IN IN - Renee Bruhl, Patricia Blough & Ann Miller, Indiana Dunes SP, 2 July 1966

[MaryLiz]

Glad to see some discussion about this again. In a little over 2 months it will be 44 years since they disappeared from the face of the earth. I just don't understand how 3 women can vanish from a big crowd like that and NO ONE sees anything of importance.

 

[Justice for Joanie]

Glad to see some discussion about this again. In a little over 2 months it will be 44 years since they disappeared from the face of the earth. I just don't understand how 3 women can vanish from a big crowd like that and NO ONE sees anything of importance.

I agree, Cambria. Too bad someone doesn't know the names of the original witnesses at the lake that day. Time has a way of soothing peoples fears as well as loosening their tongues. They might tell a different story of what they saw that day. Dena

 

[Spyglass]

It still should be remembered that the three women were seen - and filmed - getting onto a boat. I think that is the biggest clue of all. It would probably have taken more than one individual to subdue all three women and such an act might have been better accomplished out on the water. There would have been less chance of escape there as well as a minimal chance of someone witnessing what took place. Just a few thoughts while not trying to minimize other theories.

It does seem it would require more than one subduer; however, I'm thinking of the Tampa area case a couple of years ago where a mother and her two teenage daughters went out in a boat and evidently were murdered and thrown overboard by one man. Sorry I can't think of the victims' names or where they were vacationing from (Arkansas?).

 

[Justice for Joanie]

It does seem it would require more than one subduer; however, I'm thinking of the Tampa area case a couple of years ago where a mother and her two teenage daughters went out in a boat and evidently were murdered and thrown overboard by one man. Sorry I can't think of the victims' names or where they were vacationing from (Arkansas?).

Yes I cannot remember where the 3 females were from but I remember the case. By the time they realized they were at the mercy of a sweet talking sociopath it was too late.

The 3 girls in Indiana could have been sweet talked aboard the boat. People still fall for a good story today. So I can only imagine how easily people fell for things over 40 years ago.

 

[MaryLiz]

That was Joan Rogers and her daughters Christie and Michelle. They were from a small town called Willshire, Ohio about 15 miles west of where I live. That was a horrible case, all over the news here as well as across the country, but since it was local they had it on the news constantly. They were murdered by Oba Chandler on his boat in Tampa. It happened back in 1989, nearly 21 years ago now.

 

[Justice for Joanie]

Jeez that was a horrifying case. Just horrific. Thats right-I remember now-Oba Chandler.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

Ironically, Oba Chandler is from Cincinnati.

With regards to the Indiana Dunes case; as we know, no bodies have ever been found. In the Florida case, despite attempts by Chandler (such as weighing down the bodies, etc.), the bodies of Joan Rogers and her two daughters were found and recovered. That's why I feel at least two, and very possibly more, individuals were involved in the disappearance of the three women. I think it is highly likely that their bodies could have been removed from the boat at some distant location, placed in a car or similar vehicle and taken elsewhere for burial or some form of disposal. Such actions were probably made easier with multiple individuals involved.

 

[okeefe58]

I tend to think it was one person. there are many, many cases of one man subduing more than one female. it's one of those situations where most people are just to stunned and shocked to know whats hitting them. also, it's the one person cases, that keep it to themselves, and never tell anyone, that usually don't get solved. the more people involved, the more chance one of them talks. or one of the others lose there nerve, or get afraid of one of the other guys, etc. that gets them caught. plus, I tend to think these loner stalkers go over these abductions in there head and paper over and over, so as to cover every angle they can think of not to get caught. not trying to disagree with anyone. these are all just theories anyway. just my opinion. I also have some experience with these lone sickos, as you guys know. might possibly be jading my opinions also

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

I looked back and information provided at the start of this topic indicates that the three women left their "belongings" behind including the keys to the vehicle they arrived in. Did that include their purses? I find it interesting that they would board a boat (with the obvious idea they would be away for at least a portion of time) without taking those along with them. What woman would in 1966 or now?

 

[Stella]

That only goes to prove how naive and trusting these young women were. If they would leave out their belongings for anyone to steal, they probably would have gotten on a boat with strangers.

 

[reportertype]

I see someone beat me to Oba Chandler. I was going to bring him up. In his case, I have a feeling he used the daughters to keep the mother doing whatever he said. Anyway, another odd fact - Oba Chandler's boat was blue and white.

I leave my stuff unattended on the beach when I go, although I never go too far away from it. But everyone tends to do that. Stella is probably right; they were naive and I'm sure there wasn't the proliferation of information about psychopaths back then.

Also, even today we keep hearing "safety in numbers." If there was just one other person aboard, the three girls may have felt perfectly safe.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

Long ago, I saw a reference in a newspaper detective strip warning it's more dangerous to accept a ride in a boat than in an automobile. Without looking it up to be certain, I'm pretty sure that appeared long before this incident at the Indiana Dunes State Park.

 

[MaryLiz]

Bumping for 44th anniversary of the girls' disappearance on July 2, 1966.

