Pageant Demeans City, Heritage

Letter to the Editor

image via Ken Lund on Flickr (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Dear Editor:

I feel compelled, driven, tormented, and inflamed to write this letter. Although I am loath to bring any more attention to the blight that has been visited upon our lovely city, I cannot remain quiet and acquiesce while a plague of dim-witted, shrill-voiced, and teased-hair harpies sully the good name of Oxford.

Of course, I am referring to the Yoknapatawpha County Literary Festival Beauty Pageant.

Many here in our town are opposed to this parade of women, much like the procession of cattle into the stockyard ring where they are turned and prodded and primped, for reasons of gender equality and sexual discrimination.

Although I share their opinions that "beauty pageants" are demeaning carnivals of skin and legs, I do not wish to cast my lot with the feminists from campus because, unlike them, I must accept the fact that the girls who compete in these pageants are not unwilling participants in their humiliation. Guns are not placed at their heads. Drugs are not slipped in their drinks. They willingly go forward into the spotlight with layers of make-up so much like our own southern red clay of their own free will.

So I will not debate whether this pageant degrades its contestants.

However, I will stand up and fight and scream and claw and punch and screech and bellow that this so-called beauty pageant demeans and degrades Oxford and its wonderful literary heritage!

To hell with the young girls who want to be Temple Drake and their desires for beauty queen status. Corncobs and bootleggers await them, and they will be indemnified for their poor choices in life. But spare the rest of us of this charade. Spare this wonderful postage stamp of soil from this silly tragic comedy.

William Faulkner wrote literature that stands up to the ages. He changed the world and the perception of so many in it. His legacy is the greatest novels ever written in the English language. Joyce and Melville critics may disagree with me on that point, but I am prepared to debate Faulkner's merits with anyone.

This base and cheap exhibition does not pay proper honor to Faulkner or any of his Oxford literary descendants. Instead of raising awareness and educating people around the world about the value of Oxford literature, we are drawing attention for a silly and trivial spectacle. In this sense, we are, to paraphrase Faulkner, working not of the heart but of the glands. Surely the tremendous artists of Oxford deserve better.

I am aware that my opinions will be viewed by many as cold-hearted and old-fashioned. I will be told that I am not hip, that I am not current, and that I am not in step with today's attitudes. I will not dispute those charges. Rather, I will freely accept them. On this subject, I will gladly be Rosa and hate with all the venom and bile she summoned forth.

We do not need to be fashionable to make a difference in this world.

Let me remind everyone that, although Mr. Faulkner was driven by dire financial need to work in the world of Hollywood, he never felt at home there, he never fit in there, he never succeeded there. It was here in Oxford, at his beloved Rowan Oak, where he wrote books that were not bestsellers, were not movies, and were not hip. Instead, they were simply timeless.

Let us all stand together and tell the organizers of this beauty pageant that we deserve more than just cheap commercialism and free skin shows. I, for one, will not stand for this embarrassment of our town!

Lucille Ruffin-Moore
Oxford

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Beauty pageant biz is alive and well

And in Yoknapatawpha County

By Courtney Woodford [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

The Yoknapatawpha County Literary Festival Pageant, happening this week, reminds us that the beauty pageant business is alive, well, and thriving.

Fostered by the Miss America Organization, the beauty pageant as an institution and as an event has come a long way since their first pageant in 1921 was held in Atlantic City.

Originally established as a way to entice people to extend their Labor Day stay in the beach-side city, the Miss America organization now offers $42 million in scholarships, the single largest scholarship organization for women in the world.

The organization franchises 1,200 contests nationwide at local and state levels with over 10,000 young women competing in pageants they hope will win them a crown and transform their lives. Some enter just to appear on TV. Others dream of being discovered by modeling agencies, Broadway shows, TV or movies. And many really do hope for a scholarship to further their education.

