Elsie Mae Schoffstall, a 62-year-old-widow living with her bed-ridden mother in Lykens, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, was found dead on her living room floor on the morning of 1 November 1979. The police investigation and autopsy concluded that she had a head wound and multiple scull fractures – and had been strangled and sexually assaulted. There was no evidence of robbery.
This was the fourth such murder in the Lykens Valley area in a three-year period, the first occurring in early April 1977 in Tremont, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. In the four investigations, a similar pattern emerged: (1) All four victims were elderly widows. (2) All four victims were beaten about the head and strangled. (3) All four victims were found naked or partially naked and sexually assaulted. (4) Robbery or burglary was not found to be a motive. (5) In two of the four crimes, an alleged perpetrator was arrested and brought to trial – but acquitted. (6) None of the crimes were solved.
This post is one of 9 chronicling the discovery of the Mrs. Schoffstall’s body and the police investigation. The story is told through articles that appeared in a Pottsville newspaper.
From the Pottsvile Republican, 29 February 1980:
PUBLIC AUCTION
Saturday, March 1 at 10:00 A.M.
768 E. Eain Street, LYKENS, PENNSYLVANIA
LOT 50 ft. x 140 Ft.
6-ROOM FRAME DWELLING
Heat, Bath, 1-Car Garage
Terms: 10% down the date of sale.
FOR INSPECTION CALL: (717) 453-7932
PERSONAL PROPERTY including:
Modern 5-Pc. Bedroom Suite w/King-size Bed; Blanket Chest; Frigidaire Dishwasher; 40” Range; Automatic Washer & Dryer; Coldspot Refrigerator; Zenith Stereo Radio; Phonograph; 9-Pc. Dining Room Suite; Electric Sewing Machine; ZENITH COLOR TV (used 7 months). Portable Typewriter; LOT COSTUME JEWELRY some new; Collection SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS. Dishes including Shirley Temple Pitcher; LOT AVON some never used; Magnus Chord Organ; Golf Clubs; Oil Lights; FRONTIER AMERICAN FLYER TRAIN other toys including Hand-made WOODEN TRAIN approx. 6” long; 7 x 50 Binoculars; (3) Bows; Large Gun Cabinet; GUNS including J. C. Higgins; Bolt Action 16 GA. Model 583.18; Remington Bolt Action 22 cal. Model 511; Revelation Bolt Action 410 Ga. Model 336; many other items.
ESTATE of ELSIE M. SCHOFFSTALL
Marlin E. Schoffstall Jr. and Alice M. Sweigard, Ececutors
KERWIN & KERWIN, Attorneys
George Deibert & Mike Deibert, Auctioneers
(717) 425-3313
____________________________________
For all other parts of this story, see: Who Killed Elsie Mae Schoffstall?
News clipping/article from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.