Unknown Gender History: Margo Freshwater, Half of a Serial Killer Couple

Margo Freshwater was a fugitive for 32 years until, in 1966, she was found living under an alias and arrested. At the age of 18 she sought out an attorney for her boyfriend, Alfred Schlereth, a career criminal, jailed for armed robbery. When captured May 19, 2002, she was known as Tonya Hudkins McCartor, a 63-year-old married grandmother of seven, who had raised four children in Ohio in the 32 years since her escape.

In 1966, as an unwed mother who had given up her child for adoption, Margo plotted a jail-break for her boyfriend Alfred Schlereth. She hired eccentric lawyer Glenn Nash who agreed to smuggle guns into the courtroom and free the defendant. This never occurred. Instead, Margo (18) and Glenn (36) became lovers – and then killers.

On December 6, 1966, Margo ran away from home and Glenn W. Nash abandoned his wife and baby at their West Memphis, Arkansas home. By the time the couple had been nabbed by police on Dec. 27, 1966 at Greenville, Mississippi they had committed three murders. Margo was sentenced to 99 years in prison for her crimes on Feb. 7, 1969. A year-and-a-half later, on Oct. 24, 1970, Margo escaped the Tennessee Prison for Women.

In March 2001, a producer from TV’s “Unsolved Mysteries” called Tennessee authorities seeking information for a program about Freshwater. Agent Greg Elliott of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation pulled the file. He re-opened the cold case and his investigation led to her arrest in Columbus, Ohio on May 19, 2002. Margo remained in prison in Tennessee until in May 2011 her old conviction was overturned and she was granted a new trial. Five months later she was given a unique plea deal for “time served” that was, in fact, not served at all and on November 1, she was set free.

[Robert St. Estephe, May 6, 2020]

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CHRONOLOGY

Jun. 4, 1948 – Margo Freshwater born; alias: Sue Ann Morrison; Margo Schereth; Tonya Hudkins McCartor.

Nov. 1966 – Freshwater had just given up her infant son for adoption in Columbus in 1966 when she went to Memphis to hire a lawyer for her boyfriend, Alfred Schlereth, jailed there for armed robbery. She contacted attorney Glenn Nash, later described by his own lawyer as “crazy as hell.” Schlereth, interviewed by Costas in 1994, said Nash and Freshwater had planned to smuggle guns into the courtroom and free him. Instead, the two became lovers--and then killers.

Dec. 6, 1966 – Runs away from home with Glenn W. Nash (36), West Memphis, Ark., who abandons wife and baby.

Dec 6, 1966 – Hillman Robbins, Memphis, Tenn., Square D Liquor Store. Shot five times. 2 guns used. $616 stolen.

Dec. 18, 1966 – Esther Bouyea murdered, Florida. Oakland Park, Florida,

Dec. 27, 1966 – C. C. Surratt (55), cab driver murdered. Millington, Tenn.

Dec. 27, 1966 – Nash and Freshwater arrested. Greenville, Mississippi.

1967/68 (date?) – Nash declared criminally insane.

Nov. 1967 – first trial at Hernando, Margo DeSoto County, Miss. For Surratt murder; hung jury.

1967/68? – Hernando sheriff reports that Mago removed a concrete block in her cell, crawled though. To “frolic” with male prisoners in next cell.

Feb. 1968 – 2^nd trial in Hernando, DeSoto County, Miss. For Surratt murder; hung jury.

Jan or Feb. 1969 – Johnny Box (24), Tupelo, Miss. claims Freshwater described first murder as done by Nash alone.

Feb. 7, 1969 – sentenced to 99 years.

Oct. 24, 1970 – escape from prison. Tennessee.

1984 – Her family had her declared officially dead when her grandmother's estate was settled.

Nov. 2000 – Margo marries. Daryl McCartor (18 mo. before capture).

Mar. 2001 – a producer from TV’s “Unsolved Mysteries” called Tennessee authorities seeking information for a program about Freshwater. Agent Greg Elliott of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation pulled the file.

May 19, 2002 – captured after 32 years, Columbus, Ohio. Reinvestigation prompted by contact from Unsolved Mysteries TV.

Aug. 26, 2002 – Unsolved Mysteries TV show broadcast.

May 2011 – Tennessee court of criminal appeals overturns conviction, orders new trial.

Oct. 28, 2011 – “best interest” plea in Shelby County, Tenn. Sentenced to 25 years. The plea qualifies her to be released for “time served” (even though the time was not served).

Nov. 1, 2011 – Margo Freshwater released from Shelby County Jail, Tenn.

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