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

[Pressureandheat]

We hunted from the highway east down the river many times, often left our bikes in the ditch off the path down to the river, back in the day, didn't really worry about anyone stealing our bikes. Heck, we didn't lock our doors of cars for that matter. As for a light on the bike, it probably did not work anyway, we rode in the dark with only a reflector on the back. As for the kick stand it was on the right side and would have sunk in the soft ground, so it wasn't uncommon to just lay them over. I know one thing for sure in my heart Dickie would have never, ever left food lying there. I believe the Art Moore the city cop, was involved in covering up. To me, and I was 15 at the time. it sure seemed to be swept under the table in a short time.

@Silunas1 - the reporter that did anniversary story on Dickie would like to speak with you. I’m going to direct message you his number so you can be in contact. Please reach out to him. It’s good to hear others point of view even if it’s the smallest piece of info, maybe it will help move things forward.

 

[Siulnas1]

Do you remember what type of shotgun Dickie had?

Information on its make and model could be an important clue in any search.

I wish I could, but I do not.

 

[Richard]

Dickie Huerkamp Disappearance
Steven Shute's article in the Maple River Messenger. Steven did a great job of researching and writing about Dickie Huerkamp's disappearance. With renewed interest and recollection by members and former members of the Mapleton community, perhaps this case can still be solved after 60 long years.

Note that Steven obtained a nice, colorized photo of Dickie as well as earlier candid snapshots of him from family members.

The Blue Earth County Sheriff has requested that Dickie's case be included in the National Register of Missing Persons.

Has anyone seen any letters to the editor or follow-up articles regarding Steven Schute's story in the Maple River Messenger?

 

[Richard]

We do not know anything about the 12 Gauge shotgun that disappeared when Dickie went missing other than that he had borrowed it from his neighbor Mr. Schultz.

Although there are many different makes and models of shotguns, it would have been one of only four basic types of actions. Here are some examples:

LINK:
SHOTGUN ACTION TYPES

Bolt Action

Autoloader

Pump or slide action

Double barrel break action

Single barrel break action

 

[nhmemorymaker]

And while I'm at it, I want to come back to something that troubles me about Mrs. Huerkamp's behavior. Earlier I posted that I couldn't understand how she waited until Sunday morning to go looking for her son. When the article came out in the Mapleton paper a few weeks ago, I learned that she did indeed make two phone calls to the Healy home looking for Dickie. The paper states that the calls were at 2 pm and 7 pm. Both times the Healys told her he wasn't there. At first, I thought this made a little sense over not calling at all. But the more I considered it, the less sense it made. So she was concerned enough to call at 2, and then to call again at 7 (dusk), but waited until the next morning to call again? WHAT!? My parents wouldn't let me out of the house at 15 unless they knew where I was going, what I was planning to do, with whom, who was driving, and what time I would be returning. I'm sure my mom would have called half the county by 7:30 pm, and would have organized a search party/posse by 8:30. And no one would have gone to bed until I was located. (Not sure if I want to think about what would have happened when they did finally find me.)
Did Mrs. Huerkamp ask the Healys to call her back if Dickie didn't show up by dark? My family would have. Did she call any of the other hunter's families to see if they were home safe yet - and when they had last seen Dickie? My family would have. Did she not take these steps because she already knew Dickie wasn't going to show up - anywhere? Am I missing something here? Can anyone offer another plausible and less-incriminating explanation for this?

all I can add is my own personal upbringing... back close to Dickie's time frame..
I could really go anywhere. We kids just roamed here and there. Just back before the street lights were on was really a thing. It was THE thing.

and I stated above... I think I can understand mother's actions...
I felt the same about the mother's actions. "boys will be boys" was active and alive in those years. I think she did not want to appear overly alarmed at first. Even if she was truly petrified.

 

[Richard]

Taking things regarding the location of the bicycle and items at face value - that is that they were left where found by Dickie and NOT staged by someone else - only two possible scenarios stand out.

The first: that Dickie voluntarily left them in the ditch to go hunting alone has many contradictions. Why would he leave the shells and lunch? Why did the most intense search fail to turn up any trace of him? Why would he not ride all the way to the Healy farm, if Chuck was waiting there for him?

The second: that he was abducted by someone with a vehicle, also has some factors to consider. In 1965, stranger abductions were rare and it appears that his disappearance due to abduction was not pursued seriously.

Arguments against an abduction are; the short period of time Dickie would have been riding his bike, the early morning hour, the remoteness of the road, and the lack of any evidence. Also, the lack of other abductions in that area or time fame.

Those "arguments" , while perhaps proving the scenario rare, do not necessarily eliminate it.

Abductions, although rare, did occur in 1965 and other years before and after. IF... Dickie was abducted, it would have been a crime of opportunity given the randomness of the situation. But if that was the case, the abductor was likely an experienced predator who committed similar acts before and after.

 

[stone-turner]

Richard, you have a "way with words". You concisely summarized things well in your last posting. This case with Dickie is frustrating. It seems that in order to get things to make any sense, we have to step past the 'normal' range of probability and into the realm of possibility. But almost anything is possible. However, if we try to stay in the probability range, none of the ideas offered here seem highly probable - especially knowing that no evidence has surfaced in 60 years that would lend more support to any one of them. Frustrating.

 

[Richard]

Richard, you have a "way with words". You concisely summarized things well in your last posting. This case with Dickie is frustrating. It seems that in order to get things to make any sense, we have to step past the 'normal' range of probability and into the realm of possibility. But almost anything is possible. However, if we try to stay in the probability range, none of the ideas offered here seem highly probable - especially knowing that no evidence has surfaced in 60 years that would lend more support to any one of them. Frustrating.

