The Vanishing of Jillian Cutshall: A Tragic Mystery from Norfolk

A Summer Morning Turns to Tragedy

On the early morning of August 13, 1987, nine-year-old Jillian Dee Cutshall set out from her father's apartment in Norfolk, Nebraska, intending to walk four blocks to her babysitter's home. Jillian was spending the summer with her father, Roger Cutshall, and stepmother at the McNeely Apartments. Her parents were divorced, and she usually lived with her mother, Joyce Cutshall, and older brother in Great Bend, Kansas. That morning, after her father and stepmother left for work, Jillian, who disliked being alone in the apartment, began her short journey to the babysitter's house. She was last seen around 6:30 a.m. near the babysitter's residence, tying her shoelaces on the porch. However, she never entered the house, and when her stepmother arrived to pick her up later that day, it became evident that Jillian had vanished.

The Immediate Search and Discovery

The disappearance of Jillian prompted an extensive search involving local law enforcement, the FBI, and hundreds of volunteers. Despite their efforts, no immediate clues were found. Three months later, in November 1987, a pheasant hunter and his sons discovered Jillian's clothing, shoes, and house keys in the Wood Duck Wildlife Management Area, approximately ten miles from her father's home. The clothing was confirmed to be what Jillian had been wearing on the day she disappeared. A thorough search of the area yielded no further evidence, and Jillian's body was never found.

Investigations and Suspects

The investigation into Jillian's disappearance led authorities to consider several suspects. One was William Henry Redmond, a convicted child molester with a history of involvement in child abductions and murders dating back to the 1950s. Redmond had been arrested in Nebraska in 1988 and was considered a possible suspect due to his criminal history and presence in the area. However, no concrete evidence linked him to Jillian's case, and he was never charged in connection with her disappearance.

Another suspect was David C. Phelps, a neighbor in the McNeely Apartments where Jillian's father lived. Phelps had a history of sexual offenses and was known to have interacted with Jillian. In 1989, Phelps confessed to abducting Jillian with the help of another neighbor, Kermit Baumgartner, and taking her to the Wood Duck Wildlife Area, where he claimed Baumgartner molested her. Phelps later recanted his confession, alleging it was coerced. Despite the retraction, a grand jury indicted Phelps for abduction with intent to commit sexual assault. He was convicted in 1991 and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Baumgartner denied involvement and was never charged....Read More

Share

Comments (0)

Leave A Comment