Mystery Location No. 196: April 5, 2020

Graveyardbride
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Posts: 8,169

Mystery Location No. 196: April 5, 2020 Apr 5, 2020 21:04:07 GMT -5

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Post by Graveyardbride on Apr 5, 2020 21:04:07 GMT -5

Please read carefully before attempting to name the Location.

Following is the primary clue for Mystery Location No. 196:

By the time they began their trip north, the sun had set and storm clouds were gathering. One member of their group was dropped off at a ranch-style home on a huge lot in a town founded before the state in which it stands attained statehood, and the others had no idea they would never see their friend again. Darkness and snow conceal a lot, and for a while, they concealed a cold-blooded murder, but unfortunately for the perpetrator, the best laid plans for gruesome crimes often go awry.

Each day, a new clue will be posted until someone names the location, providing the street address, city and state, as well as the room or apartment number, if applicable, (or province/country if located outside the US) and an explanation as to how each clue applies to the location. If no one correctly names the location, the contest will end at midnight (Eastern time), Saturday, April 11, 2020. Please note, the contest ends at midnight in the Eastern Time Zone. If you live in a different time zone, please make adjustments so you will know what time it ends where you are.

You may discuss the location with other members by posting your comments using the “reply” option, but please do not attempt to name the location until you are absolutely certain of your answer and you are able to post the street address, city, state, etc., along with a photo, or link to a photo, of the Location.

For those of you who remember our old Mystery Locations contest, the point system has changed. Now, if you name the location on the first day, i.e., Sunday, before midnight (ET), you will receive 7 points. Thereafter, the points will depend on the number of clues that have been provided when you name the Location as indicated below. If you name the Location after the first clue, you will receive 6 points, etc., as indicated below. However, after the Sixth (last clue) is provided on Saturday, you must name the location before midnight (EST) Saturday night. Upon accumulation of sufficient points, winners may choose an item from our Prize List.

Sunday (or before First Clue is provided) - 7 points
First Clue (Monday) - 6 points
Second Clue (Tuesday) - 5 points
Third Clue (Wednesday) - 4 points
Fourth Clue (Thursday) - 3 points
Fifth Clue (Friday) - 2 points
Sixth Clue (Saturday before midnight) - 1 point

If you wish, you may collaborate with another member and if the two of you win, points will be divided between the two of you.

This contest is meant to be fun, so, as before, we ask that you conduct yourself accordingly. To prevent any accusations of favoritism, Kitty has been advised of the name and address of the Location and will not be participating in this week’s contest.

Last Edit: Apr 6, 2020 10:22:47 GMT -5 by Graveyardbride

Deleted
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Mystery Location No. 196: April 5, 2020 Apr 6, 2020 8:57:09 GMT -5 aprillynn93 likes this

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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2020 8:57:09 GMT -5

5 Newfield Ln
Newtown, CT 06470

Helle Crafts was a flight attendant who had just returned to JFK airport from Frankfurt. She was last seen at this address when friends subsequently dropped her off on the night of November 18, 1986. A snowstorm hit the area that night. Her husband, Richard, did not report her missing until December 1, 1986.

Helle’s body was never found, but investigators concluded that Robert dismembered Helle’s body on site and then fed it through a wood chipper. The remains were discarded at a nearby lake, where a few small pieces of Helle were later found.

Richard was convicted in 1989 of Helle’s murder, the first murder conviction without a body in Connecticut history.

The property is a ranch house sitting on two acres of land, a large tract for that area of the country. The town of Newtown (not to be confused with the borough) was founded in 1705 and incorporated in 1711, well before the state was admitted to the union.

Last Edit: Apr 11, 2020 18:39:39 GMT -5 by Deleted

kitty
Elder

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Mystery Location No. 196: April 5, 2020 Apr 6, 2020 19:40:09 GMT -5

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Post by kitty on Apr 6, 2020 19:40:09 GMT -5

I can't believe I've never heard of this case. I was in Alaska in 1986, so it probably wasn't publicized up there, but I can't remember hearing about it since. This would be a good one for Lee or Joanna to do a write up on.

Deleted
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Mystery Location No. 196: April 5, 2020 Apr 6, 2020 21:13:36 GMT -5

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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2020 21:13:36 GMT -5

Apr 6, 2020 19:40:09 GMT -5 kitty said:

I can't believe I've never heard of this case. I was in Alaska in 1986, so it probably wasn't publicized up there, but I can't remember hearing about it since. This would be a good one for Lee or Joanna to do a write up on.

If what I read is to be believed, this is the basis for the infamous wood chipper scene in Fargo.

aprillynn93
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Posts: 8,419

Mystery Location No. 196: April 5, 2020 Apr 7, 2020 17:58:08 GMT -5

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Post by aprillynn93 on Apr 7, 2020 17:58:08 GMT -5

Apr 6, 2020 21:13:36 GMT -5 @sonderweg said:

Apr 6, 2020 19:40:09 GMT -5 kitty said:

I can't believe I've never heard of this case. I was in Alaska in 1986, so it probably wasn't publicized up there, but I can't remember hearing about it since. This would be a good one for Lee or Joanna to do a write up on.

If what I read is to be believed, this is the basis for the infamous wood chipper scene in Fargo.

That's the first thing I thought of when I read your answer.

catherine
Elder

Posts: 1,012

Mystery Location No. 196: April 5, 2020 Apr 9, 2020 18:21:25 GMT -5

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Post by catherine on Apr 9, 2020 18:21:25 GMT -5

Apr 6, 2020 8:57:09 GMT -5 @sonderweg said:

5 Newfield Ln
Newtown, CT 06470

Robert was convicted in 1989 of Helle’s murder, the first murder conviction without a body in Connecticut history.

His name was Richard, not Robert. A few weeks before Crafts killed his wife, a man nearby had disposed of an annoying German shepherd in a wood chipper and that's where he got the idea to freeze his wife's body and feed the parts through a wood chipper into the Houstatonic River.