I want to thank Meaghan of the Charley Project for blogging herself about this case earlier last month. She got me interested in this case. I tried reaching out to family members for this entry. I was unsuccessful. I would just like to point out that there are those of us in this field who actually WANT to help. Many of us like myself want nothing in return. You can ask any of the family members of people I have written about on this very blog. And they will tell you I ask for nothing. If they elaborate on an aspect of a case that they do not wish to be made public. I will not share that. There are many times I have reached out to family members who do not wish to discuss the case with me and I respect that. Many times I tend to blog about older cases because with the length of time that has gone by. Family members and people involved are more likely to share details they have not before. If their ordeal been going on for 20+ years. And the family has not received justice. I like shedding light on the case and analyzing the information myself. And if I'm sure there is a person or persons involved. I will go after them. If its been going on this long. And Law Enforcement hasn't done a damn thing by now. The odds are they won't. They'll never say that. But its the truth. I can understand a family's cautious nature regarding wanting to disclose info to me. Like I said. If they do not wish to share info. I respect that. Also, I have several outlets for my information regarding cases. Some of it may not be correct. If it isn't. By all means. Let me know. But I can only go with what I am given or have read. Again, I want to stress. Many of us in this field only want to help. That is all. Also, I listen to music as I blog to help me focus and establish a rhythm. So I usually associate a song with a case I am blogging about. Butch's song is Sounds of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel. I also experimented with a different font. Wanted this entry to stand out a little.
Shurlock
Essex Police Dept
145 Maple Street
Essex Jct., VT 05452
Phone - (802) 878-8331
Fax - (802) 878-1340
Agency Case Number: 80-3337
Chief Rick Garey
Essex Police Department
E-Mail: rgarey@dps.state.vt.us
Det. Sgt. James Whitcomb
Detective Unit
Vermont State Police Williston
City/State: Williston, Vermont 05495
E-Mail: jwhitcom@dps.state.vt.us
WILFRED FRED KING III "BUTCH
(LEGALLY DECLARED DEAD IN 1994)
(LEGALLY DECLARED DEAD IN 1994)
MISSING FROM: ESSEX, VERMONT
RESIDENCE: 114 JERICHO RD. ESSEX, VERMONT
(HOUSE WAS BUILT ON LAND GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS PARENTS.)
DATE OF BIRTH: 4/22/1943
HAIR AND EYES: BOTH BROWN
WEARING: SILVER DOLLAR BELT BUCKLE WITH 1776-1976 ON IT. CHEAP WRIST WATCH.
METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION: 1979 BLUE & WHITE CHEVY BLAZER
PARENTS: WILFRED KING JR. & LILLIAN KING (PARENTS LIVED NEXT DOOR)
SPOUSE: EX WIFE-
DIANE MARY IRISH-KING (MARRIED IN 1966)
CHILDREN: JOEY FRED KING, ANGELA MARIE KING-HOWARD, AND MICHAEL ALLEN KING
OCCUPATION: OWNER OF KING'S PAVING
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
DIMPLES ON BOTH CHEEKS
MEDICAL CONDITIONS: WAS HIT BY A CAR IN FRONT OF HIS HOME ON APRIL 18TH OF 1978. WAS IN A COMA FOR WEEKS AND NEARLY DIED AS A RESULT. WASN'T EXPECTED TO SURVIVE. NEEDED CRUTCHES TO WALK.
The
Accident:
Burlington Free Press April 19th, 1978
Thank
You Card to the Hospital and Staff after his accident.
REWARD
in Newspaper
BIRTH
CERTIFICATE
DEATH
CERTIFICATION
DETAILS
OF DISAPPEARANCE
On
Friday October 24th, 1980 Wilfred Fred King III who went by "Butch"
left his home at 114 Jericho Rd in Essex, Vermont at around 7 pm.
Butch was partially handicapped from an accident that occurred 2
years prior. He was struck while walking outside near his home in
Essex by a car. The injuries he suffered from were near fatal and he
was in a coma for several weeks. He wasn't expected to survive. To
everyone's surprise he did survive the accident. He learned how to
walk again with the use of crutches. According to his wife Diane
King, The accident was very hard on their marriage. According to her
his entire demeanor changed and 2 months prior to his disappearance
Butch filed for divorce. Diane moved out taking the younger two
children with her. (Angela and Michael) Joey
remained at his dad's side. During the time of the breakup and up
until his disappearance the separation was getting ugly. According to
Butch's parents they feared for his safety. And they insisted he
always go out with someone. Usually his eldest son Joey. The day he
disappeared (according to reports) he was expecting
an important phone call. So important he wanted to stay home until he
received it. He apparently received it a few hours before he left the
house. According to newspaper accounts he went hunting out behind his
house and came in and got cleaned up. Butch left his home at 114
Jericho Rd in his 1979 Blue and White Chevy Blazer at around 7 pm.
