PA PA - Betsy Aardsma, 22, murdered in Pattee Library, Penn State, 29 Nov 1969

[littlehorn]

I was a little disappointed Dark Knight didn't get any major Academy Award nominations apart from Heath Ledger's performance (which was stunning). It's such a great film.

About the magazine, I went to the website and it has the February cover on the home page and says the site is currently under construction. If the article doesn't appear online I would love to order a copy. I'm hoping I can order one from the website because I am so anxious to read it.

Thanks for the update. Glad things are looking up for you too, littlehorn.

If anybody wants a copy of the article but can't get one from the State College Magazine people, let me know. I can send one or two copies out that I have. I don't have many or a lot of extra $cratch for postage right now but I know a few of you have really wanted to read this and it's worth reading.

Really points the finger at a guy who we uncovered who, while the police aren't thrilled about him as a suspect, has a lot of issues through his life which make him seem like a sort of career criminal and who has since passed away (died in 2002) so can be more easily investigated.

 

[littlehorn]

I was a little disappointed Dark Knight didn't get any major Academy Award nominations apart from Heath Ledger's performance (which was stunning). It's such a great film.

Yes, it really is a great movie. I'm not even usually a fan of superhero type movies...Most seem to be garbage. But this one was great! So many great performances.

 

[kline]

Cambria/MB: Things are going good. Divorce is plugging along. I'm feeling 100% better. Nothing going on with the case.

AMP: LOL, I wonder who was more surprised, you or them?

Gina: Yes, I was on Missing Pieces in July. Check out the transcript if you can, I believe Associated Content has it up. Enjoy! I haven't done any more with the case simply because I don't think there's much more to be done at this point, for me at least.

Hi Littlehorn!!
Glad to see you back!
I went through a divorce after 23 years of marriage 2 1/2 years ago.
The first year is surealism and vertigo but it does get better.
I still have days where I feel out of phase especially where my kids are concerned but as bad as things were the last five years we were together I wouldnt trade my worst day now for my best day then.
There are worse things then being alone Ive discovered.
And to paraphrase some movie I saw 'I may not be happy but I feel like at least im a candidate for it. at some point'.
Wishing you much healing Mojo my friend.
By the way after seeing the movie I thought Heath Ledger deserved every bit of the Hype.Stunning understated performance.

 

[littlehorn]

Hi Littlehorn!!
Glad to see you back!
I went through a divorce after 23 years of marriage 2 1/2 years ago.
The first year is surealism and vertigo but it does get better.
I still have days where I feel out of phase especially where my kids are concerned but as bad as things were the last five years we were together I wouldnt trade my worst day now for my best day then.
There are worse things then being alone Ive discovered.
And to paraphrase some movie I saw 'I may not be happy but I feel like at least im a candidate for it. at some point'.
Wishing you much healing Mojo my friend.
By the way after seeing the movie I thought Heath Ledger deserved every bit of the Hype.Stunning understated performance.

I only had 3 into this one and almost left after year one, but decided to stick it out.

I met an amazing woman shortly after I filed the paperwork and moved out. She's really a gift from God and she feels the same about me. We're taking it slow until her divorce is finalized as well. But she's something I never thought existed and it's like she was custom-ordered from the factory to my specifications and vice-versa for her.

Since I had no kids I am pretty much landing on my feet. I frontloaded my alone-time -- didn't get married 'til 27 so I'm completely at peace in my own skin and that's part of what has attracted me to this gal.

Thanks for the well wishes and continue to pray for me that this isn't just some crazy beautiful dream!

 

[kline]

I only had 3 into this one and almost left after year one, but decided to stick it out.

I met an amazing woman shortly after I filed the paperwork and moved out. She's really a gift from God and she feels the same about me. We're taking it slow until her divorce is finalized as well. But she's something I never thought existed and it's like she was custom-ordered from the factory to my specifications and vice-versa for her.

Since I had no kids I am pretty much landing on my feet. I frontloaded my alone-time -- didn't get married 'til 27 so I'm completely at peace in my own skin and that's part of what has attracted me to this gal.

Thanks for the well wishes and continue to pray for me that this isn't just some crazy beautiful dream!

That is awesome!Good for you!
Im still alone but your post gives me hope.
If its a dream dont wake up!

 

[MaryLiz]

I only had 3 into this one and almost left after year one, but decided to stick it out.

