What Happened To Paula

 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Det. Conrad
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

I contacted Mary Wallace of 224 27th Street NW, Apt. 3, at the Bold Nursing Home on the corner of 1st Avenue and 11th Street SW and questioned her in regards to the accident George Mundy had on Otis Road. She was very vague about remembering anything. In fact she could not remember how many people came to the car, what kind of car had stopped, how many were in it, or the color of the car.  I also explained to her that this appeared to be different from what George had informed Det. Smith of, however she still could not recall how many were in the car or anything else about the incident.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Det. Jelinek
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

At the instruction of Lt. Scriven, I contacted Carol Oberbroeckling and determined from her the address of her ex-husband, James. She told me that his address was 2510 N. 12th St., Grand Junction, Colorado. Carol further told me that she believed he would be in town today or tomorrow and I told her that if he was, to have him get in contact with us, which she said that she would do.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Det. Jelinek
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

This morning I was instructed to locate Rick Williams and interview him in regard to the above captioned subject. Investigation reveals that Rick Williams is a student at Ft. Dodge Junior College. At this time, he has not been contacted.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Lt. J.B. Scriven
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

On this date, a Lloyd D. Forsyth, insurance agent for New York Life Insurance Company, came to the station to advise that Paula had taken out a life insurance policy with a triple indemnity clause in it, the face amount being $10,000.00, paying $30,000 upon accidental death. The policy was issued on March 17, 1970, naming her mother, Carol Oberbroeckling, as her first beneficiary and her father, James Oberbroeckling, as second beneficiary. As Mrs. Carol Oberbroeckling had not been able to keep up the policy payments, which were $14.40 a month, consisting of a $13.00 payment on the policy, $1.20 for accidental death benefits, and 20 cents for waiver of premiums in case she should be injured and not be able to pay on the policy, since Paula has been missing, and the grandmother, Vera Oberbroeckling, has been making the payments since.

He also related that Carol Oberbroeckling had related to him that Paula was a firm believer in the Zodiac and she followed it closely. When she had taken out the policy, she was thinking of going to Florida to go to a modeling school. He said that he believed that she actually did go to Florida. He also advised that her father, James, wanted her to come to Colorado and go to school there. At the time that Paula had taken out the policy, she was living with her mother and had been working at Younker’s store for six months. Mr. Forsyth also related that Mrs. Oberbroeckling at the present time does not have enough money to pay for a funeral for Paula, but that she stated the funeral would be held at the Stewart-Monahan Funeral Home when it would be held.

Mr. Forsyth also related that he thought that at the time that he delivered the policy to Paula that she was living in the house next to the Rub-A-Dub Laundromat in the 1400 block of Mt. Vernon Road, lower front apartment. He said, though, really he was not quite sure because there was a possibility he could have delivered it to 1036 11th Avenue SE. He remembers the house as being a white house at the time he delivered the policy to her.

Paula Oberbroeckling was required to take a physical examination for the insurance and she was examined by Dr. Paul Stevens of 925 Merchants National Bank Building on March 17.

He further related that in talking to Carol that the reason Paula took out the triple indemnity policy was that she was intending to fly to Florida and she was afraid of flying and being a firm believer in the Zodiac, that maybe the time or date that she was intending to leave would not be favorable.

He further related some information that was passed on to Detective Gearhart to follow up on reference information he had obtained from his neighbor, Gary Bright, who lives at 4015 Dalewood SE. Gary Bright is supposed to work for the A-1 Electric Company and the information would concern a party that he knows that had supplied him with information about Paula running around with a colored subject.

Detective Huston was rechecking with Younker’s and obtaining a copy of her employment record and checking whether or not the Younker’s store carries any type of insurance at the store on Paula. He was also going to check at Washington High School and get her records and make copies for us.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Det. C. Jelinek
Date of this Report: 12-3-70
Additional information on Rick Williams

This afternoon I contacted Rick Williams’ mother who is now Mrs. Alfonse O’Bannon of 2260 C. St. S.W. She confirmed my earlier information that Rick is a sophomore at Fort Dodge Jr. College. I asked her if there were any chance that he might be home this coming weekend, and she said that he would not because of his involvement in basketball. She said that she did not expect him home until just before Christmas.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Det. Staves
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

I checked at the dealer on Centerpoint Road at 5524 who sells Porsche sport cars and found that from 1960 to 1966 trunk space has a maximum depth of 6″. These vehicles have a motor in back and a trunk in front. The late models have the motor in front along with a trunk and a trunk in back. Depth on the rear trunk of the newer models is 9″. In my opinion, an adult body would not fit in this trunk and certainly not Paula Oberbroeckling.

