Investigators Say Cold Case Closer to Being Solved

NEWSCHANNEL 5 digs deeper into Leggett's disappearance 24 years ago

MERCEDES - Kim Sue Leggett disappeared from a cotton gin 24 years ago. Just recently, authorities have labeled her disappearance as an open murder investigation instead of just a missing persons case.

There have been many theories in to what happened. One centers around her stepfather, Lefty Gardner. Some believe the pilot and member of the Confederate Airforce was asked to move contraband into Mexico, and her abduction was retaliation for his refusal.

Investigators also centered on her husband, Mark Leggett, during the investigation. We're told it's because a spouse is always a suspect.

He never fully cooperated with authorities, telling us he thought police were just looking for an easy arrest.

"Hidalgo County was completely willing to lock me in jail to say they've solved something," says Leggett.

Leggett remains frustrated to this day, telling NEWSCHANNEL 5 that investigators have not kept him informed about the case.

Other people claim Mark Leggett knows too much about his wife's disappearance.

On the day she vanished, the couple's babysitter says Mark had told her husband about her disappearance before anyone else. And instead of going to the cotton gin where she vanished from, Mark had taken her husband into town to pick up his friend Marc Hinojosa.

There's still no solid evidence in the disappearance of Kim Sue Leggett.

As for Mark Leggett, he's divorced Kim in the years that followed her disappearance and is about to marry for the third time.

Authorities believe they're closer than ever to solving the case. Friends and family of Kim Sue Leggett say they're hoping that day will come soon.