WI Cheri M Maliszewski, 19, Brenda L Erickson, 15, Stabbed to Death Adams County, WI, Sep 2, 1976

[Quoththeraven]

Cheri Marie Maliszewski, 19, and Brenda Lee Erickson, 15 were found stabbed to death near Big Flats/Town of Rome area in Adams County, WI. Both hung around together and were friends. Cheri had lived with Brenda for several months that summer in Almond, Portage County, WI. Maliszewski was found Oct 20, 1976 and Erickson was found Nov 21, 1976. Their badly decomposed bodies were found 2 miles apart near the Town of Rome, WI. Both lived in Portage County, WI right before their disappearances.

(Newspapers misspelled Cheri's first name as Sherri).

Neither have been mentioned in newspapers since 1979, 45 years ago, nor has law enforcement put out any updates on their cases since then. These are truly forgotten cold cases.

Both went missing around September 2, 1976. Maliszewski worked at Del Monte Corp, Plover, WI up until Aug 23, 1976 and was last seen at several locations in Portage County about the time Erickson disappeared. She had not been reported missing. She had left home in Trempealeau earlier in 1976 to work in a traveling carnival and was introduced to Erickson by other youth. Erickson was last seen at home Sept 1, 1976 and was reported missing the next day. They were both last seen in Portage County, WI and ended up in Adams County 30 miles away.

Sources: Newspapers.com
The Daily Tribune, Mon, Dec 6, 1976, page 1
Wisconsin State Journal, Fri, Dec 31, 1976, page 1
Portage Daily Register, Mon, Nov 22, 1976, page 1
Stevens Point Journal, Wed, May 25, 1977, page 1
Stevens Point Journal, Sat, Dec 18, 1976, page 1
Stevens Point Journal, Wed, Dec 1, 1976, page 1
Wisconsin State Journal, Tue, Oct 17, 1978, Page 21

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Big Flats, Adams County. Almond, Portage County.

 

[Teamir]

I'm interested in this one for sure. In the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune article 12/0/1976, it clarifies that Maliszewski lived in the home of Mr and Mrs Dickie Erickson, according to Portage County police. I would assume those were Brenda's parents. It also says the bodies were near Dyracuse Mound, and clothed in shirt and slacks. Brenda had a record of skipping school and repeated 7th grade the year prior. She also had a history of running away and/or leaving home for a day or two. The Erickson family had moved to Almond in April 1974, from Weyauwega. It's noted in the article that the Erickson's moved around alot, and that Dickie Erickson was a trucker for Minnesota firm and gone often from home. In early Nov 1974, a social worker was assigned to Brenda.
Cheri's mother was Cecil Maliszewski; Cherie graduated from Acadia High School in 1975.

Brenda's obituary was in the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune on 12/4/1976. She was born 2/7/1961 in Waupaca. It lists additional details about her relations.

The 12/2/1976 Wisconsin State Journal says that Cheri was part of a traveling picking crew for the canning company that summer.

Ah - interesting comment in this one. 5/25/1977 Steven's Point Journal. Brenda Erickson was "reported missing by her parents, Mr and Mrs Dick Erickson, Almond, on Sept 2, a day after he left home".

Are they saying, a day after HE, her father, left home to go back to trucking for that Minnesota firm? If Brenda had a history of leaving home for day or two, it's interesting that she was reported missing so quickly.

 

[Quoththeraven]

Ah - interesting comment in this one. 5/25/1977 Steven's Point Journal. Brenda Erickson was "reported missing by her parents, Mr and Mrs Dick Erickson, Almond, on Sept 2, a day after he left home".

Are they saying, a day after HE, her father, left home to go back to trucking for that Minnesota firm? If Brenda had a history of leaving home for day or two, it's interesting that she was reported missing so quickly.

I saw that yesterday. Almost certain that's a typo. (s)he left home. She missed the first day of school, Wed, Sep 1, which is probably why she was reported missing. It would be interesting to know what those locations were that Cheri was last seen at in Portage County.

 

[Quoththeraven]

A little more detailed map of the Dyracuse Mound area to put it in perspective. I also added a blowup of a map I made years ago showing many unsolved murders. It hink I put some new additions on it since then.

Dorothy Raczkowski (not shown) at red pin near bottom, Lolita C. Dion (1976) and Eleanor Roberts, all unsolved in the area of Big Flats.

I also scanned the Stevens Point Journal, Sep 2-9, 1976, nothing reported on 15 year old missing Brenda. Low priority, I guess.

