Overview of Mysterious Death of: The Jamison Family
This episode of Crime Junkie investigates the 2009 disappearance and eventual deaths of Bobby and Sherilyn Jameson and their 6-year-old daughter, Madison, in rural Latimer County, Oklahoma. What starts as a missing persons case becomes one of the strangest and most debated cases the show has covered: an abandoned truck, a starving dog locked inside, a disturbing handwritten letter, a large amount of cash, eerie surveillance footage, claims of hauntings and drug use, and—four years later—partial remains found just a few miles from where the truck was discovered. The episode argues that, despite all the noise and speculation, the strongest explanation is foul play, but no one has ever been charged.
What Happened
The abandoned truck
On October 17, 2009, deputies responded to a pickup truck found abandoned on Panola Mountain in the Sans Bois Mountains. Inside were:
- the Jamesons’ IDs
- a Blackberry with GPS data
- coats and clothing
- about $32,000 in cash
- a locked-in, severely emaciated dog
- a seven-page letter from Sherilyn to Bobby
The truck’s keys were still in the ignition, and it appeared to be positioned as if it had been headed back down the mountain.
The letter
Sherilyn’s letter accused Bobby of abuse, called him toxic, and referenced prior violence and fear for her life. The letter became one of the key pieces of evidence used to support theories that Sherilyn may have been in distress or planning something drastic.
The family’s last known movements
The timeline points to the family going to the mountain on October 8, 2009, after Bobby contacted a realtor about buying land. GPS data and later witness statements suggest:
- they visited the property
- they took a photo of Madison around 2:51 p.m.
- they later returned to the truck
- something happened after that
Surveillance footage from their home showed Bobby and Sherilyn repeatedly walking back and forth between the house and truck in a strange, hard-to-interpret manner. The footage has become a major source of speculation, but the episode stresses that the released clips are too limited and low quality to support sensational claims with certainty.
Key Background and Context
The Jamesons’ personal struggles
The episode lays out a difficult home life leading up to the disappearance:
- Bobby had chronic pain after a car accident and became addicted to pills.
- Sherilyn struggled with mental health issues, medication noncompliance, and addiction.
- The couple faced financial problems and multiple lawsuits.
- Sherilyn had recently attempted suicide and was hospitalized.
- Her older son had been removed from her care after allegations of abuse.
The “haunting” and supernatural rumors
The family told a pastor their home was haunted and that Madison was speaking to spirits. Friends reported unsettling experiences in the house, and Sherilyn spray-painted strange warnings on a shipping container the family planned to live in.
The episode treats these claims carefully, noting that they may reflect genuine beliefs and experiences, but they also fueled a lot of public speculation that may have obscured the more grounded facts.
The Search and Discovery
Initial search
Search teams scoured the rugged mountain terrain for days and then weeks, but found nothing.
The remains
In November 2013, a hunter found skulls and bone fragments near the mountain. In 2014, DNA confirmed they were the Jamesons. The remains were found only 2.6 miles from the abandoned truck.
Important details:
- no briefcase was recovered
- no gun was recovered
- cause of death could not be determined
- the deaths were ruled undetermined, not homicide
Main Theories Explored
1. Murder-suicide
This theory is often tied to Sherilyn’s mental health, the letter, and the idea that she may have killed the family and herself.
Why the episode says it doesn’t fit well:
- no gun was found
- no clear physical evidence supports it
- the truck and phone being left behind are hard to reconcile
- the remains were too limited to prove this scenario
2. Misadventure
Could they have wandered off, gotten lost, and died?
Why it doesn’t fit:
- the family had already explored the property
- they had GPS and appeared to know where they were going
- all three deaths in the same location are difficult to explain this way
- it doesn’t account well for the truck, cash, and missing bag
3. Foul play
This is the episode’s strongest conclusion.
Why it fits best:
- the family seemed to be leaving when something stopped them
- Bobby’s phone and the keys remained in the truck
- the dog was left behind in a way that suggests abrupt interruption
- someone may have known they were there, or learned they were coming
The episode suggests the family may have been shot or otherwise attacked, then moved away from the truck. Sheriff Beechum, now retired, reportedly believes they were murdered and that money was involved.
Persons and Leads Discussed
Bobby’s father, Bob Jameson
He was involved in a bitter lawsuit with Bobby and had a protective order against him, but he was physically too ill to plausibly be involved.
Kenneth Bellows
A former housemate who had a major falling out with Sherilyn. He was investigated and cleared.
Dan Clemens
A mountain resident who spent time with the Jamesons and gave them land information. The episode notes that a man with the same name later pleaded no contest in an unrelated 1997 homicide case, though it’s not confirmed that this is the same person. The episode raises questions about his background and statements, but no evidence ties him to the Jamesons’ deaths.
Main Takeaways
- The Jamesons were likely on the mountain to buy land and start over off-grid.
- Something interrupted them after they arrived.
- The case is more consistent with foul play than with suicide or misadventure.
- The most frustrating part is that the deaths remain undetermined, so there is no active homicide case.
- Key evidence is missing, including the brown bag/briefcase and the gun Sherilyn was believed to own.
Unresolved Questions
- What was in the missing brown bag?
- Why was so much cash in the truck?
- Who, if anyone, knew the family was on the mountain that day?
- How did the family travel the short distance from the truck to where their remains were found?
- Why has this case never been formally investigated as a homicide?
How the Episode Ends
The hosts conclude that someone likely got away with murder because the case was never classified as homicide. They urge anyone with information to contact the Latimer County Sheriff’s Office at 918-465-4013.
Bottom Line
This episode presents the Jamison case as a haunting blend of family turmoil, wilderness mystery, and unresolved death. While the public has gravitated toward dramatic theories, the show’s core position is that the facts point most strongly to a violent, deliberate crime that was never fully solved.