A Book by Danny Vine’s Parents
(“Shell Game,” Forensic Files)
In last Wednesday’s post, Steve Parker shared his experiences prosecuting Gary, Jerry Lee, and Robert Bruce for murdering Danny Vine and Della Thornton as part of a 1991 robbery plan. Parker offered compelling information that Forensic Files couldn’t fit into its 30-minute “Shell Game” episode.
This week, I’d like to offer some additional facts from The Day Hell Knocked on Our Door (Vine/Branch Ministries, 2003), written by Pastor Larry and Carol Vine, the parents of Danny Vine.
With Larry Vine as the narrator, the book tells the couple’s story starting from the time they became spiritual leaders at the First Assembly of God Church in Camden, Tennessee, where 12 people showed up for their first service in 1982.
It continues to the winter of 1991, when an acquaintance of their son’s called to express concern about Danny’s whereabouts because his house had burned down the previous night, then to the day DNA tests confirmed that the bones in the incinerated home belonged to Danny — the eldest of the Vines’ four children — and Della, his fiancée, the investigation by the FBI, TBI, and ATF, the trials that followed, and the 1995 and 1996 convictions of the Bruce brothers.
Since last week’s post gives a narrative of the crime, I’m simply going to enumerate some points of interest about the double homicide and its aftermath culled from the The Day Hell Knocked on Our Door.
Intimidation and threats
• The Vines received numerous calls from people who knew something about the murders — but when TBI investigator Alvin Daniel contacted them, they didn’t cooperate for fear of repercussions from the Bruces.
• Some Benton County, Tennessee, residents believed the Bruces “ran the county” and had “no fear of the law.”
• After Jerry Lee Bruce’s arrest on traffic offenses, he threatened the lives of a deputy and his wife and son. He got four years for that.
• Sheila Bradford, the girlfriend of J.C. Bruce — one of the killers’ brothers — disappeared forever after she met (secretly, she thought) with Sheriff Billy Wyatt and Daniel in 1992.
• Members of the Bruce family followed Larry Vine “bumper to bumper” in cars.
• Ralph Sentell, owner of Eva Road Grocery — where the Bruces bought fuel to burn down Danny Vine’s house — testified that after the murders Gary Bruce and another man began loitering inside the store, not buying anything.
• The court house received a bomb threat and had to close temporarily and postpone Gary Bruce’s hearing.
The Investigation
• A $40,000 reward — a fortune for many of Camden’s residents, according Larry Vine — offered for helping bring the killers to justice didn’t work because residents feared the Bruces so much.
• Gary Bruce escaped from the McNairy County jail in 1994 and remained at large for a year. America’s Most Wanted broadcast a segment about him. He was so good at changing his appearance that the authorities had to use handwriting samples to confirm his identity after his capture in Hermitage, Tennessee. A separate trial was held for Gary.
• Sheriff Billy Wyatt died of natural causes before the trials as did TBI investigator Alvin Daniel.
• Investigator Jerry Dickey used a chocolate Labrador retriever named Allie from the Tennessee Bureau of Commerce and Insurance canine unit to help identify the pattern of accelerant at the crime scene.
The Trials
• Court proceedings began in 1995.
• Fortunately, this was no OJ trial — it lasted less than a month.
• One witness, a mussel digger, was so scared he checked out of his government-paid hotel room and fled to Kentucky.
• Kathleen Bruce fell asleep more than once at the trial.
• It took the jury 6 hours and 40 minutes to decide Robert and Jerry Lee Bruce were guilty of all charges. Kathleen Bruce was convicted on some, not all, charges.
• Jerry Lee and Robert Bruce received two life sentences plus 10 years. Kathleen got eight years.
• At his trial, Gary Bruce testified he had nothing to do with the murders and that he thought his brothers Jerry and Robert were involved.
• Gary Bruce’s jury deliberated for two hours before returning with a guilty verdict.
• Like his brothers, Gary got life in jail.
Aftermath
• The community “breathed a collective sigh of relief” once the brothers were in custody, according to Larry Vine’s book.
