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Alan Livingston: Remains of man who went missing in 1983 found in Alabama river, killer may go unpunished

William Roth Jr, 71, who allegedly killed Livingston, was sentenced to life for a different murder and is currently in a nursing home
PUBLISHED OCT 31, 2022
Alan Livingston has been missing since 1983 (Screenshot via WVTM 13)
Alan Livingston has been missing since 1983 (Screenshot via WVTM 13)

GADSDEN, ALABAMA: The skeletal remains found inside the brown 1980 Ford Bronco under the Coosa river in January 2022 have been confirmed to belong to a Rainbow City man, Alan Douglas Livingston, who has been missing since 1983. "Never seen anything like it!" detective Sgt Eric Phillips stated while confirming that Livingston was last seen driving a brown 1980 Ford Bronco.

About two months after Livingston went missing, a 71-year-old hitchhiker named William Roth Jr was arrested in Arkansas for a Clarksville, Texas murder. He was sentenced to life in prison. In 2012, he was moved to a nursing home owing to deteriorating health and has remained there ever since. Roth was alleged to have killed Livingston as well but never gave a satisfactory explanation about what happened. He may never face charges in Livingston's death, reported ABC 7.

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The mystery was unveiled when scuba diver Chris Overstreet found an old vehicle in the river and contacted the police department. Overstreet discovered the vehicle approximately 18 feet underwater, 30 feet from the shoreline behind Summer Waters Apartments, reported al.com. "During an interview with Texas/Arkansas authorities, Roth admitted to hitting Livingston in the head with a board after an argument. He said the crime occurred in Gadsden, where he was staying at the time,” said the officials in a statement. Livingston was 25 when he vanished in April 1983.

The river where the remnants were found
 Coosa river where the remains were found (screenshot via WVTM13)

After Roth’s statement to authorities, Gadsden, Rainbow City and ABI investigators went to Texas to interview him. “He was inconsistent, however, about what he did with the body and Livingston’s Bronco afterwards. Authorities searched in several different locations but came up short,” the police statement continued. The Ford Bronco was disintegrated and filled with mud. This is when the FBI was involved in the case, and they sent divers from Virginia, Los Angeles and Miami to conduct the search. The statement read, “The silt was sifted and what was left was analyzed by the FBI Evidence Response Team. At the conclusion of the search skeletal remains and identification belonging to Alan Livingston were located. The remains are being sent off to forensics for further analysis."

Philips
Detective Sgt Eric  Philips (screenshot via WVTM13)

Philips explained the search in detail. He said, "And ultimately, they found skeletal remains, an Alabama driver's license in pristine condition, a Goodyear ID card and Social Security card and some other personal effects." Philips also spoke about his interaction with Livingston's sister who lives in Ohio. He said, "She was obviously glad; she'll have some closure. But after 39 years, it's also brought back a lot of bad memories. It's great to bring closure, not only to the family but to the area and law enforcement officers still living that were part of this case." 

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