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The Halloween Killer

1/5/2015

54 Comments

 
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In 1974, Gerald Turner became known as the "Halloween Killer," which is the name most people still call him.  His victim, nine year old Lisa Ann French, was sexually assaulted and murdered in Turner's bedroom on Halloween night, October 31, 1973. His despicable act was responsible for communities nationwide to no longer permit children to trick or treat at night.

A tiny kid, Lisa Ann French was Turner's nearby neighbor.  On that Hallows eve in 1973, she left home at 6 p.m. and eventually traipsed to Turner's house where she found the door open.  Calling out "Trick or Treat," she expected a smiling adult to greet her and drop candy into her outstretched and opened bag.  Then, she'd be on her way to the next house for more candy.  Instead, this male adult snatched the little girl, forced her into his bedroom, removed her clothes, and violently raped her.  Finally, he strangled her to death.  He stuffed Lisa's nude body inside two black plastic garbage bags and packed her clothing in yet another bag, leaving them alongside a country road adjacent to a farmer's field just outside Fond du Lac.

A four day search for Lisa ensued, which at times involved 1,500 volunteers.  The farmer, who owned the land where the plastic bags lay dormant, became inquisitive and checked the bag that held Lisa.  At once, he notified authorities.

The next day, the state, no—the entire nation—reacted in utter shock.

In mid-1974, Fond du Lac Police Captain Melvin Heller and Special Agent Carl Paetzke interviewed Turner at his home and asked him his whereabouts and activities the previous Halloween.  Apparently, Heller felt Turner's story had a discrepancy and asked Turner if he would take a lie detector test.  Eventually, Turner agreed to the test but the results were not satisfactory to the examiner.

Finally, Turner confessed to Heller what he had done and even drew a diagram of where he had placed the plastic bags with the body and clothing.  Turner's hair was found in the plastic bag and on Lisa's body.

He was charged with first degree murder.  The jury instead found him guilty of second degree murder; indecent behavior with a child; enticing a child for immoral purposes; and, finally, sexual perversion.  The judge gave him a 38 ½ year sentence.  Most Wisconsin residents felt Turner should have been given a life sentence for his horrible crime.

 In the later 70's, Turner was assigned to the Wisconsin State Prison's kitchen dock, where food and food-related items were delivered by outside distributors via semi-trucks.  I often saw him as I made rounds of the institution.  I did not see him speak to either staff or inmates unless he was first spoken to.  Furthermore, he did not make eye contact with other inmates.  If he did so, that was reason enough for the other inmate to bodily assault him.  Fellow inmates would have gladly joined in the beating.  For the most part, inmates treated him as if he did not exist unless he disrespected a fellow inmate by not getting out of the way as fast as the inmate thought Turner should.  

He was on the extreme bottom of the inmate pecking order because he was a "baby raper," the term used by inmates for child molesters.  They despised baby rapers and treated them accordingly.  However, Turner was a special case.  He also murdered the child he had anally molested.  If Turner attempted to speak to an inmate, that act, alone, was reason enough for that inmate to physically assault him.  If another inmate spoke to Turner, it was to order him to get the hell out of the way.  That's why many child molesters prefer to live in segregated protective custody confinement, away from general population inmates.

I recall seeing convicted child molesters climbing or descending the prison school's stairs and if another inmate or inmates suddenly ascended or descended those same stairs, the molester stopped immediately, put his head down, looked away, and made plenty of room for other inmates to pass him by.  Child molesters acted with utmost discretion.  Or else.

At the time, I was the institution's Education Director.  Part of my duties included going each weekday morning to the mail department in the front of the intuition where I checked out and subsequently approved or disapproved books and magazines mailed to inmates.  I didn't especially like the task because of my training; English teachers despise book suppression.  It was easy for me to turn down books on guns and how to make explosives, but I didn't like being the prison's Chief Censor.

One morning, I was absolutely shocked after opening a large manila envelope, addressed to Gerald Turner.  It had a magazine inside.  Apparently, Turner had ordered the magazine and paid for it.  First of all, the price on the front cover, fifty dollars, nearly floored me.  After thumbing through its pages with its many colored photos, I discovered the entire publication was devoted to hardcore sexual bondage, including handcuffs, whips, and other paraphernalia.  The magazine, I believe, had come from another country, which one I no longer recall.

Thinking of poor Lisa French and what Turner had done to her, I did not allow him to have that magazine.  After reading my written decision for turning down his periodical, Turner sued me, the warden, the Corrections' division, the governor, and just about anyone else in authority.  About a year and a half later, I could hardly believe the judge's written decision.  His Honor ordered the state to allow Turner to have that magazine in his cell.  The judge must have realized what Turner had done but chose to figuratively spit on Lisa French's grave.

