Who is Charles Crawford? Kansas man arrested for shooting his ex-wife and her new boyfriend to death
WICHITA, KANSAS: In a shocking incident that unfolded in the quiet neighborhood of Wichita, Kansas on July 25, 2023, a man named Charles 'Chuck' Crawford has been arrested in connection to the murder of his estranged wife and her boyfriend.
On Tuesday, September 12, a publicly released affidavit revealed details of the suspect's murderous rampage, reported Law and Crime.
Who was Vanessa A Crowd and Donald J Eckhert?
The affidavit also revealed that Crawford's murderous rampage stemmed from his rage and jealousy.
Vanessa A Crawford, 50, the estranged wife of Charles who served in the US Postal Service was murdered by her husband. Her 58-year-old boyfriend Donald J Eckhert was also killed.
She was known for the way she was passionate about her job and was a beloved child-care provider for several years in her neighborhood.
On the day of the murder, the Wichita police responded to an emergency call. After they arrived at around 7:30 am, the police officers found Crawford and Eckhert who died from gunshot injuries.
Key witness details gruesome double-murder of Vanessa Crawford and Donald Eckhert
According to the affidavit, a gun in Eckert's hand was purchased by Charles 'Chuck' Crawford.
Detectives found blood stains on Eckert's right elbow and also smeared on the inside of his hands. Furthermore, the weapon was found to be jammed, which led to the initial murder-suicide hypothesis.
A 22-year-old woman who is considered a key witness in the case recalled dropping off her child at the home that doubled as a daycare and stumbled upon the crime scene.
The witness found the front door locked as opposed to the door usually being left unlocked. She then witnessed the dead bodies of Vanessa and Eckert.
The woman then immediately called a friend of the victim Vanessa who then prompted an emergency call.
What was Charles 'Chuck' Crawford's motive behind the killings?
According to the witness who spoke to Vanessa, Charles had issues with his estranged wife's new relationship with Eckert.
However, Eckert believes Crawford's anger and jealousy toward her resulted in the gruesome murder.
Suspicions further deepened after Crawford's truck was placed in the vicinity. The alleged killer then admitted to fatally shooting the victims and other events after a dramatic two-hour standoff.
"He told the officer he had his gun with him and at one point he pulled Vanessa’s hair and she grabbed his arm causing the gun to go off and shoot Vanessa. He said the boyfriend started to get up and he shot the boyfriend," said the affidavit.