Gordon was attacked and murdered in his home in the College Hill area of Texarkana. His sister, Karen, sustained a severe head wound that she died from three days later. The assailant has never been identified. ~ by James Petersen
Gordon was a student at Washington Middle School, and a member of Trinity Baptist Church. He was in the 6th grade when he passed away.
Of those who knew him, they all described him as being one of the nicest persons that they had ever known. They said he was a very sweet, kind, and outgoing young man,... a gentle spirit who was always smiling, who always said good morning before class, and was very courteous, etc... Some of his friends mentioned that they have fond memories of him, and his sister riding on the church bus with them to their church, Trinity Baptist.
One of his friends said he did a mean Elvis Presley impersonation.
According to the newspaper story that I read... Teachers, and friends of Gordon, and Karen Alexander described them as having opposite personalities. David Polk, assistant principal at Washington Sixth Grade School said that of all the kids at Washington Middle School, Gordon was the one who stuck out." He also added that, "despite his handicap, he really fit in."
Hard luck was no novelty to the friendly boy who spent the last weeks of his life in a wheelchair. He was born with a congenital heart defect that was corrected by open heart surgery while he was still an infant. Later he suffered a stroke that made his left arm, and leg weak. Several weeks prior to his death he broke his afflicted hip in a fall, keeping him off the bicycle friends, and neighbors associated him with.
Gordon had been confined to a wheelchair since a hip operation about 3 months prior to the attack.
Becky M., his physical therapist at Temple Memorial Treatment Center, said his health problems never dimmed an outgoing disposition. He was very popular, and one of the favorites with staff members and other students at the center, she said. He was in a summer program in 1977, but didn't require therapy again until his hip was broken. He was due Wednesday afternoon for his first session since the fall.
"Gordon never met a stranger," Ms. M said, adding he used his amicable personality to the fullest advantage. "He would always say, "Oh, you look so pretty, and such." She said, "He was quite a manipulator." Or, as I would say, "a charmer."
This is my personal story about Gordon given to me by my brother...
Gordon played the harmonica. He was known to be a very kind, sweet, and gentle young man.
One thing that was quite noticeable about him was that one of his legs was a few inches shorter than the other one. Because of this he wore a special shoe on his shorter leg that added extra inches to his height on that side. This made it so that he could stand, and walk at an even level with his longer leg. This shoe was said to be black, and rather large, and heavy. For this reason he became the target of some cruel, and heartless bullying at school.
My brother went to the same school as he did at the time (College Hill Elem. School) and he took up for Gordon when he was being bullied. He kept the bullies from harassing, and hurting him. My brother told me that at recess a lot of the time Gordon would just sit behind the school all by himself, and play the harmonica. My brother befriended him, and started talking to him, and spending time with him to encourage him, and to keep him company for a time so that he wouldn't have to be alone.
I remember reading somewhere in a newspaper article that their father, Weldon told police, detectives, and/or reporters that Karen loved spelling, and English, and wanted to be a nurse. Gordon loved football, and loved watching it with his dad, friends, or family, or all three. I can't remember the details. He wanted to be a football player. He named the position. I can't remember what it was. I know it wasn't the quarter-back because I would have remembered that. If I find the article - I will document it here...
Gordon Dale Alexander of Texarkana was only 13 years old when he passed away in his home from injuries received from an unknown assailant on Wednesday, 08Apr1981. Gordon was trying to defend his sister by calling 911 when he was assaulted. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers worked throughout the night on Wednesday, 08Apr1981, when the attacks took place. Detective Capt. Jimmy Cowart said, "We lifted a lot of fingerprints, and they have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for identification."
Cowart said, "Every porch light on the hill was left on that night."
I think everyone in Texarkana should leave their porch lights on in honor of Karen & Gordon every April 8th to show that the people of Texarkana have not forgotten about them, or the fact that no one was ever tried/convicted for their murders.
Why didn't they tell us what the information was that they received back from the Arkansas Crime Lab? As far as I know they never disclosed the nature of the evidence that they found that was supposed to help solve this case. Why? After all of this time I believe we have a right to know what the evidence was/is, and whose fingerprints, and DNA were found at this horrific crime scene. Note: I wrote this paragraph, and this entire biography on 16April2019 (except for the very first paragraph) which was written by James Petersen on 18June2013. He also created this memorial on 18June2013. His Find a grave ID no. is: 47921494. I also wrote the updates that were written in 2023 under the updates section. My Find a grave ID no. is: 49014495. Wanza (Bryan) Good.
Funeral services for 13 year old Gordon Dale Alexander of 501 Baden Street, in Texarkana, Ark., were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at Trinity Baptist Church with the Rev. Wallace Edgar officiating. The burial was in the Macedonia Baptist Cemetery under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Stamps, AR. A lady in the Fouke, AR. area who knew Weldon, and his brothers/family when they were children - made arrangements for them to receive free headstones. The Headstone business itself paid for the headstones.
