The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was called to the area of Johnstonville Road near I-75 on Tuesday, November 21st, 1989, in relation to a body that had been discovered by deer hunters.

The deceased was named as Mary Louicile Willfong, age 23. After an autopsy, it was discovered that Willfong had been sexually attacked and that strangulation was the cause of death.

When Willfong was spotted getting into a tractor trailer with a white man in Forest Park, Georgia at the Farmers Market, investigators got information to that effect.

Several suspects were sought out during the inquiry, interrogated, and had their DNA collected. The DNA samples obtained from the suspects and the victim did not match. Finally, the matter was resolved.

Sheriff Freeman assigned Investigator Marc Mansfield the job of reopening the Mary Willfong murder investigation on March 11th, 2019. Due to new technology, Investigator Mansfield resubmitted the initial evidence to the GBI crime lab.

In order to finish a genealogy trace on the victim’s DNA, Investigator Mansfield transported the original evidence to DNA International in Miami, Florida. When Investigator Mansfield contacted Special Agent Tim Burke with the FBI Atlanta for help following the DNA findings, they agreed to help with the case.

An Indiana citizen suspect would be named by investigator Mansfield. Investigator Mansfield discovered the suspect’s place of employment using research techniques.

employed.

Additional evidence was retrieved from the defendant by the FBI Evidence Recovery Team and investigators from the Washington Police Department in Indiana. The GBI crime lab received the DNA proof and transported it there for testing. The results of this testing revealed a link with Mary Willfong’s DNA.

For the suspect, Larry Padgett, 59, of Loogootee, Indiana, arrest orders were issued. To apprehend Larry Padgett, Sergeant Kemeyan Colvard and Investigator Marc Mansfield traveled to Washington, Indiana, on March 1st, 2023. While in Indiana, investigators were able to gather more information that connected Padgett to Mary Willfong’s death. Up until a waiver of extradition is approved, Padgett will be detained in Indiana.

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