OH OH- Mary Petry, 20, & William J. Sproat, 22, bound w. metal coat hangers, S.A., stabbed & bludgeoned w, bowling ball, OSU, 28 Feb '70, *DNA, REWARD*
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Finding out who killed 20-year-old Mary Petry and her 22-year-old boyfriend William Sproat at a home near Ohio State University's campus in 1970 would only bring small satisfaction to Mary's twin sister, Martha.
"I really would like to know why," Martha Petry said. "That's much more important than any punishment."
Martha Petry said she still has letters that her twin wrote her, every line crammed with information about Sproat, from what restaurant they had eaten at to how the pair enjoyed speaking in French to each other.
Petry said she and Sproat's sister both believe the person who killed their siblings may have known them because of how violent the crime was. The attempt to use new technology to try and find answers about what happened is a blessing for Petry.
"This is not about justice, it's more about mercy," she said. "The mercy is knowing the mystery. It has always been there, but it wasn't something that I could dig into because it had such an emotional weight to it, but during COVID, after I had retired, there was a new sense of asking why."
Should the evidence at the scene yield a potential genealogical match, Petry said she knows it may not give her the answers she's looking for about why her sister had to die.
"My universe is not one that's about an eye for an eye," Petry said. "There may be a reason. There may be understanding of something that I don't understand."
"I really would like to know why," Martha Petry said. "That's much more important than any punishment."
Martha Petry said she still has letters that her twin wrote her, every line crammed with information about Sproat, from what restaurant they had eaten at to how the pair enjoyed speaking in French to each other.
Petry said she and Sproat's sister both believe the person who killed their siblings may have known them because of how violent the crime was. The attempt to use new technology to try and find answers about what happened is a blessing for Petry.
"This is not about justice, it's more about mercy," she said. "The mercy is knowing the mystery. It has always been there, but it wasn't something that I could dig into because it had such an emotional weight to it, but during COVID, after I had retired, there was a new sense of asking why."
Should the evidence at the scene yield a potential genealogical match, Petry said she knows it may not give her the answers she's looking for about why her sister had to die.
"My universe is not one that's about an eye for an eye," Petry said. "There may be a reason. There may be understanding of something that I don't understand."
Forensic genealogy breathing new life into unsolved Columbus police homicide cases
Columbus police have identified several dozen unsolved homicides that may be able to be solved with the use of genetic genealogy, an emerging technology.
www.dispatch.com
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The tragedy of Bill and Mary: an Ohio State cold case, revisited
The Independent Student Voice of Ohio State
www.thelantern.com
''William “Bill” Sproat, a graduate student at Ohio State, and Mary Petry, a third-year at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati — both introverted, devout Catholics — first met through a mutual friend. Their shared love and practice of French culture took care of the rest.''
"The circumstances of the crime were especially shocking and confusing to the Sproat family, Loeliger said, because of Bill Sproat’s gentle nature.
“He was not a fighter kind of person,” Loeliger said. “He was quiet but fun-loving, very conscientious about his studies, yet not nerdy,” Loeliger said''.
“All of my life I tried to be different from Mary, so bright, so brilliant, so intellectual,” Martha Petry said.
''The fact that Mary Petry was sexually assaulted, according to the police report, not only pointed to a possible motive but frightened women in the area.''
''According to the podcast, preserved DNA from the 1970 crime scene is currently awaiting analysis through an investigative genetic genealogy lab until two other suspects can be ruled out.''
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by Kurt Ludlow, September 27th 2024 rbbm
Cold case breakthrough? DNA could reveal who killed Mary and Bill in 1970
A haunting cold case that has puzzled Columbus investigators and shattered families for over five decades, could be solved through new DNA technology.
cwcolumbus.com
On a cold February night in 1970, 20-year-old Mary Petry and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Bill Sproat, were discovered murdered in Bill's off-campus apartment on West 8th Avenue in Columbus. The autopsies revealed the savagery of the crime -- Sproat stabbed more than 20 times, his wrists bound to his ankles with wire hangers, and a gag in his mouth. Petry was stabbed more than a dozen times, her skull crushed with a bowling ball, and she'd been sexually assaulted. Bloody fingerprints were found at the scene.''
''The night of the murders, Martha experienced a chilling premonition while alone in her dorm room in Minnesota.
"Well you know some twins have ESP," she said. "I woke up choking to death, and I remember going to the corner sink in our room and I can remember feeling like, 'I can't breathe, I can't breathe."
'Little did she know, her twin sister Mary was taking her last breaths hundreds of miles away.'
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From your link:
Finally, Columbus PD is making moves towards solving cases via genetic genealogy and DNA testing. Let's hope and pray they finally find the killer.
Finally, Columbus PD is making moves towards solving cases via genetic genealogy and DNA testing. Let's hope and pray they finally find the killer.
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It was a crime so brutal, so terrifying, so violent and cold-blooded, newspaper headlines couldn't begin to capture the viciousness. A haunting cold case that has puzzled Columbus investigators and shattered families for more than five decades could be solved through new DNA technology.
