In this episode of True Crime Wife by Jess, Jess covers the unsolved 1977 murder of 16-year-old Jimmie Retha Brown, a vibrant teenager, athlete, cheerleader, and beloved daughter, sister, and friend whose life was cut short after a summer night in El Paso, Texas.

Jimmie was last seen on August 9, 1977, after spending time with friends near Dyer Street in El Paso. She had recently gotten her braces tightened and was not feeling well when Ronald Papaleo, also known as Ronnie Allen, allegedly offered her a place to rest. Jimmie got into his van and never made it back.

On August 15, 1977, Jimmie’s body was found in a remote desert area near Las Cruces, New Mexico. She had been strangled and left in the desert, still wearing Papaleo’s jacket. Despite publicly reported details, including Papaleo being the last known person to see Jimmie alive, a failed polygraph, and evidence reportedly connected to his van, no one has ever been arrested or charged in her murder.

Nearly 50 years later, Jimmie Retha Brown’s case remains unsolved, and her family is still fighting for justice. This episode walks through Jimmie’s life, the timeline of her disappearance, the known details of the investigation, the tragic death of her friend Ricardo Gonzalez, and the unanswered questions that still surround this El Paso and Las Cruces cold case.

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Disclaimer:

No one has been arrested or charged in the murder of Jimmie Retha Brown. Any individuals discussed in this episode are referenced based on publicly reported information, historical reporting, and family-provided details. All suspects or persons connected to the case should be presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Sources used for this episode include:

“The Unsolved Murder of Jimmie Retha Brown and the Man Who May Hold the Answers.”

Historical newspaper coverage and archived reporting related to the 1977 disappearance and murder of Jimmie Retha Brown.

Family-provided information and personal details shared with True Crime Wife by Jess by Jimmie’s niece, Michelle.

Additional case context from publicly reported details regarding Ronald Papaleo / Ronnie Allen, Ricardo Gonzalez, and the investigation into Jimmie Retha Brown’s unsolved homicide.

In Part 2 of The One with the Bodies Under the Patio, we finish one of the most disturbing cases in true crime history: Fred and Rose West.

After covering their childhoods, relationship, and the early escalation of violence in Part 1, we're now diving into the investigation that exposed the truth hidden beneath 25 Cromwell Street.

In this episode we discuss:

• Heather West's disappearance and the search warrant that changed everything • The excavation of 25 Cromwell Street • Fred West's confessions and changing stories • The discovery of multiple victims • The timeline of the police investigation • The survivors who escaped the West household • Rose West's trial and sentencing • Life behind bars for Rose West today • The lingering questions surrounding possible additional victims

Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussion of murder, abuse, sexual violence, child abuse, and other disturbing topics.

If you have a case you'd like covered on a future episode, or if you are a family member seeking awareness for an unsolved homicide or missing persons' case:

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Sources & References

Crime + Investigation UK Rosemary West https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/crime-files/rosemary-west

Gloucestershire Live Fred and Rose West timeline of police investigation into Cromwell Street House of Horrors https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/fred-rose-west-timeline-police-965716

Caroline Owens: What Happened to Fred and Rose West's Survivor? https://www.grunge.com/796094/caroline-owens-what-happened-to-fred-and-rose-wests-survivor/

BBC News The woman who lodged with Fred West for a year — and survived https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-64790043

Legal Clarity The West Murder Trial: Charges, Proceedings, and Verdicts https://legalclarity.org/the-west-murder-trial-charges-proceedings-and-verdicts/

The Mirror Inside Rose West's final days in jail — 'name change failure, vape bribes and barely able to move' https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/inside-rose-wests-final-days-33696217

Additional reading and case research conducted using archived reporting and publicly available court and case information.

Thank you for listening to True Crime Wife by Jess.

In this deeply disturbing episode of True Crime Wife by Jess, Jess begins a three-part deep dive into the horrifying case of Fred West and Rose West — Britain’s most infamous serial killer couple.

Before the murders at Cromwell Street shocked the world, there were years of trauma, abuse, manipulation, and violence brewing behind closed doors. In Part 1, Jess explores the childhoods of Fred and Rose West, their disturbing relationship, the abuse suffered by their children, and the early crimes that laid the foundation for one of the most horrifying true crime cases in UK history.

This episode examines not only what happened — but why these two individuals may have become who they were.

🔪 In This Episode:

• Fred West’s dysfunctional upbringing and disturbing family environment
• Allegations of incest, sexual abuse, and violence within the West family
• Rose West’s traumatic childhood and abuse by her father
• The psychological impact of trauma and abuse on violent offenders
• How Fred and Rose met when Rose was just 15 years old
• The early dynamics of their relationship and marriage
• Abuse and neglect suffered by the West children
• The murders of Charmaine West, Rena Costello, and Anna McFall
• The terrifying atmosphere inside the West household
• How authorities missed multiple warning signs over the years

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of child abuse, incest, sexual assault, domestic violence, murder, and crimes against children. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

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If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following, rating, and sharing the show to help bring awareness to both solved and unsolved cases.

References

The early days: Idyllic village childhood hid a darker side. (n.d.). The Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/

The truth about serial killer Fred West’s childhood. (n.d.). Grunge. https://www.grunge.com/372079/the-truth-about-serial-killer-fred-wests-childhood/

Who was Fred West? From farm labourer to notorious murderer. (n.d.). The Week. https://www.theweek.co.uk/

How Rose West became monster in childhood: Brutal therapy in womb and father’s sexual abuse. (n.d.). The Mirror. https://www.mirror.co.uk/

“My dad was a monster but she’s a sick psycho,” says Fred & Rose West’s son of parents’ vile abuse in unheard interview. (n.d.). The Sun. https://www.thesun.co.uk/

Rose West: Born evil [Documentary]. (n.d.).

Where are Fred and Rose West’s kids today? What to know about the surviving children. (n.d.). People.https://people.com/