In checking our files, I found two cars registered to the Bell residence, both in the name of Robert P. Bell, 1633 34th Street NE, 10-28′s attached. Also I checked the house anf found a red Volkswagon, 57-74903, sitting in the drive. This was a skip in our files. The courthouse gave officer Folkers the name and address of Robert Patrick Bell. 10-28 attached.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Paula Oberbroeckling
Investigating Office: Huston
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

On December 3, 1970 a Mr. William Sherlock came to the Detective Bureau requesting to talk to an officer, stating he had some information in regards to the above named girl. I talked to this subject, found that he was 58 years of age, was born April 29, 1912, and lives at 606 3rd St. N.W. This subject was also under the influence of liquor when I talked to him and informed me that he had been drinking last night and had seen this girl’s picture in the paper and remembered that on one Sunday afternoon while he was sitting on the front porch he saw a gray convertible driven by a colored subject with two colored subjects and a blonde haired girl in the back seat. He stated that they were sitting up on the top deck rather than down on the seat. He believed that this was the same girl as the picture in the paper. He could not give a description of the colored subjects nor any more information on the girl, but he did recall that in seeing her with these colored subjects it made him mad and he went into the house. He also does not recall any date that this may have been except that it was during the summer on a Sunday.

I was instructed by Lt. Scriven to contact a Bruce Smith in regards to his having any knowledge of Paula Oberbroeckling. I went to 917 9th Ave. S.E. and talked to Bruce there and he agreed to come to the Police Station with me, which we did and at the Police Station I learned that he was 19 years old, having been born on April 8, 1951 and that he lives at the above address with his brother Fredrick, at the present time he is unemployed, having quit Wilson and Company about a month ago. Bruce stated that during the summer while he was employed at Wilson Company he had an upstairs apartment at 1407 Mt. Vernon Ave. S.E. with his girlfriend, Jackie Cuhel. He and Jackie maintained this apartment up until a few weeks ago when he moved in with his brother. He was questioned in regards to how well he knew Paula. He stated that he knew her from Washington School and he believed that the only one that she ever went with was a Robert Williams, a negro boy, and he and his girlfriend did not associate with anybody such as going on double dates or going to others apartments. He stated that he did not know anyone by the name of Lonnie Bell. He stated that during the 2nd week of July he was talked to by an officer from the Detective Bureau in regards to this Paula, and he stated that he does recall one day when he was looking out the window of his apartment he saw a large group gathering and he went down to see what it was about and heard Mrs. Oberbroeckling asking about her daughter Paula, and wanted to look in the house to see if she was there. He stated that he does not remember whether she looked in the house or not as everyone was outside. Bruce could not give me any more information in regards to Paula or Robert Williams and he more or less indicated that between working at Wilson and Company and living with his girlfriend Jackie, they did not pay much attention to what else was going on.

Lt. Scriven requested I go to Younkers, which I did, where Paula had been employed. I received from Mrs. Point, the personnel director, Paula’s card that she filled out for application for employment and all the time sheet covering her hours of her last week of employment. I also stopped at Washington High School and talked to Mr. Jack Grimm, the assistant principal, and received a copy of Paula’s school record. All of these copies were turned over to Lt. Scriven.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbroeckling
Investigating Office:  R. Gearhart
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

As per instructions from Lt. Scrivan, I was able to locate a Gary Bright who is a electrician for A-1, Electric Co. Gary was on a job at the Kirkwood Jr. College Farm, south of the campus area. This morning an insurance man came into the bureau and informed Lt. Scriven that Paula had an insurance policy that was taken out a short time ago. This insurance man stated that he lived next door to a Gary Bright who might have some information about the above girl. Gary was supposed to have overheard another subject make the remark that Paula went with colored subject and was pregnant and left that night that she came up missing to go down and inform the subject that she was pregnant. I talked to Gary and he stated he overheard this subject talking while they both were down at the Terry-Durin Company and only knew him as Bill who might work at Acme Electric.

I contacted Acme Electric who stated that they had a Bill Meyer, employed at their place of business.

I talked to Bill Meyer, age 21, 412 7th. Ave. SW who stated he did not say anything like that although he stated he probably did say something about Paula going with the colored as he knew her through his wife who had worked at Spartans at about the same time that Paula did. Paula apparently worked at Spartans before she went over to Younkers. He stated he knew Paula to see her as she and his wife used to talk to each other and stated he did see her come into Spartans one night in the company of a “hippie” looking subject in a red Porsche car which would have been Bell. He stated he did not know she was pregnant and did not know anymore than he told me.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Lt. Baker
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

I talked to John Kuba at St. Lukes about the possibility of Lonnie Bell being a patient there at this time. He checked and found out that Bell was not a patient at this time, but had been in the past. Bell’s first stay at St. Lukes was from November 16, 1969 to December 2, 1969 and the reason was listed as probably drugs, although Bell would not admit this. Bell’s second stay at St. Lukes was from 2:45 AM to 11:45 Am on September 3, 1970. This was for treatment of a bad trip as a result of drugs. Kuba said their records showed that Bell had worked at Penick and Ford in 1969.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Det. Corrigan
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

I contacted Linda Chamberlain (see statement) and she advised me that she never had been a girlfriend of Lonnie Bell nor did Lonnie Bell ever beat her up or attempt to.

