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

[littlehorn]

Additionally, if the perp was known to Betsy, even in a passing sense, it wouldn't have caused any alarm when he came down the aisle towards her. If it was someone she had spoken to even briefly, or had a class with/seen around campus. The killer may also have engaged her in simple conversation -- "Hey, can you help me find this book?" etc. -- which isn't unusual.

 

[morf13]

I agree, there wasnt a struggle, a scream, etc. They say crimes of passion or rage are evident by many stab wounds. Here was a single one

 

[littlehorn]

Part of me thinks the killer may have been so scared with what he had done after the initial strike, that he fled without knowing he had killed her.

Imagine the build-up in his mind to killing this woman he was obsessed with (if that was truly the case) and then the let-down or fear that happened immediately after what was supposed to be a "culminating" event in the "relationship."

All he had to do then was fly under the radar for awhile, especially if he was just a peripheral character in her life -- "that guy who looks at me funny while I'm getting coffee in the lunchroom" -- who she likely never mentioned to friends.

 

[p7byrd]

I don't know how police arrived at the conclusion that a drug deal or homosexual/exhibitionist was to blame

The theory originated probably because of the two unidentified males that walked out together and have not been identified since.

I agree, though, this whole "she witnessed a homosexual act" theory doesn't make sense. Why would two homosexuals meeting for a sexual tryst bring a weapon?

 

[littlehorn]

The theory originated probably because of the two unidentified males that walked out together and have not been identified since.

I agree, though, this whole "she witnessed a homosexual act" theory doesn't make sense. Why would two homosexuals meeting for a sexual tryst bring a weapon?

The discovery of the half-empty soda can and pornographic magazines in a nearby study cubby, the presence of so much semen, and the known frequency of the stacks as a homosexual rendezvous were probably why they jumped to that conclusion, especially when it was initially reported that two different men were involved.

However, it's become pretty apparent that the "two men" were likely only one man, and that initial reports were flawed on that aspect. So even with the other evidence, the homosexual theory wears pretty thin. Besides, whenever there are two people involved in a murder plot, one typically is less involved/less dominant and cracks at some point even if the dominant figure does not.

 

[mycrote]

Someone claiming to be Richard Haefner's nephew posted a comment to a December True Crime Report article on February 9. The poster wondered if Richard Haefner had ever been named as a suspect, citing "eerie coincidences" to Mr. Haefner and details of this case. That name has taken up a considerable amount of real estate on this board so maybe the poster's comment is something to look into further.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Additionally, if the perp was known to Betsy, even in a passing sense, it wouldn't have caused any alarm when he came down the aisle towards her. If it was someone she had spoken to even briefly, or had a class with/seen around campus. The killer may also have engaged her in simple conversation -- "Hey, can you help me find this book?" etc. -- which isn't unusual.

First, I am overjoyed that you still are posting on this case, and interested.

As someone who went into the stacks, more than a decade later, I doubt that anyone that looked like a student would cause alarm.

Even in the 1980's, you would see students using the stacks, of either sex, and wouldn't give it a second thought.

I actually remember, while I was a student there, talking to other people about picking up hitchhikers. I would regard that as a potentially dangerous act.

Several of my companions said they would if it was a student. I asked if they meant someone they know from class or the dining hall. They said, no, if it someone that "looked like a student", they'd pick them up. I would take that to mean, dressed casually, late teens to mid-20's, maybe with a backpack.

I could understand how someone, in that age group, dressed appropriately (but maybe wearing a heavy coat, as it was winter), could walk right up to her, and not cause alarm. It might not cause anything more than a quick glance.

That's basically the student mindset.

 

[littlehorn]

First, I am overjoyed that you still are posting on this case, and interested.

As someone who went into the stacks, more than a decade later, I doubt that anyone that looked like a student would cause alarm.

Even in the 1980's, you would see students using the stacks, of either sex, and wouldn't give it a second thought.

I could understand how someone, in that age group, dressed appropriately (but maybe wearing a heavy coat, as it was winter), could walk right up to her, and not cause alarm. It might not cause anything more than a quick glance.

That's basically the student mindset.

Yep, I'm still digging. I agree, anyone who "looked like a student" would most likely not cause alarm. I refuse to believe this was a blitz attack, or that she was chased -- I think the killer probably walked up under false pretenses, maybe had a conversation, and then killed her.

Previous to this, aside from all the weirdness going on in the stacks, there was no real reason to be afraid of other people around your age group *gasp* USING THE LIBRARY on a college campus. LOL. And like you say, students have short memories...

 

[J. J. in Phila]

My guess is that, looking at the racial makeup of Penn State at the time, the murderer would be Caucasian. One of the staff noted that there were about 600 Black students at Penn State at the time. I would guess a bit more than half would be female (300).

Male, from the force needed to create the wound. He'd probably be student age.

A Black man in the stacks of Pattee Library, in 1969, would attract attention.

I'd guess the murderer was 17-30 year old white male.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I know that you've looked at the Dana Bailey case, at least in passing. The anniversary is coming up, and I hope to do two blogs on it, specifically about the role of Ray Gricar in the case.

I don't have any new information on the Bailey case.

 

[littlehorn]

Oddly enough, there was at least one black student there, or at least non-caucasian -- Joao Humberto Uafinda, the man who chased the student out of the library after hearing him say "Somebody better help that girl." He sensed something was up and chased the suspect until they got outside and the suspect lost him. He was interviewed extensively under hypnosis and ruled out as a suspect.

I think the Bailey case is likely to never be solved because it's my understanding that most of the main suspects have passed away, and the lack of evidence prevented police from ever making a solid case against any one person.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Oddly enough, there was at least one black student there, or at least non-caucasian -- Joao Humberto Uafinda, the man who chased the student out of the library after hearing him say "Somebody better help that girl." He sensed something was up and chased the suspect until they got outside and the suspect lost him. He was interviewed extensively under hypnosis and ruled out as a suspect.

