Tattoo artist found murdered in septic tank after doing tattoos for motorcycle gang

Publish date: 2024-08-20

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 02:06 EST, 28 July 2013 | Updated: 12:14 EST, 28 July 2013

29

View
comments

The remains of a Missouri man reported missing more than seven months ago - after he'd gone out of town to do some tattoo work for members of a local motorcycle gang - were found in a nearvy septic tank on Thursday.

Samuel Francis, a 38-year-old tattoo artist from Cape Girardeau, was last seen on December 23, 2012, when his father says he was going to meet with the unidentified bikers - some of whom he'd had problems with in the past - in neighboring St. Francois County to give some of the men tattoos.

Francis - and his father, 61-year-old Gary Francis - seemed nervous about the trip and called each other throughout the day to check in.

Murdered: Authorities are investigating the death of Samuel Francis as a homicide

Murdered: Authorities are investigating the death of Samuel Francis as a homicide

'I said, '‘Son, do not go to meet them,'” Gary Francis told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 'And he said, '‘I have to. If I run from them, they will kill me.'''

Francis' father says his son was a likable guy, but often clashed with authority - he'd been arrested a few times for various minor crimes.


RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

On the night of his disappearance, Francis called his father one final time.

'I'm alright, I'll call you in an hour,' he said on a voicemail recording Gary Francis still has saved on his phone.

Gary Francis never heard from his son again.

Discovery: Francis' remains were discovered in a septic tank on this property near where he was last seen alive

Discovery: Francis' remains were discovered in a septic tank on this property near where he was last seen alive

Authorities searched for Francis for several months. It's unclear what led them to the septic tank where the remains were found.

Initially, authorities wouldn't identify the remains as those of Francis - they would only say their discovery was the result of a seven-month missing person investigation.

On Friday, the medical examiner identified the remains as Francis' through dental records.

Authorities say they are investigating the death as a homicide. It's unclear whether they have any suspects.

'I was hoping he was in a witness protection program or avoiding someone or just hiding out,' Gary Francis said Friday. 'You’re never ready to accept the death of your child.'

Proud father: Francis leaves behind two children

Proud father: Francis leaves behind two children

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWJ%2FdISPa25pZ4SWwbW7zmaYq6yZqMFuudSrm56qlZl6tLHPraCcZaSWu6x5w6igp59dqa61wM6oqmaln6m8s6%2FYnKOeZZeWu6h6x62kpQ%3D%3D