MN MN - Dorothy Limestahl, 46, Winona, 1 Oct 1985

[Teamir]

And here is a photo from the 8/4/1982 Albert Lea Tribune where she was judging a dog show.

 

[Teamir]

There's some really interesting things in this case. I'm trying to reach LE to discuss. Her second husband allegedly killed himself in mid-July in a vehicle parked on the Highway 61 overlook (overlooking the Mississippi) off the westbound lanes, west of Lamoille, MN (7/20/1986 Winona Daily News). What interesting about that is, he was living in Sheboygan WI at the time; his first ex-wife was living in LaCrosse, his son was living on the East Coast, and his daughters were living in Minneapolis. WHY DID HE DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO THAT SPOT?? It would have been about a 4 hour drive one way, at that time. It must have had meaning to him. And what did the note found in the car say? Was it somehow related to Dorothy's disappearance?

 

[Teamir]

There's some really interesting things in this case. I'm trying to reach LE to discuss. Her second husband allegedly killed himself in mid-July in a vehicle parked on the Highway 61 overlook (overlooking the Mississippi) off the westbound lanes, west of Lamoille, MN (7/20/1986 Winona Daily News). What interesting about that is, he was living in Sheboygan WI at the time; his first ex-wife was living in LaCrosse, his son was living on the East Coast, and his daughters were living in Minneapolis. WHY DID HE DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO THAT SPOT?? It would have been about a 4 hour drive one way, at that time. It must have had meaning to him. And what did the note found in the car say? Was it somehow related to Dorothy's disappearance?

I might need to contact local news to pick this one up. Does no one in her family wonder where she went?

 

[Teamir]

I did not get a call back from local LE on this, and MN BCI did respond and said it’s not a case they are working. I really think the bluff below where her 2nd husband killed himself should be searched for bones. Just a hunch?

 

[Richard]

The 40 year anniversary of her disappearance is coming up on 1 October. Perhaps a Winona newspaper would do a feature article if contacted.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is the official name of the state police. They usually get involved in cold cases on request from local or County law enforcement agencies.

However, anyone can ask the BCA to look into a cold case, and can forward all known information, photos, etc. to them. They would then coordinate with the agency that had original jurisdiction.

It is the BCA that posts cases on the Minnesota Missing Persons Clearinghouse Website.

 

[Teamir]

I got an unverified tip that she got married a third time, but my subscriptions are inactive at the moment so I couldn’t find the proof. Does anyone find that? I was told that people that knew her personally are not looking for her, I didn’t ask why. Seems that though she is missing, she is not missed.

 

[cenazoic]

I was told that people that knew her personally are not looking for her, I didn’t ask why. Seems that though she is missing, she is not missed.

It’s strange - she seems to have been an active and social, possibly even well-connected person (politics, dog shows). Perhaps not missed because they know what happened to her?

Still, someone reported her missing, the BCA entered her case into Namus in 2011. It’s interesting that even with at least one, and possibly another, marriage after Limestahl, she maintained that name.

Her last contact was October ‘85, which is after Baron was picked up in Winona with the stolen car (March ‘85), along with the divorce finalization (May).

Norman John Baron died of purposeful asphyxiation in his car.

Wish we knew more about this. Interesting paper (2006) discusses how the Federal requirement of adding catalytic converters to cars, starting in 1968, led to a reduction in carbon monoxide deaths (and quotes one researcher saying “it’s impossible to commit suicide that way”; cats reduce emissions up to 99%.

Still, an odd choice for suicide, especially out of doors, which makes it more difficult to asphyxiate (vs inside a closed garage.)

Norman John Baron, formerly of Winona Rt 1, was picked up by police for being a missing person Wednesday; missing since December.

And this oddity.

My subs are also down for the month, but I may need to reup just to check all this out.

Thanks for all the awesome research, @Teamir !

 

[brow3665]

The 40 year anniversary of her disappearance is coming up on 1 October. Perhaps a Winona newspaper would do a feature article if contacted.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is the official name of the state police. They usually get involved in cold cases on request from local or County law enforcement agencies.

However, anyone can ask the BCA to look into a cold case, and can forward all known information, photos, etc. to them. They would then coordinate with the agency that had original jurisdiction.

It is the BCA that posts cases on the Minnesota Missing Persons Clearinghouse Website.

I will say that I have developed a working relationship with one of the BCA Homicide Investigators working on cold cases and have been really impressed. They genuinely want to get these resolved. They pretty much are lead on all long term cold cases in the state.

 

[brow3665]

It’s strange - she seems to have been an active and social, possibly even well-connected person (politics, dog shows). Perhaps not missed because they know what happened to her?

Still, someone reported her missing, the BCA entered her case into Namus in 2011. It’s interesting that even with at least one, and possibly another, marriage after Limestahl, she maintained that name.

Her last contact was October ‘85, which is after Baron was picked up in Winona with the stolen car (March ‘85), along with the divorce finalization (May).



Wish we knew more about this. Interesting paper (2006) discusses how the Federal requirement of adding catalytic converters to cars, starting in 1968, led to a reduction in carbon monoxide deaths (and quotes one researcher saying “it’s impossible to commit suicide that way”; cats reduce emissions up to 99%.

Still, an odd choice for suicide, especially out of doors, which makes it more difficult to asphyxiate (vs inside a closed garage.)


And this oddity.

My subs are also down for the month, but I may need to reup just to check all this out.

Thanks for all the awesome research, @Teamir !

I will maybe see if my BCA contact can get me info on the initial missing persons report