I’m a lifelong La Crosse resident who’s had on and off interest in the case ever since my mom told me about it over 25 years ago. After reading all of your insightful posts, here are my thoughts based on the original Tribune articles I found and read. I did not read Sue Hessel's book.
1. The father had absolutely nothing to do with it. It doesn’t add up. What motive? Why then?
2. Ed Gein had nothing to do with it. It just seems too convenient to associate the notorious killer with her abduction. Not really his MO anyway.
3. The theory that two abductors were involved makes the most sense. I believe Evelyn did not know her abductors. One forced her through the basement window while the other pulled her from outside. Eyewitness account of two men and her.
4. A lot has been made about why they didn’t take her out the door, why the window? I believe after her three screams (confirmed by more than one neighbor), they probably thought that might have drawn attention to the house. Ducking out of a low window close the ground and out of sight makes sense in case anyone was looking at the house.
5. Remember, all doors and windows were locked except that one basement window which Rasmusen said was warped from rain and couldn’t be locked.
6. I believe one abductor let the other in through the front or side door. One had more mud on his shoes than the other. Two abductors also explains the discrepancy in shoe size and jacket size (items found on HWY 14). Just and FYI: Evelyn's underwear was found under a viaduct in south La Crosse on the way out to HWY 14, not on HWY 14 by the shoes.
7. I believe the items they wore were heavily used, and don’t give much credence to the steeplejack theory. That jacket could have been used by a previous owner who left the marks on the jacket. Same with the shoes, but the mud and prints match that by the Rasmusen house.
8. Because prints and pry marks were found on other neighboring houses, I believe they were burglars who, once seeing Evelyn through the window (which was in back of house), made other plans.
9. I think one perp stayed with Evelyn by the house where the blood pooled into the window well while the other perp ran to get the car to pick them up on Coulee Dr. (where the dogs got the last scent of her)
10. I give a lot of credence to the “La Farge” tapes. I read the transcripts of the conversation. Clyde “Tywee” Peterson was not boasting. He was very matter of fact, almost reluctant talking about it. Why talk that way if it’s just a hoax?
11. Does anyone know what they mean on the La Farge tapes when they talk about bringing Evelyn back to La Crosse?
12. I don’t understand why there is no DNA follow up with the La Farge suspects. This lead seemingly went nowhere. Why? What was ruled out? Very poor reporting/follow up on this important discovery.
Tidbits:
1. The Hartley’s moved to Oregon in 1960
2. The Rasmusen’s moved to 21[SUP]st[/SUP] St. shortly after the abduction and barred the basement windows.
3. The investigator La Crosse hired a year after the abduction (A.M. Josephson) committed suicide in Mpls not too long after being let go in La Crosse
4. I was having a drink at the Mirage Bar on the south side of La Crosse about ten years ago. I struck up a conversation with an older couple who said they lived on Hoeschler Dr. I asked, jokingly “Oh, do you live by the Rasmusen house?” Their reply “No, we live in the Rasmusen house” My jaw dropped.
She claims all the basement windows were resized smaller.
Summary:
I believe, based on the very limited information and evidence available, the most probable explanation is that the LaFarge trio lead by Clyde “Tywee” Peterson abducted and killed Evelyn Hartley. Hwy 14 is on the route where the shoes/jacket were found.There is a taped confession that to me doesn’t seem logically fabricated.I think she is buried somewhere in the vast farmland around Viola, south of La Farge. Bodies of the three deceased suspects should be exhumed and examined with any DNA from evidence gathered, which is still stored in the evidence shed in La Crosse.
