The Horrific 1973 Halloween Night Assault and Murder of 9-Year-Old Lisa Ann French
Investigating the Sickening Halloween Night Assault and Murder of 9-Year-Old Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Resident Lisa Ann French by Her Neighbor While Out Trick-Or-Treating
Background
In the autumn of 1973, a chilling tragedy unfolded in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, casting a long and dark shadow over the community. The life of a promising young girl, Lisa Ann French, was brutally cut short on a night meant for joy and merriment: Halloween. Lisa's untimely demise at the hands of her neighbor, Gerald Miles Turner Jr., forever scarred the town, leaving a profound impact on not only Fond du Lac but the entire state of Wisconsin.
This article delves into the heart-wrenching events surrounding Lisa Ann French's life and the horrific circumstances of her murder, shedding light on the enduring repercussions that continue to ripple through the decades.
As Halloween night unfolded in 1973, a vibrant, young spirit set out for an evening of innocent fun. Lisa Ann French, a 9-year-old resident of Fond du Lac, embarked on a solo trick-or-treating adventure that would turn into a nightmarish ordeal. A seemingly harmless neighbor, Gerald Turner Jr., who later earned the sinister moniker of "The Halloween Killer," lured Lisa into his home. In the hours that followed, Lisa's life took a tragic turn as she was subjected to unimaginable horrors.
The aftermath of this brutal act would bring the community of Fond du Lac to its knees. A dedicated search party scoured the town in search of the missing child, ultimately leading to the grim discovery of Lisa's lifeless body. The shockwaves from her murder rippled far beyond Fond du Lac, prompting legislative action and the creation of "Turner's Law," a response to the release of Lisa's killer on parole. This law paved the way for the detention of potentially dangerous individuals in mental health facilities, ensuring that those who posed a threat to society would not go unchecked.
The tale of Lisa Ann French and the "Halloween Killer" is a harrowing reminder of the enduring pain inflicted on victims and their families. It serves as a poignant illustration of the profound impact that a single, heart-wrenching tragedy can have on an entire community, spurring a quest for justice and prevention that transcends generations.
This article examines the haunting events of that Halloween night in 1973, the subsequent investigations and legal actions, and the enduring legacy left by this horrific crime.
Lisa Ann French
Lisa Ann French, a 9-year-old girl from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, was tragically sexually assaulted and murdered by her neighbor, Gerald Miles Turner Jr., who later became known as "The Halloween Killer." This horrifying incident occurred on Halloween night in 1973 when she was trick-or-treating alone.
On that fateful night, Lisa Ann French was out alone, dressed as a hobo, heading to a neighborhood Halloween party near her home. Gerald Miles Turner Jr. lured her into his residence, where he sexually assaulted and ultimately killed her. He then concealed her lifeless body in a garbage bag and later disposed of it in a field in Taycheedah, Wisconsin.
It took nine months for Turner to confess to the crime, and he was initially sentenced to 38 years and 6 months for his heinous acts. Turner was released on parole in 1992 and 1998 but was sent back to prison in 2003 for violating his parole.
This horrifying murder deeply impacted the Fond du Lac community and the state of Wisconsin, leading to stricter daytime trick-or-treating hours and the creation of "Turner's Law" (Wisconsin Chapter 980) in 1994. This law permits the detention of released criminals in mental health facilities if they are considered sexually violent and a danger to the public.
Lisa Ann French was born on June 2, 1964, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to parents Allan French and Maryann Gehrig. She resided in Fond du Lac with her mother, stepfather Bruce De Pauw, and a newborn half-brother. Lisa was a fourth-grader at Chegwin Elementary School and a member of the Girl Scouts.
At the time of her tragic death, Gerald Miles Turner Jr. was living with his girlfriend, Arlene Penn, and their infant child. Lisa and Turner were acquainted, with Lisa often spending time with Turner and Penn's infant. Turner had previously shared a rented duplex with Lisa's family. Before the murder, Turner had not been convicted of any major sex offenses, although he had previously sexually molested a 15-year-old babysitter.
The Night of the Murder
On Halloween night, Lisa left her home dressed as a hobo around 5:45 p.m., initially planning to be accompanied by her friend Ann Parker to an outdoor Halloween party. However, Parker was grounded and unable to join her, so Lisa went trick-or-treating alone. She made stops at a classmate's house and one of her teachers' homes before arriving at Turner's residence.
According to Turner's confession, Lisa rang his doorbell and walked inside with her candy bag open as she said, "trick-or-treat." Turner and Lisa started discussing candy, and he eventually lured her into his bedroom, where he committed terrible acts against her. Turner claimed that Lisa stopped breathing during the assault, and he attempted to revive her but was interrupted when Arlene Penn arrived home.
After Penn left the residence to visit her mother, Turner placed Lisa's body and clothes into separate bags and disposed of her body in Taycheedah, Wisconsin. Efforts were made to remove any potential evidence from the crime scene, such as wiping down Lisa's shoes and the zipper of her parka. Lisa's mother, Maryann Gehrig, grew increasingly concerned as Lisa did not return home by her 7:00 p.m. curfew, prompting a search party to form.
Discovery, Investigation, and First Trial
After an extensive county-wide search, Lisa's body was discovered by a farmer named Gerald Braun on November 3, 1973. An autopsy revealed that Lisa died from asphyxiation, although there were signs of circulatory shock due to the sexual trauma she endured. Lisa's funeral was held on November 6, 1973, at Immanuel-Trinity Lutheran Church in Fond du Lac.