According to his parents they urged him to take Joey with him but he
refused. Who called and what was discussed is still a mystery to this
day. There was a Final Divorce Hearing scheduled for December of 1980
of which he didn't attend because on the 24th of October in 1980 he
was never seen or heard from again. One of the news articles state he
left to visit one of three friends. And none of them reported seeing
him that night. On Saturday the 25th a blood stained pair of metal
crutches that are thought to be Butch's were found off Middle Rd in
Colchester Vermont. An article of clothing was also found thought to
be Butch's as well. They were found in a wooded area by hunters. At
the time they were sent to the State Crime Lab. On the 26th a women
who lived in the area of Williston reported she saw Butch's vehicle
in the area with a man driving it. That is all that has been released
in regards to that detail. On November 14th Butch's Blazer was found
abandoned near a gravel pit off West Oak Hill Rd in Williston also by
a hunter. Some reports state it was IN a gravel pit. Others state it
was NEAR a gravel pit. According to the Vermont State Police website
report it was burned out. After the disappearance it didn't take
long for Diane to move back into the house on Jericho Rd. (Joey
opted to move next door with his grandparents) Since the
divorce wasn't finalized she was still legally Butch's wife. She also
brought along a few "friends". An Arnold Parent and a John
Lockwood moved in with her as well. She immediately started selling
paving equipment that belonged to Butch. She received $11,000 of
which was claimed she turned over to her attorney. (Later on after
the court battle concluded. Diane ended up admitting that none of the
$11,000 she received from selling Butch's paving equipment was spend
on any of their 3 children.) Apparently she let one of her
"friends" borrow Butch's Snowmobile and his Snowmobile
Outfit. Joey concerned with her apparently selling things that
belonged to his dad ended up taking some things next door to his
grandparents house for safe keeping. This ended up becoming a legal
ordeal which was tied up for a few years in the courts. Basically
Diane wanted to own the property and the contents of the house on
Jericho Rd. And Joey along with his grandparents felt Diane was
responsible for Butch's disappearance and death and fought against
it. Essex PD is on record stating that Diane King was uncooperative
with the investigation. She stated she didn't know what happened to
her husband. And refused to take a polygraph test even though she
informed the media she would. She also wouldn't let law enforcement
talk to Angela and Micheal. Wilfred King Jr. Butch's father ended up
being awarded the house and Butch's possessions. Eventually Parent
and Lockwood's welcome wore out and they left the property. Diane
moved her then future husband in. A Calvin "Mickey"
Clark. The legal battle ended up going in Butch's parents favor.
You can read all about the legal battle in the articles below. Joey
and his grandparents ended up winning the court battle and Diane was
forced to move from the residence. Joey ended up moving in and
raising his family in the home. The family of Butch believe they know
who was involved but there was never adequate proof for law
enforcement to make any arrests. Butch's body has never been found.
Burlington
Free Press 10/29/1980
114
Jericho Rd. Essex, Vermont (Present Day): This house was built by Wilfred F. King III on land given to him by his parents. (Yes,
He built the frikkin house) This house was also involved in
a legal dispute after King's disappearance involving King's Parents
along with his son Joey on one end. And his wife Diane King on the
other. Calvin F. King III's parents lived next door.
DIANE
IRISH-KING
Williston
did you say?.....
Colchester
did you say?.....
Diane
owned a Dance School in Essex
Parent was one of the "Roommates" that Diane let move into the house at 114 Jericho Rd. after Butch disappeared. Apparently he and a John Lockwood (Who also moved in with Arnold and Diane) were responsible (According to Diane) of damaging items belonging to Butch while they stayed. According to newspaper accounts at one point he went to Diane's place of employment and smashed in her car windows. He was jailed 7 months as a result. She stated he slept with a gun under his pillow and that she was afraid of him. It should be noted that Arnold and John Lockwood are related by marriage to each other. Arnold Parent has a substantial record in a wide range of offenses. All of which is listed below. His past record indicates him to be a violent individual. Arnold parent also once lived at 95 Jericho Rd. Diane claimed to be afraid of him and Lockwood.