The Miss America pageant — whose eligibility rules specify that only single women between 17 and 24 years old who have never been a parent or posed in the nude may enter — may be the largest, but it is by no means the only beauty pageant looking for share of the multi-billion dollar business.

Since Catalina Swimwear began their own Miss USA and Miss Universe competitions in 1951, there has been a proliferation of other pageants looking for a slice of the lucrative pageant pie. Pageants for women and girls of all ages — from birth to near-death — are held worldwide every year.

These pageants may vary in their qualifications for entry, but most have one thing in common — they're operated by a for-profit organization that solicits primarily girls and young women to compete for recognition and prizes from a promoter. The key words here are "for-profit."

The entrant usually pays a registration fee and a sponsorship fee — and a business sponsor, friends, or family members may pay those fees in full or in part. Fees generally cover the cost of the pageant, including salaries for company personnel and company profits.

The contestant must pay for their own clothing, costumes, makeup, travel, food, and sometimes lodging for themselves and a chaperone. Often a talent competition costs extra.

One of the Baby Beauty contests charges $1,000 just to enter. Even the little children's clothes and costumes may cost thousands of dollars, in addition to the usual pageant expenses. We all remember the videos of JonBenét Ramsey prancing and posing in her expensive costumes — and looking much too grown up for a six-year-old.

There are contests for babies, children, pre-teens, junior-teens, teens, Miss, Mrs., Miss Plump, Ms. Over 50 — you name it.

One year, an organization held their entire pageant on a cruise of the Western Caribbean with contests for pre-teen, teen, Miss, Ms., and Mrs. "complete with crowns and sashes." Of course, "the entire family" was invited — at the family's own expense. Who do you suppose profited from that one?

The name of the game is competition and winning — competition between contestants, competition between sponsors, competition to coach a winner.

Competition, winning — and money.

Every one wants to be a winner, sponsor a winner, coach a winner. There is no fame or profit in being or backing a runner-up. Who remembers the runners-up? It's winning that counts and pays off.

Is it any wonder that a contestant might make eleven tries over seven years of eligibility in two states as Miss America 1981, Debbye Turner, did? Isn't it a wonder, with all that's at stake, that anyone wins Miss Congeniality?

How can the two runners-up smile and look excited when someone else is announced as the winner? They must feel like looking — or throwing — daggers at the winner after all the months or years they prepared and the thousands of dollars they invested in themselves.

Oh well, if you're 17 and graduated from high school by June 30 or aren't older than 24, there's always next year.

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Local attorney Pruitt to take over Harbison defense

Harbison's former attorney recovering from stroke

Robert Pruitt

Oxford attorney Robert Pruitt announced today that he will be taking over the defense of accused killer Ed Harbison.

Pruitt is stepping in for Harbison's previous attorney Christopher P. Norris, who suffered a stroke last weekend.

According to family members, Norris was in a medically induced coma from Sunday until Wednesday. When he regained consciousness, one of the first things she spoke about was asking Pruitt to meet with him in the hospital regarding the Harbison case.

After visiting Norris at the hospital yesterday, Pruitt reportedly met with Harbison and, shortly thereafter, filed papers with the court to take over as Harbison's attorney for the upcoming trial.

Pruitt comes to the case as a former assistant district attorney in Yoknapatawpha County, and more recently, an experienced criminal defense attorney.

Harbison defense strategy unknown

Ed Harbison

Ed Harbison is facing murder charges in the 2020 death of Jerry Shaw, an employee of the Yoknapatawpha Acres nursing home where Harbison's mother resides. Jury selection for his trial was scheduled to begin last Monday, but Norris collapsed and was rushed to the hospital just hours before, and the proceedings were postponed.

Norris had not revealed his strategy, but court watchers speculate Harbison's defense may argue mitigation, claiming that Shaw's repeated abuse and extortion of Harbison's ailing mother drove Harbison into a rage that resulted in Shaw's death.

