Hagmann Investigative Services, Inc.
Unsolved Murders
Erie County, Pennsylvania
CASE 1: DAVID MENZIES, JR. Date of Death: June 25, 1978
CASE SUMMARY: David Menzies, Jr. was 25 years-old at the time of his death. He was shot in the basement of his residence at 6800 Cherry Street, Summit Township, Erie, PA before midnight on Saturday, June 25, 1978. This could possibly be termed an execution style murder.
CASE NOTES: This case holds special significance to me as I was a partner in a
PI firm that was hired to look into this murder. We were retained in 1987 and developed
some good leads, which hold true even today. This case is STILL OPEN.
JURISDICTION: Pennsylvania State Police
CASE 2: ERIE POLICE CORPORAL ROBERT OWEN: Date of Death: December 29th, 1980
CASE SUMMARY: Corporal Owen, a veteran city of Erie Police Officer, was found shot to death by his own service revolver behind a warehouse near the intersection of West 18th & Cranberry Street, Erie, PA.
CASE NOTES: The entire case, from start to finish, can be termed "bizarre". At first authorities could not decide between murder or suicide, then the gun used in the murder (missing for a time) turns up near the crime scene weeks later. That can and was explained, but to whose satisfaction? The death of Corporal Owen was ultimately determined to be a homicide. Although many more volumes about this case can and should be brought out in the open, lets fast forward to 1990, shall we? Interestingly, the Owen murder file (sensitive documents and all) found its way to a file cabinet in the city solicitor's office of the 5th floor of city hall. Insurance purposes, huh?
JURISDICTION: Office of the Attorney General
UPDATE: December 29, 2000: Pennsylvania Attorney General gives probe back to local authorities, and Erie County District Attorney Brad Foulk will direct a renewed investigation into the murder of Erie Police Officer Robert Owens. (See link to unsolved murder page below). A confidential source close to this agency has revealed that the suspect in the homicide death of Corporal Owens is NOT and was NEVER a police officer. A familiar name maybe, but not a police officer. Developing....
CASE 3: JANINE KIRK: Date of Death: June 25, 1988 (Body discovered) ARREST MADE
CASE SUMMARY: Ms. Janine Kirk, an x-ray technician at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, PA, was found partially buried in sand on a Presque Isle beach on June 25, 1988. Ms. Kirk was bludgeoned to death, and was also stated to have sustained puncture wounds to her neck. Her vehicle was found several days later in Tionesta, PA, about 70 miles from Erie.
CASE NOTES: Friday, August 25th, 2000: James Michael "Jamie" FLEMING of Erie was charged with the murder of Ms. Kirk by Erie County District Attorney Brad FOULK. After more than 12 years, our recently elected District Attorney (and former Assistant District Attorney) pushed forward with the charges, keeping his campaign promise to the citizens of Erie County of making unsolved homicide cases one of his highest priorities.
CASE 4: HELEN K. VOGT: Date of Death: July 23rd, 1988
CASE SUMMARY: The elderly Mrs. Vogt, age 77, was found savagely beaten and stabbed numerous times in her blood spattered apartment in the 2800 block of Zimmerman Road, Erie, PA 16510. A particularly vicious and brutal killing, Herbert MacDonnel of Corning, NY, a blood splatter analyst/expert was called to the scene. The woman's vehicle was later found in Dayton, Ohio. There was no sign of forced entry into her apartment; her doors were locked from the inside with deadbolts, except a sliding glass patio door situated ten feet above ground that was found unlocked. A neighbor reportedly observed someone "with a towel draped over his/her head" driving the victim's vehicle from the scene early Saturday morning, July 23rd, 1988.
CASE NOTES: Is this an interesting coincidence, or what? The victim's will, distributing some $400,000 to her daughter and two grandchildren was filed three days before she was murdered.
