On the night of July 13, 1982, three teenagers Jill Montgomery, Raylene Rice, and Kenneth Franks set out to spend a relaxing evening by Lake Waco in Speegleville Park, Texas. 

It was a hot summer evening, and the lake was a popular local hangout for teens looking to unwind, talk, and enjoy a bit of freedom.

They parked Jill’s car at the edge of the lake, not far from the picnic and wooded areas. The three were seen by several people that evening. 

Some witnesses would later recall seeing a group that matched their description near the water, and even reported that they were approached by a man or group of men, but nothing seemed outwardly alarming at the time.

When the trio didn’t return the next day, panic set in. 

Their car was found abandoned in the park lot. The keys were gone. No signs of a struggle were apparent near the vehicle. 

Police initially believed they may have simply run off but their families insisted otherwise.

That evening, a search party combed through the woods around the lake.

What they found would permanently scar the community.

The Crime Scene

The bodies of the three teens were located in a heavily wooded area a short distance from the waterline. The scene was horrific.

*Kenneth Franks had been stabbed more than 20 times primarily in the chest and neck.

*Raylene Rice and Jill Montgomery had both been raped, beaten, and stabbed repeatedly. 

Jill’s injuries were the most gruesome. Her throat had been slashed so deeply she was nearly decapitated.

*The girls’ clothes were torn or removed, and their bodies showed signs of post-mortem mutilation.

All three bodies had been dragged into the brush and left covered by branches, as if the killers had attempted a crude concealment.

Experienced investigators described it as one of the most savage murders they had ever seen.

The Investigation

The brutality of the crime led police to believe it was either drug-related, personal, or the work of someone deeply disturbed. 

The Waco Police Department, with help from the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, launched a wide-ranging investigation.

Their early efforts produced little physical evidence. 

No murder weapon was found. No fingerprints, no hair, and no definitive forensic trail led to a suspect.

The pressure to solve the case mounted. As public fear grew, police began to focus on familiar names individuals with prior criminal records, connections to violence, or links to the victims.

One name kept surfacing: David Wayne Spence.

Who Was David Spence?

Spence was a 30-year-old local with a criminal history. He had served time for robbery and sexual offenses. 

He was known around Waco as someone who hung out with a rough crowd and had a reputation for aggression.

But there was no direct link between Spence and the victims. No motive. No confession. 

Just suspicion based on his past and proximity.

Then the case took a strange turn.

The Murder-for-Hire Theory

Police received a tip involving Muneer Deeb a Lebanese immigrant who owned a convenience store in Waco. 

Deeb had reportedly taken out a $20,000 life insurance policy on a 17-year-old employee named Gaye Melendez who bore a passing resemblance to Jill Montgomery.

According to the theory, Deeb had convinced Spence and the Melendez brothers Gilbert and Anthony to kill Gaye so he could collect the insurance payout. 

Somehow, the killers mistook Jill for Gaye, and the other two teens were murdered as witnesses.

But the theory was flawed:

* Gaye wasn’t at the lake.

* Jill and Gaye didn’t look enough alike to justify the error.

* No money changed hands.

* Deeb had no direct link to the crime scene.

Still, the theory gave police a narrative and they ran with it.

The Arrests

In October 1982, after months of investigation, authorities arrested:

* David Spence, on capital murder charges.

* Anthony and Gilbert Melendez who would later confess under pressure.

* Muneer Deeb, the supposed mastermind.

The case hinged largely on confessions and jailhouse informants.

Questionable Evidence

Bite Mark Analysis

A forensic odontologist claimed that bite marks found on one of the victims matched Spence’s teeth. 

However, modern science has discredited bite mark evidence as subjective and unreliable.

Jailhouse Informants

Multiple inmates claimed Spence confessed to them. But these informants were offered leniency or favors in exchange for their testimony. 

Some later recanted, admitting they had lied.

Melendez Confessions

Anthony and Gilbert Melendez both confessed but their stories conflicted, changed over time, and lacked specific detail. 

Anthony later said he was coerced by investigators and threatened with the death penalty.

There was no DNA, no murder weapon, no blood or hair linking Spence to the scene. Yet, the prosecution moved forward.

The Trials and Outcomes

David Spence

* Convicted in 1984 of all three murders.

* Sentenced to death.

* Executed by lethal injection in 1997.

Spence consistently proclaimed his innocence and refused to take a plea deal.

Anthony Melendez

* Pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.

* Received life in prison.

* Later recanted his confession.

Gilbert Melendez

* Also sentenced to life.

* Eventually paroled.

Muneer Deeb

* Convicted and sentenced to death.

* Appealed successfully and in a second trial was acquitted in 1993.

The case became a lightning rod for criticism of the criminal justice system:

* No physical evidence tied Spence to the crime.

* The forensics were junk science.

* The testimonies were incentivized or coerced.

* Alternative suspects were never fully investigated.

Spence’s attorneys, along with multiple investigative journalists, believe he was wrongfully executed.

Organizations such as the Innocence Project have cited the Lake Waco case in discussions on abolishing capital punishment.

While much of the spotlight has been on Spence’s execution, it’s crucial to remember the lives lost.

* Jill Montgomery was a cheerleader, described as fiercely loyal and outgoing.

* Raylene Rice was a gentle spirit with a love for animals and nature.

* Kenneth Franks was an aspiring musician who often played his guitar at the lake.

Their dreams, their futures, and their families were shattered that night. Their loved ones are still seeking truth.