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

[foureyes]

You lay out a well stated theory. It could certainly be a possibility worth looking into by cold case detectives.

I have personally corresponded with and spoken to investigators within the Minnesota BCA, the Blue Earth Sheriff's Office, and the Mapleton Police about this case.

The Mapleton Chief of Police stated that although they are aware of Dickie's disappearance, it was never a case in their jurisdiction, but rather that it was in the jurisdiction of the Sheriff's Office. This was due to the bicycle and items being found south of town at the side of County Road 7 - an indication at the time that this was the last known place he had been.

The Blue Earth County Sheriff stated that the case file could not be located in their current records system and speculated that it might have been transferred to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), which is sometimes done with older unsolved cases. He suggested that I contact the BCA.

I sent a detailed message summarizing the case to the BCA and was contacted by phone by a detective. He told me that the BCA had never had this case and that the Blue Earth Sheriff's Office was still the agency with jurisdiction. He further stated that he was going to work together with the Sheriff's Office in re-opening the investigation.

Both the Sheriff's Office and the BCA have all the information discussed on this site. Hopefully they will be able to locate the original case file in the archives which might resolve some of the many questions and theories.

Something that the BCA could do is to include Dickie's photo and information on their Minnesota Missing Website. There are a few older cases already included there. Additionally, they could contact other websites like Doenet with their permission to post his photo, information, and their contact numbers.

As far as a case falling under County jurisdiction or/ and BCA jurisdiction, especially in 'decades old' cases, crucial information is sometimes found in old investigators files outside of any agency. IMO, parents are scrutinized immediately based on many factors. Here is an attached obit of the father, Mutzie Huerkamp for your review which may or may not shed any light on this theory.

 

[Richard]

As far as a case falling under County jurisdiction or/ and BCA jurisdiction, especially in 'decades old' cases, crucial information is sometimes found in old investigators files outside of any agency. IMO, parents are scrutinized immediately based on many factors. Here is an attached obit of the father, Mutzie Huerkamp for your review which may or may not shed any light on this theory.

Odd that there is no mention of Dickie.

 

[DD Byrd]

It was mentioned in a news article that Dickies mother said that she "gave him a licking" at the tavern because he arrived later than he was supposed to have after claiming to have been at the scene of an accident. So, she was present at the tavern during the time in question and would have known whether or not his father struck him or killed him.

Dickie's mother related most of what occurred at their house after the tavern: Dickie borrowing the alarm clock, missing the other boys, asking his sister to borrow her bike, and setting out on it to go hunting. It is difficult to tell from the newspaper accounts if his mother was interviewed by reporters, or if the information ascribed to her might have been given to them by a police spokesman quoting her.

It does not seem logical for his father to have blacked out or become so violent that he killed his son - and yet so calm, collected and crafty as to lay out all of the specific details of the hunting story and carefully stage a scene to mislead investigators.

IF he had just killed his son, he would have had to carefully clean up any blood, transport the body somewhere and so successfully bury him that he has not turned up in 60 years, and THEN make a lunch for him, locate the box of shotgun shells, gun case (minus the shotgun), and his sister's bike to be placed at the side of the road south of town. And Dickie's mother certainly would have known and would have had to have been complicit. Possible - but probable?

What was his father's level of participation in the search? Besides making a statement about how safe a hunter Dickie was, did he say anything else to police or press?

Thinking this scenario through - why weren't more "clues" left to solidify the story/belief that Dickie fell in the river? The shotgun, his hat, etc. could have been placed near the river, but nothing beyond the bike and associated items ever surfaced. A very specific description of Dickie's hunting clothing was given to investigators. If he was murdered and then his body buried somewhere, none of that clothing could be present in the house, in case investigators decided to do a search.

It would indeed be interesting to learn how closely Dickie's parents were questioned by investigators.

Wase there a witness to Dickie's mother being in the tavern? I don't think her saying she gave him a licking there is proof.

A newspaper reporter's interview and police quoting her also don't confirm borrowing the alarm or asking his sister for her bike ever happened.

People can do myriad things in a black out, and especially with those who are highly functional, they can be detailed and organized. As for staging a scene, some crimes have the factor opportune circumstances (darkness and the peoplelessness of the wee hours) and in this case, time.