Turner was paroled in 1992, which prompted state lawmakers to pass the Sexual Predator law, which allows Wisconsin to keep some people convicted of sex crimes in custody for treatment if they're deemed potentially violent.  In 1998, his parole officer in a halfway house found in Turner's room hundreds of hardcore pornographic images on a computer's hard drive.  An administrative judge found him guilty of disobeying the rules of his parole (Thankfully, some judges have good common sense) and sentenced Turner to fifteen additional years in prison.

I don’t know if the Halloween Killer is now free.  I hope not.  I hope he's never allowed to live in free society.  His crime, his sin, is unpardonable. 

54 Comments
Gregg Scotto Sr. link
12/30/2015 11:31:09 am

GeraldTurner is in Racine Corr .
As of right now 2015.

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Poop
6/4/2016 02:39:58 pm

She was my aunt

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Maryann
6/11/2017 05:54:19 pm

If Lisa was your aunt, it would be nice to share your name, to prove you are her niece.
Lisa's mother.

MARYANN
6/11/2017 05:47:17 pm

He is still in Racine, unfortunately his release date is February 7th 2018. I am apprehensive about his release as he is still interested in pornography and movies of serial killers. It is a known fact that pornography causes an imbalance in the brain where a person cannot get enough of porn and eventually acts out on it, as in the case of Gerald Turner. A stack of child porn was found in his home. WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER ONE ON THE STREETS. I am concerned for the safety of other children.
Lisa's mother, Maryann.

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Patricia Faison link
10/15/2017 02:35:18 pm

I would like to know if there is a petition to sign to stop his release. Can you make oneI will sign because there is no greater crime. I'm sorry evil like this happens.

10/31/2016 11:46:24 am

My teachers siblings escorted lisa in the beggining of trick or treating

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Maryann
6/11/2017 05:31:20 pm

I would like to know who these siblings were that supposedly escorted my daughter Lisa in the beginning of trick or treating. NOT TRUE!!!

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Susan
12/26/2016 11:22:42 am

I am Lisa French's sister,I was born nine months after her murder. Some of the things in your story are not correct. It makes me sad to see people who didn't know her or any of our family writing an article incorrectly. Please do more research next time you publish an article like this online.

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Maryann
6/11/2017 05:51:55 pm

You are so true Susan, there have been so many false stories about your sister Lisa, and our family. Thank you for mentioning this, somehow people need to know the whole truth.
Love you
Mom

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beca
10/26/2018 06:20:17 am

we are all just showing concern and sorrow for your loss. you shouldn't take it as disrespect.

Patricia Faison link
10/15/2017 02:41:09 pm

Hello,first my condolences. I saw the story on utube and was checking to see if he was released. I see he is going to be in 2018. There is no worse crime and I would like to know if there is a petition I could sign or if there is anything I could do to help make sure another child doesn't get hurt.Please let me know if there is or if I can start one.Iam so sorry for your loss.Thank you.
Concerned citizen

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Another concerned citizen
12/12/2017 04:55:22 am

to sign a petition to keep Gerald Turner incarcerated:

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/713/926/478/petition-to-keep-the-quotthe-halloween-killer-gerald-m.-turner-incarcerated/

Share the story and petition with others.

Julia Schuett
12/12/2017 02:15:31 pm

Im so sorry for your loss. And im sorry people post stuff that isnt true. And im really sorry you never got to know you sister. I was born in 74 and i live by beaver dam. I kinda remember hearing bits and peices growing up. I hope this piece of human waste never gets out! And god help our children if he does cause people that can do that to a child dont belong to breathe!😡

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sandra brzycki
9/29/2022 07:14:43 am

I was only two when this horrendous event took place but I heard often of it in conversation among the adults throughout my family over my younger years and once I was of age to partake in trick or treating, I always though briefly, thought of your sister as I still do this time of year. Obviously I never knew her but know that she will forever be remembered.

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panda link
7/4/2017 01:25:26 am

May this PIG ROT IN Hell...and he will! He is an unrepentant evil and i am glad he has been mistreated in prison. It is unconscionable that this child-molester/murderer was not given life. God curse that judge! For people like Turner, WI NEEDS TO REINSTATE THE DEATH PENALTY. Publicly hang this PIG from a pulley!

