MN MN - Richard John ‘Dickie’ Huerkamp, 15, Mapleton, 2 Oct 1965

[Richard]

Dickie is my husband's first cousin. Dickie's father and my husband, Chuck's mother were siblings. everyone in the family thinks Dickie's dad killed him in a drunken rage and buried him somewhere on the farm. I would love to see NecroSearch International go to the farm he lived on and see if the family legend is true. that kid deserves to be found and for the family to have closure.

Hello, and welcome to Websleuths.

As a close relative of Dickie, your husband could inquire as to the current investigation status into his disappearance by contacting Blue Earth County Sheriff Jeff Wersal.

If the " Missing person" case needs to be reinitiated due to loss of records, that might be done. If you feel strongly that Dickie was murdered and buried in a specific place, or if you know of persons who may have known or said something, please relay that information to the Sheriff.

You mention a farm. The Huerkamp family lived in the town of Mapleton and their tavern was also located in town. Did they also own or lease a farm?

Dickie's mother had a brother named Bob. Bob and his wife owned and lived on a small farm just north of Mapleton in 1965, but none of the published articles make any reference to Dickie hunting there, or to any search for him being conducted there.

All searches seem to have been concentrated south of town, based on the location of the bicycle. After about a year, the case seems to have gone cold, although the Sheriff, the Mapleton Police Chief, and the Catholic church pastor each continued their own personal l searches for some years afterward.

 

[DD Byrd]

Dickie is my husband's first cousin. Dickie's father and my husband, Chuck's mother were siblings. everyone in the family thinks Dickie's dad killed him in a drunken rage and buried him somewhere on the farm. I would love to see NecroSearch International go to the farm he lived on and see if the family legend is true. that kid deserves to be found and for the family to have closure.

dad killed him in a drunken rage

This might explain his mother's comment about the "licking". If she witnessed his murder, she might have that image top of mind and blurted it out. Or, not thinking clearly, maybe she was trying to pre-explain why Dickie might be bruised if his body were found. It sounds like maybe this was a regular occurrence, I wonder if his sisters would ever come forward.

 

[Pressureandheat]

Dickie is my husband's first cousin. Dickie's father and my husband, Chuck's mother were siblings. everyone in the family thinks Dickie's dad killed him in a drunken rage and buried him somewhere on the farm. I would love to see NecroSearch International go to the farm he lived on and see if the family legend is true. that kid deserves to be found and for the family to have closure.

I grew up in Mapleton off of Borchert and Highway 7. I have always said I just don’t see how anyone could ride a bike at 5am towards Lura Lake, esp with all that in tow. It’s absolute pitch dark out that way, and even more so back then. Do you know if there was a light on the bike? Because my family doesn’t remember ever hearing about any sort of flashlight or light. And I honestly think it would have been impossible to see.

Have his sisters ever said anything? Would they like to know the truth about what happened to him? I know one still lives in Mapleton, but I haven’t wanted to approach her about it. What are your thoughts? Is this something the family would like closure on?

 

[Pressureandheat]

This might explain his mother's comment about the "licking". If she witnessed his murder, she might have that image top of mind and blurted it out. Or, not thinking clearly, maybe she was trying to pre-explain why Dickie might be bruised if his body were found. It sounds like maybe this was a regular occurrence, I wonder if his sisters would ever come forward.

The comment about the “licking” has always bothered me. He was a sophomore in high school, long past a hand to the butt for being late. A “licking” of someone that age usually meant something much more aggressive in my opinion…

 

[Richard]

Have his sisters ever said anything? Would they like to know the truth about what happened to him? I know one still lives in Mapleton, but I haven’t wanted to approach her about it...

Respectfully clipped from your post.

Nor should you. One has to be careful with these cold cases. Contacting a potential eyewitness could be construed as interfering with an investigation.

I would suggest that you contact either the Blue Earth County Sheriff or the Minnesota BCA to offer your ideas and any information.

They were very receptive to my input when I spoke with them last year.

 

[Pressureandheat]

Respectfully clipped from your post.

Nor should you. One has to be careful with these cold cases. Contacting a potential eyewitness could be construed as interfering with an investigation.

I would suggest that you contact either the Blue Earth County Sheriff or the Minnesota BCA to offer your ideas and any information.

They were very receptive to my input when I spoke with them last year.

Our families know each other as it’s a VERY small town but I would never out of respect. But you are right Richard, it being a cold case I would never want to interfere with the possibility of a new investigation. My thought was more along the lines that I just hope his sisters know that he hasn’t been forgotten and if they wanted to seek answers, I believe people in town would be completely supportive.

 

[Richard]

The Blue Earth County Sheriff in 1965 was Emil Michael Meurer (1901-1988). He was first elected to that office in 1958 and served for 12 years.

