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Fireflies

An undercover cop is murdered in a deserted Texas field

By Marc HooverPublished 4 years ago 4 min read
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Officer George Raffield and his killer Greg Knighten

George Moore, Greg “Sparky” Knighten and Richard Goeglein had taken a trip just south of Midlothian, Texas. The three teenagers had just turned off FM875 and into a secluded field. George had driven Knighten and Goeglein to meet an acquaintance to buy some weed. The teenagers put down the back of George’s red pickup truck and sat on the tailgate.

It was a peaceful Friday evening on October 23, 1987. The trio talked, listened to music and passed a joint as the field came alive with crickets and other insects. After a brief wait, Goeglein wanted to leave. He hopped off the truck, urinated behind a tree and then climbed into the truck’s passenger side. Knighten asked George to change the radio station. George walked to the driver’s side to change the radio station.

Knighten told George to look at the buzzing fireflies. After George turned to look, Knighten pulled out a pistol and fired three shots at George. One bullet struck George in the back of the head, the other grazed George’s head and the third missed. George died instantly. Knighten and Goeglein removed George’s wallet, stole $18 from inside it and then left. For George Moore, his life had just ended in a dark, empty field.

Knighten and Goeglein then met with Jonathan Jobe, another friend who served as the getaway driver. The trio returned to their homes as if nothing had happened. The cold-blooded killing of George Moore was only part of the story. To understand this story, you need to look into the past.

The plan to murder a police officer

George William Raffield Jr., had a plan. He was engaged to an amazing woman and had dreams of becoming a police officer. George eventually joined the Midlothian police department. He received a special undercover assignment. There was much drug activity in the local high school. George’s mission was to portray a student and find out which kids bought and sold drugs.

The baby-faced police officer accepted the assignment. On September 10, 1987, George made his first official “drug buy” from a student. After his first buy, George infiltrated a group of teenage outcasts who regularly bought and sold marijuana.

George befriended a 16-year-old troubled teenager named Greg “Sparky” Knighten. Before long, George gained Knighten’s trust. Greg began calling George his best friend. Since Knighten didn’t have a vehicle, George willingly drove Greg around to buy drugs.

Through Greg, George met a 23-year-old woman single mother named Cynthia Fedrick. Many of the local teenagers knew her. Knighten and other teenagers regularly visited her apartment to drink and get high.

Knighten and George went to Cynthia’s apartment. Knighten wanted to introduce Cynthia to his new friend. However, she immediately became suspicious. She spoke to Knighten in private. She told Knighten he was stupid for bringing a “narc” to her apartment. Knighten denied Cynthia’s claims. She said George looked too old to be a teenager because of his five o’clock shadow. She made Knighten leave and told her to never bring George back to her apartment. As she and Knighten returned to the living room, she noticed George staring at her stereo.

George studied the serial number on the stereo. Afterward, two police officers arrived at Cynthia’s apartment. They told Cynthia she had a stolen stereo in her apartment. She claimed no knowledge of it being stolen. After the officers left, Cynthia confirmed in her mind that George Moore was a cop.

Cynthia contacted Greg and told him about the stereo. She said no one could have known about her stolen stereo.

George Raffield Must die

She convinced Knighten that George was a cop. Knighten felt angry and betrayed. He decided George Moore must die for his betrayal. Knighten invited friends Jonathan Jobe and Richard Goering to his home. The teenagers put a plan into place to kill George Moore.

Knighten and Goeglein would convince George to take them somewhere to make a fake drug buy. Since Knighten’s father was a Dallas police officer, Knighten had access to one of his father’s pistols. Goeglein and Knighten would lure George to his death and Jobe would get them after the killing.

After George’s murder, a Texas Ranger named George Turner headed up the murder investigation. It wouldn’t take him long to determine the key players. Jonathan Jobe and Richard Goeglein both named Knighten as the shooter. The three teenagers and Cynthia Fedrick were charged with killing officer George Raffield Jr.

Knighten and Goeglein received 45-year sentences. Knighten has since been paroled while Goeglein still remains incarcerated. Jobe received ten years and Fedrick received eight. However, neither Fedrick nor Jobe served their full sentences. Both were paroled after spending less than two years of their sentences. Fedrick died in 2005. George Raffield Jr. wanted to make a difference in the world. Although he had a brief life, his life mattered and he willingly gave it up to reduce drug activity in a small Texas town. George was one of those exemplary police officers who rarely receive any positive media attention.

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About the Creator

Marc Hoover

Marc Hoover is a Hooper award winning columnist for the Clermont Sun newspaper in Ohio. Contact him at [email protected]. Marc also has a podcast called Catch my Killer.

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