Kentucky Fried Chicken murders

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The Kentucky Fried Chicken murders were an armed robbery and mass murder which took place at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Kilgore, Texas in 1983. For over two decades it was among the most tragic unsolved murder cases in Texas history.

On the evening of September 23, 1983, just before the restaurant closed, armed robbers held up the Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kilgore. The other five people in the restaurant at the time (who were either employees of the restaurant or were waiting for someone there) were abducted, taken to a nearby field, and each shot in the back of the head.

The victims' bodies were discovered by local police and Texas Rangers, and were identified as: David Maxwell (20), Joey Johnson (20), Monty Landers (19), Mary Tyler (37), and Opie Hughes (38).

For 22 years, the case remained unsolved; several people were arrested and at least one individual was charged with the murders, but was later released due to lack of evidence. Finally, in November 2005, two men (already in prison for other crimes) were arrested and charged: Darnell Hartsfield (44) and Romeo Pinkerton, 47. At the time of arrest, Hartsfield was serving a life sentence for aggravated perjury in connection with the case. Since they have been charged with capital murder, Hartsfield and Pinkerton could receive the death penalty if convicted.