BrainScratch: The Circleville Letters

Unsolved Mysteries episode and sites on this case:

Paul's 164 Pages to the FBI:

Newspapers claiming Paul admitted to sending letters:

Sources:

More info:

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[luffyduffy]

My favorite thing about your videos is that you don't make the audience feel like they are just being talked at. I feel like it's more like being taught through conversations

[cjc]

Who was his defense attorney? I can't believe they allowed him to stay in jail for so long.

[skylx]

Over a thousand letters sent? That's over a thousand opportunities to get DNA samples. The US Army has been working on methods of improving extraction of DNA from heirloom envelopes to help identify remains of servicemen from WWII and the Korean Conflict. This case was from the late 70's there's got to be viable samples in those envelopes.

[mizmiz]

Oh man I absolutely love these long BrainScratches where you jump into all the details and different theories! It's like a deluxe version of Unsolved Mysteries! Thanks John!

[jonathanturbide]

One of the most complex story ever featured on Unsolved Mysteries, glad you gave this case extra time John. 😊👍

[GrayHughesInvestigates]

One thing I am impressed with is how you are able to basically do all this in one take with a few edits. I have been making my own videos and recently started using my own voice instead of computerized and I know how difficult it is. Good stuff.

[SuperStrik]

Interesting case. I've always felt bad for Paul Freshour (RIP). Spending 10 years in prison, a lot of it in solitary confinement for something you didn't do? Man, that's a tough pill to swallow. I hope he's resting in peace now at least.

[MarshalTennerWinter]

Oh that's right. Religious people NEVER EVER lie.

[silverstuff]

This will sound incredibly simpleminded but anybody who has conducted an extra marital affair is a suspicious person. That's simply because that's proof that the person is willing to do something secretive, dishonest and potentially hurtful. So this woman needs very close investigation, but at this late date it's probably unimportant.

[ThePestoner]

since silent hill you should arrest everyone named gillespie
period

[ahrager]

I'm so happy you're covering this case. This has haunted me since I first saw it on Unsolved Mysteries.

[brandi]

This case is so interesting. I had never heard of it until Criminally Listed covered it back in January and since then I've been hooked. Thanks for doing an episode on this!

[zoroaster]

This one is really all over the place... Nevertheless, I still had some questions and comments:
- Since Ron and Mary did not think the letter writer was their brother in law from the start, who did they think it was? (Who did they write to?)
- Was the phone call made to Ron before he died ever traced? Where any of the letters, signs, or the trap ever fingerprinted or DNA tested against all people of interest? Do authorities have that information on record in any kind of database (to acquire a potential match one day)?
- John makes a very good point that there is no evidence that a shot was fired from the gun after Ron went out to drive... Since Ron was obviously stressed out and had been drinking as a result, I think he could have left the house to vent, and was carrying the gun for protection, should something happen.
- I think the letter sent to Paul in jail was most likely from his ex wife. While I don't think that Paul was ever the letter writer, I do believe that he at least suspected, if not knew, that she was involved (why he never spoke to authorities about this, I don't know). To me, the letter was basically saying, "I hope you get used to being in jail, this is how things are going to be, accept it." Sad.
- I do agree that there are likely multiple letter writers, and the motive is anger at Mary's affair with the superintendent. I think it started out with the superintendent's son William, and then maybe another of his family members found out, and wrote some letters themselves. Once Mary started receiving the letters and what was happening became known, her sister in law (it seems) vehemently got involved in the writing as well. The angry coworker would also be a good eventual candidate.
- I know it was mentioned that Mary admitted to the affair after her husband had died. Does that mean that Ron was always on her side in this before then? Did he believe in her completely? If not, could he or Mary have been letter writers too? It's a possibility.
- Lastly, John, if you read this, please do let us know if you end up receiving any kind of letter(s) from the Circleville writer(s)? If you do, definitely alert authorities (if anyone can crack this it's you). Cheers!

[Nyquil]

Maybe I watched too many episodes of Columbo or read too many Agatha Christie novels, but the main "event" that happened here is the death of Ron. Writing letters, especially LOTS of letters is more of a "woman thing". (yes, I am a woman) Could the goal of this whole thing be Ron's death? Who would benefit from it? How well did Paul's wife get along with her brother? What would Mary gain?

The main motives for murder usually involve one or more of the following: love/hate, lust, greed, or self protection (keeping a secret, revenge, etc. ) Of course, in a murder or suspicious death we look for the following in suspects - did they have the means, motive, and opportunity?

I think both Mary and Paul's wife might have been co-conspirators in this. Perhaps both wished to get rid of their husbands one way or another. As for Paul's involvement, many times I have asked my hubby to mail a letter for me and he tends to take it with him and mails it from wherever he happens to be working that day, as in leaving our driveway, his truck window is not facing our mailbox. I think Paul might have been doing the same thing.

The letters begin by making Mary look like a homewrecker. This smear on her reputation may have been perfectly acceptable to her in order to obtain her final goal. Ron then begins to receive threatening letters that include warning him that he would be killed. Keep enough of this pressure on Ron, get him to drink too much, have him receive a phone call bad enough to grab a gun and leave the house (and any wife or long term girlfriend will tell you that they know the exact words that will set their loved one off) and then he dies. How exactly that came about (someone else in vehicle, pure dumb luck for those who wished him harm) I don't know. But however it happened, the goal is achieved. Part two then takes place, Paul's wife divorces him. He gains the most during the divorce settlement. She and Mary then set him up and off to jail he goes. Game over: They win.

Just joined Patreon to support you. Thanks for all you do, John!

[Legionmint]

The first note with the letter 'a' changing from a lower letter to a capitol 'A' is quite interesting from another perspective as well. That rounded style of lower a's that can be seen at the beginning of the letter had not been in use for very long at the time. Those a's were introduced in school in the late 60's or early 70's. That may indicate that the writer of at least the first letter(s) in fact was quite young (William) - or that the writer indeed was a teacher (Mary).
Just a thought.

[so-bright-i-cant-see]

I am such a fan of your videos, John! A tragedy occurred in our family recently, so I've not been watching your videos lately, but finally I am catching up and getting to watch your videos again! Thank you for making such intriguing and important videos!

[ThePetergate]

Great edition, John. Wow, what a tangled web! Fascinating. If it was a whodunnit there would be a nice neat solution, but I suspect that there are maybe several different people involved with various unconnected motives, using the letters as a cover. And I agree that it makes a lot of sense that they began as a non-violent means to stop the affair. There are several things that puzzle me, but one that sticks is Mary's behaviour with the booby trap. It make you wonder if she wasn't in on it somehow.

[a.armystrong]

Serious question, I have to be missing something here, but why isn't Mary a suspect?

[nammer]

Seems like trolling goes back to the seventies.

[ginayoung]

I was kind of astounded to see this video pop up. I live about 17 miles from Circleville. I've always been intrigued by this case but as you pointed out, the information out there is not always reliable. Thank you for a comprehensive video on this small mystery...