35 years and six months after James “Hippie” Webster was stabbed to death outside of a nightclub, a previously unknown suspect was arrested and pled guilty to the homicide.
Calhoun County Sheriff Gregg Pollan told WCBI that an individual with information regarding the case approached him and his chief deputy. The sheriff explained that his office had to start from scratch as the case had long been buried under administration changes, office moves, and misplacement of files.
Pollan reported that once the case was reopened and the public became aware of the progress, a flood of information was sent in by the community. It all started with the man initially sharing what he had held secret for nearly 40 years.
“This gentleman, I guess you could say it was a clearing of the conscience after all this time,” Pollan told the local TV station. “He knew the family and wanted the family to be able to get some closure from it. It was an emotional day for us, and it most definitely an emotional day for the family.”
The renewed investigation led to the arrest of Glenda Armstrong, 55, of Bruce. Armstrong was initially charged with homicide but pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter. She was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
“If you know it, tell it. It’s vital that we have that connection with the community, and they help us,” Pollan continued. “Sometimes it only takes one small piece, like in this case here. Once the gentleman came forward, it just fell in place. It was like dominos after that.”
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