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Lynn
7/12/2017 02:26:08 pm

Maryann, I check often for any updates on his release date and shudder to think!! I was a friend of Lisa's, in fact she came to my house that fateful night dressed as a hobo. I still have the ceramic doll I painted when you invited us all to your house. My heart will forever hurt for you!!

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Maryann
7/18/2017 03:57:20 pm

Lynn, could you provide more information for me? He will be released in Feb 2018. I don't really remember you off hand.

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Lynn
11/2/2017 06:12:29 am

On that Halloween I lived on Johnson. After you moved from Amory you had invited us girl scouts to your new house. All I remember is you had a beautiful house and I remember a big window. You did ceramics and we all got a doll we painted. I still have mine with the date etched on the bottom. I think of you all every year at this time!!

Nicole
10/9/2017 12:49:43 pm

Gerald Turner should never have been let out of prison. There is no way to rehabilitate monsters like him.

When he was released from prison, he was able to successfully sue Waste Management of Madison for refusing to hire him because of the children who tour the facility. He seemed to use this money to build his perverted pornography collection.

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Maryann Gehring
10/9/2017 01:16:14 pm

When Gerald Turner was arrested for my daughter Lisa’s murder, they found stacks of child pornography. I suggest anybody with hate in their heart for this kind of sin needs to help fight against pornography. It turns my stomach every time I see these men molesting children. Basically it all comes from child pornography.
Lisa’s mom Maryann. 😢

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Nicole
10/9/2017 06:10:49 pm

Maryann--I cannot imagine...

Turner will offend again. You cannot rehabilitate a morally corrupt person who has no soul. A person who views child porn is just as guilty as the person who created it. With the creation of the internet and the dark web, it seems that people have become more rabid and desensitized to the horrific abomination they so feverously devour.

I volunteered for two different organizations in my small Wisconsin city. The first organization was designed to help the homeless, destitute, and people coming out of prison find housing, jobs, food cards and the like. The second organization was at a women's center.

I had to stop volunteering at the former because of a man who was just released from jail--not prison where he should have been. Usually, all the sex offenders were forwarded to a man in the organization. He was so backed up, that I took him. As I was writing him a resume, he told me that he had just gotten out of jail for molesting his 2 nieces and 1 nephew. I silently prayed for God to give me strength. He came in a week later and told me that his ex-girlfriend called him to apologize. He said that this former girlfriend told him that if she wouldn't have broken up with him, he would never have molested the children. I punched him in the jaw, which probably hurt my hand more than his face. In retrospect, I should have kicked him in the groin. (The ex-girlfriend needs a slap upside the head). My point is that this is the mentality of these people. They can find justification and a sort of redemption for all their evil actions.

I know the upcoming date of Turner's release is laying heavy on your heart. Is there anything that we can do to stop or delay this from happening? He is nowhere close to serving his time; no amount of time is enough to make up for what he did. There is a special place in hell waiting just for him.

Richard
10/10/2017 07:10:51 am

Dear Maryann, I am planning to make a video about Lisa's story. Would you be willing to help me get the facts correct?

Maryann
10/10/2017 08:11:07 am

Richard, my daughter Susan and I were trying to write a book regarding Lisa’s story. We have not found the time to put it all together. I feel with Turners upcoming release in Feb 2018, I wanted to share Lisa’s story instead of all the articles about him. Unfortunately I don’t know who you are. But I would be very interested in talking to you. If you could give me a little information about yourself, and how I can get a hold of you.
Maryann

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Richard
10/10/2017 10:13:31 pm

I have a Youtube channel where I narrate detailed stories about murders, unsolved mysteries, missing people, etc. I was preparing stories to warn people of the dangers on Halloween when I came across Lisa's story. You can contact me at [email protected] if you'd like to talk more. Thank you for your time.

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gloria j shogren link
12/12/2017 05:02:33 am

to sign a petition to keep Gerald Turner incarcerated:

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/713/926/478/petition-to-keep-the-quotthe-halloween-killer-gerald-m.-turner-incarcerated/

Share the story and petition with others.

Denise Christian
11/1/2017 02:00:22 pm

Maryann...I used to play with Lisa, when you lived on Monroe St. in Oshkosh. Both Lisa and Paula G. would ride around the corner to my house on E. Parkway and we'd sit under the apple tree in my backyard. Did you know that they taught me how to ride a bike...??? True story. I am a writer, now, and have some insight with how you and Susan can get 'the real story' published. If you look me up on FB, it will say I live in Nashville, TN. (actually it's 15 miles east of it). I would love to talk to you, and help with this. Be Blessed and Keep the Faith...Lets shoot for more than 10,000 signatures. Thank you for giving me such a special friend. I may have been 5 or 6 at the time, but we were too busy drawing pictures on the sidewalk with Lisa's colored chalk, to even care.