At the time of his death he was survived by his parents, Weldon and Vera Alexander of Texarkana, one sister, Karen Ann Alexander of the home, and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Avis Alexander of Queen City, Texas.
The Alexander home was at 501 Baden St. in Texarkana, AR. It was on the corner close to Hobo Jungle Park. Many people used Baden Street as a route from the Arkansas side to Texas side.
Police did not know how long the Alexanders had been living in the small 2 bedroom house across the railroad yards from the downtown area.
Some folks told me that the Alexander children's parents moved out of the house after what happened. Sometime after that a family moved into the house who swore that the house was haunted. They said that you could hear the children crying, and the sound of a wheelchair going throughout the house.
Folks who visited this family said that they heard the same thing. The family who was living there sold everything they had just to get out of that house. Then the owner of the house said that no one should ever live there ever again, and he had the house torn down in dedication of the children. All that is left there now is an empty, open, vacant lot with some cane break, pecan trees, and other works of nature.
One lady told me that she had seen the ghosts of the children walk through the area where they used to live. She said it was no joke. She said you heard about ghosts with unfinished business. She said, "Well I have seen with my own eyes Karen and Gordon Alexander walk down the street in front of their house."
There is a lot of mysteriousness revolving around the Alexander Children's case that seems to me to be similar to the unsolved Phantom Killer case.
There was evidence pointing to who the assailant was but it seems that it was somehow over-looked, ignored, covered up, lost, or in some other way dismissed for unknown, and mysterious reasons...
For more information regarding what happened to Gordon, and his sister Karen Ann Alexander you can go to the public group on Facebook called, "Remember in Texarkana," and type their names into the search bar.
You can also look up, and see the "NEWSPAPER ARTICLES"/stories in the Texarkana Gazette Newspaper on these dates: (April 9th, 10th, 11th, 12, 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, & 20th of 1981 & also May 1, 1981 & on April 8, 1995). There is a sketch of the suspect in the newspaper on May 1, 1981. There is very important information in the April 8, 1995 newspaper on page 10A. The first part of this article was on page one. There might be more dates that I am not aware of in various papers with more information on this story...
UPDATE: There is also a Facebook group called: "JUSTICE FOR KAREN AND GORDON ALEXANDER." I think that as of now (Oct. 19, 2023) the name has been changed to: "In Memory of Karen and Gordon Alexander."
UPDATE: Fast forward to these "NEWSPAPER ARTICLES": (May 1, 2022) KTBS 3 ABC, Texarkana Police, DNA Genealogist Working to Solve 1981 Cold Case (To Shine the Light). (April 8, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, 'We Will Not Give Up': Anniversary of Texarkana Children's Knife Attack Brings Renewed Calls to Find Killer by Mallory Wyatt. (Oct. 4, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, Investigators of 1981 Alexander Murders Consults With Prosecutor on 'Only Viable Suspect' by Mallory Wyatt, Karl Richer. (Oct. 19, 2023) KTBS 3 ABC, Shreveport, LA., Father Named As Lone Suspect in Texarkana Children's 1981 Deaths. (Oct. 19, 2023) KTAL/KMSS, Texarkana, AR. " Father Killer in 1981 Cold Case Murder of Alexander Siblings." (Oct. 20, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, "Investigators: Alexander siblings' father killed them in 1981." (Jan. 1, 2024) Texarkana Gazette, "Father named as Killer 42 years after Alexander siblings" murder." There might also be articles that I missed, or don't know of.
Those who worked on this case in the 1980's are the same people who worked on this case in 2020-23. (Cold Case #00254-8774). The DNA was not sent off to a private lab for testing. At this point (Oct. 19, 2023) I can't completely trust the findings in this case for various reasons that I can't go into here. They need someone impartial, and unbiased to come in and take over this case, instead of having people who are related to a police officer that lived right next door to Karen when she was killed, and are also related to a second one that lived just down the street in Karen's neighborhood - to do it. Gordon was stabbed 16 times with a dull butter knife. This sounds just like something that Henry Lee Lucas would do. The investigator that I talked to said that the DNA found at the crime scene was never tested to see if it was a match to Lucas's, and it was not tested to see if Weldon's brother's DNA matched the DNA that was found at the crime scene to prove that it was Weldon's DNA. None of this sounds right to me. I am very concerned. I hope someone can help us.
Lastly for more information you can click on all of the photos, and read the info. that is written there, or to do more research. They need someone impartial to come in and take over this entire case, and to re-do the DNA testing.
Only God knows the real truth...
I'll leave the light on. . .
Thank you for visiting Gordon's memorial, and for respectfully remembering, and honoring him...
*Psalm 74:19-21. KJV* & *Psalm 39:7. NKJV*
I hope this information will be helpful to those who are searching for answers...