I don't assume there was blood, or if there was, enough to clean up. More than one person has died from a just-so fist to the temple or a fall on the edge of a tub or hard floor. We don't know how out of control Dickie's father could get, perhaps he strangled him. If Dickie's body is buried on their property, it's feasible that it wasn't done immediately. If he died at the tavern and his body was placed in the car trunk, he could've been laid out in the woods upon arrival home before the father even went in the house. For all we know he was put down a well right away and that was it. Dickie's mother deducing the obvious and being an actual witness are separate things. Both would likely make her complicit after the fact.

As for his clothing, perhaps he had a standard hunting outfit that would be easy enough to find and then bury or burn in the woods. It's also possible a specific description of items that didn't actually exist was given. As for them not being at the river, if you have the car parked or idling on the side of the road, you might not take the extra time to get to the river. Especially if you'd already gotten rid of them before setting out to stage the bike.

It sounds like investigators initially thought he'd turn up and perhaps wasn't even missing the first day, let alone deceased. This can still happen with some LE today, barring an obvious crime like a witnessed kidnapping.

 

[stone-turner]

Foureyes, thank you for posting Mr. Huerkamp's obituary. I have been wondering what caused his death at such a young age (47). I have a question that I'm hoping the community can answer. The obituary states that Mr. Huerkamp engaged in farming. But on January 3rd of this year, 'hiwayman' posted that the Huerkamps lived in town at 207 Silver Street SE in Mapleton. Other sleuths have questioned whether or not Richard might have been buried 'on the family farm'. Did Huerkamps live in town and have a 'family farm' nearby, too? Were they living in town or on a farm when Richard disappeared?

I thought I was being a bit radical to entertain the possibility that Richard never left home that fateful day. But after these recent postings it appears that this very scenario was on many(?) people's minds from the time of the disappearance until today.

 

[Soulmagent]

Given what we're told about this, I doubt he drowned-- searchers would've found something. He looks to me like a sweet, responsible kid who may've been bullied. I'd like to know more about the kids who were to join him, but never showed up. jmo

I like to know why he was 15 and 4 foot 11 and 78 pounds.
Seemed like his last weight in was at 11 an a 1/2

 

[Brightchaser47]

I like to know why he was 15 and 4 foot 11 and 78 pounds.
Seemed like his last weight in was at 11 an a 1/2

JMO, but it could've been a glandular disorder or other medical condition.

 

[Richard]

Foureyes, thank you for posting Mr. Huerkamp's obituary. I have been wondering what caused his death at such a young age (47). I have a question that I'm hoping the community can answer. The obituary states that Mr. Huerkamp engaged in farming. But on January 3rd of this year, 'hiwayman' posted that the Huerkamps lived in town at 207 Silver Street SE in Mapleton. Other sleuths have questioned whether or not Richard might have been buried 'on the family farm'. Did Huerkamps live in town and have a 'family farm' nearby, too? Were they living in town or on a farm when Richard disappeared?

I thought I was being a bit radical to entertain the possibility that Richard never left home that fateful day. But after these recent postings it appears that this very scenario was on many(?) people's minds from the time of the disappearance until today.

I have never lived in Mapleton, but have studied property maps of the area in connection with this case.

I could not find a farm owned by the Huerkamps in or near Mapleton. Their home and business locations were inside town limits.

However, Winnie Huerkamp's brother and his wife (Dickie's uncle and aunt) owned a small farm just north of Mapleton. I have seen no reference to those relatives or their farm in connection with this case.

 

[Richard]

Wase there a witness to Dickie's mother being in the tavern? I don't think her saying she gave him a licking there is proof.

A newspaper reporter's interview and police quoting her also don't confirm borrowing the alarm or asking his sister for her bike ever happened.

People can do myriad things in a black out, and especially with those who are highly functional, they can be detailed and organized. As for staging a scene, some crimes have the factor opportune circumstances (darkness and the peoplelessness of the wee hours) and in this case, time.

I don't assume there was blood, or if there was, enough to clean up. More than one person has died from a just-so fist to the temple or a fall on the edge of a tub or hard floor. We don't know how out of control Dickie's father could get, perhaps he strangled him. If Dickie's body is buried on their property, it's feasible that it wasn't done immediately. If he died at the tavern and his body was placed in the car trunk, he could've been laid out in the woods upon arrival home before the father even went in the house. For all we know he was put down a well right away and that was it. Dickie's mother deducing the obvious and being an actual witness are separate things. Both would likely make her complicit after the fact.