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Maryann
10/10/2017 12:30:36 pm

God's Blessings to all.

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T(not comfortable leaving my name)
10/25/2017 01:10:06 pm

Hey Maryann,
(I left you a message on FB...)
Thank you for the info on this individual...II always try to keep track of his whereabouts and I couldn't find the info until now.....please let me echo the others' here in that if there is anything we can do to help keep him in there....please let us know.
Sincerely.
The mom who parents her children because of Lisa

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Hope
10/13/2017 07:56:35 pm

I dream of her, and she died before I was born. I've been to her grave in FDL, out by that beautiful tree. She was so pretty. I'm so sorry. I miss her, yet never knew her.

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Maryann
10/14/2017 01:16:31 pm

How sweet Hope, thank you for your kind words.
Lisa’s mom
Maryann

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Kent
10/16/2017 12:41:49 pm

This story continues to haunt me all these years later. I sat next to Lisa in 3rd grade when she first attended Chegwin Elementary School. I don't understand how someone so heinous could ever be released from prison. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

Kent

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Maryann
10/16/2017 05:42:40 pm

Thank you Kent, I believe if someone causes the death of another, they should lose all their freedom. I wish there was a way he could remain incarcerated for the remainder of his life. I believe he will get back into pornography as he had while on parole, ( which was a violation of his parole ) . When someone as in Turner’s case, is into pornography it causes a chemical inbalance in their brain, and they cannot get enough, then eventually have to act out on it. Turner was into child porn, and had previously molested a babysitter who lived next door. I’m not sure it would do any good if there was a petition to keep him incarcerated or not. Patricia Faison made a comment on this blog regarding a petition to keep Turner incarcerated. What are your thoughts Kent?
Thank you for the kind words.
Lisa’s mother
Maryann

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Mary Ahern
10/29/2017 07:41:57 am

Maryann, not a year goes by that I don't think of Lisa and your family at this time. I was 13 at the time she was killed, and volunteered in the search. The whole community was devastated -- it changed many of us forever. My heart goes out to you. He never should have seen the light of day.

Susan DePauw link
10/28/2017 12:11:32 pm

Please help us and sign this petition to try to keep Turner incarcerated.

<script src="https://www.thepetitionsite.com/embed.js"></script><div class="care2PetitionEmbed" rssPath="713926478" adSize="small" publisherId="864668925" buttonColor="22489c"></div>

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Susan
10/28/2017 12:13:59 pm

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/713/926/478/petition-to-keep-the-quotthe-halloween-killer-gerald-m.-turner-incarcerated/

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Sheri
10/28/2017 05:47:58 pm

I grew up in FdL. I remember this Halloween vividly. I was 10 years old, so Lisa was close to my age. Her murder shattered the innocence of me and my friends. I still remember the fear that gripped FdL. I pray this monster will never be to allowed to roam free. I did not know Lisa but her death impacted my life. Every year I say a prayer for her and her family as I did with my class at Luther Memorial School in 1973.

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Maryann
10/29/2017 08:17:14 am

Thank you Sheri for your kind words and prayers. We do have a petition to keep Turner incarcerated so not let him out of prison on Feb 7-2018
Lisa's mother.

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Liz
10/31/2017 02:12:20 pm

Hi Maryann
i know after all of these years this still must be hard for you. I remember moving to Fond du lac 20 years ago and hearing the horrific story of what happened to your little girl. Today I thought of her ( like most Halloweens even though I didn't personally know her) and I wanted to learn more about the story I have heard so much about. Today was the first day I came across a picture of her beautiful face. It will forever be engraved in my head. I'm so sorry her life was taken so early and that she was robbed of all of the wonderful things life had to offer. I hope her story can turn into something good. Write the book. Get the word out there. There are monsters in the world and you can never be too protective of your children. Maybe we can change the way these monsters are convicted and let back into the community to destroy another child's life. My thoughts are with you and your family today.

God bless you and yours.

John Cook link
10/31/2017 10:31:31 am

I was the same age as Lisa and remember this event vividly. I never looked at Halloween the same since then. I hope Turner never gets out of prison because he truly is a monster that cannot be rehabilitated!!!!! Is it possible to get directions where Lisa is laid to rest? I am from Oshkosh and all I know is that she is somewhere in Fond Du Lac. I would like to pay my belated thoughts and prayers at her gravesite.

