WI WI - Evelyn Hartley, 15, La Crosse, 24 Oct 1953

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scriptgirl said:
o/t, but why did the the family who adopted gein's dad want nothing to do with him?
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not sure, but it might be as simple as my guess that someone who turns dead bodies into lamps probably isn't a lot of fun at parties.
 
Cecilia IS the one that was found by Robin Hood! I found her obituary.

"Cecilia A. Lauer, 93, formerly of Stanley, passed away Thursday, March 14, 2002, at the Chippewa Manor, 222 Chapman Road, Chippewa Falls.

She was born Nov. 6, 1908, in the town of Delmar, Chippewa County, the daughter of John and Anna (Kroj) Ryba.

Cecilia married Bernard Lauer on June 14, 1932, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Boyd. They farmed in the area, then traveled and worked their way across the U.S., enjoying every minute of it. In 1956 they moved to Stevens Point and became partners in a roofing and siding business in which Ceil did the bookkeeping.

She had a very large garden in which she also raised horseradish and had a grape vine. Bernard and Ceil enjoyed making their own home brew and many kinds of wine."

http://chippewa.com/article_7bcdec3c-98bd-543d-855f-4d13aece1715.html?print=1
 
She was preceded in death by one son, Melvin on March 15 1936. I see no other mention of children and it sounds like she outlived her family.

ETA nevermind she was survived, in 2002, by two sisters. Good genetics in that family lol.
 
That traveling and working across the US really sticks out to me. We know Bernard was not a good guy, whether or not he was involved in Evelyn's disappearance. I really doubt he was a bad guy once, especially something so horrible.
 
Claudette said:
"Cecilia A. Lauer, 93, formerly of Stanley, passed away Thursday, March 14, 2002, at the Chippewa Manor, 222 Chapman Road, Chippewa Falls.

She was born Nov. 6, 1908, in the town of Delmar, Chippewa County, the daughter of John and Anna (Kroj) Ryba.

Cecilia married Bernard Lauer on June 14, 1932, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Boyd. They farmed in the area, then traveled and worked their way across the U.S., enjoying every minute of it. In 1956 they moved to Stevens Point and became partners in a roofing and siding business in which Ceil did the bookkeeping.

She had a very large garden in which she also raised horseradish and had a grape vine. Bernard and Ceil enjoyed making their own home brew and many kinds of wine."
Click to expand...

I wonder who submitted that obituary. It sounds like something that would have been provided by a family member who cared about her. I think we have to consider that she might have been a good person even if her husband may not have been (guilty of murder or not).
 
Sorry, I'm going to keep posting random thoughts, just a warning lol.

Interesting how her obit states that they moved and did the roofing/siding business in 1956. Evelyn disappeared in 1953 and Bernard was a suspect, living in the area and doing the roofing/siding business, in 1953. Is this just bad memory later down the road or did she purposely leave out those first few years when telling people her life stories down the road?
 
STANDREID said:
I wonder who submitted that obituary. It sounds like something that would have been provided by a family member who cared about her. I think we have to consider that she might have been a good person even if her husband may not have been.
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Definitely! At this point there is no indication that she was a bad person. My grandmother was a wonderful lady, married to a very evil, mean alcoholic. They were the same generation as Bernard and Cecilia. I really feel for the woman, if it was a similar situation. You couldn't do anything about it back then.
 
This is obviously Bernard but he is "unidentified" in this article. He was in La Crosse the weekend she disappeared.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VLIwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l00DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5560,4789083&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en


Besides Bernard, some other suspects:

Railroad worker from Deadwood, SD
- Was in Chicago Oct. 23 and Fond du Lac on Oct. 25. It is unclear where he was Oct. 24.
- Heavy drinker, to the point that it (supposedly) has affected his memory
- Cooperative
- Took a lie detector test, no idea on the outcome.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R9cjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0SMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5693,331864&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

- LE found out about him from a tipster (interesting)
- He was actually held in jail
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iUExAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2w8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=4819,1717861&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

- Passed lie detector.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=SNcjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0SMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6896,835049&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

- Story full of discrepencies.
- Apparently tipster was a friend who said they were traveling together and suspect feared going near La Crosse.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RtcjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0SMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4434,13174&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

- Had a revolver, apparently tested by crime lab
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lnBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Aj8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6105,510321&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

A 25 year old from Madison
- His own brother called him in as being a possible suspect (could also be revenge or something)
- Madison guy left his job Oct. 23 and disappeared. He had money coming in from the plant he worked at but did not return to collect it.
- Has a police record, S-offender, no address
- Description of him was similar to Mr. X's description
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=snUxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=SBAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3987,451091&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

31 year old from St. Paul, MN
- previously attacked two women in Madison
- Drove tan car with license plates similar to the one seen in the vicinity of Evelyn's disappearance
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cig_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=SlAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1707,5396430&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

- Apparently he was a black man and at one point they thought the hair found was from an African American
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i7kdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1yMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3253,5638788&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

30 year old Duluth Mechanic
- passed lie detector
- previously owned car matched description of car seen in the area
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PNBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vyMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5678,3133045&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en


Mound man
- Apparently there was a mound, thought to be a grave, discovered in the country in 1954. Based on vegetation it, person who found it judged it to be about a year old.
- A "local character", commited to Waupun for a morals offense (BERNARD?!??) spent a lot of time near it
- private investigators tried to blow it up with dynamite (seriously...?) but the ground was too frozen.
- I can't find the rest of this article to see what they found
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NAkzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sQ8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3617,1866378&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

Gerald W. Adams of Superior, WI
- Was being held in Superior on a morals charge
- Admitted to being in La Crosse the day Evelyn disappeared
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VNUeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vk0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7270,224470&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en



Never saw this before - a lake was dragged and a bobby pin with hair was pulled up
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7tUzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9OoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5066,4728561&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

Oh my gosh there is soooo much. Still looking, wanted to publish this.
 
