Welcome to the Gray House – A Night of Amphetamine Induced Euphoria

The following is A.I Generated Narrative based on the testimonies of Michele K. Phelan age 15, Tim Copeland age 18, Mike Boyd age 19, Richard Finley age 17, Terry Smith age 18, provided to the Prosecuting Attorney Mahlon Gibson and Deputy Prosecuting Attorney James O. Burnett of Arkansas in the month of April 1971 following the April 12th murder of Pauline Storment.

It was a warm April evening in 1971, and the air carried the distinct aroma of spring blossoms intermixed with the familiar scent of marijuana that often lingered around the Gray House located at 301 University not far from the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville. 

Michelle Phelan, a young woman with a mischievous glint in her eyes, sat in the kitchen, meticulously breaking down a prescription of 30 diet pills she had obtained from Dr. Lee Parker. The sharp, bitter smell of crushed amphetamines filled the air as she and Mike Michaels worked diligently, their fingers deftly separating the powdery substance from the capsules.

In the living room, the sound of laughter and chatter echoed, punctuated by the occasional clinking of glasses and the crackle of a record player spinning in the background. Terry Smith, Tim Copeland, and Mike Boyd lounged on well-worn couches, their eyes glazed over as the effects of the speed they had ingested earlier began to take hold.

Peter Kunkel, a tall, lanky figure with a mop of unruly hair, moved between the kitchen and living room, his presence seeming to command attention. He had already taken a hit of Preludin, his pupils dilated, and his movements jittery yet purposeful.

As the night progressed, the atmosphere grew more electric, fueled by a potent cocktail of amphetamines and youthful rebellion. Michelle Phelan, her veins pulsing with the rush of the drugs, recalled seeing Richard Finley, Peter Kunkel, Mike Michaels, Terry Smith, and Mike Boyd drifting in and out of the kitchen, their faces flushed and their eyes wide with anticipation.

Around 9:20 PM, Michelle, Peter, and Richard ventured out to the Jet Set, their footsteps echoing on the pavement as they sought refreshments and cigarettes. Crossing paths with Steve Cooper, they exchanged brief pleasantries, their voices tinged with the slurred cadence of intoxication.

Upon returning to the Gray House, Peter went inside to retrieve the keys to Mike Michaels’ motorcycle, intending to take Richard home. Michelle, her mind racing with the residual effects of the speed, wandered downstairs to make a phone call, her words tumbling out in a breathless rush as she gossiped with her friend Jill Graves.

Rejoining Peter on the porch, the cool night air caressed their flushed faces, and for a fleeting moment, the world seemed to stand still. But the spell was broken when Mike Miller appeared, prompting Michelle to beckon him upstairs, her impatience palpable.

As the night wore on, the energy within the Gray House remained electric, fueled by the intoxicating combination of drugs, music, and youthful exuberance. Peter Kunkel, his movements becoming increasingly erratic, took a second shot of speed around 10 PM, his thirst for excitement unquenchable.

When Mike Boyd returned to the apartment at 10:15 PM, he found Peter already there, his request to be taken home punctuated by the sight of his brown sport jacket carelessly discarded on the seat beside him. As they ventured out into the night, their path was abruptly halted by the flashing lights of a police car, casting an eerie glow over the otherwise darkened street.

Peter’s nervousness was palpable, his concern focused not on the suspicious nature of their late-night excursion but rather on the possibility of any lingering traces of drugs in the vehicle. The air grew thick with tension as the officers approached, their footsteps echoing like distant thunderclaps in the stillness of the night.

Unveiling Shadows: The Enigma of Pauline Storment's 1971 Cold Case

Picture it: the night of April 12, 1971, a peaceful evening in Fayetteville, Arkansas. A young woman named Pauline Storment was walking south along Duncan Avenue, having just left the University of Arkansas. Little did she know, this seemingly ordinary walk would tragically mark the end of her life. Storment was brutally stabbed seven to eight times, and the echoes of her harrowing murder still reverberate through time. Over fifty years later, her case remains a haunting unsolved puzzle, casting a shadow over the city.