As for his clothing, perhaps he had a standard hunting outfit that would be easy enough to find and then bury or burn in the woods. It's also possible a specific description of items that didn't actually exist was given. As for them not being at the river, if you have the car parked or idling on the side of the road, you might not take the extra time to get to the river. Especially if you'd already gotten rid of them before setting out to stage the bike.

It sounds like investigators initially thought he'd turn up and perhaps wasn't even missing the first day, let alone deceased. This can still happen with some LE today, barring an obvious crime like a witnessed kidnapping.

Good points.

From all early reporting, it appears that investigators with both the Mapleton police and the Blue Earth Sheriff's Office focused most of their efforts on a search of the river and nearby fields on the theory that Dickie had actually gone hunting there alone and met with an accident of some sort.

They did also consider a scenario where he might have staged his bicycle and supplies and then "ran away" intentionally. This theory was quickly dismissed for a number of stated reasons such as his small size, lack of money, etc. Also, because he didn't show up again in the days and weeks that followed.

Questioning of his parents and friends was probably initially focused on those two scenarios, but may have delved deeper into other areas as well, such as home life and his associations with others.

Regarding his hunting clothing, described in detail by his mother:
Jeans, red shirt, gray coveralls, red hat, and high leather boots. This was probably Dickie's usual hunting attire, which she had seen and washed several times previously - not just at a momentary glance as he headed out the door.

Back in 1965 a high school boy did not have a lot of clothes. Nice clothes were worn to church, and nice but more casual clothes were worn to school (no jeans or tennis shoes, and shirts were button up style). Upon returning home from school, one would immediately change into more casual or worn clothes like jeans, sweatshirt, sneakers, etc.

Although it was probably not an issue at the time, investigators could have confirmed the accuracy of Winnie's description of Dickie's hunting outfit by asking Dickie's friend Chuck Healy, with whom Dickie had hunted and visited on previous occasions.

 

[hiwayman]

The farm in question is located northwest of Mapleton, approximately 7 miles. It was owned by Mathias and Elizabeth O'Connor these were Winnie's parents. This farm is owned by Dickie's sister Ann right now. This is the farm that Mutzie helped out at occasionally. Mutzie was also a cement mason and a grave digger for the Catholic church. For similar case, refer to Sandoval murder case in Greeley, CO.

 

[Richard]

The farm in question is located northwest of Mapleton, approximately 7 miles. It was owned by Mathias and Elizabeth O'Connor these were Winnie's parents. This farm is owned by Dickie's sister Ann right now. This is the farm that Mutzie helped out at occasionally. Mutzie was also a cement mason and a grave digger for the Catholic church. For similar case, refer to Sandoval murder case in Greeley, CO.

There is a thread for Kristina Marie Tournai-Sandoval on Websleuths. Her husband murdered her in 1995 and was convicted in 2009, even though her body had not been found. In 2017, he led investigators to where he had buried her.

 

[Richard]

 

[DD Byrd]

Interesting that even then, it doesn't say "he was seen pedaling away...".

Just to think through the possibility of Dickie's demise being the morning or even day after the tavern...did each of Dickie's parents have a car? If they did, I wonder if one or both had blood stains from hunting, which might be normal in that community. As well as morbidly lucky before forensic testing.

I recall an eariler mention of the road, from someone familiar with it, that it was unlikely Dickie would have tried it on a bike in the dark. But I posit he might if he was desperate to get away. No way to know if witnesses would be around at civil dawn, certainly other hunters en route to wherever; but there is still the issue of the boys coming to the house, which the parents allegedly knew was happening. A risky timeline in the morning, so I'm back to whatever happened being the night before, and the parents just didn't answer the door in the morning. So...perhaps Dickie left the night before to escape a beating (saved for behind closed doors upon return from the tavern)? All I can say is stars were brighter then (and there), with a half moon on that date - he might have taken off the fastest way he could. Probably intending to stay away until his father sobered up; this could have been a pattern, or at least happened before.

Anyway, fleeing that night would explain an easier ride because he wouldn't have been juggling his gun, lunch or supplies. Maybe he made it to where the bike was found and hauled back home, or was intercepted in the driveway and the bike placed later. Either way, I'd like to know if the father routinely had the gun in his vehicle, or if it was easily accessed by door, etc. Somewhere there are statistics on the likelihood of a parent shooting their child. But revisiting the blackout, who knows. It's just as likely it was wielded as a threat to scare Dickie and went off accidently, or didn't fire but was wielded as a blow and cracked his skull. Both scenarios would explain getting rid of it, if not for evidentiary reasons than at least sheer horror and shock. That same shock and adrenaline would be in play while collecting his hunting outfit, grabbing shells, etc. to place with the bike.

