Episode 25: Highway Killer
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.
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Episode 25: Highway Killer
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
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.