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Susan
10/31/2017 11:08:08 am

She is at Estabrook Cemetery in Fond du Lac. Under a large tree toward the back. https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25977969

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Kathy
10/31/2017 04:28:40 pm

I lived right down the street from where Turner lived. My sister and I had to testify at his trial. I was 11 at the time and my sister was 16. I remember all of the searching through our neighborhood.

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Susan
10/31/2017 05:26:33 pm

Kathy, Wow! I didn't know that! I looked over the court file this summer and I don't remember seeing anything about young neighbors testifying. Would you be willing to contact me? My email is [email protected].

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Thomas Engle
11/5/2017 04:24:30 pm

I've known Maryann for well over 30 years and have been to lisa grave site with her mother. He should not be released under any circumstance I feel her pain about this. As i had a tragic event happen to my family as well.

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Maryann
11/7/2017 12:56:30 pm

Thanks Tom for your love and support, I cannot imagine how you made it through the tragedy you had to suffer. My life has been blessed just knowing you and your daughter. ❤️😃

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John Smith
11/21/2017 11:24:29 pm

Hey Maryann,

I don’t know if you will remember me. But I was Joseph’s best friend growing up until my family moved to Oakfield. Obviously I wasn’t born yet when this monster took your daughters life. It’s a memory that I have never forgotten. just remembering the day that Joseph told me. That he had an older sister etc. I have raised my 2 children, especially my daughter to always protect themselves.

I was a correctional officer for 20 years. To me I consider myself lucky to never have that monster at the prison I worked at. I paid attention daily on inmates coming to where I worked. I honestly don’t know how I would’ve responded if I had contact with him. Just wanted to let you know. That you and your family have left a positive inprint in my life. I would love to hear from you and your family. My email address is [email protected]

Maryann
11/22/2017 06:01:59 am

John, I have no clue who you are talking about, I am not familiar with who this Joseph is???
Lisa's mother
Maryann

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James
12/11/2017 02:37:15 am

I feel like he need to be n there for the rest of his life because she did not get a chance to live her life

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Jan
12/13/2017 07:33:57 pm

Maryann, I so remember that terrible morning, I got a phone call around 6a, as I was a block parent chair, to start calling people to begin the search. We stood in a circle & prayed, then started our search on the W. side of town. I & friends searched every day,praying for a miracle. I also attended every day of his trial. Gerald Turner should never be allowed out of a secure facility. He is a threat, I so respect what you are doing. We must prevent him from harming another child!! I pray for peace for you & your family. Lisa, is safely in Jesus's arms, & will soon celebrate his Birthday with him.

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Glen k
12/27/2017 05:29:53 pm

What about the judge who allowed turner to keep porno magazine s.
Did he give any explanation as how he came to his decision.?

How is the release date decided?

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Roger Bunting
1/31/2018 02:03:33 pm

If Turner's law doesn't apply to this guy who it's created to keep off the streets the judge who ruled that way should be his cell mate. The sentence he was originally given is itself a travesty of Justice, he should have gotten life with no possible parole.

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Kirsten N link
4/12/2018 07:04:16 am

Woah... The story sounds really creepy as well as the look of the newspaper. ohhh goose bumps!

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Annette
10/27/2018 04:03:09 am

I recall hearing about Lisa French and seeing her picture on TV. At that time, we both had dark hair cut in a shag style and I was also nine years old, so her abduction on Halloween night affected me greatly. It was my first realization that bad people don't all look like monsters and they can live right next door. My view of people and sense of security was forever changed from that day on. As a child living in Neenah, it hit too close to home to exclude as one of those things that happens to 'other people'. My heart went out to Lisa and her family then as it still does today. Every year around this time I think of her, and we never even met. I cannot imagine what her family must go through. If you're reading this, please know I remember her and I pray for her, and I pray all of you have found some peace as well.

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Taylor S
5/16/2020 08:31:27 pm

I wasn’t born yet in 1973.
But i heard about the story and read tons of articles on it. it’s 2020 now, and the sick piece of shit, may get released or put into a mental institution where he can die!
the court date is set for just 2 days before the anniversary of that sweet girls death. :-(
He completely changed Halloween and the fun you’re SUPPOSED to have on halloween with your family FOREVER. he completely devasted an entire family and took a 9 year olds life.
he’s not capable of being “rehabilitated”. that DOES NOT exist for someone like him.
this article still disgusts me.

I’m so sorry :-(
Prayers and condolences.
~Concerned Citizen, “Fellow Fondy Resident

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Bita
7/11/2020 06:36:16 pm

Rest in peace angel lisa 😔😔💔💔

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