I again contacted Debbie Mitchell and she stated that Rick Williams was in college at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge and would be back in this city on December 18, 1970. She also stated that Aaron Doolin is attending college in Omaha, Nebraska and that he might possibly come back for Paula’s funeral if he finds out about it in time. I also asked Debbie about a party that might have taken place the night Paula disappeared and she stated she knew of no such party.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Det. Millsap
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

At about 7 PM this date Debbie Kellogg brought her black Chevy Nova, 1962 model to the station and consented to let me look through it. At that time I removed the rear seat and checked the entire interior of the car, but found nothing of any consequence. Debbie stated her car has been cleaned a number of times since July 11, 1970.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Det. Schulz
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

I was advised this evening to try to locate Delilah Green. Information has been received that she was a friend of Paula Oberbrockling. Blue card listed an address of 818 Wellington Street, but I found she had moved out previous to August when the present tenants moved in.

I then went to 3326 Rosewood Court NE and talked to Donald Nollge age 34 who lives at this address and learned that Delilah Green is Donald’s sister. Don told me that Delilah is currently in Lakeland, Florida attending Patricia Stevens Modeling School, but she will be home on School vacation between December 26, 1970 and January 2, 1971. I requested that he have her come to the Detective Bureau and he agreed to do this. Delilah’s birthdate is January 22, 1952.

In the conversation with Don he states that Paula and Delilah were good friends and that while Delilah was living there previous to going to Florida, Paula was a frequent visitor at the house. According to Don, Delilah left previous to Paula being reported missing, but just by a couple of days. After he had learned that Paula had been reported missing, he got two phone calls on separate nights just shortly after Paula was reported missing, one being at approximately 11:38 PM and the other being at 12:30 AM. There was a young girl who had called the residence asking for Delilah Green and Don felt that this was Paula Oberbrockling making the phone call to him asking for Delilah. He stated it appeared as thought she was not intoxicated but rather possibly under the influence of drugs since her words were spoken fairly clear, but spaced apart when she talked with him and during the talk on the phone with Don, she would state, “I want my mommy, I want my mommy” a couple of times over and on occasion she stated, “My name is Connie.” And this girl also asked for “Mrs. Green” and Don in turn asked if this was Paula and he felt he got the answer in the affirmative way. He stated it was exceptionally noticeable in the way that the girl spoke on the phone to him and the spacing of words and phrases sounded like the girl was doped up or possibly under the influence of certain drugs, but not as a person under the influence of alcohol where the words would be slurred. He states he believes in his own mind that it was actually Paula talking to him asking for Delilah and was a couple of days after Paula had been reported missing.

Due to the fact that Mr. Nollge is a salesman and he felt obliged to take his daughter to some activity, he asked if it would be all right for him to come down on December 4, 1970 and I agreed to this and the time was set up for approximately 3 PM for someone to talk to him and more details could be obtained from the information that I have received so far. He stated one of the hangouts he knew of for Paula and Delilah was Tony’s Pizza.

He felt that Delilah might be able to shed some light on this, even though she was not here when Paula was actually reported missing and he will make sure she gets down here to talk to us.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Office: Det. Schultz
Date of this Report: 12-3-70

On December 2, 1970 I was advised that a possible source of information would be a young girl who got married just previous to Paula becoming missing and Paula attended the wedding of this young girl. Her name was Marie Luedeman, but we do not know her married name, but her phone number is believed to be 365-7090. If someone feels this might be of help, this could be checked into. I attempted several times, but have been unable to contact this party by phone.

I was also advised that a day or so before Paula came up missing she and two young colored men stopped at the E&N grocery and that Paula and one young colored man went in and bought believed a package of cigarettes and a package of gum, but one of the young colored men stayed in the car. The E&N Grocery is run by Eli Nemer and the girl who works there during the day time is the one who has information if someone has time to check with them during the daytime hours. The E&N Grocery is located at 1134 9th Street SE.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbroeckling
Investigating Office: Det. Conrad
Date of this Report: 12-4-70

At 12:20 p.m., Vera Oberbroeckling left a message for me to contact her regards some information she may have. I returned this call at 12:25 p.m. and she stated she was having coffee with Leo Greco, that he mentioned that a Bonnie Pansegrau told him that her little niece saw a blue dress in the area where officers were looking for a purse. Bonnie’s telephone number is 364-1162.

I then found that this little niece, who is six years old, belongs to a Mrs. Elden Martin, phone #364-5617, and that Mrs. Martin was sitting at a table and they got to talking about officers looking for a purse being in the area when the 6-year-old niece kept mentioning something about a blue dress. They finally listened to the niece and the niece said that this was a blue material just to the right inside the gate off of Otis Road and more on the aqua color side of blue, and supposedly Mrs. Martin remembers seeing it there, too, however they did not pay much attention to it. They are not able to ascertain what time of the summer this was as they go up there real often to take care of their horses.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbroeckling
Investigating Office: Det. Conrad
Date of this Report: 12-4-70