Burlington
Free Press 4/24/81
Burlington
Free Press 3/25/82
Burlington
Free Press 4/14/83
Burlington
Free Press 9/26/84
Burlington
Free Press 8/24/92
Burlington
Free Press 1/30/97
Burlington
Free Press 5/15/2001
Lockwood
was an associate and a relative of Parent. According to Diane both
Parent and Lockwood were responsible for theft and vandalism of items
at the home of her ex husband during the time they stayed. Diane
claimed she was afraid of both men, And that Lockwood always had a
gun in his shoulder holster. Both Parent and Lockwood eventually left
the residence.
Burlington
Free Press 1-30-1969
Burlington
Free Press 9-29-1971
CALVIN
"MICKEY" CLARK
More on Clark at the bottom of the entry
NEWSPAPERS:
In Chronological Order
Burlington
Free Press April 17th, 1968 (Apparently he had bad luck with
automobiles)
The
Burlington Free Press 10/30/1980
BURLINGTON
FREE PRESS NOVEMBER 16TH, 1980
Burlington
Free Press November 16th, 1981
Burlington
Free Press November 16th, 1981
Burlington
Free Press December 22nd, 1981
Burlington
Free Press February 2nd, 1982
Burlington
Free Press March 23rd, 1982
Burlington
Free Press August 4th, 1982
Burlington
Free Press August 4th, 1982
Burlington
Free Press November 23rd, 1982
Burlington
Free Press January 23rd, 1983
BURLINGTON
FREE PRESS FEBRUARY 23RD, 1988
Burlington
Free Press March 8th, 1988
Burlington
Free Press- March 25th, 1988
Burlington
Free Press- May 11th, 1988
Burlington
Free Press October 25th, 2000
Burlington
Free Press October 25th, 2000
Burlington
Free Press October 30th, 2005
OTHER CLIPPINGS
Burlington
Free Press 6-29-1966
Butch's
Dad's Obit
Butch's
Sister- Burlington Free Press 7-23-1945
CALVIN
M. CLARK
Burlington
Free Press 1/12/1965
Burlington
Free Press March 24th 1966
Burlington
Free Press 2-10-1965
Burlington
Free Press 3-29-1986
Diane
and Calvin's Marriage Certificate
Lillian
King and the rest of Butch's family still do not know what happened
to him....
MY
THOUGHTS
Everything
points to Diane. She refused to cooperate with the investigation. She
refused to let the other two kids be questioned. I doubt the other 2
kids knew anything. But the fact she wouldn't allow it is
interesting. She moved right back into the house after her husband
disappeared. And apparently moved on pretty quickly. She had a few
male friends which in some articles they are referred to as
boyfriends. She had a total of 3 males living with her in the 3
months. She ended up marrying one. Which leads me to believe that it
wasn't JUST the accident that led to the divorce. If the accident had
anything to do with it at all. Butch was the one that filed for the
divorce. Not Diane. And why would she? Seemed that she had plenty at
home. They seemed to be pretty well off. Odds are she knew Parent,
Lockwood, and Clark prior to Butch filing for divorce. There are some
questions I wish I had the answer to. I'm pretty sure Law Enforcement
know who called Butch the day he went missing. They said he went to
visit one of 3 friends. And none of them would admit to seeing him
that day. I wish I had the names of those friends. I think Butch knew
there might be trouble. Which is why he didn't take Joey. And he was
probably armed. But it obviously did him no good. I wish I knew if
the piece of clothing was ever confirmed to be his. I wish I knew if
any of Diane's boyfriends were ever questioned. Butch seemed
like a man's mans. Built his Own House. Avid Hunter. Owned his
Family Business. Survived a horrible car accident. And he was
obviously a Very Brave Man. The bloody crutches being found leads me
to speculate he was beaten with them at some point. It's a sickening
thought. But Ill tell you it prob still took more than one to take
down Butch. Even if he needed crutches to walk. Even without the
crutches one piece of shit low life would get his ass kicked. They
probably had to surprise him. I'm not sure that I'd say that Parent,
Lockwood, or Calvin Clark had something to do with it right off the
bat. Parent certainly has the background that fits that type of
crime. The other two might have similar things in their past that fit
as well. I didn't have the resources for this entry to do a
background check on them. Diane had a retail theft charge and a few
DUIs. But nothing like what she was more than likely involved in with
her ex husband. I do believe Diane to be involved. The reason Calvin
Clark's history is split between the entry is that I didn't know that
he and Diane married until I was looking into this case and already
writing the entry. Which surprised me because nowhere in the
newspapers is it reported. Whats left of Butch is probably in a
wooded area. And the police may have searched that area before and
missed him. It's certainly not unheard of. Something making it even
harder is that Vermont is a heavily, heavily forested state. 78% of
Vermont is forested. Essex County is 94% forested.