Gordon was a student at Washington Middle School, and a member of Trinity Baptist Church. He was in the 6th grade when he passed away.
Of those who knew him, they all described him as being one of the nicest persons that they had ever known. They said he was a very sweet, kind, and outgoing young man,... a gentle spirit who was always smiling, who always said good morning before class, and was very courteous, etc... Some of his friends mentioned that they have fond memories of him, and his sister riding on the church bus with them to their church, Trinity Baptist.
One of his friends said he did a mean Elvis Presley impersonation.
According to the newspaper story that I read... Teachers, and friends of Gordon, and Karen Alexander described them as having opposite personalities. David Polk, assistant principal at Washington Sixth Grade School said that of all the kids at Washington Middle School, Gordon was the one who stuck out." He also added that, "despite his handicap, he really fit in."
Hard luck was no novelty to the friendly boy who spent the last weeks of his life in a wheelchair. He was born with a congenital heart defect that was corrected by open heart surgery while he was still an infant. Later he suffered a stroke that made his left arm, and leg weak. Several weeks prior to his death he broke his afflicted hip in a fall, keeping him off the bicycle friends, and neighbors associated him with.
Gordon had been confined to a wheelchair since a hip operation about 3 months prior to the attack.
Becky M., his physical therapist at Temple Memorial Treatment Center, said his health problems never dimmed an outgoing disposition. He was very popular, and one of the favorites with staff members and other students at the center, she said. He was in a summer program in 1977, but didn't require therapy again until his hip was broken. He was due Wednesday afternoon for his first session since the fall.
"Gordon never met a stranger," Ms. M said, adding he used his amicable personality to the fullest advantage. "He would always say, "Oh, you look so pretty, and such." She said, "He was quite a manipulator." Or, as I would say, "a charmer."
This is my personal story about Gordon given to me by my brother...
Gordon played the harmonica. He was known to be a very kind, sweet, and gentle young man.
One thing that was quite noticeable about him was that one of his legs was a few inches shorter than the other one. Because of this he wore a special shoe on his shorter leg that added extra inches to his height on that side. This made it so that he could stand, and walk at an even level with his longer leg. This shoe was said to be black, and rather large, and heavy. For this reason he became the target of some cruel, and heartless bullying at school.
My brother went to the same school as he did at the time (College Hill Elem. School) and he took up for Gordon when he was being bullied. He kept the bullies from harassing, and hurting him. My brother told me that at recess a lot of the time Gordon would just sit behind the school all by himself, and play the harmonica. My brother befriended him, and started talking to him, and spending time with him to encourage him, and to keep him company for a time so that he wouldn't have to be alone.
I remember reading somewhere in a newspaper article that their father, Weldon told police, detectives, and/or reporters that Karen loved spelling, and English, and wanted to be a nurse. Gordon loved football, and loved watching it with his dad, friends, or family, or all three. I can't remember the details. He wanted to be a football player. He named the position. I can't remember what it was. I know it wasn't the quarter-back because I would have remembered that. If I find the article - I will document it here...
Gordon Dale Alexander of Texarkana was only 13 years old when he passed away in his home from injuries received from an unknown assailant on Wednesday, 08Apr1981. Gordon was trying to defend his sister by calling 911 when he was assaulted. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers worked throughout the night on Wednesday, 08Apr1981, when the attacks took place. Detective Capt. Jimmy Cowart said, "We lifted a lot of fingerprints, and they have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for identification."
Cowart said, "Every porch light on the hill was left on that night."
I think everyone in Texarkana should leave their porch lights on in honor of Karen & Gordon every April 8th to show that the people of Texarkana have not forgotten about them, or the fact that no one was ever tried/convicted for their murders.
Why didn't they tell us what the information was that they received back from the Arkansas Crime Lab? As far as I know they never disclosed the nature of the evidence that they found that was supposed to help solve this case. Why? After all of this time I believe we have a right to know what the evidence was/is, and whose fingerprints, and DNA were found at this horrific crime scene. Note: I wrote this paragraph, and this entire biography on 16April2019 (except for the very first paragraph) which was written by James Petersen on 18June2013. He also created this memorial on 18June2013. His Find a grave ID no. is: 47921494. I also wrote the updates that were written in 2023 under the updates section. My Find a grave ID no. is: 49014495. Wanza (Bryan) Good.
Funeral services for 13 year old Gordon Dale Alexander of 501 Baden Street, in Texarkana, Ark., were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at Trinity Baptist Church with the Rev. Wallace Edgar officiating. The burial was in the Macedonia Baptist Cemetery under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Stamps, AR. A lady in the Fouke, AR. area who knew Weldon, and his brothers/family when they were children - made arrangements for them to receive free headstones. The Headstone business itself paid for the headstones.