On December 3, I received a call that possibly a Lumir Medulan might have some information regards the Paula Oberbroeckling case. At about 7:30 a.m., this date, I went to King’s Sand Plant and waited for Lumir Medulan (truck driver), of 2903 F Avenue NW, to show up. After he arrived, I got in the truck with him and he stated that early this summer he was going his usual route along Otis Road SE and he noticed a grey Chevelle parked in the drive along the railroad tracks headed in an easterly direction, sitting about 300 feet east of the entrance into the American Marietta Sand Plant, and at the same time there was a colored fellow standing outside the car with some type of gun and he knew this to be a rifle or shotgun as it had a long barrel on it. He described this colored person as being 5’9″ tall, slender and a younger person, and sitting in the car on the passenger side at the time was a young girl with light hair. At the time he thought that it was odd and on his way back to King’s, he looked for a squad car to give them information but did not see one. However, he called this incident to the attention of Richard Luedeman of 101 29th Avenue SW who hauls sand to Builders Material Co.

I was able to talk to Luedeman while down at the sand plant and he stated that he thought this was a tan Chevelle and he stated that the colored person was bout 20 years of age, thin build, 5’10″ tall, but did not see a gun. He thought this Chevelle was a 1965 or 1966 model. At the time he believes this car had an out of county license plate on it. Luedeman stated that on December 3, 1969, at about 12:30 p.m., he notices a small type Chevrolet, believed to be a Chevy II or  Nova, that was tan in color, sitting about the same location with four girls in it and this car had a 42- county license on it. HE also stated that he may have gotten the colors mixed up on the two cars on different dates, but he is not sure.

Medulan also stated that the city did cut the grass along this area sometime in August and at the time they were cutting with tractors.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbroeckling
Investigating Office: Det. Huston & Gearhart
Date of this Report: 12-4-70

In checking the reports of Ben Carroll, Lonnie Bell and Heims’s statements, Lt. Scriven suggested that we try to contact the girl who had the party on the early morning of July 11 where Lonnie Bell and Ben Carroll had spent some time. This girl was an Angie Nejdl and at the time lived at 1154 21st Avenue SW. However, in checking this address, we found that she had moved. We checked Seifert’s where the City Directory showed that she had worked. However, they could give us no information and we did check with the mailman of that area and found that she does now live at 328 20th Street Drive SE with another girl by the name of Zamestul, phone number 363-6649. We contacted a subject in that apartment who stated he was a boyfriend of the Zamestul girl and he said that Angie was working days, but he did not know where. We request that someone contact her during the evening hours at the above address or phone number.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Paula Oberbroeckling
Investigating Officer: Det. Conrad
Date of This Report: 12-8-70

I was given a set of keys with found property tag #2876. These keys were found by Mrs. Schroeder in August of 1970. Mrs. Schroeder’s address is 136 Echo Lane. There were four keys; 2 of these appeared to be for a Ford car, one appears to be a house key, and another one is a General Motors key. These had a tag on it with the emblem on the front and on the back it says “With Thanks from American Indian Children.”

I took the General Motors key to the Quik-Serve Cleaners, 3509 Center Point Road NE where Debbie Kellogg was on duty, and we went to her car and tried the General Motors key in both doors and the trunk and the ignition with negative results.

I took the set of keys and tried the house key in the front door of 116 10th Street NW with negative results. I could not try this key in the side door as the outside storm door was locked from the inside.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbroeckling
Investigating Office: Det. Huston & Gearhart
Date of this Report: 12-4-70

We stopped out to 1028 8th Street SE, the home of Robert Williams, and made arrangements for him to be at the Detective Bureau at 1:00 p.m. date. Robert was here at 1:00 p.m. and we interrogated him for over an hour and he did identify the two rings that were owned by Paula Oberbroeckling and stated that he did recognize the nightgown but stated that he had no idea who belonged to the ring with the initial “R” in the center. He did state that Paula had gone with a Steve Scheib and a Ron Barnes, although he could not say whether this ring might belong to Barnes or not. We then started out from the time that he first met Paula and he told me about the same story that he did the first time, although he did state that he had knowledge or she told him about taking an insurance policy.

He did say also that Paula and a girl by the name of Sandy and a Delilah Green did take a vacation to Florida. He cannot remember the last name of Sandy, and states Delilah Green is now living in Florida. He again states that the last time that he talked to Paula was on July 4, 1970 at his house, and the last time that he saw her was on July 5, riding in a car with Debbie Kellogg.

All through the interrogation, he was not a bit nervous and did not hesitate answering any questions, even after talking in one direction and suddenly hitting him with another question. He answered it right down the line and stated that he has told us all that he has known and in regard to the report of a man seeing a blond-haired girl in a car down by Tyler School between 5:00 and 6:00 a.m. July 11 with a colored subject, he stated he has no idea who this subject might be. When questioned on the times that Paula would come down to his house to see him, he stated most of the time she would call ahead of time and then come up to the door to knock.