This case is indeed a frustrating one for a lot of reasons. There are many potential scenarios, each with its own questions, probabilities, possibilities, and contradictions.

 

[Richard]

Although it is remotely possible that Dickie simply "ran away" and assumed another identity - that scenario would be very unlikely.

Most likely, regardless of the specific circumstances, Dickie did not live past 2 October 1965. This sad conclusion seems to have been accepted by his family as seen by the cenotaph placed over an empty grave in the Mapleton cemetery.

With the massive search for him over several weeks involving the entire community and which was continued for many more months by a few dedicated searchers - and some 60 years of farmers and hunters traversing the fields and finding nothing - some conclusions might be drawn.

It is quite probable that a scenario involving his death meant his body was buried at, or removed to, a different location than the area searched.

He might have been accidentally shot by another hunter, buried and his bicycle staged where it was found io misdirect search efforts.

Or he might have been abducted where his bicycle was found and taken to another location.

The shotgun, which disappeared at the same time could have been buried with the body. If so, this would provide a metallic target for a metal detector search.

If the shotgun was kept by the killer, AND if identifying information could be found on it, locating that shotgun today might lead to a resolution in this case.

 

[Pressureandheat]

I added Dickie to NamUs as a way of ensuring the details of his disappearance are recorded in the event any new evidence arises. Does anyone know what keeps a case “pending” in NamUs? How do I get it to become permanant case?

 

[Richard]

I added Dickie to NamUs as a way of ensuring the details of his disappearance are recorded in the event any new evidence arises. Does anyone know what keeps a case “pending” in NamUs? How do I get it to become permanant case?
View attachment 625182

I don't know the exact answer to your question, but I know that each of the various missing person websites has their own criteria for listing a case.

Some sites require the investigating agency to request or endorse it. Others require that a family member submit the request. Others seem to list a case if it already appears on another site. Some will only list a missing person after a certain length of time has passed.

Dickie’s case should by all accounts be posted on the Minnesota Clearinghouse of Missing Persons. They have an abundance of information, including photographs, newspaper reports, and even a police file on it, but as of recently, it has not been included.

You are absolutely correct to think that getting the case included on these sites could lead to a resolution.

 

[cenazoic]

Does anyone know what keeps a case “pending” in NamUs?

“All case entries are vetted with the appropriate local, state, federal, or tribal law enforcement agency prior to publication in NamUs. This vetting includes a review of the case data for accuracy, completeness, and appropriateness for public viewing. Once a case is vetted and NamUs obtains permission from the investigating agency, the case is published in NamUs for public viewing and searching.”

Frequently Asked Questions

View answers to frequently asked questions about the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).

namus.nij.ojp.gov

 

[Pressureandheat]

“All case entries are vetted with the appropriate local, state, federal, or tribal law enforcement agency prior to publication in NamUs. This vetting includes a review of the case data for accuracy, completeness, and appropriateness for public viewing. Once a case is vetted and NamUs obtains permission from the investigating agency, the case is published in NamUs for public viewing and searching.”

Frequently Asked Questions

View answers to frequently asked questions about the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).

namus.nij.ojp.gov

@Richard, do I have the correct investigating agency then if thy need to review and approve? If I remember correctly you have spoken to the investigator. Is there someone we should list/add?

 

[Richard]

@Richard, do I have the correct investigating agency then if thy need to review and approve? If I remember correctly you have spoken to the investigator. Is there someone we should list/add?

To the best of my knowledge, the investigating agency with jurisdiction in this case is the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is also aware of the case, and has stated to me that they would work together with the Sheriff's Office.

 

[Richard]

It is possible that Dickie's disappearance was related to a hunting accident, since by all accounts his intention was to go goose hunting the day he went missing.

Many different factors enter into the causes of hunting accidents. In 1965 the wearing of Fluorescent Orange while hunting was not yet required, and mandatory hunter safety education had not become a condition for obtaining a hunting license. These requirements have had a dramatic effect on hunting safety, making it a much less dangerous sport than in the past.

Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources has a website page with an excellent example of the drastic decline in hunting accidents. The highest number was in 1964, with 149 incidents and ten fatalities. In 1965, the year Dickie went missing, there were 139 reported incidents with 20 fatalities. In 2023, there were 11 incidents and zero deaths.

LINK:

Hunting incident summary - 1947 to current

www.dnr.state.mn.us

Here is an interesting article about something often referred to as "early blur" in which a hunter might mistakenly "see" a game animal in low light conditions. Wearing of fluorescent orange clothing has reduced such incidents over the years.

LINK:

Deadly perception can be tragic in deer woods

We all think of mistaking another hunter for game is inconceivable — until we are awakened by the experience.

www.pressconnects.com

 

[brow3665]

To the best of my knowledge, the investigating agency with jurisdiction in this case is the Blue Earth County Sheriff's Office.

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is also aware of the case, and has stated to me that they would work together with the Sheriff's Office.

I do have a very helpful contact through the MN BCA that is an investigator for these cold cases. I know the BCA has a general jurisdiction over all the "cold cases" in the state. I can connect and see if anyone is reviewing.

 

[Pressureandheat]

For some reason Dickies profile on NamUs was taking down? I didn’t receive any notification on why. I just logged in tonight and it’s completely gone. No explanation. This is what it looked like when it was up & pending.

 

[brow3665]

Hmm...

 

[brow3665]

My BCA contact said that yes, the case is currently active and being worked. This is huge!!

 

[Pressureandheat]

My BCA contact said that yes, the case is currently active and being worked. This is huge!!

That is great news!! Maybe thats why his info was taken down from NamUs??