Episode 25: Highway Killer

Highway Killer

Larry William Eyler

Image Source: Unsplash, Kimi Lee, @kimileee

Between 1982 and 1984, over 20 bodies of young men were found in fields, often near near interstates, murdered. All of the victims had stab wounds at the chest and abdomen; several victims disemboweled after death. Who was the monster killing these men?

Well-known in the gay community of Indianapolis, Larry Eyler was considered a good guy, but he had a dark, sadistic streak in his sexual relations. It would be a past lover’s suspicions that would help lead to his arrest.

In this episode, we discuss the crimes of Eyler and then dig into his dysfunctional family and their deep Indiana roots. What we found was even more tragedy and murder most foul.

This map lists the dates and locations of when and where the bodies of Eyler’s victims were found.
Source: The Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug 1984

Steven Crockett, 19, found on October 23, 1982

John R. Johnson, 25, found on Christmas Day 1982.

Steven Agan, 23, found on December 28, 1982

John Lee Roach, 21, found on December 28, 1982.

Gustavo Herrera, 28, found on April 8, 1983.

Scott McNieve, 21, found on May 9, 1983.

Ralph Calise, 28, found on August 31, 1983.

John Bartlett, 19, found with 3 other bodies on October 18, 1983.

Michael Bauer, 22, found with 3 other bodies on October 18, 1983. Michael was a distant nephew of Belle Gunness.

Johnny Brandenburg, Jr., 19, found with 3 other bodies on October 18, 1983. With the help of DNA, Johnny was identified in April 2021.

David Block, 22, found on May 7, 1984.

Danny Bridges, 16, was found on August 21, 1984. It was his death that led to Eyler’s arrest and conviction.

Four bodies were found at this location in Newton County, Indiana on October 18, 1983—including John Bartlett, Michael Bauer, and Johnny Brandenburg, Jr. One body has yet to be identified.

Out on bond in February 1984. Pictured with his attorney David Schippers and his mother Shirley Phyllis Kennedy DeKoff.

Source: The Star Press, 8 May 1994

Larry Eyler, ca 1984

Police photo taken of Larry Eyler in Sept1984.

Larry’s married lover, John Dobrovoskis (1960-1990)

Irving DeKoff (on the right despite what the paper said) was Larry Eyler’s step-father, his mother Shirley’s fourth and final husband.
Source: The Record, 22 January 1959

Obituary of Larry’s father, George Eyler, Jr.
Source: The Indianapolis Star, 26 September 1971

Larry’s stepbrother (or adopted?), Allen Douglas Eyler.
Source: Find a Grave

The death of Allen Douglas Eyler
Source: The Indianapolis Star, 1 May 1969

Benjamin Franklin Solomon (1838-ca 1903)

Larry’s great-great grandfather, Benjamin F. Solomon, was a Union soldier imprisoned at Andersonville Prison from August 1864 to October 1864. Listen to learn how he survived.

Another depiction of Andersonville Military POW Prison.

Elizabeth Solomon Carr, Larry Eyler’s great-grandmother, only child of Benjamin Solomon and his first wife Alice “Elsie” Day.

Marion Jefferson Carr family: Marion (1855-1946), daugher Minnie Dorcas Carr Kennedy (1893-1946), wife Elizabeth Solomon Carrr (1861-1950), and youngest daughter Margaret Ellen “Ella” Carr Schoonover (1898-1988). This picture was likely taken around 1910.

Poor Carol Ann died an unfortunate death while her family slept. She was Eyler’s second cousin.
Source: The Indianapolis News, 18 Jan 1964

Mary Louise Stammer was Larry’s fourth cousin twice removed.
Source: The Daily News, 28 November 1935

The coroner determined that Ruth Van Cleave Cast’s death was suicide, but the facts seems suspect to us, especially given that her husband, Charles Cast, remarried one month later, to the day. Ruth was another distant cousin of Larry Eyler.
Source: The Noblesville Ledger, 4 October 1938

Helen Wagner Eiker, first cousin twice removed from Larry Eyler, went to trial for the murder of her husband Percy Eiker.
Source: Harrisburg Telegraph, 29 August 1928

Percy Donald Eiker (1907-1928), Helen Wagner Eiker’s husband
Source: Find a Grave

Percy Eiker’s death certificate

Percy Eiker, Jr (1926-1935), son of Percy and Helen.
Source: Find a Grave

Mary Holloway Wilhite pushed for the rights of women from the time she was a little girl until her death in 1909. She was married to Eleazer Wilhite, Larry’s first cousin five times removed.

Profile on Ann Walter, who was discussed in the episode.
Source: The Star Press, 22 May 1983

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

DISCLOSURE: Murderous Roots is listener-supported. Some of the links below include Amazon affiliate links that may bring us a small commission to help support the podcast, at no additional cost to you.

The Galvanized Yankees by Dee Brown

The Journal and Major Essays of John Woolman, edited by Phillips P. Moulton

Life and Death in Rebel Prisons by Robert H. Kellogg
Andersonville Giving Up the Ghost: Diaries & Recollections of the Prisoners, edited by William Styple and more

SOURCES

Wikipedia

• Larry Eyler

• Andersonville Prison

• Mary Holloway Wilhite

• John Woolman

We use a multitude of resources when researching a family tree up to an including census records from 1800-1940, marriage records in various states, draft registration cards, newspaper articles, and more. If you would like more specific details on where information was obtained, please email us and we’ll respond in a timely manner.