MA MA - Joan Risch, 30, Lincoln, 24 Oct 1961

[Aleph]

I didn't realize that WS had a thread for this case. I have a relative who was one of Joan's neighbors, possibly the next door neighbor? She told me about the case years ago. Next time I see her, I'll ask her again what she remembers and what the scuttlebutt was at the time.


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[Sutton]

I didn't realize that WS had a thread for this case. I have a relative who was one of Joan's neighbors, possibly the next door neighbor? She told me about the case years ago. Next time I see her, I'll ask her again what she remembers and what the scuttlebutt was at the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Call her now!!! ;-)

A few of the neighbors' statements are included in the PDF:

http://www.truth-link.org/pdfs/imgall.pdf

Maybe your relative is one of them.

 

[Sutton]

Just looked at my previous posts and saw I referred to Joan as Jane. I don't know if I had a 'thought-slip' or if my phone corrected the name; no disrespect meant.

Joan had a cavity filled the morning of her disappearance and the dentist administered Xylocaine. I have never heard of that causing confusion or blood not to clot, etc.

 

[dogperson]

I found the following list of potential side effects with injectable xylocaine/lydocaine:
Common Side Effects of Lidocaine
High blood pressure
Swelling or swelling or redness of the skin at the site of injection if receiving lidocaine via injection into the veins
Constipation, nausea, and/or vomiting
Confusion, dizziness, headache, funny feeling or tingling in the toes, fingers, or hands
Serious Side Effects
Changes in heart rhythm
Methemoglobinemia, a very rare-yet-serious blood disorder caused by the blood not being able to carry as much oxygen as it normally would
A condition called malignant hyperthermia where body temperature can rise as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit with fever, sweating, racing, heartbeat, muscle pain
Seizures
Anaphylaxis, a sudden, severe, and life-threatening allergic reaction where your tongue and throat swell, your throat may close, you break out in hives, your blood drops to a dangerously low level, and you have trouble breathing
Rare Side Effects
Lidocaine may cause some unpredictable side effects including baldness and dizziness.


The first potential side effect that caught my eye was high blood pressure, because that can cause a pretty severe nose bleed.

The second potential side effect that concerns me is confusion.

If Joan suffered these two together it could make for a very bad outcome: heavy bleeding and confusion, perhaps leading her to wander off and meet with an accident or die as a result of blood loss, exposure to the elements, etc.

I wonder if she'd ever had that medication in the past, although a safe outcome in the past doesn't guarantee she couldn't have had a reaction this time. My father-in-law later in life had a life-threatening reaction to this type of medication while in the dentist's chair, despite having taken it or a similar drug in the past.

I got to thinking that maybe Joan was attempting to look up her dentist's number in the phone book to ask a question about how she was feeling, perhaps to see what she should do. Then maybe confusion took over and she couldn't complete the call or she may have decided to seek help from a neighbor instead but became disoriented.

 

[STANDREID]

Regarding the phone, perhaps the attacker was OCD or maybe the daughter put it there in all the excitement when she came home and just didn't remember.

I guess it's possible that the daughter was also the one who tried to clean up the blood and either didn't recall doing it because of the trauma or decided not to tell of doing it because she feared it might get her into so kind of trouble.

With the bloody unknown prints, I can't really believe that this was anything but an attack. Seeing the one picture, that is actually a lot of blood.

 

[Skigirl]

Whoever put the PDF together proposed a similar scenario:

Jane's son (2) was taking a nap. Jane went outside while her daughter (4) and the little Barker boy from across the street played in the driveway. Jane may have seen or heard someone in the house, so she quickly walked her daughter and the friend to the Barker driveway and hurried back to make sure her sleeping child was okay. Jane entered the house and was attacked.

I like this scenario.

I wondered if the attacker maybe hit Jane with the handle/mouthpiece of the phone. You can see in this photo that there is blood on the wall beside the roll of note paper, in the corner and underneath the phone. The telephone table, that must have sat beneath the phone, was knocked into the hallway. The items on it were all over the floor.

View attachment 85417

The alcohol made me suspicious as well. I think the husband's explanation is plausible. Does it sound believable to other posters?

But what happened after the attack--Jane wonders off and dies?

Also, this doesn't explain how the phone got there. The daughter may have done it, or Jane in a daze or the attacker wiped his prints and set it there.

