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Still, it's been too long. I'd really like to know what his sisters thought happened. jmo
MN MN - Richard John ‘Dickie’ Huerkamp, 15, Mapleton, 2 Oct 1965
- Thread starter MadMcGoo
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Investigators will likely interview them in the course of their review of the case. None of the publicly available sources or newspaper articles quote either sister as to what they know. They were only about 11 and 12 at the time of Dickie's disappearance.
Sometimes when reviewing these old cases, it is interesting to see what other things were going on at the time and what was being heard on the radio.
News items of 1965:
www.thepeoplehistory.com
Top 100 popular songs of 1965:
en.wikipedia.org
News items of 1965:
What Happened in 1965 inc. - Significant Events, Prices, 1965 Top Movies, TV and Music
1965 Prices with Wages, Houses and Gas, Toys, Fashions and Furniture, Vietnam - Operation Rolling Thunder, Race Riots Break Out In Watts, California, Northeast blackout including Parts of Canada and U.S. North East, Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak, ...
Top 100 popular songs of 1965:
Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1965 - Wikipedia
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RSBM
I agree. I often wonder what a missing person's favorite artist/group or song was.
Some good music in that list (imo)! Wonder what Dickie's favorite was?News items of 1965:
What Happened in 1965 inc. - Significant Events, Prices, 1965 Top Movies, TV and Music
1965 Prices with Wages, Houses and Gas, Toys, Fashions and Furniture, Vietnam - Operation Rolling Thunder, Race Riots Break Out In Watts, California, Northeast blackout including Parts of Canada and U.S. North East, Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak, ...
Top 100 popular songs of 1965:
Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1965 - Wikipedia
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That would be wonderful, either way. I've wondered whether someone of the younger generation has heard or seen something through the years and is torn over whether and how to report it. That was a very small town. ... jmo
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If the Blue Earth Sheriff's case file on Dickie's disappearance is available to current investigators, a few important questions might be answered.
News accounts (based on Sheriff's press releases) stated that a lunch, a box of shotgun shells, and a gun case were found with the bicycle Dickie is said to have ridden from his home early in the morning of 2 October 1965.
Does the file indicate what type shells and what shot size? The shot size would indicate whether his intent was to hunt geese or smaller game.
The contents of the lunch he packed might indicate whether he prepared it only for himself or for others as well.
The important question being: was it his intent to meet up with the other boys - or was it his intent to simply go hunting on his own?
If the file were to confirm the presence of an empty shotgun case, it would indicate that Dickie had arrived at his destination and removed the shotgun.
If there was NOT a shotgun case present, then perhaps it would indicate a motive for someone abducting him while riding the bike to steal the shotgun (still in the case). Certainly, an abductor trying to subdue a victim at the side of a highway, would not take time to remove the shotgun from the case, and then discard the case.
Does the file identify the shotgun by make, model, and serial number? If so, this would make the missing shotgun a key piece of evidence.
News accounts (based on Sheriff's press releases) stated that a lunch, a box of shotgun shells, and a gun case were found with the bicycle Dickie is said to have ridden from his home early in the morning of 2 October 1965.
Does the file indicate what type shells and what shot size? The shot size would indicate whether his intent was to hunt geese or smaller game.
The contents of the lunch he packed might indicate whether he prepared it only for himself or for others as well.
The important question being: was it his intent to meet up with the other boys - or was it his intent to simply go hunting on his own?
If the file were to confirm the presence of an empty shotgun case, it would indicate that Dickie had arrived at his destination and removed the shotgun.
If there was NOT a shotgun case present, then perhaps it would indicate a motive for someone abducting him while riding the bike to steal the shotgun (still in the case). Certainly, an abductor trying to subdue a victim at the side of a highway, would not take time to remove the shotgun from the case, and then discard the case.
Does the file identify the shotgun by make, model, and serial number? If so, this would make the missing shotgun a key piece of evidence.
The Blue Earth County, Minnesota Sheriff's Office has jurisdiction in this cold missing person case.
If you have any information, you can contact them by phone at: 507-304-4800.
Or you can leave a Message at 507-304-4888 or [email protected].
LINK:
www.blueearthcountymn.gov
If you have any information, you can contact them by phone at: 507-304-4800.
Or you can leave a Message at 507-304-4888 or [email protected].
LINK:
Sheriff's Office | Blue Earth County, MN - Official Website
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Interesting. My family grew up with the Huerkamp kids as well. While so many tend to lean towards thinking he drown, my gut feeling upon hearing stories was always there was always something “off” about it all… it’s a small town, everyone knows everyone. Fascinating that you having grown up in Mapleton as well, have the same gut feeling…
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To be honest, I've often wondered whose idea it really was for Dickie to go hunting with those boys. His family had been living there for some time, so he wasn't invited along to "make the new kid feel welcome", imo. I rather get the impression the boys were either made to do it by their parents or it was meant to be a prank (they were going to tease him when they got him alone). Just my thoughts.
Without access to the original case file which would contain witness statements, all we have to go on is newspaper accounts from 1965 and 1966.
Those reports tend to indicate that Dickie's parents were the ones who initially reported him missing, and provided the clues regarding his plans to go goose hunting with the other boys.
The boys' reported statements tended in some ways to corroborate the parents' story, in that they claimed to have gone to the Huerkamp home "about 5 am" and rang the door bell, but that nobody answered. They claimed, however, that they went north some 15 miles to go squirrel hunting - a very different sport than goose hunting.