At the time of his death he was survived by his parents, Weldon and Vera Alexander of Texarkana, one sister, Karen Ann Alexander of the home, and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Avis Alexander of Queen City, Texas.
The Alexander home was at 501 Baden St. in Texarkana, AR. It was on the corner close to Hobo Jungle Park. Many people used Baden Street as a route from the Arkansas side to Texas side.
Police did not know how long the Alexanders had been living in the small 2 bedroom house across the railroad yards from the downtown area.
Some folks told me that the Alexander children's parents moved out of the house after what happened. Sometime after that a family moved into the house who swore that the house was haunted. They said that you could hear the children crying, and the sound of a wheelchair going throughout the house.
Folks who visited this family said that they heard the same thing. The family who was living there sold everything they had just to get out of that house. Then the owner of the house said that no one should ever live there ever again, and he had the house torn down in dedication of the children. All that is left there now is an empty, open, vacant lot with some cane break, pecan trees, and other works of nature.
One lady told me that she had seen the ghosts of the children walk through the area where they used to live. She said it was no joke. She said you heard about ghosts with unfinished business. She said, "Well I have seen with my own eyes Karen and Gordon Alexander walk down the street in front of their house."
There is a lot of mysteriousness revolving around the Alexander Children's case that seems to me to be similar to the unsolved Phantom Killer case.
There was evidence pointing to who the assailant was but it seems that it was somehow over-looked, ignored, covered up, lost, or in some other way dismissed for unknown, and mysterious reasons...
For more information regarding what happened to Gordon, and his sister Karen Ann Alexander you can go to the public group on Facebook called, "Remember in Texarkana," and type their names into the search bar.
You can also look up, and see the "NEWSPAPER ARTICLES"/stories in the Texarkana Gazette Newspaper on these dates: (April 9th, 10th, 11th, 12, 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, & 20th of 1981 & also May 1, 1981 & on April 8, 1995). There is a sketch of the suspect in the newspaper on May 1, 1981. There is very important information in the April 8, 1995 newspaper on page 10A. The first part of this article was on page one. There might be more dates that I am not aware of in various papers with more information on this story...
UPDATE: There is also a Facebook group called: "JUSTICE FOR KAREN AND GORDON ALEXANDER." I think that as of now (Oct. 19, 2023) the name has been changed to: "In Memory of Karen and Gordon Alexander."
UPDATE: Fast forward to these "NEWSPAPER ARTICLES": (May 1, 2022) KTBS 3 ABC, Texarkana Police, DNA Genealogist Working to Solve 1981 Cold Case (To Shine the Light). (April 8, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, 'We Will Not Give Up': Anniversary of Texarkana Children's Knife Attack Brings Renewed Calls to Find Killer by Mallory Wyatt. (Oct. 4, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, Investigators of 1981 Alexander Murders Consults With Prosecutor on 'Only Viable Suspect' by Mallory Wyatt, Karl Richer. (Oct. 19, 2023) KTBS 3 ABC, Shreveport, LA., Father Named As Lone Suspect in Texarkana Children's 1981 Deaths. (Oct. 19, 2023) KTAL/KMSS, Texarkana, AR. " Father Killer in 1981 Cold Case Murder of Alexander Siblings." (Oct. 20, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, "Investigators: Alexander siblings' father killed them in 1981." (Jan. 1, 2024) Texarkana Gazette, "Father named as Killer 42 years after Alexander siblings" murder." There might also be articles that I missed, or don't know of.
Those who worked on this case in the 1980's are the same people who worked on this case in 2020-23. (Cold Case #00254-8774). The DNA was not sent off to a private lab for testing. At this point (Oct. 19, 2023) I can't completely trust the findings in this case for various reasons that I can't go into here. They need someone impartial, and unbiased to come in and take over this case, instead of having people who are related to a police officer that lived right next door to Karen when she was killed, and are also related to a second one that lived just down the street in Karen's neighborhood - to do it. Gordon was stabbed 16 times with a dull butter knife. This sounds just like something that Henry Lee Lucas would do. The investigator that I talked to said that the DNA found at the crime scene was never tested to see if it was a match to Lucas's, and it was not tested to see if Weldon's brother's DNA matched the DNA that was found at the crime scene to prove that it was Weldon's DNA. None of this sounds right to me. I am very concerned. I hope someone can help us.
Lastly for more information you can click on all of the photos, and read the info. that is written there, or to do more research. They need someone impartial to come in and take over this entire case, and to re-do the DNA testing.
Only God knows the real truth...
I'll leave the light on. . .
Thank you for visiting Gordon's memorial, and for respectfully remembering, and honoring him...
*Psalm 74:19-21. KJV* & *Psalm 39:7. NKJV*
I hope this information will be helpful to those who are searching for answers...
