SPEEDWAY, Ind.–Forty years ago this week four people were kidnapped at the Burger Chef restaurant in Speedway, and murdered in a rural area in Johnson County. Indiana State Police are hoping that by making the Burger Chef murders a topic of conversation again, new leads will be generated.
And, a new picture that has not been seen by the public was released Wednesday morning: a picture of the knife used in at least one of the killings.
“That’s actually the murder weapon of one of the victims, and it was broken during the course of the murder,” said First Sergeant Bill Dalton, now leading the investigation for the Indiana State Police.
“What we’re looking for, another identifier that one of the suspects was wearing at the time of the murder, was likely a sheath,” said Dalton, who added that the blade was over four inches long, and that it was not a pocket knife. He believes someone may know or have seen someone who was wearing the knife.
Dalton said officers with the Intelligence Division are trying to find new ways to present the 40 years of evidence and tips in ways that could be easily digested and that might help jog memories. Two clay busts were made of the people police believe were responsible.
Those busts are now housed at the State Police Museum, which is where Dalton and other state police officers gave their update, and displayed a timeline and the more than 20 bound volumes of evidence that have been collected.
Ruth Shelton’s sister
“These aren’t just victims. That was my sister. That was co-worker,” said Teresa Jeffries, sister of Ruth Shelton, who was 18 when she was murdered. Also killed were Jayne Friedt, 20, Mark Flemonds, 16, and Daniel Davis, 16. They went missing Nov. 17, as the restaurant closed, and their bodies were found Nov. 19, in Johnson County.
“Jayne, Mark, Daniel and Ruth are real people with real families, with real friends, that deserve justice,” pled Jeffries. “When there’s a murder involved, it’s harder to move on. We don’t have all the answers and there’s someone out there who does.”
Dalton said since he was handed the case in February, they’ve continued to get tips. He did not dismiss his predecessor’s theories, but said they are working from a new approach. He urges anyone with any info to call Crimestoppers at 317-262-TIPS, and said you can remain anonymous.
PHOTOS: Chris Davis/Emmis
