Courtesy: WCTV
October 22, 1966. At first glance this date means nothing to most of us, but for Tallahassee natives it marks one of the greatest tragedies the city has ever faced. 50 years ago, three members of the Sims family were brutally murdered in their own home and there has yet to be a conviction. The mystery of this murder has haunted the city and left everyone who worked on the case perplexed. Reading the details of the case, one can’t help but wonder who was behind this horrific crime. Halloween season may be coming to an end, but this spooky story is anything but over.
Only a few days before Halloween, the night of this horrific event left the city in a frenzy. The death of Mr. and Mrs. Sims and their 12-year-old daughter affected the neighborhood in a variety of ways. According to an article written by WCTV, women began to carry around “water guns full of ammonia” and the city considered canceling Halloween in order to keep the neighborhood children safe. In a city that prides itself on being a safe and secure community, these murders shocked everyone. After this night, the dynamic surrounding Tallahassee neighborhoods began to revolve around fear.
Although the murder remains unsolved, many prime suspects have been considered and controversy remains an evident part of this story. Since the year of these murders, investigative devices have only continued to get better so there’s hope that new advances will lead to new answers. With modern day technology, new evidence is being tested in search of an answer to the night that left endless questions.
Courtesy: 641 Muriel Court
Now four FSU students have developed a documentary that originally started as a class project. 641 Muriel Court, breaks down the triple homicide that occurred half a century ago and sheds a new light on this heartbreaking evening. They spent a good portion of the film interviewing one of the prime suspects of the case while still maintaining an unbiased perspective. They also provide different evidence and interviews of people involved with the case. Various opinions and angles give the audience a chance to decide for themselves how they feel about the case, although no official answer has been provided.
These media production students provided FSU students with knowledge about a case many of us wouldn’t have otherwise know about. 641 Muriel Court, named after the family’s address, is a unique feature on a case that’s never been done before. It provides a sense of community for our city while showing respect for the family that lost their lives so many years ago. For anyone who loves the documentary section on Netflix or just loves a good murder mystery story, this film will leave you wanting to do your own research and theorize your own conclusions.
The documentary aired on Thursday, October 27th at the Moon and was free of charge for its first public viewing. If you want to keep up with this interesting documentary and find another opportunity to view it, check out their Facebook page here.