Amidst the backdrop of this chilling crime, another figure emerges: Wallace Peter Kunkel. On that fateful day, April 12th, Kunkel found himself in police custody after a routine vehicle stop on Dickson Street. Mike Boyd, the driver, was at the wheel when the officers intervened. What followed was a sequence of events that would etch itself into the pages of history.

Intriguingly, Kunkel’s clothes bore traces of blood, raising eyebrows and suspicions alike. He fit the profile of a potential killer, but a puzzling twist lay in the blood evidence – it wasn’t the copious amount one might expect from such a violent crime.

A captivating detail comes to light: the blood found on Kunkel’s clothing matched both his own blood type and that of the victim, Pauline Storment. Furthermore, the murder weapon – a Mantover or was it Hantover brand Inc knife with a wooden handle – held the same type A human blood. Regrettably, due to the technology limitations of the time, further tests on the blood’s age or origin couldn’t be conducted, leaving the case with a frustrating void.

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 An intriguing figure emerges from the shadows – Mike Boyd. During questioning, Boyd admitted to being in the vehicle when the Fayetteville PD pulled them over. He placed himself at the Gray House,  an apartment building at the corner of University and Whiteside, until 9:30 PM only to return at five till 10 PM but did not provide any hint of where he went. 

This window of time aligns with the period of Pauline Storment’s tragic demise.

52 years later and I have questions based on Boyd’s own testimony in a Prosecuting Attorneys Hearing.

**SIDE NOTE** 

Richard Finley’s testimony states that Peter Kunkel, Terry Smith, Mike Michaels, and Tim Copeland all had taken speed that night. Yet, he also stated that neither Mike Boyd nor himself had taken speed that night. 

 

Could Boyd’s movements be purely coincidental, or is there a deeper connection? Witness statements from Robert L. Spray and John A. Hall provide a tantalizing insight. They recount seeing an impaired man park a vehicle at 12 South Hill on the night of the murder, hinting at a possible timeline for the crime.

Delving into modern tools, Google Maps reveals the spatial dimension of this decades-old enigma. The distance between 35 Duncan Ave, the site of the murder, and the Gray House, Boyd’s claimed location, paints an intriguing picture. It takes about nine minutes to cover this ground on foot, allowing for a plausible sequence of events or fast via a car of which there was no description provided.

Witness reports provide a vivid snapshot of the events:

Mike Adair recounts an intriguing sight – a man with disheveled hair, swept to the side, closely tailing Pauline.

In a moment of clarity, Joe Clifton engaged with Pauline, querying whether the individual trailing her was her assailant. Her affirmative response painted a chilling picture. Joe further detailed the man’s appearance: a brown sports coat enveloping his frame, hair that teetered between blonde and sandy hues, and a height ranging from 5’10” to 6′, complemented by glasses.

Consider, then, the confluence of these reports with a media-documented witness testimony. The depicted man, matching the potential description of the assailant, sprints eastward on Center Street, sculpting a plausible narrative.

Could it be that someone embarked on a perilous journey? A journey that led them from 12 South Hill – a drive punctuated by drug-induced haze – to the harrowing act of stabbing, followed by a northward dash along Duncan, followed by an eastward sprint on University, perhaps utilizing the path through Evergreen Cemetery to reach the Gray House.

Linda Langenbruch’s account introduces an eerie auditory dimension. Secluded in her rear bedroom, she distinctly hears a female voice urgently command “Get Out” twice, the words resonating with clarity. Silence befalls before the abrupt sound of a rapidly receding car, the voice and vehicle originating from the northwest section of her home. The address 27 South Duncan, situated on the western side of the street, suggests that unless the sound ricocheted off nearby vehicles, the speeding car might have raced down Harmon Avenue.

Yet, an enigma lingers: the hastening car on Harmon Avenue. Could it be linked, or might it remain an elusive thread in this intricate tapestry of events? Regrettably, answers might forever remain shrouded in uncertainty.

It’s essential to underline that these observations don’t assign guilt to Mike Boyd. Rather, they shine a light on the curious coincidences and gaps in the case. As time passes and memories fade, the story of Pauline Storment’s tragic death continues to beckon amateur sleuths and seasoned investigators alike. The past may hold the key to unveiling the truth, and it’s up to those captivated by this cold case to unravel the threads and bring justice to a long-forgotten victim.