If that weren't awful enough, it's also possible he didn't die right away. He might have been kept elsewhere on the property with a head injury, unconcious or non-communicative. There'd be a lot of questions taking him to the hospital, even without the father showing signs of intoxication or a hangover. If Dickie succumbed to brain swelling within hours, or bled to death on the front lawn, the same outcome of him still being on the property holds. It would also keep evidence out of the car/s and away from the bike.

The detail about the large amount of food for his lunch sticks with me. In 1965, I'd guess his mother typically made it. So a couple of reasons why it would be excessive that day: she made enough for the other boys, shock/denial/guilt led her to make it extra big for her dead son, OR she didn't make it....the father did, and made it father-size rather than Dickie-sized.

 

[Richard]

This cold case was in oblivion for many years until fairly recently when interested people began to ask questions about it. All questions are good and all theories invite more questions. Answers only come after questions are formulated and asked.

 

[Brightchaser47]

This cold case was in oblivion for many years until fairly recently when interested people began to ask questions about it. All questions are good and all theories invite more questions. Answers only come after questions are formulated and asked.

Absolutely. I'm always encouraged when there's renewed interest in a cold case- especially the older ones like this one. IMO, it's still very solvable. Whether accident, murder, or otherwise, Dickie deserves to be found.

 

[Brightchaser47]

Interesting that even then, it doesn't say "he was seen pedaling away...".

RSBM
Could just be the way it was phrased, but fair point.

Just to think through the possibility of Dickie's demise being the morning or even day after the tavern...did each of Dickie's parents have a car?

With what information we've been given, it's very doubtful there were two vehicles. Also, the shotgun Dickie allegedly took with him was borrowed from a neighbor. I don't think it's ever been mentioned where it was kept or whether Mr. Huerkamp had access to it.

 

[Pressureandheat]

This cold case was in oblivion for many years until fairly recently when interested people began to ask questions about it. All questions are good and all theories invite more questions. Answers only come after questions are formulated and asked.

Richard, do you have any recommendations on how to get the case looked at again? Do we contact the Mapleton police or Blue Earth County? Maybe if we all reach out they will reopen or at the very least find his file and post him on the MN Missing website. That has always reeeally bothered me, because what if someone finds something, like remains, etc. Dickie wouldn’t even be considered.

Can you post details on who we should encourage to take the next step?

 

[Pressureandheat]

Interesting that even then, it doesn't say "he was seen pedaling away...".

Just to think through the possibility of Dickie's demise being the morning or even day after the tavern...did each of Dickie's parents have a car? If they did, I wonder if one or both had blood stains from hunting, which might be normal in that community. As well as morbidly lucky before forensic testing.

I recall an eariler mention of the road, from someone familiar with it, that it was unlikely Dickie would have tried it on a bike in the dark. But I posit he might if he was desperate to get away. No way to know if witnesses would be around at civil dawn, certainly other hunters en route to wherever; but there is still the issue of the boys coming to the house, which the parents allegedly knew was happening. A risky timeline in the morning, so I'm back to whatever happened being the night before, and the parents just didn't answer the door in the morning. So...perhaps Dickie left the night before to escape a beating (saved for behind closed doors upon return from the tavern)? All I can say is stars were brighter then (and there), with a half moon on that date - he might have taken off the fastest way he could. Probably intending to stay away until his father sobered up; this could have been a pattern, or at least happened before.

Anyway, fleeing that night would explain an easier ride because he wouldn't have been juggling his gun, lunch or supplies. Maybe he made it to where the bike was found and hauled back home, or was intercepted in the driveway and the bike placed later. Either way, I'd like to know if the father routinely had the gun in his vehicle, or if it was easily accessed by door, etc. Somewhere there are statistics on the likelihood of a parent shooting their child. But revisiting the blackout, who knows. It's just as likely it was wielded as a threat to scare Dickie and went off accidently, or didn't fire but was wielded as a blow and cracked his skull. Both scenarios would explain getting rid of it, if not for evidentiary reasons than at least sheer horror and shock. That same shock and adrenaline would be in play while collecting his hunting outfit, grabbing shells, etc. to place with the bike.

