Cleveland Torso Murders (Kingsbury Run)

[belinda]

Robert Stack was wonderful.

Trivia

His daughter lived near here in the 1980s and he would give interviews on the local Radio Station on a regular basis.
He was a really nice man. Much missed

[ChainzCooper]

I remember seeing an episode of Unsolved Mysteries about this case (One of the best shows EVER btw Robert Stack, man, how I miss him) and didn't Eliot Ness supposedly know the identity of the killer but he could never prove it? I think he retired shortly thereafter and enigmatically replied when some reporter asked him about the case that it had been solved.

[sdreid]

Hmm, I answered this once and it didn't go through.

Anyway Belinda, it's possible but, no, I don't think there's a Dahlia connection.

[belinda]

Hi Stan Do you think these and the Black Dahlia are really connected? I haven't read much about this but have seen a couple of Documentarys mainly playing up the Ness angle

[sdreid]

woo...woo...woo...unsolved Sheppard case?

Well, Sheppard was likely guilty but it's officially unsolved.

Wilson, Sweeney, Dolezal and Johnson are the main named Torso suspects I think.

[TomTomKent]

I just want to point out that Torso was one of the best comic Brian Michael Bendis has written. And the man has written some fine comics in his time.

[Gman992]

As someone who actually lives in Cleveland, Ohio, I've been fascinated with this case mainly because of the local setting and it involves when of my ultimate favorite heroes from history, Elliot Ness. As for books, there are a good couple of books out there-even a couple of fiction books. About ten years ago, Brian Bendis wrote a graphic novel called, Torso, which has been in development hell in Hollywood. And if you visit the Cleveland police museum you can actually see the death masks of some of the victims...There have been a couple of suspects, including the nephew of a local congressman and the man that they think is also responsible for the Black Delilah murder.


So far, that's about it...(of course, this has taking back stage to the guy they arrested recently who was killing young woman and stuffing them in the walls of his house.) And they say, Cleveland is boring...


woo...woo...woo...unsolved Sheppard case?

[sdreid]

Chris-I have two of those books and have read three. If you have read Torso you are very well informed. It's my favorite I think.

Too bad, the coroner, Samuel Gerber didn't write a book since his career was essentially bracketed by this and the unsolved Dr. Sheppard case.

[Chris Scott]

Hi Stan
The one I managed to order through the library back then was Torso, which remains the only one I've read on this fascinating case
many thanks for your reply and the info - very much appreciated
Chris S

[sdreid]

Hi Chris,

Which book were you looking for? There were a couple of books back then and at least a couple more now although one is mostly trying to tie the case in with The Black Dahlia murder. The two older books were Torso (top rate) with its tie-in to Eliot Ness and The Butcher's Dozen which also covered some other Cleveland murders. Rasmussen's book has the Dahlia connection and the other release is In the Wake of the Butcher which is great although a little heavy pushing one suspect in my view.

There are four main suspects, I'd say.

[Chris Scott]

I have been meaning for ages to read again about the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run case aka the Cleveland Torso Murders
I haven't read anything on this for, literally, years and was just wondering if anyone is aware of any new(ish) literature or thinking on the case
I remember when this case first caught my interest (back in the 80s) there was only one book on the subject which I had one hell of a job tracking down, and never did find a copy to buy
Any feedback or advice much appreciated as I am really out of touch with this fascinating case