WI WI - Dorothy Raczkowski, 60, murdered 17 Nov 1989, Adams-Friendship

[Richard]

The death of 60-year-old Dorothy Raczkowski remains unsolved, but investigators hope a new look at the old physical evidence will reveal her killer.

On November 17th, 1989, Raczkowski returned to her farm house after working at the Ore Ida plant. She was beaten to death, and her body was found in the garage of her farm house outside of Adams-Friendship. There were no signs of a struggle, no forced entry and no murder weapon. By morning, a fresh snow blanketed the ground, covering any possible tracks.

Retired Special Agent Rick Luell is working the case as part of the cold case unit at the Department of Justice. Blood and hair evidence is being re-submitted to the State Crime Lab and to the FBI lab in search of DNA. Luell hopes something will come back to help him track the killer. "You could lose a hair, you could leave a piece of skin there. If we're able to find it, we'll put you back at that scene."

Meanwhile, Dorothy's family is just looking for some closure in the case. Her niece, Jelayne Hollingsworth hopes police will be able to find something out of the evidence left at the scene. "It would be the ultimate answer to everything--if they could do it. I'd consider it a miracle, really after all of this time."

Investigators have a list of about 30 persons of interest in the case.

If you have any information about the death of Dorothy Raczkowski, call the Adams County Sheriff's Department at (608) 339-3304.

 

[dotr]

Wondering if the murder had something to do with real estate ? speculation.rbbm.
October 28, 2010 -- 10 p.m.
By NBC15's Dana Brueck
Only On NBC15 News: Cold Case Getting Another Look
This November marks 21 years since the beating death of a local woman. Investigators say suspects were developed back in 1989, but they never could connect anyone to the crime. Now, they're hoping a new look at the old physical evidence will reveal the killer.

A cozy, old farmhouse stands quietly outside of Adams-Friendship. Its walls are a bit tattered; they were once part of one woman's dreams.

"She wanted to buy the four corners there. She had two corners - wanted to buy all four corners because she wanted to call it the Polish ponderosa. That was her and uncle Ed's dream."
The murder is referenced in this book..
Got Murder?

 

[Quoththeraven]

Three years after but no leads.

 

[Lovingmylife2014]

The death of 60-year-old Dorothy Raczkowski remains unsolved, but investigators hope a new look at the old physical evidence will reveal her killer.

On November 17th, 1989, Raczkowski returned to her farm house after working at the Ore Ida plant. She was beaten to death, and her body was found in the garage of her farm house outside of Adams-Friendship. There were no signs of a struggle, no forced entry and no murder weapon. By morning, a fresh snow blanketed the ground, covering any possible tracks.

Retired Special Agent Rick Luell is working the case as part of the cold case unit at the Department of Justice. Blood and hair evidence is being re-submitted to the State Crime Lab and to the FBI lab in search of DNA. Luell hopes something will come back to help him track the killer. "You could lose a hair, you could leave a piece of skin there. If we're able to find it, we'll put you back at that scene."

Meanwhile, Dorothy's family is just looking for some closure in the case. Her niece, Jelayne Hollingsworth hopes police will be able to find something out of the evidence left at the scene. "It would be the ultimate answer to everything--if they could do it. I'd consider it a miracle, really after all of this time."

Investigators have a list of about 30 persons of interest in the case.

If you have any information about the death of Dorothy Raczkowski, call the Adams County Sheriff's Department at (608) 339-3304.

Im her great niece. Ruthannes' daughter Im hoping that this case will be reopened and solved so our family can be at peace and know the person that committed this crime will be held accountable.

 

[Richard]

Im her great niece. Ruthannes' daughter Im hoping that this case will be reopened and solved so our family can be at peace and know the person that committed this crime will be held accountable.

Welcome to Websleuths. My condolences to you and your family.

 

[Lovingmylife2014]

Welcome to Websleuths. My condolences to you and your family.

Thank you. I came across Websleuths (thought about my Aunts unsolved case for over 21 years and maybe I can help get this reopened) and maybe even help in a few mysteries. I had my own ideas maybe some type of feud

 

[Richard]

Dorothy A. Raczkowski
BIRTH 1929
DEATH 1989 (age 60)
BURIAL
Saint Leos Cemetery
Friendship, Adams County, Wisconsin, USA

LINK:
Dorothy A. Raczkowski (1929-1989) - Find a Grave...