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
CASE 5: REBECCA BAIN: Date of Death: April 14th, 1991:
CASE
SUMMARY: "Somewhat Unsolved": In April, 1991, Rebecca Bain, 28, was found beaten and strangled to death in her East 13th Street apartment.
She sustained cuts and puncture marks on her neck, and also had lacerations to
her groin and genital area. Her 15 month-old son slept in another room while his
mother was being murdered. Amy Beth PENCILLE
was ultimately tried and convicted of Ms. Bain's murder, however an alleged "accomplice"
(James C. CHARLTON of Philadelphia, PA) was not.
CASE NOTES:
Charges against James CHARLTON were dismissed by the Erie County District
Attorney's office in 1993 due to unreliable source information. Amy Beth
PENCILLE is currently serving life in prison without parole.
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
CASE 6: DUANE SLATER, JR.: Date of Death: June 6, 1998:
CASE SUMMARY: Duane Slater, Jr., age 23, was found about 7:00 PM slumped against the wall of a 13 unit boarding house at 263 West 18th Street, Erie, PA. He was shot once in the head with a small caliber handgun. Police are reportedly looking for two potential witnesses.
CASE NOTES: There is an indication that police know the identity of the gunman.
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
CASE 7: TAMMY PELC: Missing July, 1979; Body Found
CASE SUMMARY: The beautiful 20 year-old was reported missing in July 1979 by her family, and her badly decomposed body was later found buried in the dirt floor basement of a multi-unit apartment building on West 26th Street in the city of Erie, PA. The apartment building is located adjacent to a convenience store where the victim worked at the time of her murder.
CASE NOTES: This case is being investigated by the Office of the Attorney General... could it be that the son of a prominent city employee is implicated in this murder?
JURISDICTION: Office of the Attorney General
CASE 8: JOAQUIN PENA: Date of Death: August 5th, 1994
CASE SUMMARY: The victim was found with a gunshot wound to his chest in a bedroom of his second floor apartment located on East 5th Street in the city of Erie. Mr. Pena was a native of the Dominican Republic who was working in Northeast, PA as a grape-picker at the time of his murder. He had only been in the area for about 2 months prior to his death.
CASE NOTES: Witnesses are being sought, and there is speculation of a motive.
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
CASE 9: GABRIEL ELVERTON: Date of Death: December 7th, 1995
CASE SUMMARY: The victim of this murder was only 16 years-old. Originally from Chicago, IL, he had been living with his aunt from October of 1995 until of his death. The victim sustained gunshot wounds to his abdomen, chest and right leg was found in Chautauqua Park in Erie's lower east side.
CASE NOTES: Speculation regarding the motive of this slaying abounds...
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
CASE 10: MARVIN ARRINGTON: Date of Death: October 25th, 1996
CASE SUMMARY: The victim of this murder was shot twice in the back and once in the leg, and was discovered lying in tall grass in a vacant lot near the corner of East 17th and German Street in the city's east side. Although a .38 caliber handgun was found near his body, it was ruled out as the murder weapon. A total of 11 shell casing were found in the vicinity of the lot, some of which apparently came from either a .45 or a 9mm handgun.
CASE NOTES: Possible drug related shooting.
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
CASE 11: TIMOTHY GLOVER: Date of Death: December 13th, 1996
CASE SUMMARY: Mr. Glover, 57, was stabbed numerous times in the neck and chest at a Parade Street rooming house where he resided alone.
CASE NOTES: An arrest may be on the horizon.
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
CASE 12: AMY LAWRENCE: Date of Death: January 9th, 1998
CASE SUMMARY: Ms. LAWRENCE, 22, was found in her apartment on East 3rd Street in the city of Erie, PA. She was stabbed numerous times with a steak knife or similar weapon.
CASE NOTES: The family of this victim has posted a $2500.00 reward leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer.
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
CASE 13: JOHN KEELER, JR.: Date of Death: September 14th, 1998
CASE SUMMARY: Mr. KEELER was found lying in an alley running between the 1100 block of Parade and Wallace Streets. The victim sustained numerous gunshot wounds to his head and torso.
