Kentucky Proud Evening Shines Light on Famous 'Cold Case'

LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 15, 2018) — The University of Kentucky Fayette County Cooperative Extension Service will present the fourth installment of the Kentucky Proud Evenings series Monday, June 25, with guest author Robert G. Lawson talking about his book, “Who Killed Betty Gail Brown? Murder, Mistrial, and Mystery.” The free monthly series celebrates University Press of Kentucky’s 75th anniversary with author discussions and samples from Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud recipes.

The June event will feature Lawson, a defense attorney for the only person ever charged with killing Betty Gail Brown, a 19-year-old Transylvania University student. Brown was found in her car on campus in 1961, strangled to death with her own brassiere. Years later, after the police investigation had stalled, an alcoholic drifter confessed to the crime while in jail on other charges in Oregon. The case was eventually thrown out of court from lack of concrete proof.

Lawson taught law for 50 years at UK, where he served twice as a dean of the College of Law.

“No preparation or prior reading is required to discover more about this fascinating topic covered in Mr. Lawson’s book and talk,” said Diana Doggett, Fayette County family and consumer sciences extension agent. ”These monthly author talks are a fun and enriching way to spend an evening.”

The series is made possible through a partnership between Fayette County Cooperative Extension, which is part of the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, and the University Press of Kentucky. Kentucky Proud Evenings begin at 6 p.m., at the Fayette County Extension office, located at 1140 Harry Sykes Way in Lexington.

Make reservations for the event by calling the Fayette County Extension office at 859-257-5582. Participants may purchase Lawson’s book at the event.