Such a defense could be bolstered by the alleged corruption at Yoknapatawpha Acres at the time. Just days before Harbison was taken into custody, the nursing home manager, Richard Landrigan, was arrested on charges of fraud and violations of the Mississippi Vulnerable Adults Act. Landrigan is currently free on bond, awaiting trial. He's expected to be called as a witness in the Harbison trial but may decline to testify, citing his fifth amendment rights.

After Harbison was arrested, other Yoknapatawpha Acres residents and their family members spoke out to support him, saying the circumstances of the crime warrant a reduced charge.

When she heard about the allegations against Harbison, nurse Sylvia Powell said at the time, "Ed Harbison is the most devoted family member I've ever seen here. I'm shocked."

Family and friends contributed to a fund that secured Harbison's release on a $200,000 bond while he awaits trial.

Trial date unclear

With Pruitt taking the reins of the defense, a new trial date has not yet been set, but it is expected to be next year to allow Pruitt sufficient time to familiarize himself with the case and decide on a course of action.

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Sister psychs out Yoknapatawpha

You don't need a crystal ball to see that Jackson psychic Sister Susannah has a growing following in Yoknapatawpha County.

From New-Agers to Ole Miss students to Baby Boomers and mature citizens of Oxford, this psychic has gained a big following.

The reason — her predictions really do seem to come true.

It's emerged that the late Laurie Daniels consulted Sister Susannah last September when Daniels was visiting Jackson with a friend.

The shawl-clad psychic warned Daniels to stay away from Yoknapatawpha County or her life would fall apart, which Daniels apparently took as a general warning.

Daniels couldn't have known then how literal the warning was — but Sister Susannah did. When Laurie Daniels' body parts turned up in Yoknapatawpha and in surrounding counties, everyone else found out too.

Sister Susannah is in demand for personal readings, and her new website is proving popular.

But who is this forty-something woman who has taken the psyche of Mississippi by storm?

"I considered myself weird when I was growing up," she said.

"Other people couldn't see what I saw, and my family thought I was like my mother's late sister, who everyone always whispered about and called 'strange'."

Only in her late teens did Sister Susannah start to realize her gift when she read a book about a psychic.

"The book almost leaped into my hand at the library," she recalled.

That book gave her an instant understanding of who she was and what her powers were. She studied and refined her gift, then started to do readings for friends.

Her reputation grew, and in her early 20s, she left her job and went into business as a clairvoyant. She set up a psychic phone line and also a website.

While she makes a living from her gift with predictions of love and happiness, she also has disturbing visions which wake her in the middle of the night.

Once she saw the horror of a plane crash and could see the flight number on a ticket. She called the airline, but the plane had already taken off. Five minutes later it went down.

Another time, she had a vision about bodies buried in a forest in Oregon and contacted the local authorities. A missing persons investigation was underway there, and her description of the location she'd seen ultimately led police to the lonely place where the bodies of the two missing people were found.

"Some people envy my ability to see the unseen," Sister Susannah said, "and in some ways, I can understand that. But I wouldn't wish these visions on anyone."

"What I see can be shocking and disturbing, sometimes even gruesome," she explained. "And there's nothing I can do to block it out or stop seeing it."

"But no matter how unsettling it is for me personally, I wouldn't give it up for anything as long as I'm helping folks," she added.

"I'm honored and grateful that my gift brings closure to people in pain."

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Local family tragedy comes to violent end

Events shock neighbors, friends

The Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department announced late yesterday that Bart and Bonnie Daniels, whose charred bodies were found in the ruins of their fire-ravaged home on March 5, were the victims of a murder-suicide.

According to the coroner's reports, Bart Daniels suffered a gunshot wound to the back of his head and died before the fire started. Bonnie Daniels then apparently turned the gun on herself, taking her last breaths as the fire raged around her and her slain husband.

Sources inside the Yoknapatawpha County Fire Department say evidence at the scene indicates the fire at the Daniels residence was deliberately set.