Gordon was attacked and murdered in his home in the College Hill area of Texarkana. His sister, Karen, sustained a severe head wound that she died from three days later. The assailant has never been identified. ~ by James Petersen
Gordon was a student at Washington Middle School, and a member of Trinity Baptist Church. He was in the 6th grade when he passed away.
Of those who knew him, they all described him as being one of the nicest persons that they had ever known. They said he was a very sweet, kind, and outgoing young man,... a gentle spirit who was always smiling, who always said good morning before class, and was very courteous, etc... Some of his friends mentioned that they have fond memories of him, and his sister riding on the church bus with them to their church, Trinity Baptist.
One of his friends said he did a mean Elvis Presley impersonation.
According to the newspaper story that I read... Teachers, and friends of Gordon, and Karen Alexander described them as having opposite personalities. David Polk, assistant principal at Washington Sixth Grade School said that of all the kids at Washington Middle School, Gordon was the one who stuck out." He also added that, "despite his handicap, he really fit in."
Hard luck was no novelty to the friendly boy who spent the last weeks of his life in a wheelchair. He was born with a congenital heart defect that was corrected by open heart surgery while he was still an infant. Later he suffered a stroke that made his left arm, and leg weak. Several weeks prior to his death he broke his afflicted hip in a fall, keeping him off the bicycle friends, and neighbors associated him with.
Gordon had been confined to a wheelchair since a hip operation about 3 months prior to the attack.
Becky M., his physical therapist at Temple Memorial Treatment Center, said his health problems never dimmed an outgoing disposition. He was very popular, and one of the favorites with staff members and other students at the center, she said. He was in a summer program in 1977, but didn't require therapy again until his hip was broken. He was due Wednesday afternoon for his first session since the fall.
"Gordon never met a stranger," Ms. M said, adding he used his amicable personality to the fullest advantage. "He would always say, "Oh, you look so pretty, and such." She said, "He was quite a manipulator." Or, as I would say, "a charmer."
This is my personal story about Gordon given to me by my brother...
Gordon played the harmonica. He was known to be a very kind, sweet, and gentle young man.
One thing that was quite noticeable about him was that one of his legs was a few inches shorter than the other one. Because of this he wore a special shoe on his shorter leg that added extra inches to his height on that side. This made it so that he could stand, and walk at an even level with his longer leg. This shoe was said to be black, and rather large, and heavy. For this reason he became the target of some cruel, and heartless bullying at school.
My brother went to the same school as he did at the time (College Hill Elem. School) and he took up for Gordon when he was being bullied. He kept the bullies from harassing, and hurting him. My brother told me that at recess a lot of the time Gordon would just sit behind the school all by himself, and play the harmonica. My brother befriended him, and started talking to him, and spending time with him to encourage him, and to keep him company for a time so that he wouldn't have to be alone.
I remember reading somewhere in a newspaper article that their father, Weldon told police, detectives, and/or reporters that Karen loved spelling, and English, and wanted to be a nurse. Gordon loved football, and loved watching it with his dad, friends, or family, or all three. I can't remember the details. He wanted to be a football player. He named the position. I can't remember what it was. I know it wasn't the quarter-back because I would have remembered that. If I find the article - I will document it here...
Gordon Dale Alexander of Texarkana was only 13 years old when he passed away in his home from injuries received from an unknown assailant on Wednesday, 08Apr1981. Gordon was trying to defend his sister by calling 911 when he was assaulted. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers worked throughout the night on Wednesday, 08Apr1981, when the attacks took place. Detective Capt. Jimmy Cowart said, "We lifted a lot of fingerprints, and they have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for identification."
Cowart said, "Every porch light on the hill was left on that night."
I think everyone in Texarkana should leave their porch lights on in honor of Karen & Gordon every April 8th to show that the people of Texarkana have not forgotten about them, or the fact that no one was ever tried/convicted for their murders.
Why didn't they tell us what the information was that they received back from the Arkansas Crime Lab? As far as I know they never disclosed the nature of the evidence that they found that was supposed to help solve this case. Why? After all of this time I believe we have a right to know what the evidence was/is, and whose fingerprints, and DNA were found at this horrific crime scene. Note: I wrote this paragraph, and this entire biography on 16April2019 (except for the very first paragraph) which was written by James Petersen on 18June2013. He also created this memorial on 18June2013. His Find a grave ID no. is: 47921494. I also wrote the updates that were written in 2023 under the updates section. My Find a grave ID no. is: 49014495. Wanza (Bryan) Good.
Funeral services for 13 year old Gordon Dale Alexander of 501 Baden Street, in Texarkana, Ark., were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at Trinity Baptist Church with the Rev. Wallace Edgar officiating. The burial was in the Macedonia Baptist Cemetery under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Stamps, AR. A lady in the Fouke, AR. area who knew Weldon, and his brothers/family when they were children - made arrangements for them to receive free headstones. The Headstone business itself paid for the headstones.
