The Unsolved Disappearance of Evelyn Hartley: A Cold Case Investigation

The Disappearance of Evelyn Hartley

• 💔 Evelyn Hartley, a 15-year-old straight-A student, vanished on October 24th, 1953, while babysitting in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
• 🏠 Her father discovered her shoes, broken glasses, and pools of blood at the scene, but Evelyn was gone.
• 🔍 Seven decades later, her case remains unsolved, with no trace of Evelyn found.

Initial Investigation and Clues

• 🩸 Evidence at the scene included scattered school books, signs of a struggle, and Evelyn's blood type found near a basement window and in the yard.
• 👟 A pair of size 11 Goodrich sneakers, matching prints found at the scene and containing Evelyn's blood, were discovered off Highway 14.
• 👕 A denim jacket with blood stains and fibers, possibly belonging to the abductor, was also found, though its size was questioned in relation to the shoes.
• 🚗 A witness reported seeing a light-colored car circling the neighborhood, and scent tracking dogs lost Evelyn's trail two blocks from the home, suggesting she was put into a vehicle.

Extensive Search Efforts

• 🚁 Over 1,000 officers, volunteers, and citizens participated in ground searches, while pilots and boaters scoured waterways and surrounding areas.
• 🚗 Police conducted a widespread search of vehicles, asking gas station attendants to inspect trunks and backseats for blood stains, marking inspected cars with stickers.
• 🗣️ Despite extensive efforts, including showing evidence like the tennis shoes and jacket to thousands of people across 31 communities, no definitive leads emerged.

Potential Suspects and Leads

• 🕵️ Suspected serial killer Ed Gene, who was in the area on the night of the disappearance, was investigated but denied involvement and passed polygraphs; Evelyn's remains were not found on his property.
• 📞 In 1954, two youths were arrested for attempting to extort money from Evelyn's parents with false information, highlighting the challenges of dealing with false leads and confessions.
• 📼 In 2004, a 35-year-old tape surfaced, allegedly containing a drunken confession from Clyde Tywee Peterson, implicating himself and an associate, Jack Gpair, in Evelyn's kidnapping and murder.
• ⏳ The tape's potential was hampered by the fact that the individuals involved were deceased by the time it was discovered, making corroboration impossible.

The Enduring Mystery

• ❓ The case continues to frustrate investigators due to the lack of concrete evidence and the passage of time.
• 💔 Evelyn's parents passed away without knowing what happened to their daughter, and the family home was deeply affected by the tragedy.
• 📞 The La Crosse Police Department continues to seek information, with the case remaining a cold case 70 years later.