PA - Lindy Sue Biechler, 19, fatally stabbed, Lancaster County, 5 Dec 1975 *arrest in 2022*

[morf13]

A couple points-
First as far as Zodiac goes, I agree with much of your profile of him.
He was not British, multiple people have spoken with him, one of which was a surviving witness who spoke to him for several minutes, he did not have a British accent. I think the possible mentions of Zodiac being British are due to his constant use of the word ‘Shall’, primarily NOT used in America. Also, some of his writings may have been inspired by Jack The Ripper.
For now, I would like to separate Zodiac from Lindy’s case.
Whoever wrote that letter, Zodiac, or anybody else, needs to be discovered, and investigated. Profilers are not sure if that letter was written by Lindy’s killer, but they think it’s likely that it was authored by the same people that vandalized her grave. So why not want to find them, and rule them out?
They made a big mistake not releasing that letter to the public back when they got it, somebody may have recognized the writing. If there was something they wanted to leave out for investigative purposes, they could have partially redacted the letter. The case is 40 years old, so why not release it? What do they have to lose? Problem is, many of the people who may have identified the writing 40 years ago, may now be dead, or moved away, etc.
The good news is, there appears to be some DNA evidence in Lindy’s case, so maybe one day, her case can be solved via physical evidence.

 

[Kell1]

The case is 40 years old, so why not release it? What do they have to lose? Problem is, many of the people who may have identified the writing 40 years ago, may now be dead, or moved away, etc.[/FONT]
The good news is, there appears to be some DNA evidence in Lindy’s case, so maybe one day, her case can be solved via physical evidence.

I cant say why they didn't release it , I don't see honestly why they wouldn't , the only thing I could think of is if the FBI actually told the police, that they felt that they were certain it was a hoax (as is the case in a lot of cases unfortunately)

Knowing it could sidetrack an investigation, they never gave it much credence..

But I see your point what could it hurt letting a sample of it be seen by the public

 

[morf13]

I cant say why they didn't release it , I don't see honestly why they wouldn't , the only thing I could think of is if the FBI actually told the police, that they felt that they were certain it was a hoax (as is the case in a lot of cases unfortunately)

Knowing it could sidetrack an investigation, they never gave it much credence..

But I see your point what could it hurt letting a sample of it be seen by the public

The worst that could happen is that they ID the Author, question him, and find out that he had nothing to do with the crime. They can then move on.

 

[Kell1]

The worst that could happen is that they ID the Author, question him, and find out that he had nothing to do with the crime. They can then move on.

Who knows?

 

[morf13]

Bump for Lindy...Please keep her case in your mind

 

[Richard]

Some interesting comparisons between this case and those associated with Zodiac. Also, the possibility that Richard Haefner might have been involved has been mentioned.

Lindy was stabbed to death on 5 December 1975. Some indication that she was stabbed with a knife NOT found at the scene, but that she was stabbed in the neck with a kitchen knife from the home which was left in her.

This would seem to be an attempt to get investigators to think that the murder was done with that kitchen knife, while the killer took his own knife with him upon departing. He may have wanted to prevent someone identifying him by his own knife - perhaps because he was known to carry it at all times. Or he may have wanted to keep his special knife and to mislead LE into thinking they had the weapon.

His attatchment to his own knife and his wanton stabbing and murder of Lindy might indicate that he had done this before and after without any particular reason and certainly with no remorse or feeling toward the victim. A search of other knife murders, knife attacks, and incidents might find some connections.

In July 1975, TV actress and writer Tina Fey (then only 5 years old) was attacked by a man with a knife in her Upper Darby, PA front yard. A similar senseless attack. Close in time frame and geographics. Could there be a connection?

 

[TMAN2014]

So this murder occurred on a Friday, early night time, temperature around 50 degrees. Who would be stalking a 19 year old girl? Was she a student at college? What kind of older people or males would she have contact with? Would a young guy be capable of doing this, and then later the cemetary thing? Maybe the perpetrator worked a 9-5 job, and had just got done work for the week, since it was Friday.

I did not read every post, but just glanced at what I had time to read. I see a post about religious references by the killer. Who would go there? Lancaster County is kind of a rural area with a lot of Almish families, who are somewhat religious.

Just throwing out any kind of random thoughts I have.