If that weren't awful enough, it's also possible he didn't die right away. He might have been kept elsewhere on the property with a head injury, unconcious or non-communicative. There'd be a lot of questions taking him to the hospital, even without the father showing signs of intoxication or a hangover. If Dickie succumbed to brain swelling within hours, or bled to death on the front lawn, the same outcome of him still being on the property holds. It would also keep evidence out of the car/s and away from the bike.

The detail about the large amount of food for his lunch sticks with me. In 1965, I'd guess his mother typically made it. So a couple of reasons why it would be excessive that day: she made enough for the other boys, shock/denial/guilt led her to make it extra big for her dead son, OR she didn't make it....the father did, and made it father-size rather than Dickie-sized.

Question: where was it stated about a large amount of food for his lunch? I must have missed that. That’s curious to me given what I always knew of the family…

 

[Richard]

Richard, do you have any recommendations on how to get the case looked at again? Do we contact the Mapleton police or Blue Earth County? Maybe if we all reach out they will reopen or at the very least find his file and post him on the MN Missing website. That has always reeeally bothered me, because what if someone finds something, like remains, etc. Dickie wouldn’t even be considered.

Can you post details on who we should encourage to take the next step?

The Mapleton Police Department was involved in the search for Dickie, but claim that they have never had jurisdiction in the case, since it was assumed in 1965 that he went missing outside of Mapleton city limits.

The Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office has always had jurisdiction in this case and therefore are the Primary Investigation agency.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has recently been given a good deal of information (mostly what is posted here on Websleuths) and they have opened a case file on it but are working with the Blue Earth Sheriff Office. It is BCA which runs the Minnesota Missing Website.

Here are a few points of contact and website links:

Mapleton Police Department
104 2nd Ave NE
PO Box 342
Mapleton, MN 56065
Dispatch Center: 507-304-4863
Business/Office: 507-524-3091
Ben Honsey, Chief: 507-524-3091

Blue Earth County Justice Center
401 Carver Rd.
P.O. Box 228
Mankato, MN 56002-228
Ph: (507) 304-4800
Fx: (507) 304-4819
Jeff Wersal, Sheriff

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA)
651-793-7000

LINKS:

https://www.mapletonmn.gov/police

Sheriff's Office | Blue Earth County, MN - Official Website

www.blueearthcountymn.gov

Bureau of Criminal Apprehension | Minnesota Department of Public Safety

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension works to prevent and solve crimes through everything from forensic science to specialized training to thorough investigations.

dps.mn.gov

Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse | MN-DPS

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Public Services

portal.dps.mn.gov

 

[Richard]

Shop​

Outdoor Life Magazine for November 1965

This was a very popular hunting and fishing magazine, still available in digital form today. The November 1965 issue would have been out by late September 1965. It featured an article by Fred Woolner titled "A Thing Called Early Blur" about new studies which revealed a major cause of mistaken-for-game hunting accidents.

The basic theme of the article was that in early morning twilight, not all colors are yet visible to the human eye, and hazy or low light conditions allow the eye to see what it "wants" to see. A hunter walking slowly and quietly through the woods or brush might be mistaken for a deer by another hunter hoping to see one.

The article mentions studies which were done by the US Army regarding what colors were most visible in the woods and fields and which could provide a measure of safety when worn by hunters. The most visible and unique color was fluorescent orange, also known as blaze orange or hunter orange. Fluorescent Orange can be seen much earlier and later than other colors such as red which appears black in early morning or late evening light. Within a few years most states adopted Hunter Orange officially as a mandatory color to be worn during certain hunting seasons. Hunter Orange has been a major factor in reduction of hunting accidents.

If Dickie Huerkamp was as avid a hunter as he seemed to be, he undoubtedly would have enjoyed reading stories in this magazine and other similar publications like Field and Stream and Sports Afield. This particular issue of Outdoor Life would have been new in the magazine racks at the time of Dickie's disappearance.

 

[Richard]

There was a general description of Dickie's hunting cap mentioned in the newspaper accounts. It was said to be red and of "foam" construction.

Today, there are many different style hats worn for hunting, most of them are baseball caps. But back in 1965, choices were few. By "foam", it might have been meant that the hat was red vinal with foam rubber insulation. This was mentioned in regard to a comment on how the hat should have floated if Dickie had fallen into the river.

Here are just a few examples of types of hunting hats that might have been worn by Dickie: