The Last Known Moments
Barbara and Patricia told their mother, Loretta Grimes, they’d be home before midnight. Loretta gave them a few dollars and reminded them to return soon after the movie. They never did. Witnesses saw them at the theater, and the ticket-taker confirmed their attendance at the 7:30 p.m. showing. Around 9:30 p.m., classmates reported seeing the sisters leave the theater and head toward home. But somewhere in the short distance between the theater and their front door, the girls vanished.
A City on Edge
Loretta immediately sensed something was wrong. She stayed up late waiting for them, and when they didn’t return, she called the police. What followed was one of the largest missing persons investigations in Illinois history. Over 15,000 people were interviewed. At least 300,000 flyers were distributed across the city. Countless tips came in, each one fueling hope, confusion, and sometimes, false leads.
Sightings poured in from all over. One of the more notable ones came from a friend who claimed to have seen the girls boarding a bus around 11:00 p.m. Other reports placed them at restaurants, gas stations, and even hitchhiking on roads far from home. Some claimed the girls were with a man, possibly in his 20s, who looked like Elvis Presley himself. The media frenzy became so intense that it prompted a public statement from Elvis, who urged the girls to go home. Despite the optimism these sightings brought, not one of them was confirmed.
The Discovery
For nearly a month, the city of Chicago held it's breath.
Then, on January 22, 1957, the case took a dark and devastating turn. Leonard Prescott, a local construction worker, discovered two bodies along a deserted stretch of German Church Road in Willow Springs, Illinois—25 miles southwest of the girls' home. At first, he thought they were mannequins, but the grim reality set in quickly. They were the naked bodies of Barbara and Patricia Grimes.
A Disturbing Scene
The scene was haunting. The sisters were laid out side by side in a fetal position, faces turned toward each other, as if carefully arranged. They were covered by a thin layer of snow, indicating they had been there for some time. Nearby, there were no tire tracks or footprints due to a recent snowfall, suggesting the bodies had been placed there sometime after the snow began to fall—or that the killer had been incredibly careful.
Conflicting Autopsies and Unanswered Questions
The autopsies only deepened the mystery. Three separate pathologists conducted examinations, yet none could agree on a definitive cause of death. Dr. Robert Stein, who later became a renowned figure in forensic medicine, believed the girls died from exposure and shock. Yet bruises, marks on their faces and bodies, and evidence of blunt force trauma suggested a more violent end. The bodies also showed signs of malnutrition and being kept alive for some time after their disappearance. Some pathologists believed the girls were alive for several days after they vanished.
Adding to the complexity, there was no conclusive evidence of sexual assault. Yet their naked state and the lack of clothing—only a few items found scattered nearby—suggested otherwise. The uncertainty around the timeline and cause of death created fertile ground for speculation and theory.
A False Confession
Suspicion soon fell on Edward "Bennie" Bedwell, a 21-year-old drifter who bore a resemblance to Elvis Presley. Working in a nearby diner, Bedwell came to police attention after reports of him being seen with two young girls. Under intense interrogation, he confessed to taking the girls to a room, feeding them, and then beating them to death after they refused sexual advances. He claimed he was accompanied by an unnamed accomplice. But the confession was riddled with inconsistencies. The timeline was off, the details were vague, and the forensic evidence didn’t support his claims. Bedwell later recanted, saying he was pressured into confessing. Without credible evidence, the charges were dropped.
A Chilling Parallel
Another chilling figure connected to the case was Charles Leroy Melquist. A few years later, Melquist was convicted of murdering 15-year-old Bonnie Leigh Scott, whose body had been found mutilated and burned. The similarities between Bonnie’s murder and the Grimes case were unsettling: both victims were teenage girls, both were left in remote areas, and in both cases, there were elements suggesting the bodies had been posed. In a deeply disturbing twist, after Bonnie’s body was found, Loretta Grimes received a call from an anonymous male voice saying, "I know something about your little girls. Look at how Bonnie died. There’s a connection." Despite the circumstantial parallels, Melquist was never charged in the Grimes case.
Lingering Theories and Timeless Grief
Despite the passage of decades, the case remains unsolved—it’s chilling details haunting both professionals and the public. Numerous theories have emerged over the years, each attempting to bring clarity to the mystery.
Theory 1: The Kenneth Melquist Connection
Retired detective Raymond Johnson has long championed the theory that Kenneth Melquist—a convicted murderer from the same era—was responsible. Johnson points to striking similarities in victimology: young girls targeted within a specific geographic range, as well as the method of disposal. Timelines overlap suspiciously, and Melquist had ties to the general area. However, no direct physical evidence ever tied him to the Grimes sisters’ case, leaving the theory largely circumstantial but compelling.
Theory 2: The Local Predator Hypothesis
Some believe the girls fell victim to a local predator—someone familiar with their routines and trusted by the community. This theory hinges on the idea that the sisters may have willingly entered a vehicle, suggesting a level of comfort or familiarity. Several local suspects were questioned at the time, but no charges were filed. The idea of a neighborhood predator created lasting fear among parents and contributed to a shift in public behavior.
Theory 3: Opportunistic Abduction by Strangers
Another possibility is that the crime was entirely random—a crime of opportunity. The sisters vanished after a movie outing, and it’s theorized they may have encountered strangers offering a ride or preying on vulnerable kids. This theory aligns with similar unsolved abductions in the region but lacks any specific suspect.
Theory 4: Police Missteps and Lost Leads
A less discussed theory blames investigative failures for the case going cold. Early police work may have overlooked key leads, misinterpreted witness accounts, or mishandled evidence. Some even suggest that the initial media frenzy muddied the investigation, pressuring law enforcement to pursue high-profile suspects instead of following a methodical process.
Community Impact
Regardless of the theory one finds most plausible, the impact on the Chicago community was deeply felt. What had once been a safe environment for children became clouded with caution and fear. Parents began escorting their kids everywhere. Neighborhood trust deteriorated, replaced by suspicion and vigilance that would last for years.
A Legacy of Unanswered Questions
Over time, the story of the Grimes sisters became less of a current crime investigation and more of a haunting chapter in the city's history. But for those who still study the case—whether detectives, writers, or readers like you—the questions remain as chilling now as they were in 1957. Who was responsible for their deaths? Were they held captive for days before being killed? Was it someone they knew, or a predator who chose them at random? And why, after such a massive effort and public attention, did justice never arrive?
The Grimes case stands as a painful reminder of how even the most high-profile investigations can fail, and how the passage of time can obscure truth rather than illuminate it. But the pursuit of justice never truly dies. The questions persist, and with them, the hope that one day, someone will come forward with the missing piece.
If you have any information related to the case of Barbara and Patricia Grimes, please contact the
Cook County Sheriff’s Office at (708) 865-4896
Submit a Tip at cookcountysheriffil.gov.
Thank you for reading Echoes of the Unsolved.
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