Geese are usually hunted in open corn fields using full choke shotguns loaded with magnum shells containing large size shot. Squirrels, on the other hand, are hunted in woods using either a .22 rifle, or shotguns loaded with smaller shot.
Dickie was said to be very upset at having overslept, and immediately borrowed his sister's bike and left home with shotgun, shells, and lunch. His usual hunting area was 4 miles SOUTH of town, and that is where his bicycle and other items were found beside the road by his mother that afternoon.
Knowing the type of shells found with Dickie's bike would give insight to his intentions. Reviewing the other boys' statements and and re-interviewing them might resolve questions about their involvement and actions that day.
Did they really intend to hunt geese, and then changed their minds? Did they intend to go squirrel hunting all along? Did their stories match?
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Do you remember which news article stated they were going goose hunting?
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I have always been under the impression that Dickie was well liked and the other boys were friends of his. I can verify this, but everyone I have talked to about him over the years always seemed to imply he got along alright. Many have stated they always had concerns about his father.
One thing that has struck me is that one of my family members took their boat out there during the search to try and dredge the river and move the water around in hopes of getting anything to float if he had in deed drown. Nothing. Nothing was ever found in the water. His gun, shoes, hat, nor any clothes… At some point after all these years, I would have thought something would have surfaced.
One thing that has struck me is that one of my family members took their boat out there during the search to try and dredge the river and move the water around in hopes of getting anything to float if he had in deed drown. Nothing. Nothing was ever found in the water. His gun, shoes, hat, nor any clothes… At some point after all these years, I would have thought something would have surfaced.
The Minneapolis Star began reporting on this case on Monday, 4 October 1965, and mentioned that Dickie had gone Goose hunting. Subsequent stories repeated the line that he had gone Goose hunting, and mentioned that the main search efforts were concentrated on/in the river.
Richard Huerkamp Disappearance/Search
Clipping found in The Minneapolis Star published in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 10/4/1965. Richard Huerkamp Disappearance/Search
On 9 March 1965, Jim Klobuchar wrote a more in-depth follow up article in the Minneapolis Star about Dickie's disappearance.
www.newspapers.com
www.newspapers.com
Richard Huerkamp
Clipping found in The Minneapolis Star published in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 3/9/1966. Richard Huerkamp
Richard Huerkamp-2
Clipping found in The Minneapolis Star published in Minneapolis, Minnesota on 3/9/1966. Richard Huerkamp-2
Correction: Jim Klobuchar (US Senator Amy Klobuchar's father) wrote his article in the 9 March 1966 edition of the Minneapolis Star - not 1965.
D
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Guest
Great background on hunting and the relevancy to this case. Do you think the change from goose to squirrel hunting could be attributed to teens changing plans for one reason or another? It sounds like the boys came to Dickie's earlier than expected. That and a possible change of plans or miscommunication.
Any comment I make at this point regarding the other boys hunting plans and intentions has to be considered as speculation, since I have not seen the case file with their statements.
There are several possibilities. The other three boys were all older than Dickie and one drove the car they traveled in. They might or might not have stopped at the Huerkamp home for Dickie, although they later claimed to have.
They might have planned all along to drive 15 miles north to hunt squirrels - but if so, why such an early departure? Squirrels don't come out until after sunrise.
MAYBE Dickie was the only one who had permission to hunt the farmer's fields for geese, and the only one who knew the goose blind location. Not having him along, the other boys might have changed their plans from goose to squirrel hunting.
All reported information seems to indicate that it was Dickie's intention to ride a bicycle 4 miles SOUTH to a farm where he had previously hunted, for the purpose of hunting geese with the other boys. Did he meet up with them?
Newspaper reports state that the other boys claimed to have driven NORTH out of Mapleton (the opposite direction from where Dickie traveled), and that later, they returned to Mapleton. But then went southeast to the Minnesota Lake area for further hunting. This scenario means that they would have again come close to the Huerkamp home without stopping for Dickie and NOT going south near Dickie's hunting area.
Certainly some questions which beg answers.
Loop
There are several possibilities. The other three boys were all older than Dickie and one drove the car they traveled in. They might or might not have stopped at the Huerkamp home for Dickie, although they later claimed to have.
They might have planned all along to drive 15 miles north to hunt squirrels - but if so, why such an early departure? Squirrels don't come out until after sunrise.
MAYBE Dickie was the only one who had permission to hunt the farmer's fields for geese, and the only one who knew the goose blind location. Not having him along, the other boys might have changed their plans from goose to squirrel hunting.
All reported information seems to indicate that it was Dickie's intention to ride a bicycle 4 miles SOUTH to a farm where he had previously hunted, for the purpose of hunting geese with the other boys. Did he meet up with them?
Newspaper reports state that the other boys claimed to have driven NORTH out of Mapleton (the opposite direction from where Dickie traveled), and that later, they returned to Mapleton. But then went southeast to the Minnesota Lake area for further hunting. This scenario means that they would have again come close to the Huerkamp home without stopping for Dickie and NOT going south near Dickie's hunting area.
Certainly some questions which beg answers.
Loop
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All excellent points. You're right in that we can only speculate, as we don't have access to the police reports. I sincerely hope the members of LE who now have custody of the files will take the case seriously and find Dickie.
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!
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!
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