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

[Richard]

I think that this was the Blue Earth County Sheriff in 1965 at the time of Dickie's disappearance. He was personally interested in the case and coordinated the large search effort which took place. He continued to personally search for Dickie after the official search failed to turn up any trace of him.

Is it possible that he had the original case file in his possession after leaving office?

Emil Michael Meurer, Sr.​

Birth 6 Mar 1901
Death 3 Sep 1988 (aged 87)
Burial Calvary Cemetery
Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota, USA

 

[Richard]

I have forwarded information about Dickie's missing person case to several websites and have not heard back from any of them. With the 60 year anniversary of his disappearance, perhaps Minnesota area newspapers would cover the story if contacted.

 

[Richard]

I wonder if Dickie might have been somewhat autistic? Of course, such a diagnosis was probably rare in 1965, but rather common today.

I pose the question because the main theory on which the investigation and search for him was that he wandered near the river and drowned.

Recent satistics reported by the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) state that over half of autistic children are prone to wander and are attracted to bodies of water.

It is further stated that 71 percent of all resolved fatal cases involving missing autistic persons are the result of drowning.

That said, statistics alone cannot solve Dickie's disappearance. The "wandered off and drowned " scenario is only one of several possibilities.

 

[Richard]

I have mentioned several times in posts to this thread that the original investigation file probably contains information vital to this case.

The current Sheriff of Blue Earth County told me that he could not locate a record of investigation on Dickie's disappearance in his department files. He suggested that the case might have been transferred to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) at some time in the past.

I spoke with an investigator at the Minnesota BCA and provided him with information on this case. He said that BCA had not previously been tasked with the investigation, and that the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office should still have jurisdiction - but that he would coordinate closely with them.

Beginning in October 1965, the Blue Earth Sheriff (Muerer), the Mapleton Chief of Police (Moore), and the Pastor (Rev. William Schimek) of St. Teresa Catholic church were each personally involved in the ongoing search for Dickie. A newspaper article written a year later, mentioned that they were still searching. Could it be that one of them had custody of the official file?

Update: I have learned recently that Mapleton Chief of Police Moore did, indeed, have a copy of the original case file which he used in his own research of Dickie's disappearance. He later placed it in a library archive "under seal" - meaning some sort of limited access.

I am not certain exactly what that sealed classification means or the reasons behind it, but the file's existence is confirmed, and hopefully an investigation can go forward based on it.

 

[Brightchaser47]

Update: I have learned recently that Mapleton Chief of Police Moore did, indeed, have a copy of the original case file which he used in his own research of Dickie's disappearance. He later placed it in a library archive "under seal" - meaning some sort of limited access.

I am not certain exactly what that sealed classification means or the reasons behind it, but the file's existence is confirmed, and hopefully an investigation can go forward based on it.

Wow, that's very interesting. I hope it is accessed and helpful.

 

[cenazoic]

Do you know what library, @Richard ? I’m in MSP and would be happy to dig around for it, or find out what needs to be done to access it.

 

[Richard]

I am not certain of the library name, but I believe it is located at or associated with the Blue Earth Historical Museum in Mankato.

 

[Richard]

1965 Hunting and Trapping Regulations for the State of Minnesota was a simple folded pamphlet. It contained the season dates, hunting hours, allowable firearms, game bag limits, and other information.

A copy of the regulations was given to each hunter, along with his hunting license.

 

[Pressureandheat]

Update: I have learned recently that Mapleton Chief of Police Moore did, indeed, have a copy of the original case file which he used in his own research of Dickie's disappearance. He later placed it in a library archive "under seal" - meaning some sort of limited access.

I am not certain exactly what that sealed classification means or the reasons behind it, but the file's existence is confirmed, and hopefully an investigation can go forward based on it.

Wait, a library archive? Like just a regular library? Mapleton has a library. Could it be there? How could one gain access to the file? And did you learn this directly from Chief Moore?

 

[Richard]

Wait, a library archive? Like just a regular library? Mapleton has a library. Could it be there? How could one gain access to the file? And did you learn this directly from Chief Moore?

Chief Harold Moore passed away some years ago.

My source is a newspaper reporter researching the case for an upcoming article. He told me that Chief Moore, kept a copy of the investigation file after he retired because he was very interested and concerned about it being unsolved.

Before he died, Chief Moore placed his copy of the file in a library historical archive, rather than destroying it (as would have been the police department's usual procedure after a specified period of time).

The reporter is making an attempt to view the file, which he was told is "sealed". I am unsure of what that means.

 

[Pressureandheat]

Awwh I totally spaced Chief Moores passing. I knew that. Not sure why I forgot a second thought you spoke to him. lol! I sent you a DM. Wondering which reporter you spoke with. I have a couple of calls in, in hopes of getting something to honor the anniversary coming up. Check your DMs though. Don’t want to double up

 

[Brightchaser47]

The reporter is making an attempt to view the file, which he was told is "sealed".

I am unsure of what that means.

RSBM
I'm not sure either, but I think it may mean a subpoena/court order would be necessary to access and open it. jmo

 

[Richard]

Locating the original case file will be an important step in re-opening any investigation. There will be many notes and witness interviews contained in it for cold case officers to study.

Knowing what was said and done in 1965 and follow on years will give important background data to build on today.

New information which was probably NOT included might still be obtained today, such as family member DNA samples.

Follow up:
A copy of the original case file was in the possession of Mapleton Police Chief Harold Moore, who continued to search for any information or sign of Dickie for years after his disappearance.

Rather than destroying the file after a time (as was the procedure then), Chief Moore kept it, and before he died, placed it in the library archive of the Mapleton Museum.

That file was only recently discovered by a reporter researching the case. The Blue Earth County Sheriff was made aware of its existence, and he is taking steps to review it.

 

[Brightchaser47]

Follow up:
A copy of the original case file was in the possession of Mapleton Police Chief Harold Moore, who continued to search for any information or sign of Dickie for years after his disappearance.

Rather than destroying the file after a time (as was the procedure then), Chief Moore kept it, and before he died, placed it in the library archive of the Mapleton Museum.

That file was only recently discovered by a reporter researching the case. The Blue Earth County Sheriff was made aware of its existence, and he is taking steps to review it.

That's great!!