At the time of his death he was survived by his parents, Weldon and Vera Alexander of Texarkana, one sister, Karen Ann Alexander of the home, and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Avis Alexander of Queen City, Texas.
The Alexander home was at 501 Baden St. in Texarkana, AR. It was on the corner close to Hobo Jungle Park. Many people used Baden Street as a route from the Arkansas side to Texas side.
Police did not know how long the Alexanders had been living in the small 2 bedroom house across the railroad yards from the downtown area.
Some folks told me that the Alexander children's parents moved out of the house after what happened. Sometime after that a family moved into the house who swore that the house was haunted. They said that you could hear the children crying, and the sound of a wheelchair going throughout the house.
Folks who visited this family said that they heard the same thing. The family who was living there sold everything they had just to get out of that house. Then the owner of the house said that no one should ever live there ever again, and he had the house torn down in dedication of the children. All that is left there now is an empty, open, vacant lot with some cane break, pecan trees, and other works of nature.
One lady told me that she had seen the ghosts of the children walk through the area where they used to live. She said it was no joke. She said you heard about ghosts with unfinished business. She said, "Well I have seen with my own eyes Karen and Gordon Alexander walk down the street in front of their house."
There is a lot of mysteriousness revolving around the Alexander Children's case that seems to me to be similar to the unsolved Phantom Killer case.
There was evidence pointing to who the assailant was but it seems that it was somehow over-looked, ignored, covered up, lost, or in some other way dismissed for unknown, and mysterious reasons...
For more information regarding what happened to Gordon, and his sister Karen Ann Alexander you can go to the public group on Facebook called, "Remember in Texarkana," and type their names into the search bar.
You can also look up, and see the "NEWSPAPER ARTICLES"/stories in the Texarkana Gazette Newspaper on these dates: (April 9th, 10th, 11th, 12, 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, & 20th of 1981 & also May 1, 1981 & on April 8, 1995). There is a sketch of the suspect in the newspaper on May 1, 1981. There is very important information in the April 8, 1995 newspaper on page 10A. The first part of this article was on page one. There might be more dates that I am not aware of in various papers with more information on this story...
UPDATE: There is also a Facebook group called: "JUSTICE FOR KAREN AND GORDON ALEXANDER." I think that as of now (Oct. 19, 2023) the name has been changed to: "In Memory of Karen and Gordon Alexander."
UPDATE: Fast forward to these "NEWSPAPER ARTICLES": (May 1, 2022) KTBS 3 ABC, Texarkana Police, DNA Genealogist Working to Solve 1981 Cold Case (To Shine the Light). (April 8, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, 'We Will Not Give Up': Anniversary of Texarkana Children's Knife Attack Brings Renewed Calls to Find Killer by Mallory Wyatt. (Oct. 4, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, Investigators of 1981 Alexander Murders Consults With Prosecutor on 'Only Viable Suspect' by Mallory Wyatt, Karl Richer. (Oct. 19, 2023) KTBS 3 ABC, Shreveport, LA., Father Named As Lone Suspect in Texarkana Children's 1981 Deaths. (Oct. 19, 2023) KTAL/KMSS, Texarkana, AR. " Father Killer in 1981 Cold Case Murder of Alexander Siblings." (Oct. 20, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, "Investigators: Alexander siblings' father killed them in 1981." (Jan. 1, 2024) Texarkana Gazette, "Father named as Killer 42 years after Alexander siblings" murder." There might also be articles that I missed, or don't know of.
Those who worked on this case in the 1980's are the same people who worked on this case in 2020-23. (Cold Case #00254-8774). The DNA was not sent off to a private lab for testing. At this point (Oct. 19, 2023) I can't completely trust the findings in this case for various reasons that I can't go into here. They need someone impartial, and unbiased to come in and take over this case, instead of having people who are related to a police officer that lived right next door to Karen when she was killed, and are also related to a second one that lived just down the street in Karen's neighborhood - to do it. Gordon was stabbed 16 times with a dull butter knife. This sounds just like something that Henry Lee Lucas would do. The investigator that I talked to said that the DNA found at the crime scene was never tested to see if it was a match to Lucas's, and it was not tested to see if Weldon's brother's DNA matched the DNA that was found at the crime scene to prove that it was Weldon's DNA. None of this sounds right to me. I am very concerned. I hope someone can help us.
Lastly for more information you can click on all of the photos, and read the info. that is written there, or to do more research. They need someone impartial to come in and take over this entire case, and to re-do the DNA testing.
Only God knows the real truth...
I'll leave the light on. . .
Thank you for visiting Gordon's memorial, and for respectfully remembering, and honoring him...
*Psalm 74:19-21. KJV* & *Psalm 39:7. NKJV*
I hope this information will be helpful to those who are searching for answers...
