Betty Gail Brown was nineteen years old, and living with her parents, when she was found deceased in her car, strangled to death with her own bra near the campus of Transylvania University where she attended college. Her watch was found in the grass near her car. Her friends and family said she was well-liked and had no enemies. In 1965, Alex Arnold confessed to the crime in Oregon when he was arrested for public drunkenness. He was an alcoholic and was in withdrawals when he gave the statement, and eventually recanted. He was released due to a mistrial.