Escape to the Silent Cities: Hart Cemetery

Monday, July 18, 2011

Update: Bright Murders

My original post about theses murders was posted in February of 2011. Since then I have discovered more news clippings on the murders of the Bright family as well as a few on what happened to Gary Earl Bright afterwards.

According to theses articles Gary Earl Bright was sent to a juvenile detention center in Missouri for the murders of his family. About a year later he was released to his father's care. His farther married Alden Kathleen Webb sometime between 1957 and 1960. In 1960, Gary attacked his step-mother with a wrench and was then sentenced to 15 years in prison for the attack.

Theses are articles from 1957. Most of these repeat each other but the two that added details I separated out and posted them first.

Brownsville Herald Nov 27, 1957

Daily Register Nov 26, 1957

Three months after the murders Gary Earl Bright was found sane and then placed in a juvenile detention center in St. Louis, MO.

Joplin Globe Feb 4, 1958

Theses are the articles from 1960 when he attacked his step-mother.

The Bee July 23, 1960

Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune Oct 12, 1960

The Gettysburg Times Oct 13, 1960

Monday, February 7, 2011

The Bright Murders

I have been trying to find information on this sad story for some time but have been unable to find much. The following is all I have found. If you have any info you would like to add about this post please feel free to either post a comment or if you wish to remain anonymous email me at nailgal123@gmail.com. To protect the privacy of the living, any person named, will not be posted unless there is a specific document or web link that can be cited. I'm more interested in the story then at pointing fingers.

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Information from Find-A-Grave.

Bobby was shot to death along with his sister, Carol, and his mother, Jewell, by his own brother. He was the son of Earl and Jewel Bright, and was born in Bentonville, AR. After killing his mother, brother and sister, the 12-year-old sibling shot himself in the left side of his chest. He survived. The boy told authorities that he became angry when his mother ordered him to go out and round up the cattle. (His father was hospitalized at this time, having been injured in a farming accident). Bobby was survived by his father, Earl; his grandfather, Robert L. McGaugh of Springdale, AR; two uncles, John V. and Melvin L. McGaugh of Springdale; and an aunt, Mrs. Dorothy Rivers of Chattanooga, TN.

Located at Hart Cemetery in Bentonville, AR.