Case 266
Circleville Letter Writer
In March 1977, school bus driver Mary Gillespie started receiving threatening letters delivered to her home in Circleville, Ohio. It wasn’t long before her husband, Ron Gillespie, also received the letters which accused Mary of having an affair with the local school superintendent, Gordon Massie.
When Mary Gillespie found a threatening sign hung from a fence post on her school bus route, she tore it down, only to find a booby trap inside, designed to kill her. Who wanted to target Mary? Investigation of the booby trap pointed to a prime suspect close to home, her brother-in-law Paul Freshour.
CREDITS
EPISODE
Research & writing – Jessica Forsayeth
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Narration – Anonymous Host
MUSIC
‘Flatline intro’ and ‘Come play with me’ intro and outro – www.dl-sounds.com
Audio production – Mike Migas
Scoring – Mike Migas and Andrew Joslyn
OTHER
Logo and website design – Paulina Szymanska
PREMIUM
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RESOURCES
A special thank you to author, journalist and private investigator Martin Yant for his assistance in sharing resources for this episode.
WEBSITES
Paul Freshour Wife – Circleville Letter Writer Karen Sue Freshour
NEWS ARTICLES
It was a day he was sure was his last – Dayton Daily News
Ohioan faces hearing on attempted murder charge – UPI
Columbus area man is charged with attempted aggravated murder – Chillicothe Gazette
New attorneys sought – Chillicothe Gazette
Man admitted – Ohio AP
Pickaway judge waits for medical report – Chillicothe Gazette
Handwriting is linked to accused – Ohio AP
Freshour trial set – Chillicothe Gazette
‘Booby trap’ trial is set to begin – Chillicothe Gazette
Arguments under way in trial – Chillicothe Gazette
Prosecution continues in trial – Chillicothe Gazette
Jury to get the Freshour trial – Chillicothe Gazette
Freshour given prison term – Chillicothe Gazette
Has the anonymous author of the infamous Circleville letters been unmasked? – CBS News
‘48 Hours’ expert may have solved Circleville letters mystery – Chillicothe Gazette
The Circleville Letters: you’ve got hate mail – CBS News
Circleville Police looking for tips in unsolved 1980 homicide of 25-year-old teacher – abc6
‘Circleville Writer’ vs. ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ – The Ohio Observer
Letters continue raising doubt about convict’s guilt – The Columbus Dispatch
Could a serial killer be responsible for a Circleville elementary teacher’s murder? – 10 WBN
AUDIO/VIDEO
Unsolved Mysteries – S07, E06
48 Hours – The Circleville Letters
Whatever Remains Podcast – Circleville Letters, episode one
OTHER
State of Ohio vs Paul L. Freshour – Pickaway County Court of Appeals 1985 Case no: 83-CA-32