 

[Quoththeraven]

Thank you. I came across Websleuths (thought about my Aunts unsolved case for over 21 years and maybe I can help get this reopened) and maybe even help in a few mysteries. I had my own ideas maybe some type of feud

Whoever it was knew her routine, knew she lived alone, knew what time she'd be home, knew that she had to come in the side door of the garage to open the large door and was laying in wait for her inside the garage. It obviously was someone she knew, IMO. Because she had turned the lights on, it's a good indication she saw her killer and recognized him/her before she was struck. There was no major evidence or weapon found at the scene.

A statement in the 24 Nov 1989, Fri (page 2) Wisconsin State Journal by her brother, Hubert Grell of Richland Center, was that her will had not been found Wednesday. This would imply that there had been a will but that it was missing? Depending on who the beneficiaries were if there was a will and who stood to gain if there wasn't, could that be a motive? How did she acquire the farm, through inheritance or did she buy it after moving up from Berwyn, Ill.? Was it willed to her and were any toes stepped on through the will? Those are questions I would ask.

Another theory was a disgruntled deer hunter who she refused permission to hunt on her land. (That would seem a little extreme for a reason to kill her, though there are some fanatic deer hunters out there. Neighbors said Mrs. Raczkowski had trouble in the past with deer hunters and at one time actually had people 'patrolling her land to guard against trespassers. I would also have looked into any feuds going on at Ore-Ida between her and any coworkers.
A niece said she (the niece), who lives a quarter mile from the scene of the murder, received a strange phone call the night of her death at 11:50 pm, Thursday. She said a female voice, which sounded muffled, stated, "No, don't do that." She then allegedly heard another voice in the background, and the phone went dead. (Dorothy worked from 3 pm to 11:13 pm the night before)

She died by blows to the head according to Stanley Buchanan, the man who found her fully-clothed body, according to the same article.

 

[bykerladi]

My hesitation on the inheritance angle is that without a will, there's a big risk the killer gets nothing. Intestacy laws are rough. Its possible it was someone from work, but why wait until she's home to kill her? Kill her in the parking lot or on the way (not sure if she drove or walked). Deer hunters might be. I was about to write the weirdest I've known wouldn't kill a human but then thought better. They might. Do we know if the garage door was open or closed? No signs of a struggle means she either let them in, or they came in when she opened the door. How did they get in before she got home unless there was another open door somewhere.

 

[Richard]

Bumping thread up.

 

[Teamir]

Three years after but no leads.

Per that article she was found by Stanley Buchanan, who helped her on the farm. A heavy set man.

 

[Lovingmylife2014]

Thank you all for your info. I always thought it was Stanley Buchanan who had something to do with. At the time I was a child I always heard he was always mad at her for something or visa versa

I don’t think this will ever get solved

 

[Quoththeraven]

Thank you all for your info. I always thought it was Stanley Buchanan who had something to do with. At the time I was a child I always heard he was always mad at her for something or visa versa

I don’t think this will ever get solved

I thought it odd that if she had just come home and left her vehicle in front of the garage (per news article below), why would she turn her vehicle off if she was going to open the garage door right away? Were her keys left in the vehicle's ignition or did she take them out to open the garage door?

Is it possible that the female voice belonged to a co-conspirator telling the other person not to kill the victim? Did they call the niece to make sure she was still at her home a quarter mile away? Did the call originate from Dorothy's house? Were they lying in wait for her? You'd think LE would have traced the call. I assume the time of the call was about the time that Dorothy arrived home.

A niece said she (the niece), who lives a quarter mile from the scene of the murder, received a strange phone call the night of her death at 11:50 pm, Thursday. She said a female voice, which sounded muffled, stated, "No, don't do that." She then allegedly heard another voice in the background, and the phone went dead.

WI Post in thread 'WI - Dorothy Raczkowski, 60, murdered 17 Nov 1989, Adams-Friendship'

Mar 17, 2022

Thank you. I came across Websleuths (thought about my Aunts unsolved case for over 21 years and maybe I can help get this reopened) and maybe even help in a few mysteries. I had my own ideas maybe some type of feud

Whoever it was knew her routine, knew she lived alone, knew what time she'd be home, knew that she had to come in the side door of the garage to open the large door and was laying in wait for her inside the garage. It obviously was someone she knew, IMO. Because she had turned the lights on, it's a good indication she saw her killer and recognized him/her before she...

• Quoththeraven

• 
•