Wildlife Officer Danese Byron Crowder

I remember this day soooooo very well. My parents were the last people to see Dan alive. He had dinner with them that evening and they all left together after dinner, my parents going into town and Dan turning off just ahead of them onto that fateful road. He was my brother-in-law's partner with FWC also (Barry Cook). Later that evening my baby sister and a friend were riding his motorcycle and headed down that road but just before they rounded the curve where Dan was found it started raining so they turned around and headed home. The next day Macy called my mom to see if she had seen or heard from Dan and was told that he had, had dinner with them the evening before and where he had turned off ahead of them after dinner. Dan was like their son and Macy like a daughter. I remember my parent's house becoming a huge gathering place for so many law enforcement agencies. Once it was revealed that Sunday afternoon who had killed Dan it became a two-fold shock, not only for the Sheriff who was my uncle and lived across the road from us but also my parents and siblings, as Colon was raised next to us and we worked in tobacco for his father and we all road the bus together. This was a senseless, cowardly act, premeditated, and not only did we lose a mountain of a man, so many people lost in other respects. My brother-in-law has retired now and we all still advocate to never give him parole. We continue to be close friends with Colon's family. They were not to blame, are wonderful people, and they too lost that day. We miss you brother. Tell mother and daddy hello for the Pearson family and you, Macy, and them rejoice in your reunification. We got your six down here and as long as we are here he will never see the outside world again.

Leta Pearson Hawkins
Friend

July 11, 2018