The trailer for a documentary marking the 20th anniversary of the September 2002, Dolly Madison double homicide was released Thursday, said the film’s producer Aaron Mull, a 2012 Great Bend High School graduate. In addition, two public screenings are set for early March.
“Being from Great Bend, this story has been one that has always hit close to home,” Mull said. “I’ve always wondered why nobody has tried to shed a bigger light on it.”
The screenings of the entire film will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 2, and Friday, March 3 at the Crest Theater in downtown Great Bend. Immediately following, there will be a question-and-answer session with Mull and the project participants.
The $10 tickets can be secured either ahead of time or at the door. Friday’s screening will likely be smaller, but will be first come first serve tickets at the door only.
Also at the screening, Mull will be announcing the streaming platform on which people can watch it from home.
The title of the project is “The Dolly Madison Murders: The case that’s begging to be told, but refusing to be solved.”
To view the trailer on Youtube at https://youtu.be/I2qHtFPJz8w.
Close to home
On the evening of Sept. 4, 2002 Mary Drake and Mandi Alexander were found slain at the Dolly Madison Bakery Outlet Store, located at 1004 Harrison St. Despite rumors and theories, the case remains unsolved, frustrating law enforcement and family members of the victims.
Around the 19th year anniversary, he decided to commit an entire year to making this documentary. “I flew back to Great Bend five separate times, and shot interviews with friends and family members, local media and law enforcement,” he said.
“The families and friends of Mandi Alexander and Mary Drake have felt left in the dark for two decades,” he said. “So in addition to getting this story out there to a wider audience, my ultimate goal was to give them a voice.”
The documentary explores various rumors and theories that have surrounded the case, and attempts to dive deeper into some of those theories.
“Overall the public’s response to this project has been overwhelmingly positive, but I’ve also been met with some pushback from some members of law-enforcement,” Mull said. “I understand that this is still an active and open case, but overall have the opinion that they’d rather it be forgotten.”
Last September at its Great Bend office, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation announced that it has identified a male DNA sample taken from the body of one of two women slain. The agency hopes advances in forensic science will help the KBI unlock the mystery.
Tickets are available online at eventbirte. For more information email aaronmullfilms@gmail.com.
