WJON Cold cases: 1974 Reker Murders still a mystery Fourth of July weekend ended in tragedy in Milford when Nentor Dahn, 18, of Providence, RI died after jumping into . With miles of groomed trails leading to some of the most beautiful scenery in Stearns County, its advised to come prepared with a camera to try and capture the incredible views. Bechtold says its possible they havent heard from a key witness because they felt what they saw wasnt important. It had been a full weekend for the Reker's with a large family reunion and the last minute rush the start of a new school year brings. St. A new investigator was assigned to look at the case earlier this year and authorities continue to voice the need for a crucial witness to come forward. Susanne, 12, was on top of the quarry and Mary, 15, was submerged in 40 feet of water . It reads: Should I die, I ask that my stuffed animals be given to [my sister] and if I am murdered, see that justice wins over. Quarry Park and Nature Preserve is one of the most unique attractions in Greater St. Getting in the Garden Groove with John Schroeder, Stearns History Museum Putting on Sweetheart Swing Dance, Big Plans for Stearns History Museum in 2023, Stearns History Museum Get Grant To Simplify Searching, Stearns History Museum Offering Tour of St. Kelsey Hawley is a Jill-of-all-trades and as newsroom clerk, supports many facets of the office. Find an obituary, get service details, leave condolence messages or send flowers or gifts in memory of a loved one. Bechtold wouldnt comment on specific suspects or persons of interest in the case, but does say theyre looking into several people. Teaming up for what promises to be an unforgettable jaunt of epic proportions, GRAMMY Award-nominated French heavy metal luminaries Gojira will join forces with iconic GRAMMY Award-winning heavy rock band Mastodon. After hearing this case: they confirmed to the Sheriffs Office that they were on the right track. City St. Quarry #11 is perfect for families and relaxing, with a gradual, sandy beach aswell as rocks for jumping off of at lower heights. Make a gift of any amount today to support this resource for everyone. Its just loaded with adventure recreation, Wocken said. They were last seen at the store at 1:30 pm. Got a recommendation? Archive Grid, Birth and death records, 1887-1953, Paynesville (Minn.). For the past two decades, abandoned granite quarries near St. Hed sit in his car in the Zayres parking lot on his days off and just stare at people. Interested in making money and seeing a FREE concert? Trail distances are shownhere, and can add up to the perfect running route or the ideal short stroll whatever youre in the mood for! The hazards are really the great attraction. The biggest mystery surrounding Mary's behavior beforehand and a note she wrote discovered after the girl's disappearance. CLOUD Friday will mark the 42nd anniversary of Mary and Susanne Reker going missing from St. Inspired by the unsolved case of two young girls, missing then murdered in 1977 in St. She continued to try and make conversation with him, hoping he might offer some clues about the murders. Cloud townspeople. In 1992, the city of Waite Park, just southwest of St. Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. Cloud. Profilers in the case believe the person was young at the time of the murder. Kelly Smithcovers nonprofits/philanthropy for the Star Tribune and is based in Minneapolis. Mary, 15 years old, and her 12 years old sister Susanne were doing some back-to-school shopping on a Monday afternoon. They could be a few witness accounts away from a breakthrough in the case. Cloud, Did you know Warner Lake County Park in Clearwater, These tacos are on point! Their opinion at the time that we presented it to them is that the person or persons we are looking at, look like they would be viable suspects, Bechtold says. This Labor Day will mark 42 years since that morning that has haunted a St. Stearns County Parks Two young women were injured in separate incidents at the Quarry Park swimming area in Waite Park over 4th of July weekend. They left her for dead, but she survived. Mary's body was found in the water. And then he said something which might be interpreted as a hint of a confession. A woman who knew Notch through one of his relatives said he started to call her, asking for bathing suit pictures. Rita thinks the man had an accomplice. People who have never come forward before, Rita