Did anyone notice the child's book (a 'Golden Book' -- I had dozens of them as a child and would recognize one anywhere) on the floor in the kitchen? It's not visible in this picture but it is in one of the others in the same PDF. I guess the daughter hung around in there for a little while before seeking help?

 

[Skigirl]

Here's a little newspaper article that mentions Joan (Nattrass) in her college days. It lists her as being from New Rochelle, NY (the text identifier changed it to "Brochelle"): http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/14336717/

WILSON COLLEGE NAMES 7 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS . OHAMBERSBURG, (INS)—Winners of seven major Wilson College scholorships for 1948-49 have been announced by President Paul Swain Havens. ; > (Four Sarah Wilson scholorships •with an annual value of $500 and a. four-year value of $2,000 each were awarded to: Nina Gunzenhiauser of Scaxs- dale, N.Y.; Nancy McKinney of Pittsburgh; Joan Nattrass of New Bochelle, N. Y., and .Dorothy A. Smith of Linderhurst, N. Y. The Wilson . trustee scholorship, of the same value as a Sarah Wilson award, has been won by Marjorie L. Raab of Johnstown. Rosalinda Isip of Flushing, N. Y., and Jane C Miller of -Washington, D. C. are recipients of Wilson music scholorships. Each music grant carries a maximum yearly stipend of $300.

She is listed as New Rochelle class of 1948: http://old-friends.co/school.php?s=14504

 

[Skigirl]

There's a relatively new UID that was found in Fitchburg, MA, which is assume where her husband's employer (Fitchburg Paper Company) was located: https://identifyus.org/en/cases/13953 and I don't see Joan on the list of rule-outs. The body was wrapped in a sheet; estimated date of death is 2005-2015, but I don't know why those years since the remains were completely skeletonized. That person had 16-inch-long brown hair, which I think would be about shoulder length.

Wonder if someone sent her husband on a trip to NY that day so that he could be alone with Joan?

 

[Sutton]

Did anyone notice the child's book (a 'Golden Book' -- I had dozens of them as a child and would recognize one anywhere) on the floor in the kitchen? It's not visible in this picture but it is in one of the others in the same PDF. I guess the daughter hung around in there for a little while before seeking help?

Little Cottontail.

I thought it might have been sitting on the telephone table and went flying when the table was knocked over. But the daughter reading it while waiting there alone is a good explanation.





(These photos are part of the police file, but they are included in the PDF:
http://www.truth-link.org/pdfs/imgall.pdf)

 

[Skigirl]

I guess it's possible that the daughter was also the one who tried to clean up the blood and either didn't recall doing it because of the trauma or decided not to tell of doing it because she feared it might get her into so kind of trouble.

With the bloody unknown prints, I can't really believe that this was anything but an attack. Seeing the one picture, that is actually a lot of blood.

I agree that it looks like a lot of blood. It's hard for me to imagine a scenario like a miscarriage or other type of hemorrhage given the way it's smeared around. I would say it was either staged, which my gut says is pretty unlikely (and, if so, where'd she get the blood?) or there really was a struggle.

 

[fred&edna]

Confusing things:

1) Totally different date of birth (just a typo??)

A typed Massachusetts State Bureau of Investigation Bulletin shows Joan's birth date as: May 12, 1930.

The Charley Project lists date of birth as: August 4, 1931.


2) Was Frank Nattrass her uncle (her father's brother) as well as her foster father (they already shared the same last name)?? Or was she given "Nattrass" name by foster family?


The Charley Project profile states:

"Another account stated that her parents died in a strange fire in New Jersey in 1940, when Risch was nine years old; she was raised by an aunt and uncle after that."


Per the October 1993 Boston Herald report:

On Feb. 1, 1963, some 15 months after Joan Risch vanished, State Police detectives went to New Rochelle, N.Y., to question for a second time Joan Risch's late foster father, Frank E. Nattrass.


1940 Census (estimated birth year 1930):
http://www.archives.com/1940-census/joan-nattrass-ny-58493193

http://www.truth-link.org/pdfs/imgall.pdf

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/r/risch_joan.html

http://z13.invisionfree.com/PorchlightUSA/ar/t3026.htm

 

[liz b.]

Confusing things:

1) Totally different date of birth (just a typo??)