I met an amazing woman shortly after I filed the paperwork and moved out. She's really a gift from God and she feels the same about me. We're taking it slow until her divorce is finalized as well. But she's something I never thought existed and it's like she was custom-ordered from the factory to my specifications and vice-versa for her.

Since I had no kids I am pretty much landing on my feet. I frontloaded my alone-time -- didn't get married 'til 27 so I'm completely at peace in my own skin and that's part of what has attracted me to this gal.

Thanks for the well wishes and continue to pray for me that this isn't just some crazy beautiful dream!

That's great, littlehorn! I'm so happy for you and glad things are finally turning around for you. I wanted to tell you, I e-mailed the folks at the State College Magazine and they sent me a copy, free of charge! I just got it but haven't had time to read the article due to being swamped at work. I hope to read it and post on here what I thought of it by the weekend.

 

[littlehorn]

That's great, littlehorn! I'm so happy for you and glad things are finally turning around for you. I wanted to tell you, I e-mailed the folks at the State College Magazine and they sent me a copy, free of charge! I just got it but haven't had time to read the article due to being swamped at work. I hope to read it and post on here what I thought of it by the weekend.

Thanks for the well-wishes guys! You'll do OK Kline, I believe that. When you find the right one it will be really, really easy.

Glad to hear they sent you a copy! Please let us know what you think about it! I thought it was a very well-done article. Maybe the best one ever on the case.

 

[littlehorn]

Bumping for Betsy...

Those of you who are members of the Penn State Alumni Association, or who have friends or relatives who are, keep an eye out.

November 2009 there will be an article in the "Penn Stater" magazine about those of us who have tried unofficially to help out with the Aardsma case. The author is Vicki Glembocki, who was recently on Oprah about her current book about motherhood.

www.vickiglembocki.com

Should be interesting, spent about 45 mins. interviewing with her last night. I'm excited to read what she has to say!

40 years on 11/28/09.

 

[kline]

Bumping for Betsy...

Those of you who are members of the Penn State Alumni Association, or who have friends or relatives who are, keep an eye out.

November 2009 there will be an article in the "Penn Stater" magazine about those of us who have tried unofficially to help out with the Aardsma case. The author is Vicki Glembocki, who was recently on Oprah about her current book about motherhood.

www.vickiglembocki.com

Should be interesting, spent about 45 mins. interviewing with her last night. I'm excited to read what she has to say!

40 years on 11/28/09.

Sounds very interesting I wonder where we could obtain a copy or read it online once its published?
Good to see you post Littlehorn
Hope things are well with you.

 

[littlehorn]

I don't think they publish online, but you can email pennstater@psu.edu or write to:

The Penn Stater magazine
Hintz Family Alumni Center
University Park, PA 16802

Things are good. Thanks! This interview was out of the blue, LOL.

 

[MaryLiz]

I don't think they publish online, but you can email pennstater@psu.edu or write to:

The Penn Stater magazine
Hintz Family Alumni Center
University Park, PA 16802

Things are good. Thanks! This interview was out of the blue, LOL.

Thanks for the info on the upcoming article. I'll be sure to look out for it. I enjoyed the article in the January 2009 issue of State College Magazine.

Glad things are going well for you, littlehorn!. Thanks again for the update.

 

[littlehorn]

For those of you who were unable to get a copy of the January 2009 State College Magazine to read Sascha's excellent article, SCM has put it online now, here:

http://www.statecollegemagazine.com...ews]=50&tx_ttnews[backPid]=2&cHash=fe3b6029e7

Well worth a read if you are interested in the case.

 

[gaia227]

Nice article - thanks for posting.

The three things that stuck out to me where:

The semen found all over the area she was killed along with the *advertiser censored* - did she stumble across people engaged in homosexual behavior (as you mentioned in the thread about Lindy).

The attack on the girl in 1971 is compelling.

The spot of blood on the lightswitch - did they ever determine if it was actually Betsy's?

 

[littlehorn]

Nice article - thanks for posting.

The three things that stuck out to me where:

The semen found all over the area she was killed along with the *advertiser censored* - did she stumble across people engaged in homosexual behavior (as you mentioned in the thread about Lindy).

The attack on the girl in 1971 is compelling.

The spot of blood on the lightswitch - did they ever determine if it was actually Betsy's?

The semen was probably a long-term result of all the homosexuality down there...But that, and the presence of pornographic mags, possibly indicate a homosexual encounter taking place at that time.

The attack in 1971 is interesting. There was another attack around that time too, a guy followed a girl home to her apartment on N. Beaver St., tried to break in, she cockpunched him (apologies to the Onion movie, LOL) and he ran away, and was never caught.