Reker, the mother of the two girls, says. On September 28th, two teenagers who were walking on the edge of a rock quarry on the western outskirts of town, found Susanne in the tall grass nearby at about 2:00 p.m. She was stabbed 13 times. It was Labor Day: September 2nd, 1974, when Mary (15-years-old) and Susanne (12-years-old) left home around 11:00 a.m. to go shopping at the nearby Zayre Discount Store (now currently home to Save-a-Lot Grocery and Liquor). CLOUD (WCCO) -- The girls walked to a nearby store to buy school supplies and never came home. Over the years it also added land, and the park grew increasingly popular. There's a line behind you. Book Nook is a feature that highlights books from Minnesota authors. Her sister, 15 year old Mary, was found thrown over the side of the quarry, 40 feet below the surface of the water. If you can't find an answer to your question, please contact us. Anyone who learned how to swim in the 40s and 50s learned in the quarries, said Chuck Wocken, Stearns Countys parks director from 1975 to 2013. Cloud - September 2nd, 1974 Susanne and Mary Reker went missing; they were found 26 days later murdered in Quarry Park. 637. Cloud have attracted tens of thousands of visitors for swimming, cliff jumping, scuba diving and rock climbing. Cloud convenience store, took her out to a gravel pit outside of town and sexually assaulted her. Cloud Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Dress warm and ready for fun! Today, police still dont know who murdered these two girls. I didnt want them to go very badly but they needed some school supplies. "The Quarry Girls" by Jess Lourey has all of those pieces a believable and vivid setting, deep and varied characters, and a plot line that makes the reader never want to put the book down until its been completely devoured. Birth and death records, 1887-1953, Paynesville (Minn.). Inspired by the unsolved case of two young girls, missing then murdered in 1977 in St. Their killer has never been caught and a diary entry could be the biggest clue that's getting another look, even now. According to the Stearns County Sheriff's Office, water patrol staff at Quarry Park were . Quarry Park and Nature Preserve is visited by tens of thousands of people every year, ranging from young ones looking to swim at Quarry 11 to those interested in the history and story behind the granite industry. NOTE: Additional records that apply to Stearns County are also on the Minnesota Death Records page. We had four other children and they had to grow up with the mystery of this: that was hard for them. For both swimming quarries, floaties are advised and picnic areas/restrooms are available. Perfectly situated for year-round fun, Quarry Park and Nature Preserve is home to activities for every season. While many old quarries remain abandoned now that the best stone is gone, the ones here were repurposed: Abandoned mine pits became . If you have any information on the Reker case, call the Stearns County Sheriff's office at 320-251-4240. . Every car is $5 to enter, or annual passes can be purchased for $20. theres also a chat! Both girls had been stabbed multiple times. For both swimming quarries, floaties are advised and picnic areas/restrooms are available. Ski lights guide the way when the sun goes down, and lights are turned off at 10pm. Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current. Bechtold also cant comment on any recent progress in the case, but says its been good to see increased awareness and tips from the public. Cloud, MN Population in 2019: 68,462 (98% urban, 2% rural). Our purpose is to help you celebrate the life while grieving the death, of your loved one. Its pretty significant to look at that, you certainly cant rule that out because what 15-year-old girl writes that?. Susanne was wearing gold wire rimmed glasses, a white cotton short jacket and blue corduroy jeans. "'If I am murdered find my killer. I came out of there just numb, she said. ago. Today you can still see the historic Liberty Derrick, an exhibit that pays tribute to Minnesotas granite quarrying industry. The two girls, 15-year-old Mary Reker and her 12-year-old sister Susie, disappeared while out shopping for school supplies on Labor Day in 1974, their bodies discovered riddled with stab wounds in a quarry . The Minneapolis nonprofit has launched a separate political arm to lobby to end cash bail in Minnesota, and already is pushing for legislation this year to restrict bail for some misdemeanor offenses. She is a tenured professor of writing and sociology. Cloud daily (MN) times obituary index. DNA testing on the clothes in 2006 revealed no clues. 