He was questioned in regards to reports that we heard here he had caused Paula to cry and when the last time was, he stated that this was shortly after he had returned from Ft. Dodge and that he had heard that she was going with a boy by the name of Lonnie Bell and he went to Paula’s apartment at 1036 11th Avenue SE, saw Paula, started talking with her when Lonnie Bell came into the room. He asked Lonnie to leave, which he did, as he wanted to talk to Paula alone. He stated they talked about why she was going with Lonnie Bell, and she said because he will take me places, and then she talked about being able to go with both of them, and he said no, that either she had to go with just him or with this other guy. He stated that she was crying while they were talking. He also stated that they had other arguments during the year and a half that he went with her and did probably strike her on one occasion.

He stated that he had no idea as to what happened to Paula and that if he heard anything that should be checked out, he will contact the Bureau and give us the information.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbroeckling
Investigating Office: Det. Kelleher
Date of this Report: 12-4-70

On December 3, 1970 I checked with the Oberbrockling family at their residence at 2025 G Avenue NE in an attempt to get a list and description of the purse and contents that Paula was carrying when she disappeared.

Paula’s sister, Lynn Greve and her mother, Carol, told me that the purse had been brought as a gift from California and the mother believed it had been made in Mexico. They were going to attempt to check some catalogs to see if they could find one that resembled it and would call the station if they found one.

They did give me the following description of the purse and its contents:  The purse was a squaw bag style with an over the shoulder strap which served as a draw string. The purse was made out of dark brown heavy leather with a rough surface outside. It had long fringe all the way around and also fringe around the top opening and was a pouch shaped purse. Inside was a gold colored makeup bag with a plastic pink liner with numerous tubes of lipstick, mainly the white colored or light shades. One type of lipstick was an Avon peach frost color in a gray case with gold flowers. Paula had a way of using lipstick as to leave it pointed at the top and in a kind of a snowcone effect. Also in this case were two tubes of mascara, one Avon brand and the other Mabelline. The Mabelline in a gold and white tube and the other in a plain gold tube. Also in this makeup bag was a light blue plastic compact called Angel Face made by Chesebrough Pond’s Company. Also a small glass bottle of either Arpege or My Sin perfume with a black top on the bottle.

Also in this purse was a gold checkbook from City National Bank containing yellow flowered checks with Paula’s name and the address 1036 11th Avenue SE on them, similar to the one attached to this report. Also a peach colored billfold containing $70 in cash, drivers license, pictures, newspaper clippings of people that Paula knew that had gotten into trouble and also a social security card. It is possible that the drivers license may have been with the checkbook rather than with the billfold. There may have been receipts from Younkers store and also a pamphlet from Mark Eden on bust building exercises, this was an 18 to 20 page pamphlet, white/black in color including pictures in it. There may have been either Marlboro or Kool cigarettes as she smoked these brands. Also earrings for pierced ears usually gold in color with big lops of the dangling type and maybe hoop type bracelets. Also it is possible Debbie’s General Motors keys were in this purse also.

Also in talking to Lynn, she felt confident that the majority of these items are in the purse as she had gone through Paula’s purse a short time before her disappearance.

Lynn and Carol both told me that Captain Johnson and Detective Jelinek had gone through some of Paula’s items at the house and had found a ring with the letter R on it and were not sure who it belonged to. It came to mind that this ring may have belonged to an old boyfriend of Paula’s  Robert Allen Barnes whom I talked to on December 2, 1970. While at the house I talked to Lt. Baker on the phone and he advised me that he had learned from the trap on the Oberbroeckling phone that they had received a call from the number 363-3238. This is listed to a Tony Tschirgi of 2010 Glass Road NE Apt. 211 and was received at 11:15 AM on December 3, 1970.

I talked to Carol Oberbrockling about this and she told me she had activated the trap as Lynn had answered the phone and this subject had asked her if she was Mrs. Oberbrockling. She told him no, but that she would get her mother. Carol stated that the man had heard about her daughter and that he had a daughter of his own. He felt that what had happened to Paula was because she was too beautiful. Carol stated that she could determine that it was no one that knew Paula and told the man to wait while she answered the front door. She then went and put the trap into operation and did not return to the phone until 10 or 15 minutes later when she heard it beeping and in checking no longer found the subject on the phone. In talking to Lt. Baker about this subject he told me that this man is well known for placing phone calls.

I have also made up a list of articles the search party should be on the lookout for in the area of Otis Road.

I asked the family if they had heard that Lonnie Bell may be in the hospital and they told me they had not. Mrs. Oberbrockling stated she thought he would try anything to get out of taking a polygraph test. I also learned that they knew the name Greg Karrick as Mrs. Karrick is a friend of Carol Oberbrockling. I also mentioned the name Patty O’Shea to them. Lynn stated she knew this girl and Paula also knew her slightly. These two people had been arrested on narcotics charges with Lonnie Bell at one time.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Ref: Anonymous Call Received by Gillen on 12-2-70 at 10:30 am
Investigating Officer: Det. Conrad
Date of This Report: 12-4-70

I went to Marion and checked for the address of 350 10th Street in that city and the closest address I could come to was 350 10th Street in Marion. I talked to Capt. Zier of the Marion P.D. and the closest he could come to a lady of that description in that area was a Mrs. Joyce Balster of 1011 3rd Avenue, Marion, and her description is 28 years of age, 6′, 245 lbs., blue eyes.

