Epes, Alabama, lies only a few miles from the Mississippi border. Not a lot happens in the Sumter County town of fewer than two-hundred people. On October 30, 1987, however, residents were shocked by an armed robbery and the kidnapping of one of their own. The crime did not occur in a bank; Epes did not have one. Instead, the town’s post office was robbed and the postmaster was abducted at gunpoint.

The money netted from the heist was small, but the reward still offered for the assailants is large.

Epes, Alabama, Post Office

Shortly before 11:00 a.m., two men, one white and one black, entered the Epes Post Office asking for stamps. When Postmaster Opal Johnson retrieved the stamps, the white man took them with one hand and shoved a gun in her face with the other. Both men then leaped over the counter and took the money from the cash drawer and from Opal’s purse. The net take was a little over $700 in cash and stamps. The robbers were irritated; they apparently expected more money to be at the facility.

The white male forced Opal into her car, and again displayed his dexterity, driving with one hand while holding a gun against her with the other. He followed his accomplice, driving their car, into the country.

After a few minutes, Opal’s kidnappers pulled into an isolated wooded area near Goggan’s Lake, three miles from Epes. After taking Opal’s wedding ring, jewelry, and credit cards, they forced her into the trunk of her car. Opal then heard the men arguing; the black male wanted to kill her and dump her car in the lake, but the white man convinced him to spare her life.

After hearing the car speed away, Opal used a tire iron to spring the trunk’s lock. She ran to the road and flagged down a motorist who took her to the police.

Opal Johnson

Opal described the white suspect as approximately five-feet-five-inches tall, one-hundred-thirty pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He did not have a southern accent and appeared unfamiliar with the Epes area. Opal believed he was in his late thirties or early forties, meaning he would likely now be in his early-to-mid seventies.

The day after the robbery, the black assailant was believed to have been in Ohio, possibly on his way to Detroit, Michigan. He was accompanied by a black woman who appeared to be in her forties. The woman used Opal’s credit cards to purchase items in Franklin and Toledo, Ohio.

The black suspect was approximately six feet tall, with a slender build, dark eyes, long greasy black hair, and heavy sideburns. He spoke with a southern accent, was familiar with the area, and may have previously had family in Epes. Opal said he also appeared to be familiar with post office procedures and layouts, and she believed he may have previously worked in the mail service. He was in his late forties or early fifties, meaning he would now likely be in his late seventies to early-to-mid-eighties.

The statute of limitations has expired for the robbery, but the men are still wanted for kidnapping. A reward of up to $50,000 is offered for information leading to their identity. If you believe you have such information, please contact the Birmingham, Alabama, FBI office at (251) 438-3674.

Composites of the Robbers

Opal Johnson passed away in 2010 at age eighty-one.

SOURCES:

• Birmingham News
• The Meridian (Mississippi) News
• Tuscaloosa News
• Unsolved Mysteries