IL IL - Michael Mansfield, 19, Rolling Meadows, 31 Dec 1975

[CatFancier]

The family of a Rolling Meadows man who disappeared in 1975 may get some closure more than 35 years later after a Joliet man serving time in state prison confessed to his murder -- and another killing -- on his deathbed.

Michael Mansfield, a 19-year-old college student from Rolling Meadows, was home on break on Dec. 31, 1975, when he left his home and was never seen again, a release from Rolling Meadows police said.

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/new...o-missing-mans-murder-after-35-years-20111028

 

[Winward1]

Man, his killer was pure evil:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/847923...eathbed-confesses-to-missing-mans-murder.html

 

[Cubby]

Michael's Charley Project page:

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/mansfield_michael.html

 

[Cubby]

The link in the OP no longer works. Here is a working link:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/crime/...eathbed-confesses-to-missing-mans-murder.html

 

[Cubby]

Investigation of human remains at a home in Joliet that may belong to Michael Mansfield. This was a deathbed confession from the person whow committed the murder.

Oddly enough, the deathbed confession occurred in 2011 and the home being searched, which was formerly owned by a relative of the perp has been vacant for two years. Really makes me wonder why this search didn't happen two years ago.

Praying for Michael's family as they await answers.


http://www.wjol.com/investigation-human-remains-joliet-home/

 

[Cubby]

What isn't clear in the article is whether the perp told authorities the location of Michael's body. It seems more likely he didn't fess up a location or they would have searched sooner.

 

[meanmaryjean]

This whole convoluted mess began in Lincoln, IL during the time my husband and I were in college there (Not at Lincoln College, but the Bible college on the other side of town). Four people dead because the perp was shoplifting! The misery he caused.....

 

[Cubby]

This article has a bit more detailed information about the search:

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/...cold-case-at-joliet-area-home/aen5hxe/?page=1

 

[DangleBerries]

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170125/news/170129237/

Rolling Meadows police are searching near a home northwest of Joliet for the remains of a local teenager who went missing more than 40 years after leaving his home to visit a friend.

Police said their investigation into the 1975 disappearance of Michael Mansfield led detectives to a residence on Barber Lane in unincorporated Will County, where they are looking for remains or other evidence of his whereabouts.

 

[JerseyGirl]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/subur...eadows-missing-person-met-20170126-story.html

 

[OkieGranny]

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/no-remains-found-in-will-county-search-for-missing-man/

A search of an unincorporated Will County property for clues in the disappearance of a man who went missing in 1975 did not turn up any human remains...

No human remains were located, but additional leads were developed and the investigation remains active, police said.

 

[JerseyGirl]

A search of an unincorporated Will County property for clues did not turn up any human remains.

http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/no-remains-found-in-will-county-search-for-missing-man/

 

[Cubby]

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20170131/news/170139764/

Continued prayers one day Michael can be found and properly laid to rest.

 

[namstache]

Michael Mansfield has been officially excluded as Gacy victim John Doe 10

 

[Richard]

Michael D. Mansfield
Missing since December 31, 1975 from Lincoln, Cook Co, Illinois.
Classification: Involuntary

Vital Statistics

• Age at Time of Disappearance: 19 years old

• Height and Weight: 5'8 and 135lbs

• Distinguishing Characteristics: Brown, shoulder length hair, he had a mustache extending to the ends of his mouth; Blue eyes Scar on the bridge of his nose

• Clothing: A tan buckskin coat with fleece collor and a brown print shirt, light brown pants or blue jeans and white tennis shoes.

• Dentals: Available

• DNA: Available

• 
  Circumstances of Disappearance
  
  Michael Mansfield, a Lincoln College student, was last seen on December 31, 1975. Around 14.00 on New Year's Eve 1975, he received a phone call, put on his coat and walked out the door, telling his parents he was visiting a friend in nearby Arlington Heights.
  
  This was six days before he was to testify against Russell Smrekar, a former Lincoln College student, who was convicted of murdering Robin and Jay Fry and is serving 200 to 600 years at Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet.
  