This article is from last summer. I posted it already on page 2 of this thread, but so far it is still the latest article written and worth re-reading. Maybe there will be a new article tomorrow on the actual anniversary.

http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/article_3df371d6-0ba6-5611-bfa6-9af13f00f34c.html

 

[Spud]

I Googled for Chicago`s cold case file on this case and found this interesting article that sheds light on Wylie`s theories of foul play. I believe that i know the "8 ball tavern" that is mentioned in the article. It was located in Hodgkins, IL , very near the deep tunnel entrance and just downstream from the Waste Treatment Center in McCook IL. I don`t know if it`s still there or how it fits into Wylie`s theory but i might take a run over there to ask around. ....... The abortion gone wrong theory only works for me if you believe that a girl was getting her abortion on a boat .http://officialcoldcaseinvestigatio...ldcaseinvestigations.com/showthread.php?t=479

 

[MaryLiz]

I Googled for Chicago`s cold case file on this case and found this interesting article that sheds light on Wylie`s theories of foul play. I believe that i know the "8 ball tavern" that is mentioned in the article. It was located in Hodgkins, IL , very near the deep tunnel entrance and just downstream from the Waste Treatment Center in McCook IL. I don`t know if it`s still there or how it fits into Wylie`s theory but i might take a run over there to ask around. ....... The abortion gone wrong theory only works for me if you believe that a girl was getting her abortion on a boat .http://officialcoldcaseinvestigatio...ldcaseinvestigations.com/showthread.php?t=479

Thanks for posting this Spud..I think I read this before but don't know when. Parts of it sounded very familiar. I never have been too keen on the abortion gone wrong theory. You're right..they probably would have had to perform it right on the boat. Unless they had arranged to meet this guy on the boat and he took them somewhere else to have the abortion performed. But still..I don't think that's the case. I think whoever they met on that boat, they had only met him just that day.

I've been reading for years now about Dick Wylie's book, "Life and Death Through The Lens," that is supposed to be published. He apparently has a large chapter written about the 3MW from the Indiana Dunes in that book. I also read just last year that he has a HUGE file on this case and wants to publish it as well separately. I don't know if he can't find a publisher or what, but I would sure love to read all the info he has about this case.

 

[lieber32]

I see someone beat me to Oba Chandler. I was going to bring him up. In his case, I have a feeling he used the daughters to keep the mother doing whatever he said. Anyway, another odd fact - Oba Chandler's boat was blue and white.

I leave my stuff unattended on the beach when I go, although I never go too far away from it. But everyone tends to do that. Stella is probably right; they were naive and I'm sure there wasn't the proliferation of information about psychopaths back then.

Also, even today we keep hearing "safety in numbers." If there was just one other person aboard, the three girls may have felt perfectly safe.

I live in a city that a few years ago had the highest crime rate in the country and on a daily basis see people leave their belongings unattended. One of the most memorable was a three hundred dollar coach purse with wallet inside. I remember turning it in once I saw it unattended. Instead of being thankful that her purse was not stolen or here identity stolen (her drivers licese number was her ss) I was treated to a mouthful of foul language. People do not leave valuables in plain sight or unattended. I work for a police department, trust me it doesn't take long to have your belongings stolen or for you to be kidnapped. I've meet good looking white Bundy types that have committed heinous crimes.

 

[tatertot]

News article about Wylie and his abortionist theory:

http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-new-theories-surface-on-decade-110510,0,2189234.story

 

[marycarney]

Glad to see some discussion about this again. In a little over 2 months it will be 44 years since they disappeared from the face of the earth. I just don't understand how 3 women can vanish from a big crowd like that and NO ONE sees anything of importance.

Most likely, because they didn't know they WERE seeing anything of importance. It was literally 'just a day at the beach'.

And as for the poster who remarked about them leaving their keys, etc on the beach, I grew up going to this very beach as a kid (including in 1966) and it was COMMON to just put your stuff under your blanket and leave it. Or ask a nearby family to 'keep an eye on it'.

 

[MaryLiz]

Most likely, because they didn't know they WERE seeing anything of importance. It was literally 'just a day at the beach'.

And as for the poster who remarked about them leaving their keys, etc on the beach, I grew up going to this very beach as a kid (including in 1966) and it was COMMON to just put your stuff under your blanket and leave it. Or ask a nearby family to 'keep an eye on it'.

That's true...no one was "looking" for anything out of the ordinary, I suppose.

You're absolutely right about leaving belongings on the beach. Those days are long gone, but I remember doing that exact same thing, and especially asking someone nearby to keep an eye out for my things. I had forgotten about stuff like that..it's been so long since we have been able to trust people in that regard.

 

[Spud]

News article about Wylie and his abortionist theory:

http://www.fox59.com/news/wxin-new-theories-surface-on-decade-110510,0,2189234.story

Thanks tatertot for finding this story.Reporter Dick Wylie has long suspected a local lothario with ties to abortionists. He has named him as Ralph Largo Jr. who died last year. With the death of Wylie`s suspect in this case, he is now free to lay out his theory without libel lawsuit ramifications. It seems that Wylie believes that 2 of the girls were pregnant and in need of an abortion. I would love to read the transcript of this investigation because it is a fascinating theory. He believes that the girls were shuttled to a floating abortion clinic on a cabin cruiser. I have never heard of that before but i can say that i was on a floating casino on Lake Michigan before legalized gambling came to the region so a floating clinic seems like a pretty good idea if the lake is calm. From a criminal standpoint this idea borders on genius with an easy waste and witness disposal if things went wrong . The pregnant women could have even been blindfolded before getting on the cabin cruiser to prevent them from naming the boat if they had a mind to call the police. Thank God that the seedy underworld of back alley abortions is a thing of the past. I would like to see how Mr. Wylie constructed his theories. Where can i buy your book Mr. Wylie?