October 19, 2025 • 9 mins
A story of innocence, trust, and the neighbor no one suspected.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to True Crime Junkies. I'm your host Idah. It
was a chilly Halloween night in nineteen seventy three. The
streets of Fon du Lac, Wisconsin were alive with excitement
the kind only children can create. Pumpkins glowed on porches,
the smell of burning leaves hung in the air, and
nine year old Lisa and French could hardly contain her joy.
(00:22):
Halloween was her favorite night of the year. Lisa lived
with her mother, stepfather, and little brother in a quiet neighborhood.
She was known for her kindness and shy smile, the
kind of kid teachers adored and neighbors trusted. That year,
she dressed up as a hobo, a simple homemade costume,
a green parka jeans with blue taped patches, a black
(00:45):
felt hat, and freckles painted on her cheeks. She had
planned to trick or retreat with her best friend and Parker,
but that evening and got grounded and Lisa decided to
go alone. She told her mom she'd be careful, promised
to stay close, and left home just before six o'clock.
It was supposed to be just a few houses of fun,
(01:08):
safe night before heading to a neighborhood Halloween party. Lisa
knocked on a few doors. One was her teacher's house,
where she proudly showed off her costume. Then she continued
toward the home of a man her family knew well,
Gerald Miles Turner Junior, a twenty five year old neighbor
who lived three doors down. He was friendly enough, someone
(01:28):
the kids in the area saw often. He and his girlfriend,
Arlene Penn, had even chatted with Lisa before, but that
night something went horribly wrong. When Lisa didn't return home,
her mother grew worried. At first, she told herself maybe
Lisa had gone to the Halloween party, but as the
(01:50):
hours passed, dread crept in. By seven thirty p m.
The party had ended, no one had seen her. At
ten p m, police were notified. A massive search began
almost immediately. More than five thousand volunteers joined the hunt, police,
National Guard members, neighbors and parents carrying flashlights. The whole
(02:14):
community came together, combing through fields, parks, and wooded areas.
Posters with Lisa's photo were taped to store windows. Reporters arrived,
the city of fon Dulac was consumed by fear and disbelief.
For three long days, there was no sign of her.
(02:35):
Then on November three, a farmer named Jerald Brawn was
out in his field near Taycheedah, about ten miles away,
behind a barbed wire fence, he noticed two brown plastic
garbage bags. When he opened them, he found Lisa's body
in one and her clothes in the other. The medical
examiner's report was devastating. Lisa had been sexually assaulted and
(02:59):
killed by acidsphyxiation. She had also suffered blunt force trauma.
The innocence of that small Midwestern town was gone in
an instant. Police zeroed in unknown sex offenders, local workers
and neighbors. Among the first they interviewed was Gerald Turner.
He lived so close to the French family and he
(03:21):
had been home that night. Turner seemed nervous during questioning,
but denied involvement. He claimed he'd spent the evening watching
TV and waiting for his girlfriend to return home. With
no physical evidence, at the time, investigators couldn't arrest him.
Months passed. Then in August nineteen seventy four, nine months
(03:44):
after Lisa's murder, investigators brought Turner and again for questioning.
This time he confessed. According to his own statement, Lisa
had come to his door that night said trick retreat,
and he invited her inside to see his girlfriend's go costume.
Once inside, he forced himself on her, then strangled her
(04:05):
when she began to cry. He later said he panicked
and tried to revive her, but when she didn't wake up,
he wrapped her body in plastic bags and drove out
to the country to dispose of it. Turner described the
horrifying details in cold, matter of fact language. He even
told detectives that he'd warn socks on his hands while
handling Lisa's clothes so he wouldn't leave fingerprints. After dumping
(04:29):
her body, he cleaned up, hid the evidence, and returned
home as if nothing had happened. His confession shocked everyone,
not just because of the brutality, but because the killer
was a trusted neighbor. In nineteen seventy five, Turner was
convicted of second degree murder, enticing a child for a
moral purposes, and sexual perversion. He was sentenced to thirty
(04:53):
eight years and six months in prison. For Lisa's family,
it wasn't enough, but at least they thought justice had
been served. Over the years, the case became a turning
point in how America viewed Halloween safety. Parents who once
let their kids roam freely now set strict curfews. Police
(05:14):
departments across the country began to warn families to stick
to well liit areas, and while urban legends about poisoned
candies spread like wildfire, Lisa's murder was one of the
few real cases that gave those fears weight. But the
story didn't end there. After serving just over seventeen years,
Turner was paroled in nineteen ninety two. The community erupted
(05:37):
an outrage. Residents protested outside his halfway house. Parents refused
to let their children walk to school. People wrote letters
demanding he be sent back to prison. Turner violated his
parole the following year and was reincarcerated. He would be
released again, then sent back again over ten tical violations. Eventually,
(06:03):
Wisconsin lawmakers passed what became known as Turner's Law, officially
Chapter nine eighty of state law. It allowed the state
to commit sexually violent offenders to secure treatment facilities even
after their prison terms ended, if they were deemed dangerous.
