GRAND RAPIDS - Paul Terrell, the father of Julia Dawson's first child, says he always suspected Tim Dawson in her murder, but never thought an arrest would be made. "I thought it was going to be one of those cold case files 20 years down the road. Nobody ever really trusted Tim to begin with."
Terrell is a single father to eight year-old Kevin. "Kevin and I have become very close and he's doing very well."
Kevin had three birthdays without his mother, but is fully aware of what happened. Julia Dawson disappeared in December 2004 while Christmas shopping. Her nude body was later found along US-131 in Montcalm County.
"He said, ?dad they got Tim.'? The official announcement came Monday after a year-long investigation by the Attorney General's office. "We think after the evidence is shown that they'll find Mr. Dawson guilty of 1st degree murder," said Michigan Attorney General Michael Cox. No new details are being released, but the arrest warrant states Tim Dawson "deliberately and with premeditation to kill and murder Julia Dawson." Tim Dawson waived his extradition and will be brought back to Michigan. Terrell hopes Julia's son Alex Dawson will also come home.
"He went down to Texas and was able to see him and they wouldn't let each other go." Even as the case against Tim Dawson is just beginning, Terrell says the arrest marks the first steps for closure. "Can't really have peace without justice, so maybe now we'll have some peace."
Lambrini LukidisIn your voice