 

[Quoththeraven]

The Winona Daily News Mon, Oct 25, 1976 Page 3 has a little more indepth information on Cheri's background. In May of 1976 she met some people who worked with the A & P Carnival during the Arcadia, WI Broiler Days celebration and around May 30 left town with them.​

Her last letter home stated she had been driving a combine in a bean field for the Del Monte Corp at Plainfield, WI and that she was laid off. Del Monte has a plant in Plover, WI, just south of Stevens Point. ​

Some weeks before (this article was written) she telephoned home from Stevens Point, WI. She was the daughter of Cecil and Betty Stencil Malizewski. She was originally from Trempealeau, WI before she moved in with Brenda and her parents, Mr and Mrs Dick Erickson, Route 1, Almond, WI.​

The Stevens Point Journal Wed, May 25, 1977 Page 1, stated the death of both girls was due to stabbing but no weapon was found. Cheri Maliszewski had stayed with Mr and Mrs Dick Erickson, Route 1, Almond, WI for several months sometime before she was found and was seen at several locations in Portage County about the time Brenda Erickson disappeared.​

The Stevens Point Journal Wed, Dec 01, 1976 Page 1 stated that Brenda Erickson's body was found (Nov 21) two miles west of where Cheri Maliszewski's body was found and two to three miles south of the Portage-Adam's County line in a wooded swampy area.​

 

[WantingAnswers]

My name is Johnny Shaw, I am the Nephew of Brenda Lee Erickson and for years my mom and I have been trying to get answers and have received little to none from the detectives working on the case last we heard that may be hard to get evidence from what they have cause someone left the coolers open. I have been doing my own researching and have found a few articles. I will attach them when done. My grandma never got justice and she has since passed on along with my grandfather and All I would like are answers or some sort of help trying to get this cased solved not only for my mom and for the family of Cheri. If someone could respond back with anything they may know I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!!!
Last attachment is last known photo of Brenda before she was found dead

 

[Quoththeraven]

My name is Johnny Shaw, I am the Nephew of Brenda Lee Erickson and for years my mom and I have been trying to get answers and have received little to none from the detectives working on the case last we heard that may be hard to get evidence from what they have cause someone left the coolers open. I have been doing my own researching and have found a few articles. I will attach them when done. My grandma never got justice and she has since passed on along with my grandfather and All I would like are answers or some sort of help trying to get this cased solved not only for my mom and for the family of Cheri. If someone could respond back with anything they may know I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!!!
Last attachment is last known photo of Brenda before she was found dead

Sorry for your loss. And for the other girl's family. I don't think that these cases will be reopened (or reviewed) unless new evidence is found. You yourself might generate new leads by posting queries to forums like those below. Maybe start them out with "Does anyone remember Brenda Lee Erickson who went to (high school) in (name of town) and then state what happened to them and where they were found, etc, etc. You could maybe get the LE agencies involved to review the evidence in the case (if there's any left) and make a public statement or even see if a local station might pick up the story. Channel 7 Wausau usually has podcasts about missing people. I think that the agencies involved should release more information, like, for instance, where in Portage County was Cheri Malizewski last seen? Where did she hang out? What groups/school activities was she involved in, etc, etc. Feel free to post your findings on Websleuths. At least it will become public knowlege and it might jog the memory of someone down the road who might read the post. Try to find out the precise locations where they were found and post that.

This is a pretty lame excuse for a LE agency to hide behind. IMO, they prob threw all the evidence out a long time ago and I think they're just lazy.

"last we heard that may be hard to get evidence from what they have cause someone left the coolers open."

The last news article at Newspapers.com that referenced both victims was in 2003, 22 years ago. Maliszewski was misspelled.

 

[Quoththeraven]

My name is Johnny Shaw, I am the Nephew of Brenda Lee Erickson and for years my mom and I have been trying to get answers and have received little to none from the detectives working on the case last we heard that may be hard to get evidence from what they have cause someone left the coolers open. I have been doing my own researching and have found a few articles. I will attach them when done. My grandma never got justice and she has since passed on along with my grandfather and All I would like are answers or some sort of help trying to get this cased solved not only for my mom and for the family of Cheri. If someone could respond back with anything they may know I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!!!
Last attachment is last known photo of Brenda before she was found dead

The Daily Tribune Wed, Sep 01, 1976 Page 12 shows that the Clyde Beaty-Cole Brothers circus was at the Wisconsin Rapids Industrial Park grounds Tuesday, Aug 31. I wonder if Brenda skipped school the next day to go there with Cheri? I wonder how they would have gotten there. Did Cheri have a vehicle? How did Brenda usually get to school? By bus? Was Cheri still living with Brenda at the time they went missing? Was she going to drive Brenda to school? Since she never showed up at school Wednesday, September 1, did she even get on the bus that day?

 

[Quoththeraven]

Lolita C. Dion, another forgotten murder in Wood/Adams County area. The Daily Tribune Mon, Apr 26, 1976 ·Page 1 (Newspapers.com)

I suppose because they never revealed the cause of death, it wasn't an accident. She was found Dec 6, 1975. I wonder if they questioned the suspect in her death for the deaths of Brenda and Cheri?