Gordon was a student at Washington Middle School, and a member of Trinity Baptist Church. He was in the 6th grade when he passed away.
Of those who knew him, they all described him as being one of the nicest persons that they had ever known. They said he was a very sweet, kind, and outgoing young man,... a gentle spirit who was always smiling, who always said good morning before class, and was very courteous, etc... Some of his friends mentioned that they have fond memories of him, and his sister riding on the church bus with them to their church, Trinity Baptist.
One of his friends said he did a mean Elvis Presley impersonation.
According to the newspaper story that I read... Teachers, and friends of Gordon, and Karen Alexander described them as having opposite personalities. David Polk, assistant principal at Washington Sixth Grade School said that of all the kids at Washington Middle School, Gordon was the one who stuck out." He also added that, "despite his handicap, he really fit in."
Hard luck was no novelty to the friendly boy who spent the last weeks of his life in a wheelchair. He was born with a congenital heart defect that was corrected by open heart surgery while he was still an infant. Later he suffered a stroke that made his left arm, and leg weak. Several weeks prior to his death he broke his afflicted hip in a fall, keeping him off the bicycle friends, and neighbors associated him with.
Gordon had been confined to a wheelchair since a hip operation about 3 months prior to the attack.
Becky M., his physical therapist at Temple Memorial Treatment Center, said his health problems never dimmed an outgoing disposition. He was very popular, and one of the favorites with staff members and other students at the center, she said. He was in a summer program in 1977, but didn't require therapy again until his hip was broken. He was due Wednesday afternoon for his first session since the fall.
"Gordon never met a stranger," Ms. M said, adding he used his amicable personality to the fullest advantage. "He would always say, "Oh, you look so pretty, and such." She said, "He was quite a manipulator." Or, as I would say, "a charmer."
This is my personal story about Gordon given to me by my brother...
Gordon played the harmonica. He was known to be a very kind, sweet, and gentle young man.
One thing that was quite noticeable about him was that one of his legs was a few inches shorter than the other one. Because of this he wore a special shoe on his shorter leg that added extra inches to his height on that side. This made it so that he could stand, and walk at an even level with his longer leg. This shoe was said to be black, and rather large, and heavy. For this reason he became the target of some cruel, and heartless bullying at school.
My brother went to the same school as he did at the time (College Hill Elem. School) and he took up for Gordon when he was being bullied. He kept the bullies from harassing, and hurting him. My brother told me that at recess a lot of the time Gordon would just sit behind the school all by himself, and play the harmonica. My brother befriended him, and started talking to him, and spending time with him to encourage him, and to keep him company for a time so that he wouldn't have to be alone.
I remember reading somewhere in a newspaper article that their father, Weldon told police, detectives, and/or reporters that Karen loved spelling, and English, and wanted to be a nurse. Gordon loved football, and loved watching it with his dad, friends, or family, or all three. I can't remember the details. He wanted to be a football player. He named the position. I can't remember what it was. I know it wasn't the quarter-back because I would have remembered that. If I find the article - I will document it here...
Gordon Dale Alexander of Texarkana was only 13 years old when he passed away in his home from injuries received from an unknown assailant on Wednesday, 08Apr1981. Gordon was trying to defend his sister by calling 911 when he was assaulted. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Officers worked throughout the night on Wednesday, 08Apr1981, when the attacks took place. Detective Capt. Jimmy Cowart said, "We lifted a lot of fingerprints, and they have been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for identification."
Cowart said, "Every porch light on the hill was left on that night."
I think everyone in Texarkana should leave their porch lights on in honor of Karen & Gordon every April 8th to show that the people of Texarkana have not forgotten about them, or the fact that no one was ever tried/convicted for their murders.
Why didn't they tell us what the information was that they received back from the Arkansas Crime Lab? As far as I know they never disclosed the nature of the evidence that they found that was supposed to help solve this case. Why? After all of this time I believe we have a right to know what the evidence was/is, and whose fingerprints, and DNA were found at this horrific crime scene. Note: I wrote this paragraph, and this entire biography on 16April2019 (except for the very first paragraph) which was written by James Petersen on 18June2013. He also created this memorial on 18June2013. His Find a grave ID no. is: 47921494. I also wrote the updates that were written in 2023 under the updates section. My Find a grave ID no. is: 49014495. Wanza (Bryan) Good.
Funeral services for 13 year old Gordon Dale Alexander of 501 Baden Street, in Texarkana, Ark., were held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at Trinity Baptist Church with the Rev. Wallace Edgar officiating. The burial was in the Macedonia Baptist Cemetery under the direction of Smith Funeral Home of Stamps, AR. A lady in the Fouke, AR. area who knew Weldon, and his brothers/family when they were children - made arrangements for them to receive free headstones. The Headstone business itself paid for the headstones.