Roy Mattson, Steeplejack
- Yep, steeplejack
- Was arrested for being drunk, mumbled in cell he knew something about her disappearance
- PS - what in THE WORLD is egg coffee, there is an ad on the side...ew...lived on WI/IL border my whole life, never heard of that.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2X9RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6452,3571516&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en

37 year old "very interesting subject"
- married but not living with wife
- frequently rides motorcycle
- once in a mental institution
- Numerous s-offenses in past
- Familiar with La Crosse area
- Left area shortley after Oct 24 and went to Denver and had no explanation as to why he was there - no friends or fam there and had never been there before

Boatswains also could use the same belt as steeplejacks. Lots of interesting info about the belt.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AR4aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oiYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7045,965067&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en


Interesting, I didn't know lie detector test weren't even admissible in the 50s.

"This is a dangerous use of a device that's not even recognized in the courts. The tests, even though allegedly on a voluntary basis, are equivalent to a beating."

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=imIaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7iQEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2796,3716187&dq=evelyn+hartley+suspect&hl=en
 
Thanks Claudette, that lot will keep me going for a while.

Egg coffee - Norwegian Egg Coffee - YouTube

My Grandfather was Norwegian but I hadn't heard of it either, sounds like the egg 'cleans' the water to make it clear.
 
This man got my attention. He was seen in a car with a 16 year old, easy to coerce a young lad into helping. I'd love to have the 25 year olds name so we can look at him more.

The 16 year old could still be alive, now in his mid 70's.

''A 25 year old from Madison
- His own brother called him in as being a possible suspect (could also be revenge or something)
- Madison guy left his job Oct. 23 and disappeared. He had money coming in from the plant he worked at but did not return to collect it.
- Has a police record, S-offender, no address
- Description of him was similar to Mr. X's description''
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...+suspect&hl=en
 
Robin Hood said:
This man got my attention. He was seen in a car with a 16 year old, easy to coerce a young lad into helping. I'd love to have the 25 year olds name so we can look at him more.

The 16 year old could still be alive, now in his mid 70's.

''A 25 year old from Madison
- His own brother called him in as being a possible suspect (could also be revenge or something)
- Madison guy left his job Oct. 23 and disappeared. He had money coming in from the plant he worked at but did not return to collect it.
- Has a police record, S-offender, no address
- Description of him was similar to Mr. X's description''
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id...+suspect&hl=en
Click to expand...

That one really stuck out to me too. Will see if I can find more info as well.
 
that link just pulls up a list of papers, no article. so, the guy was with a 16 year old girl-can someone explain that more?
 
scriptgirl said:
that link just pulls up a list of papers, no article. so, the guy was with a 16 year old girl-can someone explain that more?
Click to expand...

He was with a 16 year old boy - there's not much said:

"Relatives of the young man said he had a police record, including s offenses. He has no known address.

A check with persons living near Douglas, Minn., where the young man has a sister, revealed that he was seen there Monday [-ed. article was published Jan. 13] in a car believed to be a 1940 Dodge of a dark green, gray or blue color. A boy who appeared to be about 16, was in the car with him. He told friends he was going to Milwaukee to be inducted into the Army."

So it sounds like he was missing from the day before Evelyn went missing to when he was spotted with the 16 year old in January. It should be noted that Tuesday the authorities picked him off of a draftee bus. But who was this kid he was suddenly found with? Where were they? Sounds like an unsavory character and his family clearly agrees and think he's capable of kidnapping and murder.



(I hope it's clear what 's' is when I write it out, I am on a work computer so don't want to type it out even though it probably wouldn't matter)
 
I would like to note it is not uncommon for 16 year old boys to be scrawny even if fit. This is an example of another person that could go out through the basement window.

Would Evelyn be threatened by an unknown 16 year old boy show up at the house? I try to put myself into her position. It would depend, he would have to be slight and unassuming for me to not be threatened or cautious.
 
Here's the link again, hopefully it will work.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?i...AAIBAJ&pg=3987,451091&dq=evelyn+hartley&hl=en

So, he didn't work on the friday (payday) probably off having some fun, weekend started early. He wouldn't get his paycheck, couldn't really pick that up if he was skiving.

The draft (had to look it up)

''From 1948 until 1973, during both peacetime and periods of conflict, men were drafted to fill vacancies in the armed forces which could not be filled through voluntary means''

I was thinking the 25 year old knew he was being drafted and knew he would be off having his induction by Wed 28th Oct and would be well out of the area. ''Lets have some fun before I go'' might have been the thinking.
After Evelyn went missing the area would be swarming with LE, all cars being checked etc. A good way of avoiding this would be to be driving out of the area where nobody was checking cars and alibis etc.
I wonder what plant the guy worked at, what the business involved.
The fact that the harness maker remembered two young guys ordering the harnesses stikes similarities IMO.
The jacket was size 36'' so easily would fit a scrawny lad and it's possible he would wear size 9/10 shoes. The cops would assume anybody fitting the jacket wouldn't have big feet and yes a fair assumption until you throw a growing boy into the equation.

Will look at Georgia W.

.
 
For what it's worth

Two chaps looking for fun without money (no paycheck) burglary would be pretty high on the agenda IMO. Start with an open basement window and take it from there.
Somebody knew the area was affluent, new houses etc.
Find the connection, I'm sure there is one.
Also, the 25 year olds brother had more to back up his theory than just 'my bro probably did that, he's a sex offender' Somebody connected something, possibly his style of past offences, his MO or his bro connected him to the area.
We have to dig more, I tried searching for stuff in the news, reports of assaults etc, no luck.
 
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