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Any updates?
William Joseph "Bill" Sproat, Jr. age 22, murdered 28 February 1970.
LINK:
William Joseph Sproat Jr. (1947-1970) - Find a...
Murdered along with his girlfriend Mary Jane Petry at his college apartment in Columbus, Ohio. Their murders remain unsolved to this day.
www.findagrave.com
Mary Jane Petry, age 20, Murdered 28 February 1970.
LINK:
While there are a number of possible scenarios to consider in this case, something not mentioned much is that Mary Jane Petry had just arrived in Columbus that evening, probably from Cincinnati, Ohio. She was a student at the College of Mount St. Joseph, located in Delhi Township, in SW Cincinnati, and would have traveled through or near Grove City, Ohio on her way to Columbus.
All of the news articles, etc. indicate that she was from Portsmouth, Ohio, but it is not likely she traveled to Columbus from there, as the main road (US 23) would not have gone through Grove City.
One news article mentions that she traveled to Columbus "with friends". Since the attacks on Bill and Mary Jane probably occurred shortly after her arrival at his apartment, could it be that the killer followed and/or accompanied her from Cincinnati?
LINK:
en.wikipedia.org
All of the news articles, etc. indicate that she was from Portsmouth, Ohio, but it is not likely she traveled to Columbus from there, as the main road (US 23) would not have gone through Grove City.
One news article mentions that she traveled to Columbus "with friends". Since the attacks on Bill and Mary Jane probably occurred shortly after her arrival at his apartment, could it be that the killer followed and/or accompanied her from Cincinnati?
LINK:
Mount St. Joseph University - Wikipedia
View attachment 432654
July 28, 2009
''On Feb. 28, 1970, the bodies of William Sproat and his girlfriend, Mary Petry, were discovered inside an apartment on West Eighth Avenue.''
$5K Reward Offered In Double Slaying Near OSU Campus
Investigators say there's reason to believe someone has information about the 1970 slaying of a couple. Find out why.www.10tv.com
''Sproat, 23, an Ohio State graduate student, and Petry, 20, were both stabbed multiple times and bound with metal coat hangers, police said.
A bowling ball was also used to smash the skull of one of the victims, Hogan reported.
The couple's bodies were discovered by Sproat's roommate.
During the course of the investigation, police were able to recover physical and DNA evidence from the crime scene.''
Mar. 3, 2020
Photos | Cold case: 1970 slayings of Mary Petry, William Sproat
Photos | Cold case: 1970 slayings of Mary Petry, William Sproatwww.dispatch.com
![These five coat hangers and a 12-inch knife were used in the slayings of Mary Petry and William Sproat. Columbus police displayed them to the media on March 3, 1970, two days after the couple’s bodies were found. [Dispatch file photo]](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gannett-cdn.com%2Fauthoring%2F2020%2F03%2F03%2FNCOD%2Fghows_image-OH-0b5e9589-1340-43e2-a579-12273d44fab4.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D592%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D70&hash=12fc036de1a08934c4b424027255fae2 "These five coat hangers and a 12-inch knife were used in the slayings of Mary Petry and William Sproat. Columbus police displayed them to the media on March 3, 1970, two days after the couple’s bodies were found. [Dispatch file photo]")
These five coat hangers and a 12-inch knife were used in the slayings of Mary Petry and William Sproat. Columbus police displayed them to the media on March 3, 1970, two days after the couple’s bodies were found. [Dispatch file photo]
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The building at 178 West 8th Avenue appears to still house rental apartments, as seen in this Google StreetView photo from July 2019.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Columbus police released this wanted poster in the slayings of Mary Petry and William Sproat.
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Where did Columbus Police come up with a composite sketch of a suspect? There is no mention of an eyewitness or of any description of a suspect.
The photo of coat hangers used to tie up a victim, the kitchen knife, and mention of a bowling ball used as a weapon seems to indicate a disorganized and unprepared perpetrator.
There should have been fingerprints and probably blood of the killer left at the scene. If he didn't think to bring something to tie up his victims and didn't bring his own weapons, then he probably also left his gloves at home.
The kitchen knife is a rather cheap and flimsy one. I can tell from the location of the rivets that the knife blank doesn't go all the way to the back of the handle. Stabbing someone over 20 times with it would almost guarantee that the killer would have cut his own hand, since there is no hilt and the victim's blood would have made the handle quite slippery. A dull knife would stick causing the hand to slide forward on to the blade, cutting his hand.
Thus, with fingerprints and DNA, the police could have the evidence they need.
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The Lantern, 3 March 1970 rbbm.
The Lantern 3 March 1970 — Ohio State University Newspaper Archives
Ohio State University Newspaper Archives
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Photos | Cold case: 1970 slayings of Mary Petry, William Sproat
Photos | Cold case: 1970 slayings of Mary Petry, William Sproat
www.dispatch.com
Noting that the eyes (and acne), of this suspected rapist below, looks similar to the eyes of the suspect in sketch above. fwiw, speculation.
