More information concerning Tama's recovery from her attack will be posted here.
In November of 1965, A former local newspaper photographer, Eddie Sparks, was charged with perjury in relation to his testimony in the case. His bond was set at $1000. At the time he was charged, less than two months after the Lana trial concluded (with Lana's acquittal), Sparks had just moved to Ventura, California. Sparks was accused of lying regarding photographs he claimed to have taken and delivered to law enforcement in the case. He was also accused lying when he deinied driving onto the pasture and inadverently obliterating footprint evidence at the crime scene.
Sparks testified that he gave two photographs of the crime scene to Sheriff Walter Welch on January 13, 1964. He claimed one of the photographs depicted a footprint at the location. Sparks also testified to developing a photograph of a heelprint in the driveway of the Hallmark home. Sparks claimed he noted a resemblance between the two separate footprints in the photos.
Deputy Sheriff Charles Barnhard said that he had photos of the Hallmark driveway and that it was unlikely a footprint could have been discerned in the photos. Sheriff Welch said that the two photos were never delivered to him by Sparks.
Sparks had resigned his job at the Duncan Banner on October 2, 1965.
In September of 1965, Stephens County Attorney Joe Humphrey said that for reasons of practicality, the Tama Hallmark case would be closed. The statute of limitations on the felony charge expired on Januaury 6, 1966, a few months after the announcement. The case remains an unsolved mystery to this day.
More information concerning the principles of the case will be posted here.
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