A Murder That’s Never Settled
In the mountain shadows of Beckley, West Virginia, a double homicide from 1947 still ripples through the local folklore like a stone dropped in a deep, dark well. Nelly May Rand and Elmer Ray Bailey weren’t just names in the paper—they were real people with families, secrets, and, ultimately, unfinished stories.
We sat down with Mark and Courtney, creators of the Mountain State Mysteries podcast, whose research into Appalachian cold cases is both chilling and deeply personal.
“There’s no way in the world that that’s even possible… her clothes were off, neatly folded on the guard rail. And they still called it an accident.” – Mark
Where Obsession Meets Justice
Mark’s interest in true crime started early—spurred on by the murder of a woman just beyond his own backyard. Courtney, meanwhile, has spent years living with the legacy of a family tragedy: her first cousin was Alex Carter, a missing child whose remains were found decades later.
What bonded them wasn’t just crime—it was the need to know.
“Justice in my book still hasn’t fully been served… I just know that their day will come.” – Courtney
Together, they built a podcast that doesn’t shy away from the haunted parts of Appalachia. Their first major dive? The case of Nelly and Ray.
Silk Dresses and Shotguns
November 4, 1947 started like any other rainy day in Beckley. Nelly went to a hair salon in uptown. Ray, a hardware store manager with a reputation for gambling, was making strange purchases—$400 cash “for a new radio,” a fortune in 1947.
That evening, the two met in secret near Black Knight Country Club. What followed were gunshots in the dark, a frantic escape attempt, and two bodies dumped down an embankment.
Nelly’s watch broke on impact. Her body lay on top of Ray’s. Her underwear was missing. No one knows for sure who pulled the trigger—or why.
Research, Gravel Roads, and Ghosts
Mark and Courtney didn’t stop at the headlines. They pored over microfilm, tracked down police reports, and wandered graveyards until sunset trying to locate Nelly’s burial site. Her headstone turned out to be right next to the road—one they drove by every day.
They even crossed paths with Agnes Keeny, a local woman who lived through it all and later published a book including the original police documents—along with a handwritten note from an officer who thought he knew who did it.
But as of today? No one’s ever been charged.
The Dead Still Whisper
From hidden basements full of antique belongings to now-demolished baseball fields where bodies were found, the ghosts of this story remain. The deeper Mark and Courtney dig, the more questions bubble up.
So who killed Nelly and Ray? And why did the system let it slide?
Maybe it’s time to stop assuming we know the answers. Maybe it’s time to start listening.
Hit Play… If You Dare
If you’re into chilling tales rooted in real places—our places—Mountain State Mysteries should be your next listen. They’re not just covering cold cases. They’re warming them up.
So pour a cup of something dark, light a candle, and hit play. But don’t expect closure. Expect goosebumps.
Have a strange story buried in your hometown? Know a tale whispered down family lines that’s never made the headlines? We want to hear it. Send your stories to Creepalachia and help us shine a light on the shadows of Appalachia.
