Suvechha Sarkar
Leslie Bradshaw was always known for her compassionate heart and unwavering sense of duty. However, on a night in October 2006, her life tragically came to a sudden halt when she was brutally murdered in the remote area of Kimsey Mountain, Tennessee. The horrifying crime left her loved ones grappling with unimaginable grief and the community completely shocked. The episode titled, ‘Murder on Kimsey Mountain’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘No One Can Hear You Scream’ sheds light on this shocking murder. It also provides first-hand accounts from authorities related to the case, her friends, and family, uncovering the events that led up to Leslie’s untimely demise and what followed.
Leslie Bradshaw’s Final Act of Kindness Turned to be Fatal
Leslie Bradshaw was born on August 12, 1977, and filled the lives of her parents, Lester Hale Crisp and Nelda Sue Leftwich Crisp, with joy and warmth. She grew up in Decatur, Tennessee, alongside her younger sister, Kara Scott. The duo shared a bond like no other and were always immersed in their own shenanigans. Gradually, the family moved to Cleveland, where Leslie’s life blossomed through her school years. While residing here, she completed her elementary, junior high, and high school. With her kind and friendly nature, she never struggled to form amicable bonds with her friends. Soon, a new chapter of life opened up before Leslie when she met the love of her life, Terry Bradshaw. It did not take long before the couple took the next step in their journey and shared their marriage vows.
Together, Leslie and Terry built a life centered around their family, welcoming their five children—Damon, Ethan, Quinton, Kaden, and Paige (daughter). The family spent their time making cherishable memories filled with love and laughter. Leslie was also a safe haven for her best friends, Penny Waldroup and Dotchi Latham. Both of her friends were going through a rough patch in their marriage, and she always stood by their side as the pillar of support. Leslie was very protective of Penny, which always prompted her to showcase her fierce side whenever her best friend was in danger. When Penny had to drop her children off at her husband’s house on October 13, 2006, Leslie did not hesitate for a minute to accompany her. However, she did not realize that things would soon turn upside down.
Before Leslie and Penny left, they instructed Dotchi to call 911 if they did not call back within 30 minutes to one hour of reaching there. When she did not hear anything from them, she called the authorities, expressing concern. They informed her that an officer would soon be dispatched to the location once one of them became available. Dotchi felt helpless as she called them, asking for updates every 15 minutes. When the first officer reached the area, he found Penny extremely hurt, and she was asking for help. He immediately called for backup, which ultimately marked the start of an investigation regarding the horrible events of that fateful night.
Leslie Bradshaw’s Killer Was Revealed to be Her Best Friend’s Husband
The first official to reach Leslie and Penny’s location had found an armed suspect, who was the latter’s husband- Davis Bradley Waldroup, Jr. Penny reportedly ran up to the officer and begged him not to leave her kids behind. Davis was arrested on the spot after backup arrived, and what the detectives found on the scene horrified them. While Penny was taken away to the hospital because of her grave wounds, they found Leslie beside their car’s passenger side. She was shot multiple times, hurt on her head, and was deceased. The autopsy determined her cause of death to be from the gunshot wounds. Witness account from Penny ultimately revealed the entire picture of what the night had entailed. She was going through a divorce with her now ex-husband after a long string of abuse, and they shared custody of their four children. However, it did not bode well with Davis, as he began to threaten her.
On October 13, 2006, things escalated as soon as Penny and Leslie arrived at the house. Davis came out of the house with a rifle in his hand and was allegedly drunk. It was quickly followed by his accusations, and when Leslie tried to intervene, he redirected his focus to her. He allegedly blamed her for meddling in his marriage and, in a fit of fury, ended up shooting her. When Penny tried to escape for her life, he also shot her numerous times and attacked her with a machete. She had tried to stall for as much time as she could by talking to him and trying to distract him. After this, Davis allegedly attempted to sexually assault Penny, which eventually stopped because the police had arrived. Davis was ultimately charged with two counts of aggravated kidnapping, one count of first-degree murder, and one count of attempted first-degree murder.
Davis Bradley Waldroup is Currently Incarcerated in a Tennessee Prison
As the trial of the murder of Leslie Bradshaw finally commenced, the prosecutors put forth a set of compelling pieces of evidence before the court. Apart from the weapons that were used in the crime, they reportedly pointed out the amount of brutality that was present at the scene. They claimed that the attack was premeditated since he had shot Leslie multiple times. Although Davis had alleged that he did it because he “snapped,” the forensic reports stated otherwise. On top of that, they also provided the court with several witness accounts, among which Penny Waldroup, the estranged wife and survivor, gave a crucial recount of the fateful night.
In addition to this, one of Davis’ children testified that he had said, “I’m the devil, and I’m here to do his work” on that day. The officials who were present on the scene testified about the aftermath of the harrowing crime. The fact that he was already abusive toward Penny during their time in marriage also did not go unnoticed. However, the defense argued with genetic evidence, reportedly claiming that Davis had a low-activity version of the MAOA gene, which is also known as the “warrior gene.” According to research presented by them, this gene could increase aggression and impulsive behavior in men who were emotionally abused during their childhood. They reportedly stated that the defendant suffered from Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), which could have impaired his rationality during the attack.
After careful deliberation, the jury found him not guilty of first-degree murder. Instead, he was convicted of voluntary manslaughter of Leslie Bradshaw, attempted second-degree murder of Penny Waldroup, and two counts of especially aggravated kidnapping. He was finally sentenced to 32 years in prison on May 7, 2009. After the sentencing, Leslie’s father expressed, “It seemed like the evidence was enough that we ought to have gotten murder 1. A hundred people have told me that.” Davis appealed on March 29, 2011, where he reportedly claimed that there was not enough evidence for the kidnapping charge against him. He further added that one of the photos from the scene was unfair and that the trial should have been held at a different court. However, the appeals court decided to uphold the original decision. As of writing, Davis Bradley Waldroup is serving his time at Southcentral Correctional Center.
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