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

[Richard]

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.
View attachment 626813

There are some 19 pages of detailed instructions for submitting a missing person case to NAMUS. I have no idea why they would remove your submitted entry, but possibly because of some sort of administrative error? It might be that the BCA or Blue Earth Sheriff's Office had to approve of it within a certain time frame. It might also be that BCA wishes to first list the case on their own website?

LINK:

https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh336/files/media/document/userguide-enteringmpcases.pdf

Of course, it is an open and active case. Theoretically since 3 October 1965 when first reported, but certainly for the past two years or so since we made it known to the investigating authorities. BCA is aware of it and did assign an investigator to the case over a year ago. He contacted me by phone and we discussed it at length. He explained to me that it would remain in the jurisdiction of the Blue Earth County Sheriff, but that he would be working with them on it.

The BCA is in charge of the Minnesota Missing Persons Clearinghouse website which lists unsolved cases. They have all the information available about Dickie's disappearance but have yet to post it on their website. Minnesota statutes (linked below) indicate that Dickie's disappearance clearly meets the definition of an endangered missing person case.

Here is a link to it and an explanation about the criteria that they use.

LINK:

Missing and Unidentified Persons Clearinghouse | MN-DPS

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) Public Services

portal.dps.mn.gov

Sec. 299C.52 MN Statutes

 

[brow3665]

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

Was it already posted on Namus and now it is not there, or were you trying to submit it for the first time?

 

[Richard]

Richard John "Dickie" Huerkamp, age 15
Missing since 2 October 1965

Remembering Dickie Huerkamp this Thanksgiving day.

 

[Pressureandheat]

Was it already posted on Namus and now it is not there, or were you trying to submit it for the first time?

His info had been submitted and it was “pending” but now it’s been taken down. No longer pending and not listed as missing. Not sure why. The info was pretty straight forward.

 

[Richard]

His info had been submitted and it was “pending” but now it’s been taken down. No longer pending and not listed as missing. Not sure why. The info was pretty straight forward.

I have twice submitted information and photos to the BCA for inclusion of Dickie's case on their Minnesota Missing Persons Clearinghouse website, with similar results (non action).

I wonder if the 60 year anniversary article in the Maple River Messenger led to any comments or tips from readers?

 

[LovlyMess]

My apologies. I must've missed that in the newspaper articles McGoo posted earlier. I'm assuming Dickie didn't know where they were to hunt, as he ended up in the opposite direction of the other kids. Had he known, I'd think he'd head for that same general area to catch up.

The Huerkamps were tavernkeepers. They probably weren't early risers, and may've been heavy sleepers. In fact, it must've been hard for Mathias to do farm work and keep a tavern (odd hours).

I don't know what the rumors were, but just going by the newspapers, Dickie's parents portray him as a rather sensitive boy, imo (maybe dad resented that). He was a high school sophomore, yet allegedly cried because he overslept (yet didn't sulk when physically disciplined by his mother the previous night, which is also interesting, imo).
Also, although we're told he hunted regularly in the area, and there are two livehoods mentioned, Dickie had to borrow so many items, just to go hunting nearby.
He apparently undertook the hobby of hunting entirely on his own. He took the hunting course through school and regularly borrowed the shotgun from a friend. His dad never mentions having gone with him or taught him, yet considers him a "responsible" hunter. Interesting. Of course, this is all jmo.

The detail about him crying that morning when he got up is very interesting to me. It makes me think that he had a feeling or knew something could happen to him MOO. If that's the case, maybe some people that knew him did not have good feelings about him, and showed it before.

 

[brow3665]

His info had been submitted and it was “pending” but now it’s been taken down. No longer pending and not listed as missing. Not sure why. The info was pretty straight forward.

I have only EVER known NAMUS to remove cases that have been tentatively resolved

 

[Pressureandheat]

I have only EVER known NAMUS to remove cases that have been tentatively resolved

i would hope his family & friends would be notified if that was the case. But haven’t heard anything around town.

 

[Richard]

i would hope his family & friends would be notified if that was the case. But haven’t heard anything around town.

I wouldn't assume too much or draw any conclusions at this point. Give the Sheriff's Office a call and ask if there are any recent developments.