A chilling tale of unsolved murders in 1940s Chicago, with ritualistic aspects and a red lipstick message, terrifying the city. The brutal killings of Josephine Ross and Frances Brown, along with the chilling abduction and dismemberment of young Suzanne Degnan, gripped the community. Fueled by media frenzy and misrepresentation of evidence, the case unfolds with intense investigation, wrongful accusations, and a quest for justice.
The murders of Josephine Ross and Francis Butler hinted at a potential serial killer in Chicago with ritualistic motives.
The intense media coverage and public fear pressured investigators to swiftly solve the cases and catch the killer.
The tragic kidnapping and murder of six-year-old Suzanne Dagnan shocked the community, exposing the killer's escalating brutality and horrifying methods.
Deep dives
Connections Among Brutal Murders
The unsolved murders of Josephine Ross and Francis Butler raised alarms in Chicago, indicating the presence of a potential serial killer. The gruesome messages left behind at the crime scenes suggested a deeply disturbed individual with a lust for bloody killings. Investigators suspected a Jack the Ripper-like killer was operating within the city, leaving the public and authorities on edge.
Intensifying Public Pressure
As the brutal murders instilled fear and demanded swift action, the pressure on investigators rose significantly. The public scrutiny and media attention pushed law enforcement to make progress in solving the cases. Every new crime heightened the urgency to catch the perpetrator before more lives were claimed.
Tragic Fate of Six-Year-Old Suzanne Dagnan
The kidnapping and murder of six-year-old Suzanne Dagnan shook the community to its core. Her horrifying end, with her severed head found in a sewer, revealed the heinous brutality of the killer. Despite efforts to cooperate with ransom demands, the discovery of Suzanne's dismembered body parts marked a tragic and devastating escalation of violence.
Devastating Discovery in the Sewer
Detectives stumbled upon the unthinkable truth as they found Suzanne Dagnan's severed head in a sewer, initially mistaking it for a doll's head. The subsequent search led to the harrowing discovery of her dismembered body parts, painting a horrifying picture of the depth of brutality inflicted upon the innocent six-year-old victim.
The Intense Investigation and Press Pressure
The discovery of Suzanne Dagnan's murder created sensational press coverage, pushing investigators and leading to false suspicions. The media's reporting elicited rewards and public outrage, with citizens pushing for swift justice. As suspects were questioned and leads pursued, the intense pressure to solve the case fueled speculation and hasty decisions by law enforcement.
Misguided Focus on Hector Verberg and Police Misconduct
Hector Verberg, wrongly targeted as a suspect, endured aggressive interrogation and physical abuse from detectives due to their desperate attempts to close the case. Despite lacking evidence, Hector faced brutal tactics, leading to his release without charges. The Chicago Police Department's misconduct, including racist undertones and reckless media leaks, exemplified the flawed handling of the investigation, revealing a disturbing lack of accountability.
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On June 5, 1945, forty-three-year-old Josephine Ross was found stabbed to death in her Chicago apartment. Nothing had been stolen from Ross’ apartment and it appeared as though there were ritualistic aspects to the murder, but with little evidence and no suspects, the case hit a dead end almost as soon as it started. Ross’ murder came to detectives’ minds six months later, when another Chicago woman, Frances Brown, was found murdered in her apartment. This time an ominous message was scrawled on the wall in red lipstick: “For heavens sake catch me before I kill more I cannot control myself.”
The brutal nature of the two murders, and the implication that the killer would strike again, terrified the women of Chicago, and that fear was stoked by the city’s five major newspapers, who were in a daily battle for readers’ attention. The story reached a fever pitch just one month later when six-year-old Suzanne Degnan was abducted from her bedroom by someone who’d entered through an open window. Despite the presence of a ransom note demanding $20,000, investigators discovered Degnan’s dismembered body in the sewer a short time later.
Thank you to the incredible Dave white of Bring Me the Axe & 99 Cent Rental Podcast for research!
