Family convinced Nelson’s death was murder
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“It took me two years before I could drive down Smithville Highway,” said Nelson’s sister, Betty Minton, recalling the death of her 23-year-old brother beside the highway across from Delores’ Market. “He was such a funny person. He’d do anything for anybody.”
Nelson’s body was found in a field off the northbound lane of Smithville Highway on the morning of July 15, 1993. Investigators surmised Nelson had been hit by a car since he had been seen by numerous motorists walking down the dark, two-lane highway earlier in the evening.
According to Minton, her brother was walking to his girlfriend’s house. However, she noted the circumstances of the evening were mysterious.
“He asked to be dropped off at the top of Moose Lodge Hill, and said he was going to meet someone,” Minton said. “That was unusual. We don’t know who he was meeting.”
Nelson’s body was found about three miles north of where he was dropped off.
Adding to the mystery, Minton said, was Nelson’s statements that he felt his life was in danger. Minton said there was an ongoing domestic problem between him and someone else who she did not name.
“He talked about someone trying to kill him,” Minton said. “When he was visiting in Florida just before, he talked about dreading coming back because he thought he might be killed. This was no accident.”
Sheriff Jackie Matheny, who was first elected to office more than a year after Nelson’s death, believes Nelson died from being struck by a motor vehicle. However, Matheny said there are still questions as to whether the fatal crash was intentional or accidental.
“I have no doubt he was hit by a car,” Matheny said. “Now as to whether it was planned, I’ve heard it both ways. There’s been a lot of rumors and we’ve talked to a lot of suspects over the years.”
According to Minton, the family needs to know who killed her brother, and why, before there can be closure.
“We just need to know,” Minton said. “It’s been so long and the case has really gone no where. I’m just hoping maybe somebody will do the right thing when they read this.”
Matheny said reminding the public is important since lives may have changed in the decade since the incident, perhaps making someone with information more amenable to coming forward.
“We’re still very interested in this case and finding out exactly what happened,” Matheny said, noting with such a cold case, someone would almost have to step forward and provide a break for the case to be solved. “We encourage anyone with any information on Mr. Nelson’s death to come forward.
Anyone wanting to share information on the Nelson case may contact the sheriff’s department at 473-8738.