The Palmyra "Curse" I: Disappearance of Mac Graham 

I read the Bugliosi book about this mystery when I was about 12 when it came out, and I think it was the first true crime book I read. The story has stuck with me all these years, thanks for your videos on the subject.

Mac and Muff were my Aunt and Uncle. They hadn't been married that long so I was not really close to Mac. We were in San Diego when they left. for their last trip after sailing around the world Muff stopped communicating and all started to worry and feel helpless. I was a teenager at the time. The family story says that Muff told my Grandmother that she wanted to leave the island...she was afraid of the Walker people and I believe they had a scary dog (s).Mac didn't want to leave. According to what I know Muff's skull was found buried in the sand with a bullet hole and that Walker made Mac walk the plank. This is what Walker told someone when he was in jail. I.m surprised Muff (we knew her as LaVerne) is just a side note to your story....they were a team. Yes, it was sad.

Thanks for posting this brief summary; I watched the 2-part TV Series about 6 times, it is well-done & better than many current big-screen films. I've been searching for a copy of that TV movie, a DVD or even streaming, & having trouble. Bugliosi did right by his client, I grew to admire his legal skills whether for prosecution or defense. He was one of the BEST legal minds I've ever come across. Glad you gave us this tidbit but, as a True Crime addict I want more!!!! I've bought the book by Bugliosi but I really want to watch that darn film again!!!!

I read the book. "And The Sea Will Tell". Fantastic book. Sad though

The container that Eleanor “Muff” Graham’s bones had spilled out of was one of two metal containers from an old World War II boat left behind at Palmyra Island. In this old boat there were two empty receptacles where the metal containers would have sat. One container was found with the remains of Muff Graham inside, and the second container was never found. I think it’s a fair assumption that Buck Dwayne Walker killed Mac Graham the same night as Muff and his remains were put in the second container. And it had either washed out to sea where it will never be found, or it was sufficiently weighed down somewhere off Palmyra Atoll. And there’s always a possibility that one day it will wash ashore, just as Muffs container/coffin did. And I will never believe that Stephanie Stearns didn’t know anything about these murders. Muff was shot in the head, dismembered, and burned. Then stuffed into a metal container, taken out on a boat, weighed down, and disposed of. And so was Mac. You’d have to take a pretty big leap of faith to believe she didn’t hear gunshots that night. I think that’s an impossibility. And knowing of the hostility between the Graham’s and Buck and then hearing gunshots she had to have known what happened. Especially when the Grahams failed to return to their boat. I will never believe for a second that she was just innocently spending time on the dilapidated Iola while Buck Walker shot both the Grahams, dismembered them, burnt them, and disposed of their bodies while she was completely unaware. They had no way of leaving that island, almost no food at all left, no tobacco, and no money. Meanwhile the Graham’s had all of the above and more. And lo and behold they show up in Hawaii on the Sea Wind with its name changed and a new paint job. I think she got away with murder.

I was lucky enough to have visited Palmyra in 1981 on my father’s boat the Junopher, when I was 15 years old. Patty and Ray Landrum were then living in an old bunker in the south of the island, we became friendly with them. They had decided to stay on after a failed commercial fishing enterprise Very good people. They had found the alloy box on the beach in the lagoon with the remains inside, and they were actually using the aluminum skiff to get around and go fishing for themselves. They showed me where the boxes used to fit inside the skiff, and told the story in detail. My father found the island to be a dark place, its wartime connections and the murders you are covering. Personally I thought it was paradise, the first and still the most beautiful desert island I’ve ever visited, or nearly deserted. Walker was obviously a psychopath POS so I suspect his story is just a web of lies. Given the quantity of sharks and general marine life in and out of the lagoon I am surprised anything was found, the aluminum box was I suspect the only reason for that.

My theory is that Buck shot them both and dumped them in the lagoon. Either the sharks got to Mac but not Muff, or to neither. So the next day, they saw Muff (or both) still in the water, and disposed of her/them in a different way. It's the only thing that makes sense especially with the killing machines well in place in the lagoon. One thing I don't understand, especially reading Bugliosi's book, is why the FBI never did a complete inspection of the Sea Wind. No luminol tests, no stripping or searching, etc?!

She wasn't acquitted. She was only found Not Guilty according to the available evidence. She was tired of carrying the extra work while dirtbag showed his true character a lazy slacker always looking for the quick buck, immediate gratification. But.she saw "good in him" that she just knew she could bring out.. Yeah right, she was just continuing her pattern of poor relationship choices.

Watch the movie it's good & it tells all about this .I do believe she is as guilty as her boyfriend .

I read the book and watched the movie. Very sad.

Thank you for speaking so well and clear

very interesting topic !!

Oooh, wicked informative videos! Subscribed :)

Not a mystery. The killer was caught and convicted for the murder of Muff Graham. They didn't try him for the murder of Mac because they hadn't recovered a body, but he got life for the murder of Muff.

Ty

Hey im a new subscriber i really like your historical thoughts series but it seems like you're doing more maritime mysteries these days. I hope to see more of these type videos

Is that Bugliosi's book on JFK behind you?

A script for a dark movie. Life imitates fiction.

I was part of the curse of Palmyra -I shattered my leg on an ‘attractive nuisance’ rope swing on the lagoon and my purple Chuck Taylor was dropped in the lagoon as I was being evacuated. 😂

....and the sea will tell.

😂Ever since i first heard anout this story, I've wanted to go there myself. Its haunting yet an interesting place. I wonder where exactly on Palmyra the Grahams were anchored? Anyone knows? Also why did they go to Hawaii with a stolen boat, a place where other saillors would recognize the Seawind. If i were Buck i would have gone further down south to Samoa,, after all the Seawind had enough food on onboard for a longer trip.

Palmira is pronounced more like Lolita or Fajita and not like Elvira.

I spent quite a lot of this video wondering who the Grams where 🙂

I've seen the case on FBI files

Vincent Buglioso did make a convincing case that she was unaware of her boyfriend's murderous behavior.

Why didn't buck kill Stephanie?