2 of 18. There are three designated quarries for scuba diving, but please note that it requires specialized training and equipment, as there are certain risks that arise with this activity. With 683 acres of trails. The trails at Quarry Park are groomed regularly for cross country skiing all winter long. The name was a familiar one to the Reker family and law enforcement. Cloud, MN - YouTube 0:00 / 4:06 Underwater Footage Quarry Park, St. Live In Concert: Gary Allan & Tracy Lawrence, Barenaked Ladies with Semisonic and Del Amitri, The Doobie Brothers 50th Anniversary Tour, The Mega-Monsters Tour: Gojira and Mastodon, Concerts and events are for all ages unless otherwise specified but. The confrontation between the 82-year old mother and the suspected killer of her two girls lasted all of 21 minutes. WAITE PARK, Minn. Deputies said an 18-year-old died after jumping into a quarry Saturday evening. After talking with the Stearns County Sheriffs Office, Rita and looking through old WJON files, heres the common threads weve found for who may be responsible: Both the Sheriffs Office and Rita believe the suspect is a man whos likely from the St. A diver found Odowa in about 25 foot deep water. Explore the natural underwater landscape of historic granite quarries! Cloud Daily Times Obituary Index, 1877 To 1927 Family History Library, St. Cloud daily times obituary index, 1887-1907. If you know of a Minnesota unsolved murder and would like it posted on the site, please contact me. Lourey does a fantastic job intertwining their stories in a way that does not become fully revealed until the end. . Visitors walk a third of a mile to a half-mile to get to both areas. 1 singles on the radio. CLOUD, Minn. - A mother from St. . 17 Station St., Ste 3 Brookline, MA 02445. It was Labor Day in 1974 when Susanne and Mary Reker walked to a local store. St. The Sheriffs Office cant confirm this, but Bechtold says they arent ruling out the possibility. CLOUD (WCCO) -- The girls walked to a nearby store to buy school supplies and never came home. From WJON So the county will work with Coldspring, a granite company . PURCHASE TICKETS. I gotta get my own pass this week. The Wicklow property (as well as the grassy fields adjacent to the playground at Quarry Park) is dog-friendly and even includes a dog station in the parking lot. Friday, March 3rd at 10AM CST at Ticketmaster.com. Email us at life@postbulletin.com with the subject line "Book Nook.". He had no remorse at all, Notchs accomplice said. Quarry #2 (also known as Melrose Deep 7) is for the adrenaline junkie. A new investigator took over the Reker case this summer. According to deputies, around 8 p.m. on Saturday, the 18-year-old boy, identified as Zakariya Aden Odowa, jumped off a. Notch died a week later, but the Reker case remains open as investigators try to find more evidence to connect him to the crime. Cloud had jumped off of the end of a floating dock and had not resurfaced. Devin Weiland is expected to serve the first 31 14 years in prison and the balance on supervised release. May 26th, 2023 You can also download it, export it or print it out. CLOUD, Minn. A mother from St. In 1992, the city of Waite Park, just southwest of St. - Thur Rockwell, Iowa (641) 531-7094 . They raised four other children, were active in their church and founded a support group for parents of murdered children. Borough councillors gave the go-ahead to allow dog owners to let their pets off the lead in Shrewsbury's Quarry Park. Notch and another boy kidnapped 14-year old Sue Dukowitz while she was working at a St. Cloud, Lourey's book is phenomenal. The sheriff's office said the Waite Park Fire Department, an ambulance and the Stearns/Benton County Dive Team were dispatched to the area. He was in room 549 south, dying from liver failure after years of heavy drinking. r/minnesota 4 mo. Cops zeroed in on Notch two years after the murders when he was arrested for a crime with striking similarities to the Reker case. Despite the efforts of law enforcement and intense media coverage over several decades, no ones ever been charged with the murders of the sisters. I wanted to confront him, she said. I have a few reasons to fear for my life and what I ask is important,'" Rita said. I just hoped that I