A typed Massachusetts State Bureau of Investigation Bulletin shows Joan's birth date as: May 12, 1930.

The Charley Project lists date of birth as: August 4, 1931.


2) Was Frank Nattrass her uncle (her father's brother) as well as her foster father (they already shared the same last name)?? Or was she given "Nattrass" name by foster family?


The Charley Project profile states:

"Another account stated that her parents died in a strange fire in New Jersey in 1940, when Risch was nine years old; she was raised by an aunt and uncle after that."


Per the October 1993 Boston Herald report:

On Feb. 1, 1963, some 15 months after Joan Risch vanished, State Police detectives went to New Rochelle, N.Y., to question for a second time Joan Risch's late foster father, Frank E. Nattrass.


1940 Census (estimated birth year 1930):
http://www.archives.com/1940-census/joan-nattrass-ny-58493193

http://www.truth-link.org/pdfs/imgall.pdf

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/r/risch_joan.html

http://z13.invisionfree.com/PorchlightUSA/ar/t3026.htm

I agree. Another thing : wonder why the fire that killed Joan's parents was described as " strange " ? was there some thinking that the fire was deliberately set ? jmo

 

[fred&edna]

Well, I found the answer to one of my own questions.... wow, the things I overlook!!

(Per the MA FBI Bulletin). She was born Joan Carolyn Bard, and adopted by the Nattrass family.

Also, Joan's aunt, Florence Bard, visited the Risch's just a few days before her disappearance.

But, look at these news reports:

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (May 13, 1932) mentions both Frank Nattrass AS WELL AS Joan and her mother (two separate items, same paper, same date)

Mr & Mrs Frank E Nattrass of New Rochelle NY and formerly of Brooklyn have taken up a permanent residence at the Standish Arms.

Mrs Harold S Bard and her daughter, Joan Carolyn Bard, of Winnetka Ill and formerly of Brooklyn, have terminated their visit with Mrs Bard's parents Mr & Mrs James B Aimer and have returned to their home in Winnetka.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/59984461/


And, another mention of Joan and her parents (April 23, 1932):

Mr. and Mrs. Harold S. Bard and their daughter, Joan Carolyn Bard of Winnetka, formerly of Brooklyn, are visiting Mrs. Bard's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James B. Aimer, 2610 Glenwood Road.


AND, the fire is reported here, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Feb 25, 1939:

"H.S.Bard and Wife Suffocate in Fire Former Boro Couple Trapped in N. J. Home Funeral Here Monday A double funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday In the Fair-child Chapel, 86 Lefferts Place, for Mr. and Mrs. Harold S. Bard, former well-known residents here, who were suffocated Thursday In a fire in their home in Midvale Road, Mountain Lakes, N. J. Mr. Bard had lived here for 30 years and was an active member of the Bible Class of St. Mark's M. E. Church. Mrs. Bard, who was the former Josephine Aimer, was a member of the same church. The couple were married there 15 years ago. Mr. Bard formerly was asso American Diplomat"

http://bklyn.newspapers.com/newspage/52772631/


In the link below, is the engagement announcement Alice Aimer (Joan's aunt) to marry Frank E Nattrass.

http://bklyn.newspapers.com/newspage/57564384/

 

[fred&edna]

Difficult to read, but I believe this article says a daughter was born to Frank and Alice Nattrass in 1929.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/59895420/

and, died a month or so later.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/59866049/


It seems they would have had a daughter of their own... about Joan's age... had she lived.

 

[Sutton]

Difficult to read, but I believe this article says a daughter was born to Frank and Alice Nattrass in 1929.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/59895420/

and, died a month or so later.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/59866049/


It seems they would have had a daughter of their own... about Joan's age... had she lived.

Josephine and Alice Aimer were sisters.

Josephine married Harold Bard and they had a daughter, Joan, in 1930 or 1931.

Alice married Frank Nattrass and they had a daughter in 1929. She only lived one month.

In 1939, Josephine and Harold suffocated in a strange house fire. The Nattrasses adopted Joan.

Is that correct?

Good job finding all this.

I wonder where Joan was the night of the fire. How did she escape? Was there ever a suggestion the fire was intentionally set?

