PA PA - Betsy Aardsma, 22, murdered in Pattee Library, Penn State, 29 Nov 1969

[Talisman]

Tom Whalen, Wayne Baumgardner, none of those guys will talk to anyone about anything regarding this case. The source is a reliable one, I can't reveal his connection to it, but I believe him to be reliable.

I did confirm that the shrine existed when I talked to the PSP Trooper in charge. No details but it DID happen, so it's not a fabrication. But neither Sascha, the source, or I have ever seen the shrine or pictures of it (which are in the PSP file as I understand it.)

littlehorn,

Are you saying that we don't know for sure there were even clippings left at the shrine? Do we even know if the message "I'm back" was left there?

 

[littlehorn]

Are you saying that we don't know for sure there were even clippings left at the shrine? Do we even know if the message "I'm back" was left there?

The clippings are definitely confirmed, as originals and as being left there. The "I'm back" is unconfirmed but I believe it to be true with what I know as of today.

 

[littlehorn]

Anyone here have any connections to John Walsh or America's Most Wanted?

I'd love to submit this to the show but I don't want it to get lost in all the other submissions that must come in there.

There is an official process for submitting cases to them but I'm sure they get thousands.

 

[MaryLiz]

You're probably right that someone could have unilaterally stalked Betsy without being noticed...It just seems like nowadays it would be easier with so many more students. I get the impression things were more closely-knit 40 years ago.

I didn't think of it like that, you're probably right. I had it reversed with it being easier to stalk back then only because people possibly weren't aware of it as they are today. But you're right on with the amount of students being less back then, so it might have been noticed more had someone been following her over a long-term basis.

 

[MaryLiz]

According to the Trooper in charge, the file is not even allowed to leave the barracks. He related to me that he was struggling with how he would/could present the case to Vidocq. It's also 1700 pages which would mean you'd need a dedicated guy like the one who wrote the book about Zodiac -- someone who could go there every night for hours just to look at it.

I don't know about PIs, but to be a PI in PA (hah!) you have to have had five years of police/sheriff/etc. LE experience, so it would basically be like showing it to another cop at that point. I looked into getting my PI's license. It's a catch-22 since PA law requires 20/40 vision in the strong eye UNCORRECTED to be any kind of police officer. So I was screwed there.

There is one possible way to view it as a private citizen -- petition the PA State Police Commissioner for permission to view the file. I know someone who tried that in 1987 and was told "no friggin' way!"

Of course, another 20 years have passed. I don't want to go over anyone's head if possible, I'd like to have the PSP as an ally on this.

No, no I didn't mean to go against the PSP..I just wondered if a PI or anyone who was not LE per se could see it.

Anyone here have any connections to John Walsh or America's Most Wanted?

Funny you should mention that, I actually composed a letter and just sent another case I have been working on to them yesterday. I got the address off their website. I'm also sending it to 48 Hours and possibly 60 minutes. It certainly couldn't hurt but I know what you mean about them getting tons of cases and being afraid Betsy's would get lost in the shuffle. I'm really hoping to hear back from them on my other case though I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

[littlehorn]

I didn't think of it like that, you're probably right. I had it reversed with it being easier to stalk back then only because people possibly weren't aware of it as they are today. But you're right on with the amount of students being less back then, so it might have been noticed more had someone been following her over a long-term basis.

That's just an impression I get from people who I've talked to who attended PSU back then. Of course, there were still probably 10,000+ students...But at the same time I think there were more personal connections than today's 30,000+ students have.

 

[littlehorn]

No, no I didn't mean to go against the PSP..I just wondered if a PI or anyone who was not LE per se could see it.

Funny you should mention that, I actually composed a letter and just sent another case I have been working on to them yesterday. I got the address off their website. I'm also sending it to 48 Hours and possibly 60 minutes. It certainly couldn't hurt but I know what you mean about them getting tons of cases and being afraid Betsy's would get lost in the shuffle. I'm really hoping to hear back from them on my other case though I'm not going to hold my breath.

The thought had occurred to me to appeal to the PSP Commissioner. I will wait until I have no other options left before I try that one.

Good idea on 48 Hours and 60 Minutes. I might try them as well. I did email the Dateline guy from this forum, and I may just knuckle down and send to AMW the traditional way, although I think if there was a way to talk to JW or a producer, I could better transmit my passion for solving this case and getting it out there to be looked at.

 

[cbcrime]

If you can keep the PSP from getting angry with you - your probably better off. I really wonder if there was any foresnic evidence found from the shrine material? I wonder if it has been checked. If there was anything did they run it in all different databases.

Littlehorn since you believe the source to be reliable about the shrine and statement - I'll take it as accurate until there is proof otherwise.

