IN IN- Lynda McDaniel, 23, teacher, found nude & kneeling over her bathtub, hands bound in Xmas red ribbon, ''staged as a drowning'', 1 Dec, '77 *DNA*

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Indiana Unsolved: Lynda McDaniel, killed in 1977 by an attacker dubbed 'The Christmas Ribbon Killer' ​

2014 rbbm By Diana Penner
''Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Sgt. Bill Carter is delving back into the case, hoping to have certain items of evidence collected from McDaniel's apartment tested for potential DNA and fingerprint evidence.

During the evening of Nov. 30, the night police believe she probably was killed, McDaniel talked by telephone with a girlfriend and told her a man with whom McDaniel had gone on a date was coming over. The man, who the friend said McDaniel didn't name during that conversation, had tried to assault McDaniel on the date. But that night, he wanted to come over to apologize, McDaniel told her friend. The girlfriend said she urged McDaniel not to let him in, but the young teacher told her friend she was sure everything would be fine.
An autopsy later determined McDaniel had been asphyxiated and was dead before her head was submerged; her hands were tied behind her after she was dead.''

''About three years after McDaniel's murder, the FBI developed a profile of the likely killer, and Carter thinks it still could be useful. Here are the highlights of that suspect profile:

• White male 35 to 40 years old at the time of the crime

• Socially or occupationally associated with McDaniel

• Married at the time of the crime, and living with his wife and family, but experiencing conflict with his spouse

• After the murder, he and his wife likely went into counseling, but later separated or divorced

Possibly a military veteran

• Prior to the crime, experiencing financial and marital distress

• Didn't participate much in family activities

• Spent a lot of time in bars

• After the crime, possibly after counseling, drastically reduced alcohol consumption

• Previously, had been inside McDaniel's apartment

• Prior to the murder, had no criminal record other than traffic tickets or possibly public intoxication''

''If you know something:

Carter would like to hear from anyone who might recognize someone who fits the profile and who knew McDaniel''

 

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Interesting, in the second of two articles at link, parallels are made between this case and the cold case murder of Malvina Krutz in 1958.

December 1977

Clipping found in The Indianapolis News published in Indianapolis, Indiana on 12/2/1977. December 1977

www.newspapers.com

''The Indianapolis News​

02 Dec 1977, Fri ·Page 18''

 

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Indiana Unsolved Lynda McDaniel

www.indystar.com

By Diana Penner 2014

'Lynda McDaniel, 23 and a first-year, first-grade teacher at Wayne Township's Maplewood Elementary School, didn't show up for work Dec. 1, 1977. Clad only in panties, McDaniel was in a kneeling position and bent into the bathtub. Her head was submerged in about 8 inches of water, a dish towel stuffed in her mouth. Her hands were tied behind her back with decorative red curling ribbon. Ribbon was found at a table, with other supplies that indicated she had been making Christmas decorations for her class. The unknown suspect became known as the Christmas Ribbon Killer.
Photo courtesy of the family'

'Lynda McDaniel, 23, was found slain Dec. 1, 1977 in her Westside apartment. She was a first-year, first-grade teacher. The case remains unsolved. This snapshot was taken the summer of 1970 after McDaniel’s sophomore year at Ben Davis High School at her sister‘s wedding in the family’s backyard.
Photo courtesy of the family

''Lynda McDaniel, 23, was found slain Dec. 1, 1977 in her Westside apartment. She was a first-year, first-grade teacher. The killer is believed to have left via the back door of the apartment, at top left. The case remains unsolved.
Indianapolis News photo by Jim Young''