WI Victor Travis, Plainfield, 42, November 1, 1952, possible Ed Gein connection

[ventport]

The issue here is erroneous info from Gollmar's book; the Lars Thompson farm in the period Travis disappeared was in Hancock, not Plainfield. In concert with the 'Dick Travis' name in Gollmar's book, that source is loaded with errors outside of the trial information.

Also RE post #1, the '50 Olds was 'Rays' car, not Travis's.

 

[Quoththeraven]

The issue here is erroneous info from Gollmar's book; the Lars Thompson farm in the period Travis disappeared was in Hancock, not Plainfield. In concert with the 'Dick Travis' name in Gollmar's book, that source is loaded with errors outside of the trial information.

Also RE post #1, the '50 Olds was 'Rays' car, not Travis's.

Newspapers show Lars Thomsen lived in Hancock in 1951 after moving from Racine. Newspapers also show Lars Thomsen had a farm in Plainfield in 1952. He and his wife then moved to Wautoma in 1954. He died in Wautoma in 1969.

An article from 1961 states that the investigation was reopened and that the Thomsen farm was never searched for his body. The article also states his dog was found there running loose. Wisconsin State Journal Tue, Sep 05, 1961 Page 9 The article said that Travis and 'Burgess' had first met in a Big Flats bar in mid-October, 1952. Mrs Ben Travis and children had lived in Big Flats at one time. Travis' mother said Travis had two threats made against his life by a man whose identity was known, but he was never questioned. Sloppy police work.

 

[cenazoic]

that source [Gollmar’s book] is loaded with errors outside of the trial information.

Agreed, and I say that as someone with only casual knowledge of Gein. But since I‘m more familiar with many of the missing persons of the area and time period, the errors I saw there made me question all of it. Very careless fact-checking, for sure.

 

[Quoththeraven]

According to the article below, 'Ray Burgess' car was found. Many articles say both Burgess and his car were never found.

The third article below from the Chicago Tribune, Sat, Jan 26, 1963, page 46 mentions a Chicago gangster, James DeGeorge, who lived in Big Flats, WI, 20 miles away from Plainfield, WI and whose son, Dominic DeGeorge, was a friend of Victor Travis. Dominic was killed in a drunk driving accident involving Victor Travis. The gangster blamed Travis for his son's death. IMO, this was the person that Travis' mother alluded to when she said that somone with a grudge had her son Victor killed. She wouldn't say at the time of the disappearance who that person was.

This can be the only logical explanation explaining the disappearance of Victor Travis. I'd have to question the sheriff's statement that Burgess' car was found near Gein's property. And other articles say that Travis' vehicle was left by the bar when he left with Burgess.

Sources: All three excerpts from articles below are from Newspapers.com.