 

[Trino]

Since there's been no movement in this case for years, one would think opening some files to the public might be of value. PSP could not solve the case in 40 years; maybe someone else could. Opening files could jog someone's memory, someone who perhaps knew something that could lead to the killer.

 

[littlehorn]

If you can keep the PSP from getting angry with you - your probably better off. I really wonder if there was any foresnic evidence found from the shrine material? I wonder if it has been checked. If there was anything did they run it in all different databases.

Littlehorn since you believe the source to be reliable about the shrine and statement - I'll take it as accurate until there is proof otherwise.

The police should have a wealth of possible forensic evidence from this case, and the Trooper in charge assured me that he is working to see what viable information can be recovered on their limited budget.

It is my understanding that it has not been checked or run in other databases.

The source has been reliable and accurate in other information that has been revealed to me, so I would assume the shrine evidence was accurate as portrayed in the article.

 

[littlehorn]

Since there's been no movement in this case for years, one would think opening some files to the public might be of value. PSP could not solve the case in 40 years; maybe someone else could. Opening files could jog someone's memory, someone who perhaps knew something that could lead to the killer.

I would agree with you here. I don't know why they wouldn't find some information which could be released or revealed without affecting any of the people involved or the strength of the case.

 

[littlehorn]

Any Facebook members here?

I need someone to check this out for me:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Betsy_Aardsma/756152475

I had no idea someone who's been dead 39 years would be so 'Net savvy and interested in connecting with her fellow PSU alums.

This came up in Google search tonight for the first time...

 

[kline]

Any Facebook members here?

I need someone to check this out for me:

http://www.facebook.com/people/Betsy_Aardsma/756152475

I had no idea someone who's been dead 39 years would be so 'Net savvy and interested in connecting with her fellow PSU alums.

This came up in Google search tonight for the first time...

Cant say that I care much for the looks of that........

 

[MaryLiz]

littlehorn, in case you want to send Betsy's case to AMW or other shows here are the addresses for submitting cases to AMW, 48 Hours and Dateline.

America's Most Wanted
P.O. Box Crime TV
Washington, DC 20016

48 Hours
524 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019

Dateline NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
Room 510
New York, NY 10112

It might be worth a shot, you never know.

 

[littlehorn]

Cant say that I care much for the looks of that........

Yeah, I didn't get that either. What's the picture even supposed to be? I couldn't get it to enlarge.

I guess it's someone playing a joke. All her "friends" are current students at PSU.

 

[littlehorn]

littlehorn, in case you want to send Betsy's case to AMW or other shows here are the addresses for submitting cases to AMW, 48 Hours and Dateline.

America's Most Wanted
P.O. Box Crime TV
Washington, DC 20016

48 Hours
524 West 57th Street
New York, NY 10019

Dateline NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza
Room 510
New York, NY 10112

It might be worth a shot, you never know.

Marybeth, thanks for that! Once I have some time I will try to make up a packet that could be used to submit the case to them.

 

[Trino]

Yeah, I didn't get that either. What's the picture even supposed to be? I couldn't get it to enlarge.

I guess it's someone playing a joke. All her "friends" are current students at PSU.

To us this seems disrespectful, but to a college kid, someone who's been deceased for so long seems a good joke. Unfortunate, that whoever created this page doesn't use their time to be a better student.

 

[kline]

Yeah, I didn't get that either. What's the picture even supposed to be? I couldn't get it to enlarge.

I guess it's someone playing a joke. All her "friends" are current students at PSU.

.....Must be one of those 'Way-Homers"...
Creepy nonetheless. Considering though from the way it sounds Betsy's death has been reduced to a campus urban legend its not surprising I guess.
I wonder how many times she's been paged over campus Ouiji boards over the last 39 years?
I shudder to think.

 

[kline]

Marybeth, thanks for that! Once I have some time I will try to make up a packet that could be used to submit the case to them.

I think that would be a capital idea,ive seen far less interesting cases featured on every one of those programs.
There could be a wealth of untapped input out there if people were made aware of this case.
I know Id never heard of it Derek until you brought it to our attention
(thanks again) and just look at all the feedback on this board alone.

 

[littlehorn]

To us this seems disrespectful, but to a college kid, someone who's been deceased for so long seems a good joke. Unfortunate, that whoever created this page doesn't use their time to be a better student.

You're probably right, it's probably something fun for these guys and gals when they get drunk: "Hey, did you see I'm friends with the dead girl whose ghost is in the library?"

The odd thing is, someone has to actively maintain it, because someone has to approve the "friend requests" on Facebook, so when you send out a request to be Betsy's friend, "Betsy" has to verify and authorize that request.