Carmell Clarke Harrell, 52, was found beaten to death in her Hayneville, Alabama home on the morning of September 15, 1985. A respected local business owner and ballet instructor who trained at the Royal Academy of Dance in England and taught in Selma for more than 30 years, she was discovered nude on her bedroom floor by her son Robert after she failed to open the family grocery store.

The Lowndes County Coroner said she had been struck in the head with a heavy, blunt object and may have been sexually assaulted; her body had been there at least 12 hours. Investigators reported no signs of forced entry, suggesting she may have known her attacker. The Alabama State Bureau of Investigation and the sheriff’s office questioned dozens of men early in the probe but made no arrests. A fire poker was reported missing from the home and was considered a possible weapon, though authorities never confirmed that.

No one has ever been charged in Carmell Harrell’s murder. If anyone knew her routines, customers at her businesses, or saw anything unusual in Hayneville around September 14–15, 1985, please share what can help the case.