I would bet that nearly everyone would remember seeing Mr. Uafinda. In a area with a large Black population, he might not have stood out at all. Penn State, late fall, 1969, yes.

I think the Bailey case is likely to never be solved because it's my understanding that most of the main suspects have passed away, and the lack of evidence prevented police from ever making a solid case against any one person.

I've read that.

I wanted to focus on some of the reason for the Bailey case stalling so quickly (and Mr. Gricar was part of the reason) and why the investigation into Mr. Gricar's own disappearance has also stalled.

 

[littlehorn]

I would bet that nearly everyone would remember seeing Mr. Uafinda. In a area with a large Black population, he might not have stood out at all. Penn State, late fall, 1969, yes.

He turned out to be very helpful and underwent hypnosis more than once in order to try to recall what he had seen.

I wanted to focus on some of the reason for the Bailey case stalling so quickly (and Mr. Gricar was part of the reason) and why the investigation into Mr. Gricar's own disappearance has also stalled.

That would be interesting. Gricar's release of the wrong victim picture was a massive DA Fail.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

The Bailey case probably represent worst failure of Mr. Gricar's nearly 20 year tenure as Centre County DA.

I would point out two things:

1. It was very early in his first term.

2. He seemed to have learned from his mistakes in that case, as did the State College Police.

What I want to look at is the release of information to the public in both cases. Some of the mistakes made by Mr. Gricar were made by his successor.

His successor never learned from them, and lost the next election. I'm hoping there will be a change with the recently elected DA.

 

[littlehorn]

The Bailey case probably represent worst failure of Mr. Gricar's nearly 20 year tenure as Centre County DA.

I would point out two things:

1. It was very early in his first term.

2. He seemed to have learned from his mistakes in that case, as did the State College Police.

What I want to look at is the release of information to the public in both cases. Some of the mistakes made by Mr. Gricar were made by his successor.

His successor never learned from them, and lost the next election. I'm hoping there will be a change with the recently elected DA.

On a side note, I really don't know what they are doing up there. They seem to have had a number of bumbling DA's. I am from York which is slightly larger, but at the same time, our DA's typically have not shown the type of inexperienced mistakes that the State College DA's have shown. I'm just surprised they don't get better people in that office. It seems like it would be a desirable job for someone.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

On a side note, I really don't know what they are doing up there. They seem to have had a number of bumbling DA's. I am from York which is slightly larger, but at the same time, our DA's typically have not shown the type of inexperienced mistakes that the State College DA's have shown. I'm just surprised they don't get better people in that office. It seems like it would be a desirable job for someone.

Inexperience, in Gricar's (RFG) case, and to some extent, in Madeira's (MTM) case as well.

They have had a string of good lawyers (including those two) as DA, but either people who didn't understand PR (RFG in this case) or were lousy administrators MTM. RFG did not make mistakes like this in future years; MTM got worse as his term went on.

If you look at MTM from July 1, 2008, you can trace his decline. I referred to it as his annus horribilis, except it lasted 18 months. Yet, in his entire career of about 19 years, he lost a grand total of one case that he personally argued.

RFG really did improve and became hyperaccurate when talking with the press. He actually encouraged Pam West to do a nonfiction book on the Aardsma case.

I actually blame much of the problems with the Gricar case as being a DA who didn't want to deal with it.

 

[littlehorn]

Inexperience, in Gricar's (RFG) case, and to some extent, in Madeira's (MTM) case as well.

They have had a string of good lawyers (including those two) as DA, but either people who didn't understand PR (RFG in this case) or were lousy administrators MTM. RFG did not make mistakes like this in future years; MTM got worse as his term went on.

If you look at MTM from July 1, 2008, you can trace his decline. I referred to it as his annus horribilis, except it lasted 18 months. Yet, in his entire career of about 19 years, he lost a grand total of one case that he personally argued.

RFG really did improve and became hyperaccurate when talking with the press. He actually encouraged Pam West to do a nonfiction book on the Aardsma case.

I actually blame much of the problems with the Gricar case as being a DA who didn't want to deal with it.

Makes sense. If Madeira didn't want to follow up on it, it would become a problem.

I do hope that the new DA is a bit better at it than the last two. If there ever is to be a resolution in the Aardsma case, the DA will likely play a role, and it would be a shame to have a rookie drop the ball and screw up all of the hard work of the State Police and others.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Makes sense. If Madeira didn't want to follow up on it, it would become a problem.

I do hope that the new DA is a bit better at it than the last two. If there ever is to be a resolution in the Aardsma case, the DA will likely play a role, and it would be a shame to have a rookie drop the ball and screw up all of the hard work of the State Police and others.

There wasn't any movement on Aardsma under MTM, and nothing officially under RFG, that I'm aware of, at least.

In all fairness, I would have been singing MTM's praises had there been.

There is a section on the Gricar blog on the investigation, where I looked at it chronologically. Basically, until about a month prior to MTM taking office, there was activity. He came in, he spoke to the police and looked at the file for 90 minutes (I'm not joking) and, on 1/10/06 said:

"From my overview of what I've seen from them today, they have done a great job looking into all information that has come in and exhausting every lead. I will say I was impressed by the level of the work that was done. They have left no stone unturned."

CDT 1/11/06 http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-12305573_ITM

It wasn't until he began to get bad press that he started to do things. He had a string of moronic comments like that. I chronicled them all.

I'll give the incumbent a bit more time.

 

[littlehorn]

bumping for Betsy.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Thank you.

They just solved a 1968 murder in Philadelphia, so there is hope.

http://cbs3.com/local/Candice.Clothier.Torresdale.2.1570298.html