• After Gary Bruce’s capture, Nell Thornton, mother of murder victim Della Thornton, said she was “wild with happiness.” Carol Vine described herself as so happy she was “floating.”
• Persons unknown stole the $500 portrait of Danny Vine and Della Thornton from their gravesite. It was recovered, undamaged, at a grocery store.
• Della Thornton’s father, Mac Thornton, died the day Gary Bruce received his guilty verdict.
Next: A look at Molly and Clay Daniel’s insurance fraud debacle (“Grave Danger,” Forensic Files) that disgusted and amused folks from the U.S. to the UK
Kudos to Allie the chocolate Lab who helped sniff out the accelerant! Having owned Labrador retrievers of all colors at various times in my life, I can say that chocolate Labs are highly intelligent and intensely motivated. I’m glad that one was able to contribute to the resolution of this case.
One more reason to love Labs.
Who was the governor who pardoned him after raping and leaving a young girl to die? He pardoned him to murder again.
Gwen, thanks for responding! It may have been Blanton, although I’m not sure. The prosecutor, Steve Parker, mentioned that the same governor had pardoned a number of convicts who didn’t deserve forgiveness before he vacated (or was forced out of) office.
Thanks.
Ray Blanton. He was infamous for allowing people to buy pardons
Glad he’s gone — yikes!
Ray Blanton…. he habitually sold pardons and was convicted of doing it.
Former Gov. Ray Blanton
What happened to Sheila Bradford?
Thanks for writing in! I believe Sheila Bradford was never found. Her loved ones set up a Facebook page, “Sheila Bradford Missing,” for her. As of 2012, they were still looking.
Shelia is still missing and nothing has been done.. She was swept under the rug. She went to get protection and the police wouldn’t give it too her. 4 days later she was missing. JC BRUCE has been a suspect of many missing person cases including the Holly Bobo. But nothing is ever done to him. He just walks around like the Godfather getting away with murder and rape.
Such a sad situation — they should have kept him behind razor wire the first time.
Please contact me about this family. Young girls are still coming up missing 3 decades later. My daughter is severely mentally incompetent. She went off her meds & on drugs with people associated & related to this family. She was able to fight & get away. Thank God! She is now being held in Benton County Jail for attempted murder. I’ve asked so many questions the authorities have cut me off. I’ve been researching the connections with this family. People ARE STILL AFRAID to come forward. I’m not & want to help stop this corruption for good. These young women need a voice!! I’m in shock this is still happening 30 years later! My daughter may go to prison but I know she’s alive. The families of these missing girls do not.
My daughter has a severe traumatic brain injury & is severely mentally ill. She recently went off her meds & started doing meth and heroine with this family. She was attacked & defended herself. Thank God she got away. However, she’s in Benton Co jail for attempted murder. I’ve been researching & young girls are still going “missing” from here & with this family. I’m in shock this has been happening for 3 years & continues today. I would love to speak with anyone who is willing to discuss my research & try to put a stop to this murdering, rapist, corruption for good! Please help me be their voice.
Sadly, still no resolution as of now. The State offered a $10k reward in Oct ’20 for information.
The fourth brother, J C Bruce, Bradford’s former boyfriend, is suspected of having played a role in the homicides his brothers and neighbour David Riales were convicted of but he was never charged. He had a conviction for abducting and raping a teenage girl before he met Bradford (I assume she didn’t know that). In ’93 he pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges; in 2000 he was convicted of assault and in ’15 he was arrested for poaching. He’s never been charged in Bradford’s case but her family believes he may have abducted and killed her to keep her from revealing what she knew about Thornton and Vine’s murders.
Glad those “tough” guys are in jail. Nothing but punks who should’ve been hung.
The Bruce brothers are now up there in the years and possibly health issues with it so it isn’t likely they’ll be harming anyone anymore, thank goodness.
Hope you’re right — such cruel people.
That odious mother should’ve gotten life woP as well for unleashing that devil’s spawn into the community.
Who’s the illiterate person who wrote this article?