It was his department which investigated Dickie Huerkamp's 2 October 1965 disappearance. He continued to be interested in the case and personally visited the search area in subsequent years.

If the current cold case investigators cannot locate the original file, perhaps they could contact Sheriff Muerer's surviving family members to see if he might have kept a personal copy of the file.

 

[Richard]

I grew up in Mapleton off of Borchert and Highway 7. I have always said I just don’t see how anyone could ride a bike at 5am towards Lura Lake, esp with all that in tow. It’s absolute pitch dark out that way, and even more so back then. Do you know if there was a light on the bike? Because my family doesn’t remember ever hearing about any sort of flashlight or light. And I honestly think it would have been impossible to see...

Good observation. To ride in darkness would logically require a light of some sort. Very few bicycles had working headlights. A flashlight would be the most likely answer. I remember placing a 2 cell flashlight in the basket of my bike when riding it after dark.

There is no mention of any flashlight being found with Dickie's bike. If he was abducted at the side of the road, it would probably have remained with the bike and other items. If Dickie went into the field to hunt while it was still dark, he would have taken a flashlight with him.

If Ann's bicycle actually had a working headlight, it could have been the reason Dickie borrowed it from his sister instead of riding his own bike that morning.

 

[Pressureandheat]

Good observation. To ride in darkness would logically require a light of some sort. Very few bicycles had working headlights. A flashlight would be the most likely answer. I remember placing a 2 cell flashlight in the basket of my bike when riding it after dark.

There is no mention of any flashlight being found with Dickie's bike. If he was abducted at the side of the road, it would probably have remained with the bike and other items. If Dickie went into the field to hunt while it was still dark, he would have taken a flashlight with him.

If Ann's bicycle actually had a working headlight, it could have been the reason Dickie borrowed it from his sister instead of riding his own bike that morning.

Agreed. I rode my bike to Lura Lake many, many times in my youth and cannot fathom doing so in the dark without a flashlight or some sort of bike light. It would truly be nearly impossible to see without something so makes me wonder if like you said maybe Ann’s bike had a light and that’s why he borrowed it or did he not have a bike at all? So many questions I wish we had answers to….

 

[Wilma_W]

The 'Saturday night' story still bothers me a bit. There are so many unknowns in this story that we probably aren't going to make much progress in figuring out what really happened, but this still seems to me like a discrepancy.

Starting from the knowledge that in 1965, there were only a small group of reporters scribbling notes as someone from the Sheriff's office told them details of the case as it was known at the time, it is not surprising that we find some small inconsistencies once the reporters go back to write up their stories. Looking at the articles from Post #1 in this thread (thanks to MadMcGoo!), it looks like the early set of articles came from information given by the Sheriff's office. At the 6-month mark, we get Jim Klobuchar's longer and more detailed article, and this one pretty clearly includes information directly from Mrs. H., as she is quoted. The initial information from LE officials presumably relied on interviews they did with Mrs. H. In both cases it is information from Mrs. H. - first indirectly, then directly (after 6 months' time). I don't have any reason to think that the early indirect information is a misrepresentation of what she told LE. To me it sounds like she changed this part of her story over time. But we can't say for sure.

From the Minneapolis Star, Monday October 4, 1965:

"Blue Earth County sheriff's deputies said the youth's mother reported him missing ... She said he left at 5 a.m. Saturday and was to have spent Saturday night at the home of friends."

From the Minneapolis Star, Wednesday March 9, 1966 (by Jim Klobuchar) (this excerpt is not a direct quote):

"When her son failed to return Saturday night, Mrs. Huerkamp drove Sunday morning toward the farm home of the Stanley Healys, in the belief, she said, that he had spent the night at the Healy place, as he had occasionally in the past. On her way she discovered the bicycle and lunch bag."

In the early reports she is implying that she knew he would not return home on Saturday night and it was pre-arranged (and presumably approved) for him to spend the night at the Healy's. After 6 months she is implying that she didn't know that he wouldn't be coming home Saturday night, but when he didn't return, she assumed he was staying at the Healy's after hunting.

This is the part that seems inconsistent with Dickie receiving punishment for returning late on Friday night. If she didn't specifically know ahead of time that he would spend the night at the Healy's, then wouldn't he have been in trouble for doing so without permission? The article doesn't mention anything about this possibility. Perhaps he would, in fact, have been in big trouble, not only for staying overnight without prior approval but also possibly missing church the next morning. If this was the case, Mrs. H. might not have mentioned it since by the time she spoke to the Sheriff's office, it was clear that he was actually missing (so none of this was his fault). Still, it makes the specific inclusion of the details of his Friday night punishment stand out even more.

