by Chris Cannon
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - When Gene Beck disappeared last July, right before his plea deal in Rutherford County on child rape charges, he cost several bail bonds companies large sums of money.
Beck was out of jail on a $1 million bond in Rutherford County and several bond companies took on that liability.
Elsie Robinson from Cumberland Bond thought the benefit for her business outweighed the risk of posting $125,000 of that bond.
"Because they had a high dollar lawyer, they had the money to pay for the bond and the family had been in Lebanon all their lives and we thought it'd be okay," Robinson explained.
Since Beck went missing the bond companies and law enforcement have been searching for him.
"We've had bounty hunters look. We've looked in Tennessee, he's been looked for in Alaska, other states. They've not found him," Robinson said.
After eight months had passed the courts called in that bond. Robinson just recently paid her portion of the $1 million.
"It's stressful. It's hurt a lot of people, a lot of businesses. We had people working for us. Just a bad situation," according to Robinson.
The deal nearly wiped out her Cumberland Bonds and forced several of Robinson's competitors to go out of business.
Robinson is well aware of the risk that comes with the bail bonds business. She also is aware of the lesson Gene Beck has taught her.
"I know this, I will not do another big bond. I mean it's taught everyone a valuable lesson," Robinson said.
Beck is on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's top ten most wanted list. Information that leads to his capture could be worth a $2,000 reward.
email: ccannon@newschannel5.com
