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.