 

[jlwenz5]

I grew up in Mapleton, MN and Dickie was a friend of mine. On the evening of Oct. 1st of 1965, Dickie and I were sitting in the Mapleton cafe and Dickie asked me if I wanted to go goose hunting on Sat., but I had prior arrangements that I could not break. Evidently after I spoke to Dickie, he met up with McGregor and Fitzpatrick who were riding in McGregor's car up and down main street in Mapleton. I am assuming that Dickie went to the tavern to inform Mutzie and Winnie of his plans to go goose hunting.That was the last time I had seen Dickie.On Sunday.,Oct.3rd 1965 I was sitting in church when it was announced that Dickie was missing. After church my
brother in law and myself joined the search party south of Mapleton by the Maple river. We walked the corn
field next to the river which had been harvested. The bicycle and items were found in ditch near field approach
on same side.This never made sense to me that Dickie would leave food and shells in the ditch.Being around
Dickie I felt financial resources were limited.I always thought that the bicycle and lunch were planted there
to throw off the search.Why wasn't a phone call made on Saturday night to check on Dickie? I question Winnie driving south of Mapleton when she discovers the bicycle and then immediately has announcements made in churches that Dickie is missing!

I am very intrigued by this story as Dickie was/is my cousin. . . he was my mom and dad's ringbearer in their wedding. My grandmother kept a scrapbook with every clipping but somewhere along the line the book has been lost.

 

[jlwenz5]

Dickie is my husband's first cousin. Dickie's father and my husband, Chuck's mother were siblings. everyone in the family thinks Dickie's dad killed him in a drunken rage and buried him somewhere on the farm. I would love to see NecroSearch International go to the farm he lived on and see if the family legend is true. that kid deserves to be found and for the family to have closure.

Dickie is my first cousin as well . . . . . . . he was my mom and dad's ring bearer.

 

[Richard]

The 'Saturday night' story still bothers me a bit. There are so many unknowns in this story that we probably aren't going to make much progress in figuring out what really happened, but this still seems to me like a discrepancy.

Starting from the knowledge that in 1965, there were only a small group of reporters scribbling notes as someone from the Sheriff's office told them details of the case as it was known at the time, it is not surprising that we find some small inconsistencies once the reporters go back to write up their stories. Looking at the articles from Post #1 in this thread (thanks to MadMcGoo!), it looks like the early set of articles came from information given by the Sheriff's office. At the 6-month mark, we get Jim Klobuchar's longer and more detailed article, and this one pretty clearly includes information directly from Mrs. H., as she is quoted. The initial information from LE officials presumably relied on interviews they did with Mrs. H. In both cases it is information from Mrs. H. - first indirectly, then directly (after 6 months' time). I don't have any reason to think that the early indirect information is a misrepresentation of what she told LE. To me it sounds like she changed this part of her story over time. But we can't say for sure.

From the Minneapolis Star, Monday October 4, 1965:

"Blue Earth County sheriff's deputies said the youth's mother reported him missing ... She said he left at 5 a.m. Saturday and was to have spent Saturday night at the home of friends."

From the Minneapolis Star, Wednesday March 9, 1966 (by Jim Klobuchar) (this excerpt is not a direct quote):

"When her son failed to return Saturday night, Mrs. Huerkamp drove Sunday morning toward the farm home of the Stanley Healys, in the belief, she said, that he had spent the night at the Healy place, as he had occasionally in the past. On her way she discovered the bicycle and lunch bag."

In the early reports she is implying that she knew he would not return home on Saturday night and it was pre-arranged (and presumably approved) for him to spend the night at the Healy's. After 6 months she is implying that she didn't know that he wouldn't be coming home Saturday night, but when he didn't return, she assumed he was staying at the Healy's after hunting.

This is the part that seems inconsistent with Dickie receiving punishment for returning late on Friday night. If she didn't specifically know ahead of time that he would spend the night at the Healy's, then wouldn't he have been in trouble for doing so without permission? The article doesn't mention anything about this possibility. Perhaps he would, in fact, have been in big trouble, not only for staying overnight without prior approval but also possibly missing church the next morning. If this was the case, Mrs. H. might not have mentioned it since by the time she spoke to the Sheriff's office, it was clear that he was actually missing (so none of this was his fault). Still, it makes the specific inclusion of the details of his Friday night punishment stand out even more.

There do seem to be a few questions or strange inconsistencies with this case. Although, as you point out, we are having to consider the "facts" through several different newspaper accounts.

Exactly what Mrs. Huerkamp told investigators would/should be in the official case file. There might be persons still living today who could confirm whether or not Dickie had made arrangements with the Stanley Healy family to hunt on their farm or spend the night with them.

The impression I get from reading the articles is that Dickie's mother did not become concerned until he failed to attend Mass on Sunday morning, and that she contacted the Healy family (whether in person at church, or by phone) to learn that he had not been at their home.

Her reported statements are not necessarily contradictory. All accounts indicate that she believed he had intended to spend the night with the Healys - whether because Dickie had told her, or simply because she assumed this based on his past habit of staying there.

