Connie Mettauer Speaks on the Murder of Marlie Childs

Connie MettauerMay 23, 2016 - May 17th Connie Mettauer joined the Shelby County Historical Society at the Shelby County Museum to discuss the murder of Marlie Childs. Explaining the ordeal in detail, Connie takes the crowd on a journey as she discusses the murder, committed in her very own childhood home. 

 

The murder of Marlie Childs, a  prominent businessman, took place in 1938. After much investigation Mr. Child's wife, Reabla, and  lover Terrence Bramlett was taken into custody. The couple had been having an affair behind Marlie's back for the better part of two years.  Mr. Childs had suffered from polio and was confined to a wheelchair. This contributed to the fact that Reabla and Terrence had yet to be caught during the affair. It was even said that Terrence would climb into the attic to hide if Mr. Childs ever arrived home unexpectedly. One evening when Mr. Childs made his way to the kitchen sink to mix his evening drink, he was shot point blank in the head by Terrence, whom had been hiding outside the home near the kitchen window. Reabla never did confess to assisting Terrence with the murder, though did say that she and Terrence had discussed many times of how to "get rid" of him. Reabla was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Her lover, Terrence, received a 50 year sentence.

 

The couple found themselves sentenced to the same prison, where it was said that Terrence would send Reabla gifts for her birthday. Reabla was painted as a heartless conspirator, a beautiful young Jezebel. She found herself in a great deal of newspapers across the United States. Her time in prison further attributed to her nearly famous stature. While behind bars, she wrote as a columnist in the Jail House Newspaper and also taught herself to play several instruments. She joined the Goree Girls and eventually the girls developed their skills enough to appear on Thirty Minutes.  Hoping to find some normal semblance of life, she left all behind her once she was released. She fell in love with a man she had met in prison, who had previously been on death row twice. They married, had a child and moved to Houston, TX where they lived out the remainder of their life. 

 

The Shelby County Museum is located at 230 Pecan Street in Center, Texas.