I contacted her at her residence and talked to her and she denied every using a cab since she got married six years ago. Of course, it should be taken into consideration that her husband was present at the time.

I then returned to the Marion P.D. again, and Capt. Zier checked their City Directory and they only have one number of 350 and that is on 3rd Avenue in Marion and he did not think the lady at this address fit the description.

I then contacted the Traffic Bureau and got a list of the lady cab drivers as this is where this information supposedly came from, and of all the addresses I checked out, I made a note by each one as being not home or the house empty or living in another state. I was unable to talk to any of them at this time.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Officer: Det. Kelleher
Date of This Report: 12-4-7

On Friday evening, December 4, 1970, Jeanette Andrew and Angie Nejdl came to the station in reference to Lonnie Bell having been at their apartment on the morning of July 11, 1970. These two subjects were only slightly acquainted with Paula. In Jeanette’s statement, she mentioned that Debbie Kellogg’s car and Paula’s purse had been found near the Laundromat on Mt. Vernon Road. I questioned her about this and she thought that possibly Angie had told her something about Paula’s purse, but after she thought about it for a while she felt that she was almost sure that Lonnie had made the statement about the car and purse both.

In an attempt to find these girls I also talked to another roommate of theirs, Laura Zamastil, age 21 also of 328 30th Street Drive SE, phone 363-6649. IN talking to her, she told me that she also had known Paula slightly as she had lived in the apartment above Paula when she lived on 11th Avenue SE and Paula at times used the sun porch to sunbathe. She could add very little information about the case.

In talking to the two girls, they felt fairly certain about the times that Lonnie and the other subject (Ben Carroll) had been at the house on the morning of July 11, 1970. Angie told me that she had talked to Lonnie Bell in reference to the body that had found on Otis Road believing it was Paula and tried to help him remember when he had been at their apartment that night, however, he told her he had already been to the Police Department and made a statement in reference to this.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Officer: Lt. Baker
Date of This Report: 12-4-70

I talked to William Stewart of the Stewart-Monahan Funeral Home who is handling the funeral arrangements for the Oberbrockling family. He said Mrs. Oberbrockling wanted a complete funeral although he has tried to talk her out of this. He said that if she does insist on the complete funeral arrangements, he will bring down a copy of anybody who comes to the funeral to pay their respects and if we wish him to, he will try to make arrangements for an officer to be somewhere in the building to observe those people who pay their respects.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Officer: Det. J. Steinbeck
Date of This Report: 12-4-70

Information was given to me by a female subject, that wished to remain anonymous, that a Mrs. Richard L. Koranda saw something in reference to the above captioned case. It was explained that Mrs. Koranda lives above Borst Upholstering 842 1/2 14th Street SE and on the night or early morning of 7-11-70, she saw a tall blonde girl in a nightgown get out of a car across the street and yelled at this girl and then this girl walked down the street with this man.

It talked to Mrs. Koranda and her husband and I found that this was not the actual story. The family remembers distinctly that they were home for this only weekend during the summer for a son’s birthday on 7-11-70. The only thing that they remember that happened between 1:00 and 3:00 AM, was that they (the family) was awakened by a girl that screamed outside and also they thought she yelled the word “Mommy”. None of the family looked out the windows nor did anyone see anything or could tell where the scream (direction-wise) came from.

The only thing that Mrs. Koranda could think of that might have led someone to mistake all the information was that she remembers sometime during the summer, she mentioned about seeing a girl in shorty pajamas, outside walking down the sidewalk. She then saw a man walk up from behind her (both walking south in the 800 blk 14th Street SE). This girl then said to the man something about it being OK to be outside like this because she was dressed alright. Mrs. Koranda thought that the pajamas were light colored or pink in color.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Officer: Det. J. Steinbeck
Date of This Report: 12-4-70

During the evening, we received a call from an informant, stating that a man by the name of Kevin, who works in the Men’s Wear Department at Younkers had made a comment about knowing that Pat Lipscome knows a lot more than she is putting on to know. Pat Lipscome is a cousin of Williams and she knew and worked with Paula at Younkers.

I checked at Younkers for a Kevin, and I was informed that the only Kevin that worked there had been dismissed from employment about a year ago. This Kevin worked in the Men’s Dept. and I checked there employment records and found him to be Kevin Allan Kinney age 19 of 2100 Birchwood Drive NE 363-8574.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Officer: Dets. Corrigan and Millsap
Date of This Report: 12-4-70

At about 6:30 PM this date we had Lonnie Bell come to the station where we re-interviewed him regarding the Paula Oberbrockling murder. During the interview Lonnie was again very hazy and evasive on his answers and was not very communicative. He steadfastly refused to take a  polygraph test and at one time stated he would not take one even if his lawyer advised him to.

In going over his previous statement and pointing out some of the discrepancies he stated that he now recalls leaving his car at the NoWhere Lounge at 11:30 PM when they took Paula home and after going to Pizza Pete’s and the East Side Maid Rite, Carroll took him back to the NoWhere Lounge where he picked up his car and Carroll then followed him to Paula’s where he parked it. He said he did not at that time attempt to contact Paula or go to the house and could offer no explanation for why he took his car there and left it. He said they then went to Angie’s house and at about 3:30 AM was taken back to Paula’s house by Ben and at that time stated he went to the door where he talked to Debbie and was advised that Paula was gone. He said that when he originally took his car there he noticed Debbie’s car was not there, but assumed it was Peggy that had it. When we asked him why he found it necessary to wake them at 3:30 in the morning after having just left Paula off a few hours previously, he said that he did not know why he did. He also could offer no explanation for taking his stereo and tapes at that time as they had been there for quite some time. He said after he got the tapes and stereo he put them in his car and at that time drove his car in front of Rapids Chevy and at that time ran into Mike Himes.

He said that he and Paula were on good terms when he had left her off and that he was not too concerned when he found out Paula had left in Debbie’s car and did not attempt to find her. He stated, however, that the next morning when they found Debbie’s car parked had requested that it be impounded and fingerprinted as he felt foul play. Through the entire interview Lonnie denied any knowledge or part in Paula’s death and on one occasion stated that he had been persecuted by the police before and did not mind and that he did not have to prove anything, but that we did. Every time we attempted to talk about the polygraph or the probable cause of Paula’s death, Lonnie would change the subject. He told us that a few weeks before she disappeared, he picked her up on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon at Younkers and at that time there was a man standing by a white 1962 Chevy convertible waiting for someone. He said that he ran into this subject later at the Bank tavern and at this time this subject approached him and asked if he was the one who went with the sharp-looking chick at Younkers. He said he cannot remember whether he mentioned Paula by name, but this subject did ask him her address which he gave him.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Officer: Det. Kelleher
Date of This Report: 12-4-70

At 11:20 AM on December 4, 1970 a call was received by Secretary Cheryl Hansen that a Mrs. Stempka of Marion Trailer Court, No. 2, 700 35th Street Marion, phone 377-7093 had called the station in reference some information her babysitter had given her about Paula.

The evening of December 4, 1970 I contacted the babysitter, Pam Moody, age 20 of 9982 14th Street Marion, phone 377-0353. In talking to her she told me that she felt Mrs. Stempka had blown her information all out of proportion. She told that she had attended Marion High School and had known Paula and others at Washington High School. She also stated she was familiar with Debbie Kellogg as they had both worked at Bishop’s. She told me in the past she had lived at 1644 1st Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids and after moving from this address she had returned there to attend a birthday party, this was approximately two months after Paula had disappeared. This party was given by Georgianna Salan (?) and during the course of the party the conversation turned to Paula’s disappearance. Judy Salan, Georgianna’s sister made the remark that she had talked to Butch Hudson and he had made the remark not worry that she (Paula) was in good hands.

On the morning of December 4, 1970 around 12:30 AM Pam had seen a prowler outside the trailer house of Mrs. Stempka and she had told her about this. Mrs. Stempka felt that Paula’s case and this prowler were some way connected. Pam stated that Mrs. Stempka is very prejudiced toward blacks and felt that they were the ones who killed Paula and also were possibly the ones prowling around the house. In talking to Pam, she told me that she was familiar with Robert Williams as she knew that Paula had dated him for sometime. She also knew the name Lonnie Bell, but knew little else about him.

The last time she remembers seeing Paula was sometime in June either at Younkers store or possibly when she had given Paula a ride from her mother’s house to Robert Williams home in the Oak Hill area.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbreckling
Investigating Officer: R. Gearhart
Date of This Report: Dec. 5, 1970

I was instructed by Lt. Scriven to check with Mr. & Mrs. Richard (Dick) Williams 1127 8th St. SE in ref to the possibility that she or Mr. Williams might have seen anything going on in front of Tyler Grade School, the early morning of July 11, 1970. A report was received that a colored subject was seen kissing a blond girl in a car bet. 5:00 & 6:00 AM.

Mr. Williams is confined to bed after having a stroke and keeps odd hours in his sleeping as well as his wife. I talked to them both and both stated they are up at odd hours but cannot remember anything out of the way that might happened during the first part of July 1970. They stated cannot remember seeing any colored male, kissing any blond girl during these hours but stated if they did, it would not make any impression on them as things like that go on in that neighborhood at any and all times. Stated they would call if anything would be remembered.

I attempted to check with the colored subject who lives next door at 720 12th Ave SE, upstairs who last name is Crisp but was unable to get anybody to come to the door. I was told by the Williams that this subject has lived there for a year or so and the Williams also own this house.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Re: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Officer: Lt. John Scriven
Date of This Report: 12-5-70

William Stuart, owner of the formerly Monahan-Stuart Funeral Home at 1844 1st Ave. N.E., 362-2147, called to advise that there will be no visitation at the funeral home for Paula Oberbroeckling, that they are taking a registration stand for people to sign the registration out to the St. Matthew’s Church at 2310 1st Ave. N.E., and if we care to have a detective out there to observe, arrangements can be made for this to be done.