Lisa's death literally reshaped the law. Her mother Marianne later
(06:24):
said no sentence can ever bring her back, but if
her story can save one child, maybe there's some purpose
in that. Today, more than fifty years later, Lisa's name
still resurfaces every October. Local newspapers retell her story as
a reminder of vigilance in Fond du Lac. Families light
(06:46):
candles on Halloween in her honor. For many, Lisa and
French became a symbol not of fear, but of the
innocence that must be protected. What makes this story so
haunting isn't just what happened that night. It's how ordinate
Mary it all seemed. A little girl in a costume,
a familiar neighborhood, a trusted face at the door, the
(07:10):
kind of night that could happen anywhere. There's something deeply
unsettling about crimes that happen on holidays. Halloween especially carries
that aery overlap between fantasy and fear. For one night,
people wear masks, knock on strangers doors, and trust the
world to stay kind. Lisa's case shattered that trust. If
(07:33):
you talk to longtime residents of Fond du Lac, they'll
tell you how the community changed overnight. Trick or treating
hours were moved to daylight, Police patrols increased, parents accompanied
kid's house to house, Every bag of candy was double checked,
and behind every precaution was the memory of Lisa's smile.
(07:56):
Even now, when newscasters talk about Halloween were Lisa's name
is one of the first mentioned. Her story isn't folklore,
it's fact. Gerald Turner, the man who took her life,
has spent decades in and out of prison. As of
recent updates, he remains under civil confinement as a sexually
(08:17):
violent person. He is now in his seventies. When asked
once why he did it, Turner claimed he just lost control.
But to Lisa's family, that explanation meant nothing. Their daughter's
life ended before it truly began, and every Halloween that
followed became a painful reminder. As we look back on
(08:39):
that nineteen seventy three night, it's important to remember that
behind every headline, there's a human story. Lisa wasn't just
a victim. She was a child who loved animals, who
helped her mom in the kitchen, who had dreamed she
never got to chase. Halloween will always have its share
of chills and shadows, but her story reminds us that
the real monster's barely were costumes. So when you see
(09:03):
kids trick or treating this year, their laughter echoing under
porch lights, take a moment to think of Lisa and French.
Remember the lesson her tragedy taught us. Protect innocence, guard
the vulnerable, and never assume safety just because danger looks familiar.
Because on that cold Halloween night in nineteen seventy three,
a community learned the hard way that evil doesn't always
(09:25):
come from strangers in masks. Sometimes it's the friendly neighbor
with the porch light on. This has been true crime junkies.
Thank you for listening, and may we keep every child
safe this Halloween
Welcome to True Crime Junkies. I'm your host Idah. It
was a chilly Halloween night in nineteen seventy three. The
streets of Fon du Lac, Wisconsin were alive with excitement
the kind only children can create. Pumpkins glowed on porches,
the smell of burning leaves hung in the air, and
nine year old Lisa and French could hardly contain her joy.
(00:22):
Halloween was her favorite night of the year. Lisa lived
with her mother, stepfather, and little brother in a quiet neighborhood.
She was known for her kindness and shy smile, the
kind of kid teachers adored and neighbors trusted. That year,
she dressed up as a hobo, a simple homemade costume,
a green parka jeans with blue taped patches, a black
(00:45):
felt hat, and freckles painted on her cheeks. She had
planned to trick or retreat with her best friend and Parker,
but that evening and got grounded and Lisa decided to
go alone. She told her mom she'd be careful, promised
to stay close, and left home just before six o'clock.
It was supposed to be just a few houses of fun,
(01:08):
safe night before heading to a neighborhood Halloween party. Lisa
knocked on a few doors. One was her teacher's house,
where she proudly showed off her costume. Then she continued
toward the home of a man her family knew well,
Gerald Miles Turner Junior, a twenty five year old neighbor
who lived three doors down. He was friendly enough, someone
(01:28):
the kids in the area saw often. He and his girlfriend,
Arlene Penn, had even chatted with Lisa before, but that
night something went horribly wrong. When Lisa didn't return home,
her mother grew worried. At first, she told herself maybe
Lisa had gone to the Halloween party, but as the
(01:50):
hours passed, dread crept in. By seven thirty p m.
The party had ended, no one had seen her. At
ten p m, police were notified. A massive search began
almost immediately. More than five thousand volunteers joined the hunt, police,
National Guard members, neighbors and parents carrying flashlights. The whole
(02:14):
community came together, combing through fields, parks, and wooded areas.
Posters with Lisa's photo were taped to store windows. Reporters arrived,
the city of fon Dulac was consumed by fear and disbelief.
For three long days, there was no sign of her.
(02:35):
Then on November three, a farmer named Jerald Brawn was
out in his field near Taycheedah, about ten miles away,
behind a barbed wire fence, he noticed two brown plastic
garbage bags. When he opened them, he found Lisa's body
in one and her clothes in the other. The medical
examiner's report was devastating. Lisa had been sexually assaulted and
(02:59):
killed by acidsphyxiation. She had also suffered blunt force trauma.
