Regional Murder Mysteries

[Zodiac]

Thanks Zodiac. I didn't know much about Thompson, including where he was born, but he is briefly mentioned in the copy of Newton's The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers that I own, giving his birth year as 1843. It says that he killed 8+ and was slain in a gunfight on March 11 of 1884 at San Antonio.

Hi Stan,

Here are a few links on Ben Thompson from the net. I'm afraid that without trawling through what I, laughingly, like to refer to as my "library", but which actually amounts to vast, untold numbers of books, on diverse subjects, shelved, piled, stacked and randomly scattered, without any semblance of order or reason, throughout my humble abode, I cannot give you much more at the moment!!! Sorry, hope that the links are of some use to you anyway.

Best wishes,
Zodiac.

http://www.frontiertimes.com/outlaws/thompson.html

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=1028

http://www.trivia-library.com/b/cowboy-biography-ben-thompson.htm

http://www.imagesofyorkshire.co.uk/famous_people/ben_thompson/billy_thompson.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Thompson

[sdreid]

Thanks Zodiac. I didn't know much about Thompson, including where he was born, but he is briefly mentioned in the copy of Newton's The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers that I own, giving his birth year as 1843. It says that he killed 8+ and was slain in a gunfight on March 11 of 1884 at San Antonio.

[Zodiac]

Is that a Colt Navy in your pocket, or are you just pleased to see me?

For true Jeff. Morgan was arrested at the same time. There was an occasional show raid but brothels were pretty much openly tolerated in Peoria until about 1970 when the laws on the books began to actually be enforced.

As I'm sure you know, Wild Bill Hickok was also from Central Illinois. Both birthplaces are approximately 60 miles from me although in different directions. They are probably about 100 miles from each other.

Hi Stan,

Ben Thompson, another infamous gunslinger, gambler, killer and sometime lawman of the 'Old West' was born less than 20 miles from myself, in Knottingley, in "Wild West Yorkshire", England!!!

Best wishes,
Zodiac.

[sdreid]

If Earp, who in his time also ran gambling casinos, was into running whore houses in Monmouth maybe he could have called it , the "Okay!! Corrall".

Jeff

For true Jeff. Morgan was arrested at the same time. There was an occasional show raid but brothels were pretty much openly tolerated in Peoria until about 1970 when the laws on the books began to actually be enforced.

As I'm sure you know, Wild Bill Hickok was also from Central Illinois. Both birthplaces are approximately 60 miles from me although in different directions. They are probably about 100 miles from each other.

[Mayerling]

Monmouth is also the birthplace of Wyatt Earp and the hometown of Richard Speck, where he may have committed his first murder. Earp was also arrested for running whores in Peoria during 1872.

If Earp, who in his time also ran gambling casinos, was into running whore houses in Monmouth maybe he could have called it , the "Okay!! Corrall".

Jeff

[sdreid]

Correction: The latter victim's name was actually Dustin Englebrecht - sorry.

An arrest has recently been made in this case and the man is also a person of interest in the Neavear slaying, as I understand, so this guy is either innocent, guilty of one or the other murder or a budding serial killer.

[sdreid]

I think he paid a fine which may have been more like a bribe, I'm not sure. It was a minor offense at the time I believe.

[The Grave Maurice]

Earp was also arrested for running whores in Peoria during 1872.

I assume that he was not convicted.

[sdreid]

One case would be the ax murders of three members of the Dewson family in Monmouth, IL during 1911. Serial cluster murderer Henry Lee Moore was believed responsible but he got a life term for killing his mother and maternal grandmother in Missouri.

Monmouth is also the birthplace of Wyatt Earp and the hometown of Richard Speck, where he may have committed his first murder. Earp was also arrested for running whores in Peoria during 1872.

[sdreid]

Speaking of possible budding serial killers, Richie Neavear, 18, was found stabbed to death in a patch of tall weeds south of Pekin, IL on July 14, 1995.

On September seventh of 2009, 27-year-old Randy Englebrect was found buried on his property in Mason County, also south of the city. Police are not releasing the cause of death but, since people don't bury themselves, we can safely assume that it was a homicide. There are several men who are suspects in both murders.

Correction: The latter victim's name was actually Dustin Englebrecht - sorry.

[sdreid]

The FBI was even brought in on the Donley Case. His car was found parked in a residential area to which he had no known connection. The keys were in the vehicle. There was no blood or any sign of a struggle inside the automobile.

[sdreid]

Another big presumed murder mystery in this area is the disappearance and suspected murder of Peoria lawyer Walter Donley on June 1 of 1943. He was last seen walking down Main Street that day. Neither he nor his remains were ever found. He was involved in a St. Louis robbery and possible money laundering case at the time but no connection to that was ever proven. His appointment book did not produce any serious leads either.

[sdreid]

There are some cases around here that are technically unsolved but police have effectively closed the books because they are pretty sure that the perpetrator is neutralized.

One case would be the ax murders of three members of the Dewson family in Monmouth, IL during 1911. Serial cluster murderer Henry Lee Moore was believed responsible but he got a life term for killing his mother and maternal grandmother in Missouri.

Another example would be the 1976 murder of Mark Helmig, 9, in Pekin, IL and the 1978 slaying of Normal, IL resident Marty Lancaster, 14. Both were thought to be victims of serial child killer William "Freight Train" Guatney. He was arrested for murdering another boy in a different state but found unfit to stand trial and sent to a mental facility. He is now deceased.

There is a book about Guatney entitled Slayer of Innocence by Jim Conover.

[sdreid]

I recently came across a relatively important unsolved murder from my area that I didn't recall. In Springfield, IL, Mary Jane Hanselman, 16, was last seen alive at the restaurant where she worked while not attending her sophomore classes in high school. On April 27 of 1958, her remains were found near the Illinois State Fairgrounds. She had been bound with her own stockings, raped and then brutally murdered. Several men were questioned, including a coworker, but no charges were ever filed. A 2009 novel, entitled Absence of Goodness, was loosely based on the case.

Miss Hanselman worked at Georgian Restaurant which was a 24 hour establishment along Route 66 so that makes the suspect pool large indeed. The eatery was only recently demolished. Route 66 ran from Chicago to Los Angeles.

[sdreid]

I recently came across a relatively important unsolved murder from my area that I didn't recall. In Springfield, IL, Mary Jane Hanselman, 16, was last seen alive at the restaurant where she worked while not attending her sophomore classes in high school. On April 27 of 1958, her remains were found near the Illinois State Fairgrounds. She had been bound with her own stockings, raped and then brutally murdered. Several men were questioned, including a coworker, but no charges were ever filed. A 2009 novel, entitled Absence of Goodness, was loosely based on the case.