CASE NOTES: The location where the victim was found is known to be a hotbed of drug activity. According to published reports in the Erie Times-News, friends of the victim have told authorities that he was known to use crack cocaine.
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
CASE 14: DARRELL WHITEMAN: Date of Death: September 8th, 1999
CASE SUMMARY: Mr. WHITEMAN was 60 years-old at the time of his death. His badly burned body was found in his apartment at 1916 Sassafras Street, Erie, PA, although a M.E. report discovered that the victim died of a broken neck sustained prior to the fire. Identification of the victim was delayed due to the poor condition of the victim's body.
CASE NOTES: Interestingly, a family who lived in the same building as the victim had moved out of their apartment within days of the fire.
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
CASE 15: JOHN WAYNE RAY: Date of Death: June 3rd, 1989
CASE SUMMARY: John RAY, 43, was found with a stab wound to his skull in his Lakefront Drive home located in Millcreek Township, PA. An autopsy determined that the victim died as a result of complications of that wound.
CASE NOTES: Pending
JURISDICTION: Millcreek Township Police Department
CASE 16: DONALD PERKINS: Date of Death: August 22nd, 1963
CASE SUMMARY: Mr. PERKINS was shot twice in the head and killed as he worked as a gas station attendant at the Mobil Gas Station on Depot Road in Harborcreek Township, PA as an alleged result of a robbery. Only 24 at the time, the victim had worked at that station for less than a month before his brutal murder. The killer got away with $100 of the night's receipts, and left a young woman a widow and a 16 month old girl without a father.
CASE NOTES: Having the distinction as being one of the area's oldest unsolved murders, there has been renewed interest due to a large news article that appeared in a December 26th, 1999 edition of The Erie Times-News.
JURISDICTION: Pennsylvania State Police
CASE 17: KAREN HUFNAGEL: Date of Death: April 13th, 1977
CASE SUMMARY: Ms. HUFNAGEL, 23, was shot in her mobile home located on Route 99, just south of Edinboro, PA. The mobile home was then set on fire in an attempt to cover up the homicide.
CASE NOTES: Developing
JURISDICTION: Pennsylvania State Police
CASE 18: PATTY TYLER: Date of Death: January 20th, 1982
CASE SUMMARY: Ms. TYLER, 32, was found in her vehicle at the Suburban Bowling Alley on West Ridge Road in Girard, PA with gunshots to her head and neck.
CASE NOTES: There are very interesting aspects to this case being explored.
JURISDICTION: Pennsylvania State Police
CASE 19: JEAN PATRICK GOLDMAN: Date of Death: June 23rd, 1987
CASE SUMMARY: This victim, a Lake City, PA resident, was found shot to death in his van that was parked on the side of Route 98.
CASE NOTES: Interesting aspects of this case are abundant. The manner in which the victim was killed and the circumstances surrounding this murder is suggestive of a "hit". Developing....
JURISDICTION: Pennsylvania State Police
CASE 20: SABRINA KOWAL: Date of Death: April 8th, 1991
CASE SUMMARY: Ms. KOWAL, 23, was found in a field on Shunpike Road by a farmer returning from feeding his horses. Wearing only one white sock and two rings, the victim sustained severe blunt force head injuries. In fact, the trauma was so severe that a large portion of her scalp was torn loose by the trauma.
CASE NOTES: The victim in this case had a criminal record for prostitution. However, that does not make her any less of a victim. This case might be linked to other similar killings in this part of the country.
