In 1981, investigators from Newton County Missouri descended on the area of Lake Charles State Park and the Lawrence County Landfill off Hwy 25 near Eaton.
Law enforcement was investigating the disappearance of William Pennant, age 68 of Tucson Arizona.
Investigators from the FBI obtained confessions from
Lillie Marlene Strickland, age 34 of Florida and her husband, James Albert Strickland, age 34, also of Florida to the murder and dismemberment of Pennant.
According to investigators, the Strickland’s murdered William Pennant at a KOA Campground outside of Joplin Missouri on or about August 4th 1981.
The pair placed Pennant’s body in a Volkswagen truck that was being towed by the victim’s stolen 1972 Apollo Motorhome and traveled to Arkansas.
Officials believe on August 22nd 1981 that Pennant’s body was dismembered by the Strickland’s at Lake Charles State Park and put into 3 separate trash bags before being placed in trash receptacles that later ended up in the Lawrence County Landfill off Hwy 25.
Investigators converged on the Lawrence County Landfill wearing protective suits and gas mask as they combed through tons of garbage and debris. At one point a long bone was discovered but testing concluded it was not human.
In July 1982, the husband and wife who were both serving prison terms for other crimes were indicted by a Grand Jury in Missouri and tried for the murder.
Lillie Marlene Strickland pled guilty to 2nd Degree Murder for her part in the crime and was sentenced to 10 years in a Missouri prison, she was ordered to serve the sentence after completion of her federal prison term.
James Albert Strickland pled guilty to 1st Degree Murder and received a life sentence, he was also convicted of 3 counts of robbery in connection with Pennant’s murder, Strickland was sentenced to an additional 7 years on each charge.
William Pennant’s body was never found.