The funeral will be held Monday morning at 11:00 a.m. from St. Matthew’s Church.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbroeckling
Investigating Officer: Det. J. Steinbeck
Date of This Report: 12-5-70

At about 4:30 PM 12-5-70, Kenny Oliver, called the station and stated that he had a purse that fit the description of the purse described in the newspaper

I went to 828 8th Street SE and talked to Kenny Oliver and Joan Phillips and they showed me a “squaw bag” type purse that fit the description. Joan explained that she found this purse near the Bender Pool about two months ago. She then brought it home and it was soaking wet. She first took it to Elizabeth Johnson’s home and hung it on a hook. When they read the article in the paper, Mrs. Johnson had a son bring the purse over to Joan and then Kenny Oliver called the police for her. Bobby Diaz also remembered seeing this purse laying by Bender Pool before Joan picked it up. She found no contents in it and it was on the parking on the north side of the street across from 933 14th Avenue SE.

I brought the purse to the Bureau and then contacted the Oberbroeckling family for them to see the purse. They looked at the purse and they stated definitely that it was not the purse. I returned the purse to Joan Phillips and told her it was not the purse we were looking for.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Ref: Paula Oberbrockling
Investigating Officer: Det. J Steinbeck
Date of This Report: 12-5-70

We received a telephone call from a Mrs. Julian Corbett 407 B Ave NW in reference to her daughters seeing and remembering something that might be helpful. I talked to Cynthia Corbett age 16 and Francis Corbett age 11 and they gave statements to Det. Smith and I in reference to what they saw. (See statements)

According to what the girls stated, this area that these saw these subjects and where they were at, is the pasture land by Miller Lane SE. The girls can recall the bar gate across the road just up from the railroad tracks.

The reason why the can distinctly remember the date is because this was the day before the fair started and also they remembered it was the Saturday after a cousin had stayed at their home and left on 7-9-70. This was also the only weekend day that Cynthia got off from work during the summer.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Re: Paula Oberbrockling
Address: Otis Rd. & Miller Lane S.E.
Investigating Officer: C. Smith
Date of This Report: 12-5-70

At about 5:00 P.M. date I talked to Milford Smith of 513 19th St. S.E. at the Det. Bur. Reference to any knowledge he might have about Paula Oberbroeckling. He stated that he was an inmate at the Oakdale Security Hospital at the time that she went missing and had not heard too much conversation about it until the body was found. He said he did know her and he is also a good friend of Robert Williams. He said that since the body was found he had heard of someone seeing her get into a car with a known sex offender on the night that she disappeared. He didn’t know who the subject was that this party referred to, however he said he does know where this information originated and is going to check with them to see what they saw. He said he had come by this information through another party and had been told that the party who was to have seen it said they didn’t want to become involved. He said that he is willing to help in any way that he can and as soon as he is able to check on the above information he will contact us.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Re: P. Oberbrockling
Investigating Officer: Kelleher
Date of This Report: 12-5-70

Re: Larry Martin, Bob Heath, Sandy Harmer

Acting on information that Paula may have talked to Larry Martin and a Bob Heath about taking her to Chicago for an abortion, I talked to Larry Martin of 868 21st. St. SE, pbx 365-0715. He told me that he had known Paula for about 2 and 1/2 years and she use to come up and see him when he lived on 16th St. NE. The last time he remembers seeing her was at her apartment on 10th St. NW when he stopped over to see her, as at this time she was looking for a car, this was in June. The first he had heard about that Paula may have been pregnant was after she had disappeared and Debbie Kellogg had told her about this. He stated that he knew nothing about Paula wanting an abortion. He stated that he knew Lonnie Bell and that he went with Paula, also that she went with a colored buy named Williams but he did not know him very well.

I also talked to Bob Heath, age 23, of 1018 1/2 7th Ave Marion, no phone. He told me that he had not seen Paula for about a year, and most of the information he has heard about her came from Debbie Kellogg. In talking to him about abortions he told me that the only thing that he knows about them is that if a girl needs one there is some place in Missouri, however he had never talked to Paula about this. Bob lives in apartment #7 at this address. In talking to this boys it appears they get most of there information from Debbie Kellogg.

I talked to a Sandy Harmer of 709 1/2 8th Ave SE pbx 366-2035, she was a friend of Paula, she told me that she and Paula and Delilah Green went to Fla. on vacation in March of this year. She was also in Fla. in July at model school when, Lynn, Paula’s sister called and told her that Paula was gone. She stated she knew Paula from when they went to school at Washington High. In March when they were in Fla. Paula at this time had been going with Robert Williams, in July Paula had been going with Lonnie Bell. She had very little information to add, however did state that Debbie Kellogg may know more about this than she is telling.

Bob Heath also did state that a Stephanie Karrick had been a good friend of Paula’s and may be able to tell us something.