Photos: The infamous Billy Milligan
Columbus native Billy Milligan attracted national attention when he was found not guilty by reason of insanity based on the claim that he had multiple personalities.
www.dispatch.com
''Billy Milligan (born Feb. 14, 1955, in Miami; died Dec. 12, 2014, in Columbus) was initially charged with the kidnapping, rape and robbery of three women in the Ohio State University area in 1977. He attracted national attention when he was later found not guilty by reason of insanity based on the claim that he had multiple personalities.''
View attachment 600733Photos | Cold case: 1970 slayings of Mary Petry, William Sproat
Photos | Cold case: 1970 slayings of Mary Petry, William Sproatwww.dispatch.com
Noting that the eyes (and acne), of this suspected rapist below, looks similar to the eyes of the suspect in sketch above. fwiw, speculation.
2018Photos: The infamous Billy Milligan
Columbus native Billy Milligan attracted national attention when he was found not guilty by reason of insanity based on the claim that he had multiple personalities.www.dispatch.com
''Billy Milligan (born Feb. 14, 1955, in Miami; died Dec. 12, 2014, in Columbus) was initially charged with the kidnapping, rape and robbery of three women in the Ohio State University area in 1977. He attracted national attention when he was later found not guilty by reason of insanity based on the claim that he had multiple personalities.''
View attachment 600732
This guy would have only been 15 years old when Bill and Mary were murdered. Was he in the area at the time?
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Not likely, but possible? speculation.
The life of Billy Milligan
The life of Billy Milligan 1955 Feb. 14: William Stanley Morrison is born in Miami.
www.dispatch.com
The life of Billy Milligan
The life of Billy Milligan 1955 Feb. 14: William Stanley Morrison is born in Miami.
www.dispatch.com
''1964
April: Psychiatrists say Chalmer Milligan first sodomizes Billy, 9, on a family farm, causing Billy's personality to splinter.1970
March: Billy is suspended from Stanberry Junior High School and referred to Fairfield County Clinic for Guidance and Mental Health.March 23: Chalmer and Dorothy commit Billy to the children's unit of Columbus State Hospital.''
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I wonder if there is any significance to Mary being bashed with a bowling ball (so brutal!) but not Bill, presumably the stronger of the two.
It is difficult to understand the rationale and actions of a brutal killer.
This one seems to be a disorganized sort whose only goal was to kill Bill and Mary any way possible.
It is also a bit confusing, from the various accounts, to determine the sequence of events and the actual wounds to each victim.
i don't know if this would help find a perp but i stumbled across a 1964 student newspaper report about several s/a's, murders around that time period. i don't know how to search the lantern for attacks closer to feb 1970 but maybe the info... names, dates, etc... could lead to those who might have been apprehended for similar crimes in the time frame... and maybe there's an arrest photo that resembles the sketch... assuming the petry/sproat killer had been active in the area. this would be a needle/haystack effort but i thought i'd mention it for anyone who has better searching skills.
osupublicationarchives.osu.edu
also, i keep thinking if these columbus area 40 yr old cases mentioned below can be solved, this case is also solvable.
qfm96.com
The Lantern 26 October 1964 — Ohio State University Newspaper Archives
Ohio State University Newspaper Archives
also, i keep thinking if these columbus area 40 yr old cases mentioned below can be solved, this case is also solvable.
DNA solves 40-year-old murders of teens - QFM96
Science, dogged detective work and a tip prompted by a media report helped solve the murders of two central Ohio teenagers that happened nearly a half-century ago.
qfm96.com
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Thanks for the links, within one of them is this case below (started thread) which reminded me somewhat of the one on this thread.i don't know if this would help find a perp but i stumbled across a 1964 student newspaper report about several s/a's, murders around that time period. i don't know how to search the lantern for attacks closer to feb 1970 but maybe the info... names, dates, etc... could lead to those who might have been apprehended for similar crimes in the time frame... and maybe there's an arrest photo that resembles the sketch... assuming the petry/sproat killer had been active in the area. this would be a needle/haystack effort but i thought i'd mention it for anyone who has better searching skills.
The Lantern 26 October 1964 — Ohio State University Newspaper Archives
Ohio State University Newspaper Archives
also, i keep thinking if these columbus area 40 yr old cases mentioned below can be solved, this case is also solvable.
DNA solves 40-year-old murders of teens - QFM96
Science, dogged detective work and a tip prompted by a media report helped solve the murders of two central Ohio teenagers that happened nearly a half-century ago.
Religious Catholic girl, a student, who was not raped, but SA and shot several times in the face(Mary Jane's head pulverized with a bowling ball).
2014 rbbm.
''Detectives have been hunting him since 1962, when he shot the 19-year-old business school student in the face and left her body in a garage near the Ohio State campus. Thanks to good evidence storage and advances in technology, police have the key to his identity. Now they just have to find him''
''The palms of her hands were dirty, but her short nails were clean. There was black dust on the soles of both her feet, even though her left shoe was still in place. Both her girdle and underwear had been ripped, and her garter had been torn off. Her slip had been...
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