WI WI- Wayne Pratt, 24, worker @ Enco gas station, fatally stabbed 53X, covered w. blanket, Winnebago, 12/6/63, DNA id. suspect, William Doxtator (dec.)

[dotr]

Suspect emerges in 1963 gas station killing

Investigators have made strides in the 52-year-old slaying of Wayne Pratt.

www.postcrescent.com

By Emily Mae Czachor July 17, 2024 rbbm

DNA breakthrough solves 1963 cold case murder at Wisconsin gas station

A young gas station operator in Wisconsin was stabbed to death on June 12. Authorities have never named a suspect in the murder until now.

www.cbsnews.com

''More than a half-century after a man was stabbed to death at a gas station in Wisconsin, authorities believe they've finally solved his murder. Several rounds of advanced forensic testing on DNA samples taken from the scene of the crime eventually led detectives to identify a suspect in the killing, the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office said.''

'Wayne Pratt was found dead on June 12, 1963, inside of an Enco gas station formerly in operation along U.S. Highway 41 in Winnebago, which is about 60 miles southwest of Green Bay. According to the sheriff, Pratt's wife, Marie Pratt, told authorities after her husband's murder that she had discovered his body in the back room of the station, covered with a blanket. He had suffered 53 stab wounds.'

''Three years later, a warrant was issued for the arrest of the suspect, William Doxtator of Bowler, Wisconsin, who was 82 at the time.''

1963 Neenah murder suspect named, new details released by sheriff’s office

A detective told Action 2 News they believe this was a robbery that went wrong.

www.wbay.com

''Doxtator said openly in interviews he bought gas at the Enco station all the time and was friendly with Pratt.
Witnesses said Doxtator needed money. He was getting evicted. He had fines to pay to avoid going back to jail (he served time for stealing gasoline) and he wanted a boat.''

 

[Richard]

William A. Doxtator, identified through DNA as the killer, died in 2022.

Stabbing his victim 53 times was more than just an accident. Did he kill others as well?

 

[Teamir]

Glad they solved it! It sounds like they knew each other, from what the article says.

 

[Quoththeraven]

William A. Doxtator, identified through DNA as the killer, died in 2022.

Stabbing his victim 53 times was more than just an accident. Did he kill others as well?

Looking through the newspapers over the years, this guy was a one-man crime wave. He last lived in the Town of Bowler, WI, which is located on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation. Can you imagine leaving a 3 year old alone by a lake?

Source: Newspapers.com

 

[Teamir]

Looking through the newspapers over the years, this guy was a one-man crime wave. He last lived in the Town of Bowler, WI, which is located on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation. Can you imagine leaving a 3 year old alone by a lake?

Source: Newspapers.com
View attachment 587691

Maybe he killed her too?