Jamison family deaths

The Jamison family of Eufaula, Oklahoma, United States,^[1] consisting of Bobby,^[2] his wife Sherilynn,^[3] and daughter Madyson,^[4] mysteriously disappeared on October 8, 2009,^[1] while their dog miraculously survived. The family was reportedly considering the purchase of a forty-acre plot of land near Red Oak, about thirty miles from Eufaula, at the time of their disappearance.^[5] Their suspected remains were found in November 2013, and were positively identified by the Oklahoma medical examiner on July 3, 2014. No cause of death was determined, and the circumstances surrounding their disappearance remain unanswered.

Disappearance

The initial investigation into the Jamison family's disappearance indicated that they had probably not vanished of their own accord. The Jamisons' pickup truck was discovered within a few days, abandoned in Latimer County, Oklahoma, a short distance south of the town of Kinta.^[6] The Jamisons' bodies were not found, but their malnourished dog was still in the truck. Also discovered were the Jamisons' IDs, wallets, mobile phones, a GPS system, and about $32,000 in cash.^[5] The Jamisons were known for carrying large amounts of cash with them.^[1]

Several theories emerged about the family's disappearance, such as that they had faked their own deaths, were in witness protection, were murdered, or had committed group suicide.^[7] Shortly before the disappearance, Bobby Jamison was involved in a bitter lawsuit with his father, Bob Dean Jamison, claiming Bob Dean had threatened the family. Bobby stated his father had struck him with his vehicle on November 1, 2008 and was involved in gangs and meth. Police do not believe that Bobby's father was involved in the family's disappearance.^[7]

Another popular theory was that the Jamisons were involved in drug dealing. Investigators cited the large amount of cash found in the Jamisons' truck, and the apparent strange behavior exhibited by Bobby and Sherilynn shortly before they went missing.^[8] The Jamisons had reportedly told their pastor on separate occasions that they had seen spirits inside their home.^[8]

Discovery

The skeletal remains of two adults and one child were discovered by two hunters in a remote spot on November 15–16, 2013, more than four years after the family went missing,^[9] and less than three miles away from where the family's pickup truck had been abandoned. The remains were widely presumed to be those of the missing family, though the Oklahoma medical examiner's office had to use anthropological and forensic pathological testing to identify them. Officials confirmed on July 3, 2014 that the remains belonged to the Jamisons. A cause of death was not determined due to the heavily decomposed state of the bodies.^[6]

In the media

The Jamison disappearance was profiled on the Investigation Discovery series Disappeared in late 2010, in an episode titled "Paradise Lost".^[10] In March 2018, the Jamison family was discussed on an episode of BuzzFeed Unsolved, titled “The Disturbing Mystery of the Jamison Family”.^[11]

See also

• McStay family murder

References