The Laurie Depies Case Haunts Me

February 3, 2008

I originally wrote this entry for the HFTM Missing forum. It has been suggested to me that I repost it here, in the blog area. I thought that was a good idea, so here is my original post, as it appeared in the forum. The link to it follows the article.

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This is one of those cases that has stuck with me since the first time I heard about her disappearance. I have no idea why she has stuck in my mind but all these years later, I am still bothered by her disappearance.
Laurie in 1991
Laurie as she appeared in 1992.

Laurie As She Might Look at 32
Laurie as she might have appeared at age 32.
DOB: September 17, 1971
Missing: August 19, 1992
Age Now: 36 years
Sex: Female
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Green
Height: 5′4″
Weight: 115 lbs
Missing From: MENASHA, WI

In January, 1995, according to The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Larry D. Hall, a janitor from Wabash, Indiana, was being held in an Illinois jail in the kidnapping of Jessica Roach, a 15-year-old Illinois girl who was later killed. Jessica’s decomposed body, which had been mutilated by a combine, was found in Indiana. Hall’s rather gruesome diary included details of young women he had abducted. Hall was also an enthusiast of Civil War re-enactments, and such a reenactment had occurred in Kaukauna, near Menasha, at the time of Laurie’s disappearance. There were details of Laurie’s disappearance in the diary, according to the report.

The January 23, 1995 issue of the Journal-Sentinel continued the story.

The Civil War re-enactment took place Aug. 15 and 16, 1992, at the Grignon Mansion in Kaukauna, 10 miles from the site of the disappearance.

Hall’s brother denied that he was in the area on that date. “Larry has never been at any kind of re-enactment in Wisconsin. I was talking about Wisconsin with my mother just this morning. She said the last time Larry was in Wisconsin was when he was 4 years old.”

Hall was tried and convicted for the Roach kidnapping and murder, but the decision was later overturned on appeal. A jury at his second trial convicted him of the crime. Citation.

Hall was never charged with Laurie Depies’ disappearance and the case remains unsolved.

Hall was also a suspect in the disappearance of Tricia Lynn Reitler, a freshman at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana in 1993. She was last seen at approximately 8:00 p.m. on March 29, 1993. Reitler walked to Marsh Supermarket, which was approximately one-half mile from the university’s campus. Reitler purchased a soda and left the store, intent on returning to her dormitory in Bowman Hall. She never made it there and has never been seen or heard from again. While there was circumstantial evidence in Hall’s possession, he was never charged with the Reitler disappearance. Several items of Reitler’s clothing were found at a nearby school, but her body has never been located.

If Hall was involved in the disappearance of Laurie Depies and Tricia Lynn Reitler, he was very good at disposing of evidence.

Where is Laurie? Where is Tricia? I do not know, and I also do not know why these cases bother me so much.

There is a website for Laurie Depies, but as of this writing, it has not been updated since June, 2005.

Laurie’s thread on Help Find The Missing.

Tricia Lynn  Reitler’s thread on Help Find The Missing.

Written by TKG · Filed Under Cold Cases, Missing Women 

Comments

15 Responses to “The Laurie Depies Case Haunts Me”

  1. Chad on July 31st, 2008 8:54 am

    Larry Hall admitted to the murder of Tricia Reitler, there is a column about him in the most recent Playboy issue, I know its kind of ironic its that magazine, but the FBI had a struck a deal with a prisoner to go undercover to get him to confess, he had a map detailing where he dumped all the women. Id suggest getting that magazine and reading that column.

  2. Darcie on January 7th, 2009 3:04 pm

    I worked at the same mall Laurie worked at at the time of her disappearance. We are close in age and I remember how horrible I felt when she was first missing. One radio station in that area closed their show every morning and asked folks to keep Laurie in their prayers. I’ve periodically google’d her to see if there are any updates as this has never left my mind either. I have since moved out of Wisconsin but still wonder what happened to Laurie. So sad.