  Jay Fry was a clerk who saw Smrekar steal two steaks from a local grocery store, and he was prepared to testify at Smrekar’s shoplifting trial.
  
  Smrekar is also believed to be responsible for the disappearance of Ruth Martin who was to be a minor witness in the trial. Both Martin and Mansfield are presumed to have been killed by Smrekar, although their bodies were never found.
  
  In 2004, a book titled "Process Of Elimination: A Midwestern Murder Mystery" was released by author Bonnie J. Thompson. In it, she writes about the unsolved disappearances of Mansfield and Martin.
  
  Russell Smrekar died on October 26, 2011 of cancer at the at Menard Correctional Center. He gave a deathbed confession to murdering Michael Mansfield to police. Michael's body has not been recovered Peoria Journal Star.
  
  Investigators
  If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
  
  Rolling Meadows Police Department
  Detective Phil Barrile
  (847) 255-2416
  
  Agency Case Number: 76-0013L
  
  Source Information:
  Process of Elimination
  Daily Herald
  NamUs MP #12723
  
  The Doe Network Case File 1777DMIL ​

 

[Gardener1850]

DNA may help solve the 42-year old mystery of man found frozen in a Berks County cave

Friday August 9, 2019 10:18 PM

The world may soon know the name of a man whose frozen body was discovered 42 years ago by teenage hikers in a cave along the Appalachian Trail in Albany Township.

On Monday, authorities exhumed the body of the unknown man, who was buried in lot 55 of the potter's field along Cedar Top Road in Cumru Township. The body was buried there Jan. 27, 1977, 11 days and one autopsy after the young hikers discovered at the Pinnacle, a well-known vista along the trail.

Based on dental records, police believe the unidentified man's DNA could match that of one of two persons who went missing in 1975.

Paul Gregory Egan of Plantation, Fla., was last seen on July 21, 1975, according to documents filed in Berks County court.

Michale D. Mansfield of Rolling Meadows, Ill., was last seen on Dec. 31, 1975.

DNA may help solve the 42-year old mystery of man found frozen in a Berks County cave

UID Thread: PA - PA - Albany Twp, WhtMale UP5661, 25-35, in cave at The Pinnacle, Jan'77

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Michael D. Mansfield – The Charley Project

 

[John/Jane Doe]

1777DMIL - Michael D. Mansfield

 

[Caring1]

Bump for Michael

 

[Pennysmom1]

Michael is still listed as missing

Missing Person / NamUs #MP12723

View NamUs missing person case MP12723 for Michael D Mansfield missing from Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Date of last contact: Dec 31, 1975. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

Michael D. Mansfield – The Charley Project

<<Mansfield was last seen in Rolling Meadows, Illinois on December 31, 1975. He was a student at Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois at the time of his disappearance, and was home for the Christmas holidays. He was staying with his parents in the 3900 block of Gull Court.

At 2:00 p.m. on the day of his disappearance, Mansfield got a phone call and left a short time later, saying he was going to visit a friend in Arlington Heights, Illinois. He left behind his wallet. He never returned and has never been heard from again.

Mansfield disappeared six days before he was scheduled to testify against Russell Smrekar, his former roommate. Smrekar had also been a student at Lincoln College. He was accused of stealing a guitar and 80 record albums from a girls' dormitory room and charged with burglary and petty theft.>>

<<A photograph of Smrekar is posted with this case summary. In October 2011, shortly before he died in prison at the age of 56, he confessed to Mansfield and Martin's murders. No information has been provided about the location of Mansfield's body, but, investigators announced that, in light of Smrekar's confession, they were closing Martin and Mansfield's cases.

Mansfield is a 1974 graduate of Rolling Meadows High School. At the time of his disappearance, he frequented record stores at Woodfield Shopping Center and in Arlington Heights and Chicago, Illinois. He made good grades at college, He reportedly worked at the Lincoln College radio station and dreamed of a job as a radio station music director.

Three of Mansfield's siblings live in the Chicago area and his parents live in Florida. His family held a memorial service for him in about 1998. His body has never been found.>>