David Jackson left his home in June 1988 to buy some cigarettes and alcohol, but he never came back. It took the law enforcement more than ten years to locate his bones and formally pronounce him dead. We are transported back in time and given a glimpse at the life of David Jackson and the occasions in his life that lead to his disappearance or demise in the “Dateline NBC” episode titled “Buried Secrets.” It also provides a thorough account of the inquiry conducted after his disappearance. So, if you are interested in the case and want to learn the intricate facts, such as who the murderer was, you have come to the proper place. Here is all the information you require!
How Did David Jackson Die?
David Churchill Jackson, who was born on September 24, 1963, was raised by his stepfather and sibling Mark Jackson after being adopted by Judy Carlson and her husband. He was able to attend Hollywood Hills High School and graduate in the early 1980s despite some financial challenges. He was unable to attend college, so he began working to supplement his income and lived a carefree lifestyle.
David had blond hair on his head and a twinkle in his eyes. He enjoyed hunting, repairing trucks, drinking whisky straight from the bottle and listening to country music on cassettes. He worked as the manager of a Burger King in his community when he was 19 and met Barbara Britton, one of his staff members. She shared his passion for him, and they soon began dating.
By the time Barbara and David learned they were expecting a child around Christmas 1982, their relationship had advanced significantly. A few months later, on April 2, 1983, they got married, although according to Jackson’s friends and family, their relationship had already begun to deteriorate as she reportedly did not even spend the night with him on their wedding night. She did not spend much time with him there despite the fact that he had an apartment on Hood Street in Hollywood; instead, she opted to go back to her parents’ home. Even after the birth of their son on August 25, 1983, whom they named John, things between the couple remained contentious.
His wife Barbara claimed that he was immature and used to abandon her to care for the newborn all by herself, despite the fact that his acquaintances described him as a loving parent. When problems in the marriage didn’t get better, Barbara started the divorce process. On April 2, 1985, a little over two years after getting hitched, the couple filed for divorce. For a few years, while David was paying child support, they split custody of their child.
Jackson allegedly had a history of mistreating John while in his care, according to Barbara. She claimed that he used to call her and make her listen to him as a way of making fun of her. He also asserted that occasionally John would return with scrapes and bruises. Later, she made the announcement that she was getting married to Michael Wolfe, a former military police officer who was 20 years her senior.
After making this choice, Barbara opted to travel to Arizona from Florida, taking John with her, and only giving David a three-hour notice. In the midst of a child custody dispute, the couple stipulated before the judge that she would send John back to Florida for a month so that he may live with David in the summer of 1988.
However, on June 25, 1988—just a few days before John was scheduled to meet David and spend a month with him—the 24-year-old left the house to get cigarettes and beer and never returned. He was reported missing shortly after, and the police immediately began an inquiry. He died from gunshot wounds, according to reports, and it took the authorities more than 15 years to locate his remains.
Who Killed David Jackson?
Police searched for possible leads during the inquiry and questioned the missing man’s family and associates. A few months after he vanished, his automobile was discovered at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport abandoned, but the victim was nowhere to be located. The investigation had to be stopped by the authorities because all the leads and information were leading nowhere.
But after 15 years, in 2003, a dedicated female detective reopened the investigation after David’s son John spotted the poster for his father’s missing persons on her desk at a gathering of the Police Explorers programme, a group of young people interested in working in law enforcement. After conducting additional research, the detective discovered a number of pieces of evidence that implicated Barbara Britton. But before any evidence can be presented in a court of justice, there must be confirmation that David is no longer alive.
The authorities discovered, thanks to her tenacious efforts, that David’s bones had been with them for 15 years and had just recently been positively identified as his. The investigators became increasingly suspicious of Michael Wolfe as the inquiry went on, and he ultimately directed them to his ex-wife, Nancy Graham. She provided specifics about everything that happened on the crucial day when the investigators questioned her.
Nancy stated that Michael had informed her that Barbara and Harry, Nancy’s father, had sought him to devise a strategy to get rid of David. Then Michael and Barbara took a flight to Florida, where on that fateful day, Barbara tricked David into staying at a motel. Nancy reported that Michael revealed that he came out and shot David in front of Barbara in accordance with their plan while he was concealed in the bathroom holding a gun.
Because of the crucial testimony, the police were able to apprehend Michael Wolfe in October 2004. He later confessed to the crime and even disclosed that Harry played a more active part in the entire scheme. Barbara was also placed under arrest for the slaying of her ex-husband David Jackson a month after his confession.