One inconsistency that bothers me is that when studying the Plat map, I notice an Edward Healy farm on Route 7, close to where the bike and supplies were found, but that the Stanley Healy farm is further south and east of that area.

I doubt very much that Mrs. Huerkamp would have staged the bike, lunch, shotgun shells etc after Mass, probably with her daughters along in the car. They may have been placed at the side of the road by someone hoping she (or anyone else searching) would find them.

There is a big difference between his mother's reaction to Dickie's absence Friday night and his absence on Saturday night. The first resulting in "a licking", and the second being no concern until the next morning. At the least, one would think she would have called the Healy home to see if he was there safely - and perhaps to ask him why he hadn't reported in.

 

[Richard]

There are questions and inconsistencies in just about any possible scenario used to explain this case.

If Dickie was abducted from his bicycle at around 5:20 (?), in the dark, why was no flashlight found with the bike and other items? Why was the shotgun removed from its case, and why weren't other items like his hat scattered about?

If Dickie just dumped his bike and stuff and walked into the fields to hunt, where exactly was he headed, and why no trace of him?
Why leave his carefully gathered supplies?

If he was trying to connect with his three hunting buddies to hunt geese, why did they drive so far away (supposedly to hunt squirrels before dawn) to the north and then to the south east, avoiding the area Dickie was in looking for them? Why didn't they make any later attempt to stop by his house?

If the staging of the bike was all a ruse to cover up his death elsewhere, how would such an elaborate story, with so many details be concocted - and yet so many flaws and questions?

 

[Richard]

Knowing what the actual hunting season dates, laws, and legal shooting hours for Minnesota in 1965 would be helpful. I have not found them yet.

The closest I can find is in old Farmer's Almanacs which state that all small game seasons in Minnesota began in October (1965).

 

[Brightchaser47]

Knowing what the actual hunting season dates, laws, and legal shooting hours for Minnesota in 1965 would be helpful. I have not found them yet.

The closest I can find is in old Farmer's Almanacs which state that all small game seasons in Minnesota began in October (1965).

I do wonder how diligently hunting laws were observed and enforced. A group of high school boys could claim to be going hunting, then go to a remote location and do anything, really-- innocent or sinister. jmo

 

[Richard]

I do wonder how diligently hunting laws were observed and enforced. A group of high school boys could claim to be going hunting, then go to a remote location and do anything, really-- innocent or sinister. jmo

It would depend on the state laws, manpower, and the hunting location, I would think. Were land owners exempt from some regulations?

In this case, the whole story was based on Dickie planning and arranging to hunt geese with his friends.

This is backed up by the three friends stating to police that they did go hunting (for squirrels) at Hungry Hollow and at Minnesota Lake on Saturday 2 October 1965.

It was also stated that expended shotgun shells were found in the searched field, but that they were of a common brand used by hunters. Presumably, the shells were recently fired, since old ones would have deteriorated or been plowed under.

At no time did anyone question whether or not geese or squirrels were in season.

I wonder if the hunting seasons all opened on 1 October, or possibly earlier in September?

Dickie's father was quoted as saying that Dickie was a safe and experienced hunter. When was the last time they hunted together? The previous month - or a whole year before? How long did Dickie have the neighbor's shotgun in his possession?

 

[Brightchaser47]

Dickie's father was quoted as saying that Dickie was a safe and experienced hunter. When was the last time they hunted together? The previous month - or a whole year before?

RSBM
I've wondered whether they hunted together at all, to be honest. Mr. Huerkamp worked full time and owned a business. I may be wrong, but I feel hunting was an escape for Dickie.

How long did Dickie have the neighbor's shotgun in his possession?

Good question. Did he borrow it on an as-needed basis, or was the neighbor basically letting him keep it at home?

 

[Richard]

RSBM
I've wondered whether they hunted together at all, to be honest. Mr. Huerkamp worked full time and owned a business. I may be wrong, but I feel hunting was an escape for Dickie.

Good question. Did he borrow it on an as-needed basis, or was the neighbor basically letting him keep it at home?

Roger Schultz (1921-1995) was the neighbor who loaned Dickie the 12 gauge shotgun he hunted with. He might have provided the investigators with information about it. If the file does not contain such info as to the shotgun's make, model, type, and serial number, perhaps one of his living relatives might know something about it.

 

[Brightchaser47]

Roger Schultz (1921-1995) was the neighbor who loaned Dickie the 12 gauge shotgun he hunted with. He might have provided the investigators with information about it. If the file does not contain such info as to the shotgun's make, model, type, and serial number, perhaps one of his living relatives might know something about it.

If he had children, it would be interesting to know whether they knew about his loaning Dickie the shotgun. In fact, it would be interesting to know how many people knew about the shotgun before Dickie disappeared.