The innocence of that small Midwestern town was gone in
an instant. Police zeroed in unknown sex offenders, local workers
and neighbors. Among the first they interviewed was Gerald Turner.
He lived so close to the French family and he
(03:21):
had been home that night. Turner seemed nervous during questioning,
but denied involvement. He claimed he'd spent the evening watching
TV and waiting for his girlfriend to return home. With
no physical evidence, at the time, investigators couldn't arrest him.
Months passed. Then in August nineteen seventy four, nine months
(03:44):
after Lisa's murder, investigators brought Turner and again for questioning.
This time he confessed. According to his own statement, Lisa
had come to his door that night said trick retreat,
and he invited her inside to see his girlfriend's go costume.
Once inside, he forced himself on her, then strangled her
(04:05):
when she began to cry. He later said he panicked
and tried to revive her, but when she didn't wake up,
he wrapped her body in plastic bags and drove out
to the country to dispose of it. Turner described the
horrifying details in cold, matter of fact language. He even
told detectives that he'd warn socks on his hands while
handling Lisa's clothes so he wouldn't leave fingerprints. After dumping
(04:29):
her body, he cleaned up, hid the evidence, and returned
home as if nothing had happened. His confession shocked everyone,
not just because of the brutality, but because the killer
was a trusted neighbor. In nineteen seventy five, Turner was
convicted of second degree murder, enticing a child for a
moral purposes, and sexual perversion. He was sentenced to thirty
(04:53):
eight years and six months in prison. For Lisa's family,
it wasn't enough, but at least they thought justice had
been served. Over the years, the case became a turning
point in how America viewed Halloween safety. Parents who once
let their kids roam freely now set strict curfews. Police
(05:14):
departments across the country began to warn families to stick
to well liit areas, and while urban legends about poisoned
candies spread like wildfire, Lisa's murder was one of the
few real cases that gave those fears weight. But the
story didn't end there. After serving just over seventeen years,
Turner was paroled in nineteen ninety two. The community erupted
(05:37):
an outrage. Residents protested outside his halfway house. Parents refused
to let their children walk to school. People wrote letters
demanding he be sent back to prison. Turner violated his
parole the following year and was reincarcerated. He would be
released again, then sent back again over ten tical violations. Eventually,
(06:03):
Wisconsin lawmakers passed what became known as Turner's Law, officially
Chapter nine eighty of state law. It allowed the state
to commit sexually violent offenders to secure treatment facilities even
after their prison terms ended, if they were deemed dangerous.
Lisa's death literally reshaped the law. Her mother Marianne later
(06:24):
said no sentence can ever bring her back, but if
her story can save one child, maybe there's some purpose
in that. Today, more than fifty years later, Lisa's name
still resurfaces every October. Local newspapers retell her story as
a reminder of vigilance in Fond du Lac. Families light
(06:46):
candles on Halloween in her honor. For many, Lisa and
French became a symbol not of fear, but of the
innocence that must be protected. What makes this story so
haunting isn't just what happened that night. It's how ordinate
Mary it all seemed. A little girl in a costume,
a familiar neighborhood, a trusted face at the door, the
(07:10):
kind of night that could happen anywhere. There's something deeply
unsettling about crimes that happen on holidays. Halloween especially carries
that aery overlap between fantasy and fear. For one night,
people wear masks, knock on strangers doors, and trust the
world to stay kind. Lisa's case shattered that trust. If
(07:33):
you talk to longtime residents of Fond du Lac, they'll
tell you how the community changed overnight. Trick or treating
hours were moved to daylight, Police patrols increased, parents accompanied
kid's house to house, Every bag of candy was double checked,
and behind every precaution was the memory of Lisa's smile.
(07:56):
Even now, when newscasters talk about Halloween were Lisa's name
is one of the first mentioned. Her story isn't folklore,
it's fact. Gerald Turner, the man who took her life,
has spent decades in and out of prison. As of
recent updates, he remains under civil confinement as a sexually
(08:17):
violent person. He is now in his seventies. When asked
once why he did it, Turner claimed he just lost control.
But to Lisa's family, that explanation meant nothing. Their daughter's
life ended before it truly began, and every Halloween that
followed became a painful reminder. As we look back on
(08:39):
that nineteen seventy three night, it's important to remember that
behind every headline, there's a human story. Lisa wasn't just
a victim. She was a child who loved animals, who
helped her mom in the kitchen, who had dreamed she
never got to chase. Halloween will always have its share
of chills and shadows, but her story reminds us that
the real monster's barely were costumes. So when you see
(09:03):
kids trick or treating this year, their laughter echoing under
porch lights, take a moment to think of Lisa and French.
Remember the lesson her tragedy taught us. Protect innocence, guard
the vulnerable, and never assume safety just because danger looks familiar.
Because on that cold Halloween night in nineteen seventy three,
a community learned the hard way that evil doesn't always
(09:25):
come from strangers in masks. Sometimes it's the friendly neighbor
with the porch light on. This has been true crime junkies.
Thank you for listening, and may we keep every child
safe this Halloween
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