JURISDICTION: Pennsylvania State Police
CASE 21: ELEANOR C. FREE: Body Found: December 17, 1962
CASE SUMMARY: Eleanor C. FREE, a divorced mother of two young adults and living alone, was found murdered in her house located at 1018 Washington Place by a concerned neighbor on December 17th, 1962. Ms. FREE was found clad in her nightgown and housecoat in the bedroom of her apartment and was methodically bound by electrical cords ripped from a clock and a portable radio from the bedroom. She was strangled with a silk stocking, and gagged with another stocking (hence the descriptive title), a piece of a bed sheet and sweater covering her mouth. The victim was beaten about her head, neck and chest, and suffered defensive stab wounds from a paring knife that was found at the scene. The victim 's wrists were tied behind here body, and her legs were also tied at the ankles; a cord tied her wrists and legs behind her body, which was also tied to the foot of the bed. The silk stocking that was around the victim's neck was also tied to the bedroom doorknobs.
It was obvious from the scene that the victim attempted to fight off her killer in an intense struggle, one that she ultimately lost. Newspaper reports of the murder scene quoted Merle WOOD, Erie County Coroner at the time, as describing the scene as a "bloody mess in the bedroom" when recently interviewed for a story dated 02/18/2001 that appeared in The Erie Times-News. There was no indication of sexual assault. At the time the body of Ms. FREE was discovered, it was in stages of decomposition that suggested that she had been dead for some time. The victim was last seen on Tuesday, December 11, 1962 on which date she had dinner with neighbors, leaving at approximately 10:30 PM that evening.
Interestingly, there was no sign of forced entry into her house, suggesting that the victim either knew her murderer or the murderer had a key. Police reports indicate that robbery and sex were "eliminated as motives".
CASE NOTES: Eleanor C. FREE was 40 years old at the time of her death. Originally from Newburgh, NY, the victim had lived in the Erie area for 12 years prior to her murder. She was employed as a Lab Technician at Lord Manufacturing, although was on leave from her employer at that time. She was also estranged from her husband, James R. FREE, Sr., for two years preceding the murder. It was noted that James FREE Sr. deeded the house the two had owned and where the victim lived approximately 4 months prior to her murder. According to newspaper reports from 1962, her estranged husband resided about 10 miles south of Erie in Waterford, PA. The victim and her husband had two children, Marcia FREE, who was reportedly a junior at Fort LeBoeuf High School and living with her father in Waterford at that time, and James R. FREE Jr., who was stationed in the navy at Great Lakes, IL.
"Mr. X": On the night that Ms. FREE's body was found, Erie Police detectives interviewed a man who came to be known as "Mr. X", based on his "X-style signature" from two postcards found addressed to the victim at her residence. These postcards contained affectionate language toward the victim suggestive of a possible relationship or perhaps, the hope of a relationship. News accounts at that time describe "Mr. X" only as a friend; he was reportedly interviewed by detectives for seven hours on the night the victim's body was discovered, but was later released. "Mr. X" allegedly visited the victim at her residence at approximately 4:00 PM on Tuesday, December 11th, 1962.
STATUS: A well placed and reliable source confided to agency investigator Doug Hagmann that "a voluminous amount" of physical and trace evidence was found at the murder scene, and this evidence is currently in the process of being analyzed by procedures that were unavailable to investigators at the time of the murder. This source stated: "Believe me, the killer left evidence behind". Also, "the manner and method that the victim was bound and gagged fits a specific profile leading to a motive".
JURISDICTION: City of Erie, Bureau of Police
JUST
WHO IS MR. "X?": Investigation revealed the identity
of Mr. "X" as Clifford SALOW. Police reports of the
investigation found that SALOW allegedly visited the victims house
on December 13th, 1962, apparently one day after the victim was
murdered. At the time of the investigation, SALOW reportedly
admitted to "panicking" when he found the body and fled the
residence, deciding not to tell anyone about his find. SALOW also
failed to mention to the police that he had a key to the victims house.
INTERESTING NOTE: cursory research conducted by Doug Hagmann found that
SALOW also worked at Lord Manufacturing, as did the victim.
Please send any comments, suggestions, requests, leads, or other pertinent information to this agency by e-mail, telephone or facsimile. All information will be held in the strictest of confidence.
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