At the time of his death he was survived by his parents, Weldon and Vera Alexander of Texarkana, one sister, Karen Ann Alexander of the home, and his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Avis Alexander of Queen City, Texas.
The Alexander home was at 501 Baden St. in Texarkana, AR. It was on the corner close to Hobo Jungle Park. Many people used Baden Street as a route from the Arkansas side to Texas side.
Police did not know how long the Alexanders had been living in the small 2 bedroom house across the railroad yards from the downtown area.
Some folks told me that the Alexander children's parents moved out of the house after what happened. Sometime after that a family moved into the house who swore that the house was haunted. They said that you could hear the children crying, and the sound of a wheelchair going throughout the house.
Folks who visited this family said that they heard the same thing. The family who was living there sold everything they had just to get out of that house. Then the owner of the house said that no one should ever live there ever again, and he had the house torn down in dedication of the children. All that is left there now is an empty, open, vacant lot with some cane break, pecan trees, and other works of nature.
One lady told me that she had seen the ghosts of the children walk through the area where they used to live. She said it was no joke. She said you heard about ghosts with unfinished business. She said, "Well I have seen with my own eyes Karen and Gordon Alexander walk down the street in front of their house."
There is a lot of mysteriousness revolving around the Alexander Children's case that seems to me to be similar to the unsolved Phantom Killer case.
There was evidence pointing to who the assailant was but it seems that it was somehow over-looked, ignored, covered up, lost, or in some other way dismissed for unknown, and mysterious reasons...
For more information regarding what happened to Gordon, and his sister Karen Ann Alexander you can go to the public group on Facebook called, "Remember in Texarkana," and type their names into the search bar.
You can also look up, and see the "NEWSPAPER ARTICLES"/stories in the Texarkana Gazette Newspaper on these dates: (April 9th, 10th, 11th, 12, 13th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, & 20th of 1981 & also May 1, 1981 & on April 8, 1995). There is a sketch of the suspect in the newspaper on May 1, 1981. There is very important information in the April 8, 1995 newspaper on page 10A. The first part of this article was on page one. There might be more dates that I am not aware of in various papers with more information on this story...
UPDATE: There is also a Facebook group called: "JUSTICE FOR KAREN AND GORDON ALEXANDER." I think that as of now (Oct. 19, 2023) the name has been changed to: "In Memory of Karen and Gordon Alexander."
UPDATE: Fast forward to these "NEWSPAPER ARTICLES": (May 1, 2022) KTBS 3 ABC, Texarkana Police, DNA Genealogist Working to Solve 1981 Cold Case (To Shine the Light). (April 8, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, 'We Will Not Give Up': Anniversary of Texarkana Children's Knife Attack Brings Renewed Calls to Find Killer by Mallory Wyatt. (Oct. 4, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, Investigators of 1981 Alexander Murders Consults With Prosecutor on 'Only Viable Suspect' by Mallory Wyatt, Karl Richer. (Oct. 19, 2023) KTBS 3 ABC, Shreveport, LA., Father Named As Lone Suspect in Texarkana Children's 1981 Deaths. (Oct. 19, 2023) KTAL/KMSS, Texarkana, AR. " Father Killer in 1981 Cold Case Murder of Alexander Siblings." (Oct. 20, 2023) Texarkana Gazette, "Investigators: Alexander siblings' father killed them in 1981." (Jan. 1, 2024) Texarkana Gazette, "Father named as Killer 42 years after Alexander siblings" murder." There might also be articles that I missed, or don't know of.
Those who worked on this case in the 1980's are the same people who worked on this case in 2020-23. (Cold Case #00254-8774). The DNA was not sent off to a private lab for testing. At this point (Oct. 19, 2023) I can't completely trust the findings in this case for various reasons that I can't go into here. They need someone impartial, and unbiased to come in and take over this case, instead of having people who are related to a police officer that lived right next door to Karen when she was killed, and are also related to a second one that lived just down the street in Karen's neighborhood - to do it. Gordon was stabbed 16 times with a dull butter knife. This sounds just like something that Henry Lee Lucas would do. The investigator that I talked to said that the DNA found at the crime scene was never tested to see if it was a match to Lucas's, and it was not tested to see if Weldon's brother's DNA matched the DNA that was found at the crime scene to prove that it was Weldon's DNA. None of this sounds right to me. I am very concerned. I hope someone can help us.
Lastly for more information you can click on all of the photos, and read the info. that is written there, or to do more research. They need someone impartial to come in and take over this entire case, and to re-do the DNA testing.
Only God knows the real truth...
I'll leave the light on. . .
Thank you for visiting Gordon's memorial, and for respectfully remembering, and honoring him...
*Psalm 74:19-21. KJV* & *Psalm 39:7. NKJV*
I hope this information will be helpful to those who are searching for answers...
Bio by: Wanza (Bryan) Good