IIRC the blood was Betsy's blood type, but it has been awhile, not sure if I'm REMEMBERING that, or IMAGINING that. The blood spot was never publicly discussed or released but fresh blood on the wall that day was likely hers...

 

[thefragile7393]

That is an awesome article!
However I don't agree that necessarily that all that..uh..stuff...on the walls was the result of encounters necessarily (although I wouldn't doubt it, but just not all of it) Men could have been down there alone...and if *advertiser censored* was there and it was the type of *advertiser censored* they were in to, well....
if it was very closeted at this time, then a lot of it could have come from that type of action as well.

 

[gaia227]

I meant that I thought the semen found all over the place is interesting because it indicates that area was obviously used by men to either look at *advertiser censored* alone or have sexual encounters with other men and the fact that Betsy happened to be killed in that spot may indicate that perhaps she came across a meeting someone didn't want her to witness. Also, the reports of the two men coming out and saying 'someone should help that girl' and left becomes a little more interesting. Could they have been the ones having a tryst she inadvertantly interupted? In the 60's homosexuality was enough to ruin your career, your school aspirations, your reputation. It was seen as a mental illness and I can easily see someone panicking and killing her so she didn't say anything.

That said, that scenario just doesn't feel right to me. Her murder seems more sinister than that. It seems pre-meditated. It was so quick and clean.

 

[thefragile7393]

I see what you're saying now Gaia. I too think this was pre-meditated and not just some off the wall hit. He was either INCREDIBLY lucky with the way it happed, how it seemed like nothing was wrong with her at first....or he was educated in anatomy or had done this before, IMO. It was just so bizarre.

 

[littlehorn]

While I have no doubt that a lot of the semen was from prior activities in the library stacks, the presence of the CURRENT *advertiser censored*, along with a half-empty soda can at a desk, does suggest that someone was there partaking in some expensive hardcore *advertiser censored* (as you will) and a coca-cola, and left in a hurry.

By inference, since the activities and whereabouts of everyone else in the core have been accounted for, the *advertiser censored* and soda likely belong to the killer, or perhaps some witness who, for reasons unknown, never came forward.

Most guys who are into *advertiser censored* seem to hold on to it -- hence the running gag in tv and film of the "*advertiser censored* collection" which is usually introduced when a guy is getting engaged or whatever and has to decide to get rid of his beloved *advertiser censored*, or face ridicule...I just have to think that if you had taken the trouble to get ahold of imported Dutch hardcore *advertiser censored* in as hick a town as State College in 1960s, you probably would value it and try to reclaim it.

If you were not guilty or not involved in anything unseemly, why not return later to retrieve it, even? In this case, at least an hour or two passed before anything was done to lock down the core...

It could be a red herring, but...It does provide the Occam's Razor "simplest explanation" for motive that has been missing from this case.

 

[littlehorn]

I see what you're saying now Gaia. I too think this was pre-meditated and not just some off the wall hit. He was either INCREDIBLY lucky with the way it happed, how it seemed like nothing was wrong with her at first....or he was educated in anatomy or had done this before, IMO. It was just so bizarre.

It has always struck me more as a disorganized blitz attack that happened to get lucky. He didn't even stick around to know if she was dead or not. Seems like a hotheaded move -- stab and run.

Even the choice of location seems like it wasn't chosen. Why kill someone in the most public of places on a college campus? A stalker or professional could easily have gained access to the dorms in those days of pre-security camera open campuses.

The lack of similar cases resulting in death leads me to believe it was a one-time thing, perhaps never spoken of again. Someone who truly loved doing this enough that they would know the exact spot to strike, would likely do it again, not kill once and then take up whitewater rafting.

Also, from the coroner's report and from talking to the coroner himself, I can tell you that there was an EXTREME luck factor here. Literally, had her heart been at a different beat in the cycle, she would likely have survived and been able to talk to her rescuers! The blade nicked the wall of her heart by a hair...1/100th of a second in either direction and she just would have had a very bad day.

Just my 0.02 FWIW.

 

[gaia227]

Well now I am fascilating back to it being an unexpected attack by one lucky killer after reading what you LH. It makes a lot of sense. I didn't remember the half can of soda left behind and i guess I didn't realize the *advertiser censored* left behind was a current magazine either.

In your opinion, LH do you think it was the killer who left the memorial(s). I know there were two but wasn't one of them in the wrong spot?