing of evidence of investigators into death of Mildred Ann Reynolds, Wednesday afternoon. State officers give evidence pointing to accident instead of murder. County and State crime bureau officers have been investigating death and a member of state fire marshal’s office and the National Auto Theft bureau dismantled the car.

Thursday, 29 March 1956 – pg 7-Query Continues In Burning Car DeathCoroner’s jury last week after two days of testimony ordered further investigation into the death. Questioning of students at Northwestern State College who were absent from school on that day began Monday. Ivan Gates – Crime bureau agent – stated his investigation had led him to believe the death accidental – announced plans had been made to test the brake fluid of same type that was in the car -- to determine if it could have caused blaze. 

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