  3. Kati Phillips on January 24th, 2009 9:59 pm

    I went to High School with Tricia Reitler. I have also periodically google’d her to see if there were any updates. My heart and prayers go out to her family as well as Laurie’s family. May the God of peace guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

  4. Catch lauries abductor on August 3rd, 2009 9:17 pm

    That day laurie had an argument with Adam from the gap, in the food court , he told her to dump her boy friend whom she bought a ring for just moments before. Adam told Laurie she would be more pleased with him. - the language user was far more graphic. Adam had plans to meet others at the mills apartments at 9:15 that night but showed at 11:00 and was shaking - making off the wall comments - he drew a picture of two persons having sex - and some form of stabbing - the local police still have the drawing on file today - just ask them ! Adam has a criminal record, was in rawhide boys ranch, has confided to as many as 3 persons that he was responsible for Laurie’s disapearing - threatened people from that party - claimed he was a serial killer - and threatened numerous persons that bare witness to his evidence trail . - this is only the tip of the Iceberg - the da had several items to charge Adam with - but not murder - Adam disposed of his car and many other things - who do you think did it ? Check the public records - call the pd and get the data - it should be fairly clear

  5. The data is showing up on August 7th, 2009 8:53 pm

    Nice, already found some public records to support some of those accounts, check the web link . What else do you have ? Can anyone else help to track what happened at that time or any of the people ?

    I assume of corse that the Adam in question is Adam Cline .

  6. Court link to Adam cline on August 7th, 2009 8:55 pm

    http://wcca.wicourts.gov/pager.do;jsessionid=BB7E90CD491A99A53C189D6392EA042D.render6?cacheId=08B8AC92AD154FAE1AABB63278E9A469&offset=0&sortColumn=0&sortDirection=DESC

    here is the link again

  7. We know it's him on September 2nd, 2009 9:35 pm

    We know it’s Adam Cline.
    There is nothing but circumstancial evidence and because he destroyed his car and other things, there is no DNA.
    Who were the three peoplehe confessed to?
    Maybe they are grown up enough now to do something about it!
    What the PD has along with their testimony of his confession.
    “Catch Lauries Abductor” were you there? You have more detailed information than we have heard…

  8. john christopherson on September 12th, 2009 8:09 pm

    Anyone want to investigate this with me? I’m up for a trip to Cali.

  9. john christopherson on September 12th, 2009 8:54 pm

    Last poster let’s get in touch.

  10. We know it's him on September 17th, 2009 12:11 pm

    Today is Laurie’s birthday…

    John,
    post your email address if you don’t mind, or if you have a facebook or myspace page, post that and I will send a friend request.

  11. Jay on September 22nd, 2009 2:56 pm

    I’m so glad someone else finally said what I’ve assumed all along…the Rawhide gentleman knows something and needs to be brought to justice. This case has bothered me since day one and I’d like to see it rectified. Will the Menasha police dept discuss this if you call them?

  12. john christopher on September 23rd, 2009 4:35 pm

    We know its him

    I can be reached at pingtoad@yahoo.com

    When I have a bit more time I will get a my space account. Please email me.

  13. Marc Truebenbach on October 29th, 2009 2:21 am

    This is Laurie’s boyfriend from the time…. This is the first I have heard about some of this info, regarding someone from Rawhide giving info. This is bringing up so many memories.

    Laurie was such a loving, kind woman, that I one day thought I would look forward to marrying.

    If ANYONE has more detailed info PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE e-mail it to me. I have heard nothing from the Menasha PD for roughly 7 years.

    God, she was so beautiful, and we absolutely adored each other:( I just pray that some day myself, and her parents Mark & Mary will get the answers that we all deserve.

    For whoever started this site….bless you with all my heart, lets pray we can all have an answer some day.

    Myself and her family have gone too many years without an answer.

  14. john christopherson on November 10th, 2009 8:10 pm

    Mark I would like to talk to you. My email is pingtoad@yahoo.com

  15. Leni on November 12th, 2009 3:01 am

    Hi Mark, It’s Leni. I didn’t know Laurie that well but I think of her pretty much every fall.

    I googled her again this fall to see if there had been any progress and saw your name. Just want to say hi, and to take care.

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