 

[morf13]

So this murder occurred on a Friday, early night time, temperature around 50 degrees. Who would be stalking a 19 year old girl? Was she a student at college? What kind of older people or males would she have contact with? Would a young guy be capable of doing this, and then later the cemetary thing? Maybe the perpetrator worked a 9-5 job, and had just got done work for the week, since it was Friday.

I did not read every post, but just glanced at what I had time to read. I see a post about religious references by the killer. Who would go there? Lancaster County is kind of a rural area with a lot of Almish families, who are somewhat religious.

Just throwing out any kind of random thoughts I have.

Lindy was not a college Student, her Husband was.

Lindy worked at a local flower shop.

As far as 'older' men in her life, there were a few, and I know there is suspicion of at least one of them. Police, as they should, would start within her close circle of Family & Friends, and then work outward from there. They must have certainly looked closely at all men in her life. I hope they looked closely at her Husband's Friends & Co-workers. I also know that Lindy's Boss was suspected by some, as well as at least one person that worked at a local hospital.

I think there were mistakes made in this case. The letter sent to the police should have been published immediately in case somebody recognized the writing. Also, the letter named a Woman...JANICE CRUM. Police supposedly looked at women with this name and found none of interest. I found one very close to Lindy's home, I hope they talked to her. I don't think the letter writer,who I think is also the killer, chose to use the name Janice Crum in the letter chose it randomly, I think he likely knew Janice in Some way, and used her name maybe to spite her, or because he did not like her or maybe he was an Ex Boyfriend of hers, etc

 

[morf13]

Bumping for Lindy

 

[morf13]

Bumped for Lindy,December 5th will mark 41 years.

 

[scriptgirl]

So sad. I wonder if her killer is still out there and if he harmed anyone else.

 

[AuggiesMom23]

I think about this case all the time. Bumping for Lindy.

 

[morf13]

Keeping her case out there. I am developing a true crime podcast and I will definitely cover her case:

http://truecrimeguy.com/murder-amish-country-case-lindy-sue-biechler/

 

[leilarose68]

Do they have DNA from the suspect? Was she raped or just stabbed?

 

[morf13]

Do they have DNA from the suspect? Was she raped or just stabbed?

She wasn't raped but the crime was sexually related in nature, if that makes sense. It's been so long since I went thru the files, I can not remember if there was DNA or not. If there was, I suspect that the same Detectives that just solved the Christy Mirack case will be using it for Lindy's case

 

[morf13]

Investigator in the Lindy Sue Biechler case just died

It's a long story, but there were some over the years that thought he was involved in Lindy's case. I talked to him a few times and exchanged emails, and never got that impression

 

[CV91]

I haven't read all of the posts in this thread, so sorry if this has already been asked, but could this have been opportunistic? Perhaps a friend or family member knew about her feeling of being watched and took advantage of the opportunity to kill her knowing that the mystery stalker would get most of the attention.

 

[morf13]

I haven't read all of the posts in this thread, so sorry if this has already been asked, but could this have been opportunistic? Perhaps a friend or family member knew about her feeling of being watched and took advantage of the opportunity to kill her knowing that the mystery stalker would get most of the attention.

They feel that her killer may have snuck into her apartment as she was going down to her car to get bags out of it. That means somebody likely in the apartment complex, or a stalker that was following her. Her family was checked out. Somebody connected to the family was a possible suspect

 

[Betty P]

This case always gave me the shivers because it reminded me of my single days, living in a ground level apartment with a sliding patio door in back. There was a creeper around back then (late 70s), with some rapes and, eventually a rape/murder just a few blocks away. The killer was never caught, but he preyed on women living alone in the many area apartment complexes.

I had a feeling this guy was doing the same. Since reading up on the Golden State Killer, this killer may have a similar patterns - someone who trolled around apartment complexes peeping in on women at home alone.

Both Lindy Biechler and Christy Mirack lived in similar neighborhoods. Though LIndy's apartment complex is older, both have those first floor apartments with patios out back in areas surrounded by trees and bushes. This guy may have chosen these kinds of apartment complexes because he could creep around in the bushes at night, stalking his victims, coming and going without being seen.

Link to Google Street View of Lindy's apartment with shady back garden area

Google Maps

Street view of Christy's apartment complex

Google Maps

It would be interesting to see if there were reports of peeping toms, burglars, etc. from other people in those two neighborhoods in the weeks leading up to the murders. It may be a pattern.

 

[morf13]

Update: Arrest in Mirack murder lifts hopes of resolution for Lindy Sue Biechler, killed 42 years ago in Manor Township