would live long enough to see that.. Hes been on our radar since at least 1976.. It was Labor Day: September 2nd, 1974, when Mary and Susanne left home a little after 11:00 a.m. to go shopping at the nearby Zayre Discount Store. Stearns County Chief Deputy Bruce Bechtold says the recent media coverage has led to more interest and tips from the public. I knew I had to do that.. Surrounded by outcroppings and rock formations and stretching to 116 feed deep, the rush of a jump at Quarry #2 will stick with you! Cloud Quarry. The bodies of Susanne and Mary Reker were discovered almost a month after they went missing in 1974. Cloud Red Granite was primarily mined at Quarry Park up until the mid-1950s when quarrying operations ceased in the present park area. See 360 traveler reviews, 49 candid photos, and great deals for GrandStay Residential Suites Hotel St Cloud, ranked #4 of 19 hotels in Saint Cloud and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor. January 5, 2018 by staff. Quarry #11 is 40 feet deep with a sandy beach. Deputies and her son waited nearby as she went into Notchs room by herself. He met with Rita in Mid-July to keep her informed on what they were doing to try and solve the case. St. Theres still a reward of up to $50,000 being offered for information on the murders. Cloud whose two daughters were mysteriously murdered in 1974 now believes she knows who killed them. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Cloud daily (MN) times obituary index. With yelps of joy and cannon ball splashes, kids fling themselves off 20 foot peaks into the the pool below. / CBS Minnesota. "It's troubling why she wrote that. In 1974, Russ Platz attended an alternative high school with Notch. Sisters, Mary and Susan Reker, left their St. Rita recalls it being a beautiful summer day after a big family reunion the day before. This beloved attraction in Greater St. 01. Cloud area. Edit your form online There are people out there who have never come forward that know what happened, know who did it and are not telling what they know. 26 days later, on September 28th, 1974, two teenagers discovered the decomposing body of 12 year old Susanne in the tall grasses on the edge of a rock quarry at the outskirts of town. Profilers have maintained a young man at the time from the area is likely behind it and he may have had had an accomplice. Cloud hospital. 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Example video title will go here for this video. The facility was built in 1889 and currently serves as a level-four close-security institution with a capacity of about 1000 inmates. Cloud, MN 56301. Gray duck. Death records were kept in Minnesota starting in 1870, but they were incomplete. Free forum all about Minnesota - please join and share infor from your county. If they saw anything or heard people talking about being affiliated. CLOUD Its been nearly 42 years since Susanne and Mary Reker went missing in St. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash and cleaned up after, and most of the trails are very stroller-friendly for you and your little explorer. GENERAL PUBLIC ONSALE Friday, March 3rd at 10AM CST at Ticketmaster.com. Deputies responding to the quarry were told that 18-year-old Zakariya Aden Odowa of St. A new investigator was also assigned to the case recently. I would tell you the lie detector test was more inconclusive than anything, Weiss said. We have a few that were interested in and the ones that we are interested in are alive.. They were going to be back quickly.. The Sheriffs Office hopes he will give them a fresh perspective. Both were later found on September 28th murdered in Quarry Park, they were stabbed multiple times. In 2013, Fred Reker, the girls father, died at the age of 84. 1904-2001 Minnesota Death Index MyHeritage, Death records, 1870-1909 Family History Library, Minnesota, Death Records, 1908-present Minnesota Department of Health, Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current Ancestry, Obituaries/Death Notices Genealogy Trails, Obituary Indexes Iron Range Research Center, Birth and death records, 1888-1954, Melrose (Minn.). Gates open 6PM & Show starts 7PM. I remember fixing supper that evening and we generally ate around 5 oclock and when they werent there we knew something was wrong.. Cloud whose two daughters were mysteriously murdered in 1974 now believes she knows who killed them. 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