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

30 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. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. holly on January 19th, 2010 1:07 pm

    I use to work at paper valley with a couple of Laurie’s friends when she was abducted and Adam Cline worked there with me too. Very odd guy. I was in a bar this summer and a bartenders boyfriend was there he claimed he was in jail with the man that confessed to killing Laurie and dumping her under the 441 bridge when this was being built. The guys name that was bragging about it was Michael Bosman maybe you should check this out

  15. holly on January 19th, 2010 1:13 pm

    SORRY ONE MORE POST IT WAS AARON I THINK I WORKED WITH AT PVH NOT ADAM…AARON WAS THE ODD ONE DID ANYONE CHECK OUT HIM

  16. Marc T on February 2nd, 2010 2:22 am

    Aaron was one messed up scary guy. I’ve read several letters he wrote her while Laurie and I were together. I’ve ALWAYS thought he had something to do with it, or at least knew who did.

    He used to show up out of the azule while we were together and tell Laurie I was a piece of shit, had $$$, and was just showing off and that I didn’t care about her.

    My fault for having a job and a nice car I guess!!

    I will NEVER forget my Laurie & my heart aches for her family. People talk about “closure”, it has never made more sense… My life has gone on, but I still pray that some day we will all find closure.

    For people reading this, please respect my wishes and don’t bombard me with tons of meaningless e-mails that just rehash what we all already know, or theories that are 50% guesswork. The Police are much smarter than we are.

    Side note, i’ve never gotten back our photo album. The police still have it & I want it so bad. I’ve no pictures of Laurie because we built the album together.

    Myself along with numerous mutual friends miss her dearly, and I pray that some day we will have an answer Lord willing.

    I can still see her smile & hear her laugh.

    Sincerely,
    Marc

  17. Jay Christian on February 6th, 2010 8:51 am

    Marc and all:

    First, my condolences to you Marc on the loss of Ms. Depies. I can’t imagine what you went through and there is still no answer.

    To all of you, there is a book being published shortly that will offer an explanation of what happened to Laurie and more than a dozen other girls.

  18. Angela Utschig on February 18th, 2010 10:58 am

    Jay,

    Can you please give us more information on this book.I have and never will forget this case. I was one of the last people to see Laurie at the mall and have been of the mindset that it was Adam and that her body is buried under 441.

    My thoughts go out to you Marc.

    Angela

  19. we know it was him on February 25th, 2010 4:15 pm

    Marc,
    have you contacted Laurie’s Mom?
    She may be able to help get your album from Menasha PD.

  20. we know it was him on February 25th, 2010 4:17 pm

    Jay,
    Who is writing this book? Marv Balousek?

  21. Jay on March 1st, 2010 8:09 pm

    Who is this “Aaron”? …I’ve never heard him mentioned before.

  22. Les on March 13th, 2010 10:35 pm

    I lived in Wisconsin when Laurie disappeared and remember praying for her safe return to her family and boyfriend. Back then I would drive up north to see my family and would purposely drive 43 and avoid 41 because I’ve always felt Wisconsin had a serial killer stalking that stretch of highway. I did a quick search tonight to see if there were any breaks in any cases and found on another site that they found another body in Fond Du Lac County on Nov 23, 2008. So there was Berit Beck found on July 19, 1990 in Fond Du Lac County, Laurie Depies Aug 19, 1992 disappeared in Menasha, Amber Wilde Sept 23, 1998 Green Bay, and now this other case I just read with the date Nov 23, 2008. Is it just a coincidence that there were (2) from the 19th and (2) from the 23rd? It just seems odd to me and maybe they should look into it. I guess that’s all we can do is pray for the police to find a lead and pray for the families involved to have some type of closure. Very sad unsolved cases!

  23. Gail on April 23rd, 2010 10:35 pm

    Is the book you are talking about called Urges:A chronical of serial killer Larry Hall? It came out this month. Only one I have heard of.

  24. Jay Christian on April 24th, 2010 6:25 am

    Yes, Gail … that is the name of the book. It is on Amazon.

  25. we know it was him on May 24th, 2010 8:01 am

    Jay, Gail, All,

    We have been down that road, Hall did not do it.
    This Martin guy is just trying to cash in on the sensationalism.
    He doesn’t even know how to pronounce her name correctly, great research!

  26. Dawn on June 8th, 2010 7:23 pm

    There is some sort of peace knowing that people like all of you still have a passion to know what happened.

    I am Laurie’s cousin, as kids we lived one mile apart and spent a lot of time together. Laurie’s enthusiasm and artistic personality were something very unique to her. Please keep trying to piece answers together, her family misses her. Marc, I hope you got your pictures back.

  27. Marc Truebenbach on June 15th, 2010 12:05 am

    This is Marc T again. I guess I just never checked this website back. Personally I believe it was either Adam or Aaron.

    DAWN…. I miss her parents Mark and Mary also, I just assumed that they wanted NOTHING to do with me at all. It’s been a while, I should check with the PD again about the photos.

    I don’t have ONE SINGLE picture of her. I often wondered if we would have gotten married:( My wife of the last ten years recently decided it would be great to have a boyfriend, steal $25,000.00 from me, and then leave me out of the Blue.

    I correlate that because Laurie treated me with true love, my wife played games and was extremely cruel to me mentally.

    If my email address couold be sent to Mark or Mary & they want to talk…..I would love it. (PLEASE, no people playing around and sending me useless or hurtful e-mails). What I wouldn’t give to hold her in my arms and hug her again.

    Sincerely,
    Marc T

  28. Katrina C on July 5th, 2010 2:38 pm

    I was 6 years old when Laurie went missing. I would ride my bike to the pool everyday until I was 10 or 11 and one of the house’s on my street had the missing persons picture on their window. And everyday I would wonder what happened? I was so young but it always stuck with me and I can not imagine the hole inside her family’s hearts, not knowing. I am glad to see her memory still lives on in all of you who did or didn’t know Laurie. God Bless her soul.

  29. KAYE FEHRENBACH on July 12th, 2010 9:24 pm

    MY HEART GOES OUT TO THE FAMILY OF LAURIE. I MOVED HERE FROM CENTRAL WISCONSIN IN 1990, AND MY FIRST DAUGHTER WAS BORN THE YEAR LAURIE DISAPPEARED. I CAN’T IMAGINE LOSING A CHILD, NOT LESS KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM. THE KILLER IS OUT THERE, NOT FESSING UP. WHAT A COWARD. MAY YOU ROT IN HELL. SO MUCH, HEARTACHE, MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH ALL THAT KNEW HER. MAY YOU FIND PEACE.

  30. donna Schlumpf on July 13th, 2010 12:03 pm

    Marc, my heart has always gone out to you since that day. I have nothing to say to help you find your lost love but I want you to know that there are people who still pray for you. If you would like to walk down memory lane, in a good way, contact me on facebook. (donna thorstenson). I miss you and I will always love you, you were a dear friend. I’m so sorry you have had so much heartache in life. I hope things get better soon.
    Blessed Be,
    Donna

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