 

[Sutton]

...Per the October 1993 Boston Herald report:

On Feb. 1, 1963, some 15 months after Joan Risch vanished, State Police detectives went to New Rochelle, N.Y., to question for a second time Joan Risch's late foster father, Frank E. Nattrass...

RSBM. Why? This is weird. Or maybe just the way it's worded. Wonder if there was ever anything suspicious about Frank Nattrass.

 

[fred&edna]

Josephine and Alice Aimer were sisters.

Josephine married Harold Bard and they had a daughter, Joan, in 1930 or 1931.

Alice married Frank Nattrass and they had a daughter in 1929. She only lived one month.

In 1939, Josephine and Harold suffocated in a strange house fire. The Nattrasses adopted Joan.

Is that correct?

Good job finding all this.

I wonder where Joan was the night of the fire. How did she escape? Was there ever a suggestion the fire was intentionally set?

Thank you for making sense out of all my confusing posts/news reports!


Joan was visiting her grandmother at the time of the fire.

http://bklyn.newspapers.com/clip/3892469/brooklyn_daily_eagle_25_february_1939/

 

[fred&edna]

RSBM. Why? This is weird. Or maybe just the way it's worded. Wonder if there was ever anything suspicious about Frank Nattrass.

Maybe suspicious... or maybe not??


"On Feb. 1, 1963, some 15 months after Joan Risch vanished, State Police detectives went to New Rochelle, N.Y., to question for a second time Joan Risch's late foster father, Frank E. Nattrass. The detectives told Nattrass that Risch told her husband, Martin, soon after their 1955 wedding she had been molested by her foster father.

However, the day after his wife disappeared, Martin Risch told investigators he knew of no troubles between Joan and members of her family. "

http://z13.invisionfree.com/PorchlightUSA/ar/t3026.htm


Both Mr Nattrass and Joan (before she married) worked in the publishing field in NY.

 

[fred&edna]

IMO, it seems odd that an elementary school in late 1930s would have fingerprinted students.


"... investigators found at a grammar school in New Rochelle, NY, a set of Mrs Risch's fingerprints taken when she was a schoolgirl."

http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper ...Y Herald Statesman 1962 Grayscale - 2459.pdf

 

[liz b.]

Well, I found the answer to one of my own questions.... wow, the things I overlook!!

(Per the MA FBI Bulletin). She was born Joan Carolyn Bard, and adopted by the Nattrass family.

Also, Joan's aunt, Florence Bard, visited the Risch's just a few days before her disappearance.

But, look at these news reports:

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (May 13, 1932) mentions both Frank Nattrass AS WELL AS Joan and her mother (two separate items, same paper, same date)

Mr & Mrs Frank E Nattrass of New Rochelle NY and formerly of Brooklyn have taken up a permanent residence at the Standish Arms.

Mrs Harold S Bard and her daughter, Joan Carolyn Bard, of Winnetka Ill and formerly of Brooklyn, have terminated their visit with Mrs Bard's parents Mr & Mrs James B Aimer and have returned to their home in Winnetka.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/59984461/


And, another mention of Joan and her parents (April 23, 1932):

Mr. and Mrs. Harold S. Bard and their daughter, Joan Carolyn Bard of Winnetka, formerly of Brooklyn, are visiting Mrs. Bard's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James B. Aimer, 2610 Glenwood Road.


AND, the fire is reported here, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Feb 25, 1939:

"H.S.Bard and Wife Suffocate in Fire Former Boro Couple Trapped in N. J. Home Funeral Here Monday A double funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday In the Fair-child Chapel, 86 Lefferts Place, for Mr. and Mrs. Harold S. Bard, former well-known residents here, who were suffocated Thursday In a fire in their home in Midvale Road, Mountain Lakes, N. J. Mr. Bard had lived here for 30 years and was an active member of the Bible Class of St. Mark's M. E. Church. Mrs. Bard, who was the former Josephine Aimer, was a member of the same church. The couple were married there 15 years ago. Mr. Bard formerly was asso American Diplomat"

http://bklyn.newspapers.com/newspage/52772631/


In the link below, is the engagement announcement Alice Aimer (Joan's aunt) to marry Frank E Nattrass.

http://bklyn.newspapers.com/newspage/57564384/

This article just mentions that the couple was "trapped in their home " and died by "suffocation " I'm guessing it was smoke inhalation. I guess...