The Investigative Foundation

On September 25th, we join communities across the nation in observing the National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims. First established by Congress in 2007, this day honors the lives stolen by violence and recognizes the enduring grief carried by families and loved ones.

At The Investigative Foundation, we are dedicated to making sure these victims are not forgotten. Behind every case is a person whose story deserves to be told and a family who deserves answers, resources, and support. Today, we honor their memory, stand beside survivors, and continue our commitment to pursuing truth and justice for those left without it.

In June of 1996, Sadie Wallace Nelson had lived with her boyfriend, John Burlie Pike, on a small farm just north of Benton. They lived near Highway 411 and were joint caretakers of the property. Sadie was 74 years old, and John was 77 years old.

In the morning hours of June 9th, 1996, John "Burlie" Pike would be found laying in his driveway, dead. He was severely beaten and had his throat cut. Officials were called and subsequently searched the property and it was described as ‘virtually untouched’ but oddly they found no sign of Sadie Nelson. After talking to friends, family, and neighbors, officials concluded that she was last seen on June 8th, 1996, but she has not been seen or heard from ever again.

A few months would go by before any meaningful leads would come up. Finally, in December 1996, police thought they may have found Sadie Wallace when they learned someone in Batavia, New York, had been cashing Sadie’s Social Security checks. After further investigation, it turned out Sadie Wallace’s son had been cashing her checks and keeping the money. He apparently did not know the whereabouts of his mother.

Sadie Wallace had been married six times and was not from the Benton area. Sadie may have used the following names: Sadie Wallace Thompson, Sadie Wallace White, Sadie Wallace Sanford, Sadie Wallace Finnell, or Sadie Cantril. Sadie was described as a white female. She had dark brown hair and brown eyes. She was between 5'-0" to 5'-5" and reportedly weighed between 140 to 160 lbs. She had a gold front tooth and wore eyeglasses. Sadie would be 103 years old if she is still alive.

In the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Sadie was said to be John’s paramour, which means “a lover, especially the forbidden partner of a married person.” You can find her NAMUS profile at: https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/MP28166

While there are no warrants out for Sadie Wallace, officials still would like to question her about John Pike’s murder. It remains unclear if she also met with foul play or if she was complicit.

John and Sadie matter, and their families do, too. They have been searching, hoping, and ultimately hurting for 29 years. The Investigative Foundation is dedicated to serving families in need of answers. Help us bring closure to the Pike and Nelson families.

If you have any information regarding the murder of John Pike or the whereabouts of Sadie Nelson, please call the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Chattanooga at (423) 634-3044.

Please keep in mind that these are real families here in our area that need our support. Please refrain from being negative and using harsh language, because it is 100% certain that their families will see it and be affected by it. It is extremely hurtful.

As always, you can contact The Investigative Foundation by sending us a message, texting or calling 423-380-9005, or emailing [email protected]