Lisa French’s 1973 Trick-or-Treating Homicide Nonetheless Haunts Halloween

Dressed within the costume of a hobo, Lisa French, 9, set off from her Wisconsin house on the night of Oct. 31, 1973, to go trick-or-treating alone. She by no means returned.

When information of her disappearance unfold, the working-class group of Fond du Lac instantly rallied. Greater than 5,000 group members joined legislation enforcement, together with Nationwide Guard helicopters, within the seek for the fourth-grade scholar, Treasure Coast Newspapers reported.

Tragically, two days later, a farmer discovered the woman’s nude physique inside a plastic rubbish bag within the city of Taycheedah, Treasure Coast Newspapers reported. She died from asphyxia and had been sexually assaulted, per the outlet.

On the time of her demise, her mom, Maryann Gehring, described the woman as “a form particular person” who helped others.

“When she was 9 years previous she got here house from faculty in the future and she or he mentioned there’s just a little woman in class who doesn’t have good garments, and she or he was questioning if she might undergo a few of the garments she didn’t put on and she or he ought to take them to high school together with her, and she or he did,” Gehring informed WBAY . “She took a giant bag of garments to high school for this little woman.”

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It took 9 months earlier than police lastly arrested her killer, 25-year-old Gerald Turner, who allegedly confessed to the rape and killing, based on WISN.

Turner, a machinist, lived simply three doorways down from Lisa’s household, based on Treasure Coast Newspapers.

Throughout his trial, a psychologist at Taycheedah Correctional Establishment testified that Turner, who was dubbed the Halloween Killer, had “a chilly disregard for individuals, primarily females,” per Treasure Coast Newspapers. “He doesn’t have conscience management to inhibit his impulses for pleasure and to adapt to society’s legal guidelines.”

Turner mentioned throughout trial that he didn’t kill Lisa. He acknowledged that he’d beforehand signed a confession admitting to the killing, however claimed he solely did so as a result of he “bought sick and bored with being harassed by police calling on me,” Treasure Coast Newspapers reported.

Turner was convicted of second-degree homicide and rape and sentenced to 38 years in jail on Feb. 4, 1975.

Throughout sentencing, Circuit Courtroom Decide Milton Meister mentioned Turner “impressed me as exhibiting no regret … no feeling of repentance,” per Treasure Coast Newspapers.

“It was horrible what he did to that little woman,” former Fond du Lac police Detective Melvin Heller informed WISN in 2019. “It is not the identical right here in Fond du Lac. Everyone that lives right here all the time is aware of about Lisa French.”

Turner was launched from jail in 1992 after serving 17 years, however went again in the identical 12 months due to a launch date technicality, based on Fox 11.

He bought out six years later however returned to jail in 2003 on a parole violation after authorities discovered pornographic photos on his pc, per Fox 11.

In 2018, the state filed a swimsuit to have Turner thought-about a sexually violent offender underneath the violent intercourse offender legislation and to maintain him in custody indefinitely, Fox 11 reported.

A listening to to find out whether or not he ought to keep in custody is scheduled for July 2025, per Fox 11.

Turner, who’s now 75, is at present being held in a supervised dwelling facility in Mauston, based on the Wisconsin Intercourse Offender Registry.  

His protection lawyer and the lawyer common’s workplace couldn’t be reached for remark.

For those who or somebody you realize has been sexually assaulted, please contact the Nationwide Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.