A man entered the offices of a California TV station on Tuesday and revealed a shocking confession: he was involved in an unsolved murder 25 years ago and finally wanted to do the right thing and turn himself in.
Brian Hawkins, 44, randomly walked into KRCR-TV and told reporter Courtney Kreider that he was involved in Frank McAlister’s 1993 stabbing murder — and that he would be heading next door to the local police station to turn himself in.
Police found McAlister’s body more than two decades ago, but were never able to solve the case — until now. What’s perhaps most remarkable is the reason that Hawkins gave for his stunning confession: God.
Hawkins, who did an on-camera interview about the murder before going to police, said that his faith as well as his deep guilt led him to make the shocking move, CNN reported.
“God, Christ — these things that have happened throughout my whole life since then, for over 25 years, have pushed me and pushed me to do the right thing,” he said. “I know the wrong can’t be changed, but this is the closest I can come to doing the right thing.”
He told Kreider that he was sorry for the murder and that he and others had robbed the man before killing him.
“Every minute of every day has been a nightmare. It’s kind of weird,” he continued. “Frank never got to have a life, but we were teenagers and now I’m 44 and still haven’t even had a life and now most likely won’t anyway.”
His on-camera interview was held until after he turned himself in at the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office. Two others — Curtis Culver, 45, and his sister, Shanna Culver, 41, were also detained in a nearby town.
One of the Culvers has reportedly also confessed, The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, though it is unclear which one. Hawkins and the Culvers had reportedly been repeatedly interviewed over the years, but, until now, had declared their innocence.
Hawkins said that he had called McAlister’s family last year and wanted to confess. But by the time he was able to get to them, McAlister’s dad had passed away.
“I’ve been through hell my whole life because of this,” Hawkins said, as he broke down in tears, adding that he hopes the community can forgive him for the horrific crime.