Where the Crawdads Sing
by Delia Owens
Contents
3. Chase
Overview
In 1969, two boys discover Chase Andrews dead beneath the old fire tower. Sheriff Ed Jackson and Dr. Vern Murphy confirm the death and estimate an overnight fall.
Noticing a complete lack of footprints near the body or to the stairs, Ed suspects the circumstances are not a simple accident, setting up a deeper investigation.
Summary
On a hot October morning in 1969, ten-year-olds Benji Mason and Steve Long climb the abandoned fire tower and spot a figure in blue below. They rush down and find Chase Andrews lying in the bog with a grotesquely twisted leg, eyes and mouth open. Frightened, they race to town to alert Sheriff Ed Jackson.
Sheriff Jackson, with Dr. Vern Murphy, follows the boys back to the site. They confirm the victim is Chase, beloved only child of Sam and Patti Love Andrews, and Dr. Murphy declares him dead, likely for at least ten hours, suggesting a nighttime fall from the tower.
Ed reflects that Chase often visited the tower with others, even though he was married, and wonders why no companions sought help. He and Vern step back to survey the scene, instructing the boys to avoid making more tracks.
Examining the ground, Ed notes the boys’ fresh prints but none near the body, none to or from the stairs, and none around Chase. This absence contradicts both a group visit and a solo approach, since even Chase’s own prints are missing. The sheriff concludes something is wrong, hinting that this death may not be a straightforward accident.
Who Appears
- Sheriff Ed JacksonTown sheriff who confirms Chase’s death and notices the suspicious absence of footprints near the scene.
- Dr. Vern MurphyTown physician who declares Chase dead and estimates time since death.
- Benji MasonTen-year-old who, with Steve, discovers Chase’s body and alerts the sheriff.
- Steve LongTen-year-old who spots the body from the tower and returns with Benji to report it.
- Chase AndrewsLocal man found dead beneath the fire tower; apparent fall with puzzling lack of footprints.