After the fire, two other bodies were recovered from unmarked graves in the woods behind the Danielses' Tara Estates home.

Sheriff's Public Information Officer Elizabeth Jones told reporters that official autopsy results on those victims are not yet available, but the Coroner's Office has tentatively identified them as the Daniels daughters, Laurie and Melanie.

Laurie Daniels's severed head was discovered February 22, 2020, in Taylor. Other body parts, which had been found in surrounding counties in the preceding weeks, were later identified as hers.

Melanie Daniels had reportedly left Oxford in 2012 at the age of 17, presumably to live with a boyfriend in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Sheriff's Department believes Bart and Bonnie Daniels were responsible not only for their own deaths, but for the death of their daughters as well.

Evidence against the Daniels parents

According to Jones, the most convincing evidence that links the Daniels parents to the murder of daughter Laurie is the hacksaw found in the family's garage, which has been identified as the tool used to sever Laurie's head, feet and arms from her body following her death, as well as the discovery of Laurie's missing suitcase in the shop behind the garage.

Finding both items on the Daniels property contradicts statements made by the Danielses from the start of the investigation. Both parents claimed they had not seen Laurie since she left town in 2013.

Another piece of incriminating evidence was a letter reportedly found hidden in Laurie's suitcase. Written by Melanie Daniels around 2012, the letter was addressed to her then-boyfriend, Reggie Simms of Pittsburgh, and alleged her father had sexually abused her. Jones said no evidence has been found thus far to corroborate the abuse allegations.

Voodoo connection?

The investigation into Laurie Daniels' murder has had many twists and turns. Her reported involvement in the New Orleans voodoo community led some Oxonians to speculate her death was part of a voodoo ritual.

Contributing to that theory was the apparent staging of a voodoo ritual site near the location where her head was found.

Jones said, "There's been a lot of hocus pocus surrounding this case, but the evidence indicates that Laurie Daniels' death was not part of some strange voodoo ritual. Laurie was murdered by one or both of her parents. As awful and horrific as that is for us to comprehend, that's the reality."

Laurie's ex-fiancé involved with voodoo, facing charges

One of the early proponents of the voodoo connection was Forrest Burgess, Laurie Daniels's former fiancé.

As the investigation progressed, detectives learned Burgess was the person who picked up Laurie at the Memphis airport on December 29, 2019.

During questioning, Burgess reportedly admitted to taking Laurie from the airport to his then-residence at Coles Point, where he kept her until she fled in the early morning hours while he was asleep.

Forrest Burgess is being held in the Yoknapatawpha County Detention Center on charges of kidnapping, false imprisonment and attempted murder.

However, he is not believed to have cooperated or participated with the Daniel parents in Laurie's murder.

Laurie's voodoo priest

Meanwhile, many people following the case considered Laurie Daniels' old New Orleans flame and mentor in the voodoo culture, voodoo high priest Montell LaBeau, a.k.a. Dr. Yah Yah, to be a suspect in her death.

Information allegedly found in LaBeau's New Orleans apartment suggested that the voodoo witch doctor had placed hexes on various people close to Laurie Daniels, including her father and Burgess.

Investigators in Oxford and New Orleans have been unable to locate LaBeau, despite Burgess's assertions that LaBeau was in Yocona last week. Although LaBeau remains at large, detectives discount his involvement in Laurie's murder.

"Dr. Yah Yah has a colorful reputation, which is probably more folklore and gossip than reality, but there is no evidence that implicates him in this murder," Jones said.

Unanswered questions

Some have questioned how this investigation came to such a violent end. Jones addressed those questions.

"The Sheriff's Department believes that Bonnie Daniels learned detectives were planning to execute a search warrant at her residence on the day of the fire.

"Fearing the outcome of that search, Mrs. Daniels took drastic steps to protect her husband and herself from the discovery of long-held family secrets," Jones said at a press conference this morning.

