Irene Thirkield, 32, was found murdered on the grounds of the Fort Benning military reservation in March 1978. Her death followed a brutal beating; reports say the assault was so severe that her head was reportedly missing from her body. She was last seen on March 15, 1978, at Vice Mitchell’s Bar, where she asked a soldier for a ride.

Military police identified that soldier as Specialist Four William Henry Hance. After questioning, Hance confessed to Thirkield’s murder and to the killing of another woman, Gail Faison. Hance sent anonymous letters and calls claiming to represent a group called the Forces of Evil and used those communications to mislead investigators about the killings. Hance was linked to an earlier 1977 killing of Karen Hickman.

Hance was convicted for Thirkield’s murder in military court; he was also convicted in civilian court for Gail Faison’s murder and later executed by the state of Georgia. Does anyone have information about Irene’s life in 1978 or who might remember her at Vice Mitchell’s Bar?