"Mrs. Daniels reportedly put a high importance on the perception of her family in the Oxford community, and the possibility that the fate of her daughters and the allegations against her husband could become public knowledge was apparently more than she could bear."

When asked why Mrs. Daniels would murder her beloved and seriously ill husband, Jones said, "Perhaps she felt her husband, who was suffering from a debilitating recurrence of cancer, literally would not survive those revelations and she wanted to spare him that pain and indignity.

"We will never know what her motivations were — either for her choice to end her husband's life and her own or for her role in the deaths of her daughters."

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Daniels parents accuse Simms in daughters' murder, disappearance

Pittsburgh man fingered as prime suspect in family's private investigation

Bart & Bonnie Daniels (front row)
Reggie Simms (back row)

Oxford couple Bart and Bonnie Daniels announced yesterday that, as a result of the arrest of Forrest Burgess, they have lost confidence in the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department's ability to apprehend their daughter's killer.

Laurie Daniels' head was found in a bucket near Taylor Creek on February 22 of this year, and several earlier discoveries of body parts in surrounding counties have since confirmed that Daniels may have been murdered as much as a month prior to the discovery of her head.

The Daniels say they do not believe there's any possibility that Laurie's former fiancé could have harmed her, and so they have hired a team of private investigators to bring the murderer of their daughter Laurie to justice and to solve the mystery of the disappearance of their younger daughter, Melanie.

The family names a suspect

According to a statement released by the Danielses' attorney Geoffrey Frye, the prime suspect in this private investigation is Reginald "Reggie" Simms, a 30-year-old Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, man who Yoknapatawpha County investigators recently interviewed in connection with Laurie Daniels' murder.

"The local police have made a commendable effort in tracking down Mr. Simms and obtaining a statement from him," Frye told Crime Beat in an exclusive interview. "However, they let him get away. The Danielses believe—and I think they have struck a valid point—that Simms knows more than he's telling about the disappearance of their daughter Melanie and what happened to Laurie."

According to the statement released by Frye and the Danielses, then-17-year-old Melanie Daniels left Oxford in 2012 to be with Simms after he impregnated her. It is their suspicion that Simms, when confronted with the fruit of his actions, may have reacted with violence and then covered up by fleeing the country and going to war.

YCSD spoke to Simms

Simms reportedly told Yoknapatawpha detectives that he had never engaged in sexual activity with Melanie Daniels and that she never came to his home in Pittsburgh.

A source inside the Sheriff's Department, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity, said Simms also alleged there may have been an inappropriate relationship between Mr. Daniels and one or both of his daughters.

"The desperation and convoluted facts in that man's testimony have angered the family, and they have drawn attention to his motives in this case. We believe the Yoknapatawpha County detectives did not conduct a thorough interview, so there's much more to be determined here," said Frye.

"The man presented himself as a sexual predator, and that's reason enough to investigate further," Frye added.

PIs examine Simms's connection to Daniels sisters

The Danielses' statement indicates that a team of private investigators hired by the family are currently exploring Simms's past, including an unaccounted for period of time after his military service in Afghanistan.

Sources close to the family's private investigation hint they may have evidence that also connects Simms to the recent death of Laurie Daniels, who reportedly approached Simms while searching for her sister earlier this year. According to Simms, Laurie Daniels stayed with him for several weeks in his Pittsburgh apartment before she returned home at the end of March this year.

"It was no accident that Laurie approached Reggie Simms," Frye said. "Perhaps she found the crucial piece of evidence that linked him to her sister, and perhaps she discovered some incriminating evidence against him that led him to murder her. As I've said though, this matter is still under investigation."

According to the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department, no evidence collected thus far suggests that Simms was Laurie Daniels' killer.

"Our investigation is taking a distinctly different turn," said Sheriff's Public Information Officer Elizabeth Jones. "We're confident that we'll get to the bottom of this heinous crime in the very near future—with or without the cooperation of Bart and Bonnie Daniels."

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