Adopted just after his first birthday, Dennis suffered years of abuse at the hands of his adoptive mother, Lois Jurgens. Sadly, the mother-son reunion was not meant to be; Jerry's child had died just before his fourth birthday. Star Tribune photo by Donald Black.
Published Jan 18, 2023. new content, we kindly appreciate any donation you can give to help As he read, he stiffened in his chair. convicted of murder This browser does not support getting your location. Donna Marlene Norton, Lois sister, was there that day and saw the same thing. Clothing retains the heat. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Lois Jurgens (134346102)? She died aged 87 on May 7, 2013. They would have to find out. That will require a juvenile hearing on neglect. Eventually Lois Jurgens was arraigned, and her identity released by the media. The afflicted look and act very sick for a matter of hours, sometimes days. Lois Jurgens had not one good thing to say about Dennis. Thirty years after the original Death of Superman storyline, the iconic tale's writer Dan Jurgens has confirmed which alternate Superman villains almost killed the hero. Active children that bruise easily . This story changed a lot about the Superman line of booksincluding introducing iconic '90s heroes like Superboy and Steeland DC Comics writ large. Free shipping for many products! Try again later. When Harold took him to the bathroom at about 7:30 or 8 in the morning, Dennis had seemed fine. They are good people. HH at the best online prices at eBay! But how did such an infection occur in the first place? Stanley Wiatros was one of them. . Moments later, VanderWyst, rising to leave, asked Lois if there was anything else he could do, such as call her brother Jerome. If I had it to do over again--well, in 1987 I wouldnt approve, but if it were 1965, I dont know what I would do. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. He could never forget how Lois Jurgens looked at those photos stoically, showing no emotion. Lois Jurgens had a reputation amongst her extended family and neighbors as an intense, angry woman with a short and volatile temper, but Dennis' arrival in her home provoked sadistic rages that targeted Dennis as he aged from one to three-and-a-half years of age. Lois walks past the TV cameras on her way to the courtroom on January 30, 1987, to plead not guilty to three counts of murder. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Clayton Robinson Jr., a former prosecutor in the case, said Jurgens should not have been released yet. Two husbands and four children later, Sherwood had gone searching for her firstborn, only to learn that he had died years before, in 1965, at age 3. According to Rekdahls written log, that was the sum of what Peterson said to her. In her effort to make Dennis "right" in her eyes, Lois embarked on a series of sadistic and corporal punishments: Angered at Dennis for rejecting certain foods, she responded by placing horseradish on the food and then force-fed it to him. The case drew widespread publicity and was the subject of a book and a made-for-television movie. Year should not be greater than current year. For a time, that appeared to be the end of the story. VanderWyst didnt push the matter. Although Lois was not charged with Dennis's murder, the death caused sufficient suspicion for the authorities to remove Robert from the home; he was placed with various relatives and one foster family for a period of just over five years, during which the Jurgens spent a great deal of effort and money attempting to regain custody. His vision was a hulking humanoid creature with massive muscles and chunks of bone . At first Bob Brass thought the squad car was Loiss brothers, but then they saw VanderWyst in the driveway. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Lois Jean (Jones) Jurgens to show support. Rekdahl could not so assure her. She committed one of the most unusual child murder cases in history in Minnesota. Jurgens who says he still has the yellow legal pad on which he did his quick sketch was the victor. They attempted to mind their own business and feared retribution from Lois, who was not above threatening the lives of her family members. Tragically, just a few years after the adoption, Dennis died from peritonitis. They carried assorted life insurance polices worth $10,000. Jurgens was the only fatal victim of Lois Jurgens, his adoptive mother and a prolific child abuser, who abused a total of six adopted children from 1960 to 1975.The trial of Lois Jurgens for the murder of 3-year-old Dennis made national . No one proposed handing the investigation to some other body--to, say, the county sheriffs office. There was no possibility that Dennis had died from a blow to the head, and scarce chance that he had died from a fall on the flat basement floor. Please enter your email and password to sign in. When you judge a case, you dont do so in a vacuum, Lindholm would explain years later in an interview. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Mrs. Many years later, asked in court how this placement was approved, Rekdahl--by then a psychotherapist and psychiatric social worker in Napa, Calif., remarried and using the name Gerane Wharton-Park--said: We finally had really no exacting reasons why we could turn this family down. Failed to remove flower. The welfare department case work was very limited. Woman Tortures Adoptive Son To Death Lois Jurgens (40) was variously described as both short-tempered and vindictive by her neighbours and others who encountered her in the town of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and it was well known that she experienced bouts of severe depression and psychosis. No. He had one great friend, his world's Lois, but she died and now he sees another version of her still alive and pregnant. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Learn more about merges. They owned a 1963 Chevrolet pickup and a 1960 Falcon station wagon. In 1987, testifying 22 years later, Peterson was questioned again about the bruises. Dr. Paul Lindholm, the assistant county attorney, considered it. There is a lot to be known about the science of this whole darn subject, he said. Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. You dont know what to think, Donna Marlene said. Lois Jurgens released after serving eight years, The Winona Daily News, June, 7, 1995. Last week, Judge David Marsden sentenced. Lois Jurgens served eight years of her sentence and had a quiet life as a widow in Stillwater, Minnesota. In 1965, Votel said, he thought this was certainly a battered-child case, but the reports indicated that the child had fallen down some stairs. He eats well. After seeing newspaper reports about the death, she was convinced that he had been beaten to death and demanded the case be re-opened. While visiting one Thanksgiving, she saw Lois force-feed Dennis, in a highchair, by shoving a fork full of food into his mouth. On the other hand, she realized the improbability of being offered another Catholic baby in the near future. the prosecution saw Lois Jurgens
Lois Germaine Josephine Zerwas Jurgens was an American convicted murderer. "There are certainly problems," says Jurgens, one of the main architects of . Lois Jurgens at the time that she had custody of Dennis. Dennis Craig Jurgens (December 6, 1961 - April 11, 1965) was an American 3-year-old boy who was murdered in White Bear Lake, Minnesota in April 1965. She thought the postplacement period had been quite successful. Along with the aforementioned evidence of starvation and the scarring and bite-marks on his genitalia, the coroner discovered multiple lacerations and multiple generations of bruises covering most of his body. Korolchuk would never get the chance to answer such questions. Dan Jurgens on how The Death of Superman has "withstood that test of time" By Grant DeArmitt published 27 July 2022 The creator best known for The Death of Superman explains its impact 30. Peterson, a slender 6-footer, was a respected local doctor, a University of Minnesota medical graduate who had served in the Marines before opening a private practice in White Bear Lake in 1951. Dennis Craig Jurgens (December 6, 1961 - April 11, 1965) was an American 3-year-old boy who was murdered in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, in April 1965. He would testify that he had talked to some lady down there. Oops, we were unable to send the email. They beat my baby to death, Sherwood told Buzz Harvey. He liked them. It would have been difficult at the time to prove that Lois Jurgens had committed murder. She saw Harold, then 40, as a tall, rather swarthy man of German and Norwegian extraction, with dark brown hair and eyes. The same day that she spoke to the priest--Aug. 30, 1962--Rekdahl informed the Jurgenses that they were going to be approved for a second adoption. To keep creating You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. The trial of Lois Jurgens for the murder of 3-year-old Dennis made national headlines and was the top news story of the . When he wet his pants, she said, she put a clothespin on his penis. Much of the testimony related to Dennis, not Robert. The official records say 1,200 children died of abuse in 1986, but many experts believe the figure would reach 5,000 if closer attention were paid to some deaths attributed to accident or blamed on sudden infant death syndrome. Well, I do, he replied. Add to your scrapbook. The author's ability to set the scene of a tranquil. Fittingly for a major anniversary like . Robert was returned to the Jurgens home and, going through new channels, the couple was eventually able to adopt four school-aged siblings from Kentucky. It is essentially unconceivable to me, without a protruding object above the floor, that he could have been injured in this way, Woodburn said. What was to be the core of the case against Lois Jurgens 22 years later essentially came out then, albeit in a less detailed, more muted fashion. I have never seen anything like that done.. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. From a newspaper notice of his death she had learned that the boys body bore multiple injuries and bruises. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Petersons house sat precisely on the site of the old Wildwood Amusement Park. Others promised that they would do so. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Homicide was not the issue at the hearing. Just past one year of age, Dennis was placed in the Jurgens' home in 1962, in anticipation of an adoption after spending much of his first year in foster care. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. He was shaken. need your help for this. The roller coaster had been just to the west of his lot, the water slide just to the east, and the dance pavilion exactly where his house now stood, the old foundation still there below his lawn and patio. . After all, Dorothy Engfer more than once had seen Lois smack Dennis so hard the blood flowed from his nose, and Gladys DeMars had watched Dennis over two summers wither from a husky, jolly baby to a wan little boy covered with bruises and black eyes and split lips. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The next morning, six coroners jurors were asked to view the body of a dead boy, and to remember everything they saw. Pitera stared at the body. The boy was obviously dead. Jurgens was the only fatal victim of Lois Jurgens, his adoptive mother and a prolific child abuser, who abused a total of six adopted children from 1960 to 1975. He is extremely alert. There was enough evidence to sustain child abuse and neglect charges. And a Dr. Peterson called at 10:09 a.m. to report a DOA--dead on arrival--at 2148 Gardenette Drive. The next day, Rekdahl phoned the Jurgenses family physician, Dr. Roy Peterson, who was treating Dennis. Such stories are not rare. Camille Brass knew the blue convertible belonged to Dr. Peterson. On the other hand, he could not bring himself to embrace the notion that Lois Jurgens was a murderer. . Theres nothing worse, Peterson had thought, than seeing a dead child. According to sworn testimony by both Korolchuk and VanderWyst before a grand jury last year, Zerwas at the time warned the investigating officers that he would do everything in his power to keep his sisters name clear. Did the doctor remember his thoughts on why this child died, his inner feelings that day? Statements in the police logs were riddled with discrepancies. He assured that it was going on, that this would be his responsibility to get the information, bring it back to me so I could complete the certificate. At the urging of authorities, Jerry placed Dennis for adoption after being told that he would receive good care.[1]. What to make of Dennis Jurgens death now was passed into the hands of the Ramsey County coroner. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Together they went into Dennis room to inspect the body. Petersburg, ILLois A. Jurgens (92) of Petersburg passed away September 25, 2019. to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really Thank you for supporting our partners, who make it possible for The Lineup to continue publishing the terrifying stories you love. My God, he thought, looking at the body. Now VanderWyst was looking at him, asking a question: What was the cause of death?. One of Lois Jurgens responses was to call Father Riser, the priest who had so warmly recommended them to the county welfare worker. I dont know how to describe it, she said. As he viewed the body, he thought: This boy has been murdered. He would wait until the police investigation could resolve the matter. Soon the word spread from house to housethered been a death, the younger Jurgens boy had died. Harold Jurgens had converted a breezeway off the kitchen into a large, open family, dining and cooking area. A few wondered how the Jurgenses had ever been allowed to adopt children. The coroner noted in his report that Dennis had almost zero subcutaneous fat, at the level of a person who had died of starvation. memorial page for Lois Germaine Josephine Zerwas Jurgens (12 Aug 1925-7 May 2013), Find a Grave Memorial ID 134346102, citing Union Cemetery, Maplewood, Ramsey County . Our kids have fallen down steps and not died. Harvey had been a rookie cop here in 1965, but Sherwoods story triggered no memories. The adoption should be approved. undefined Notes ^ http://www.angelizdsplace.com/ http://www.angelizdsplace.com/child43.htm. Is it quite customary to see a little boy with so many bruises, he was asked. Sherwood's tenacity, along with the tragedy of her personal loss, kept the story in the public eye. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Brand New. Harold and Lois Jurgensa middle-class, churchgoing couple who had been unable to have children of their ownhad adopted Sherwoods son, Dennis, in 1962. English Weve updated the security on the site. They felt sad, and also naggingly disturbed. The two also teased what's in store for readers . updates . There is some suspicion that Lois Jurgens herself set the fire, given that it occurred while Robert was hospitalized, and that Lois had been known to threaten burning down the homes of several neighbors and family members who had spoken to authorities. Certain neighbors and family members knew there were problems with Lois' treatment of Dennis but did nothing to prevent it. He is able to turn himself over and is extremely strong, almost ready to stand by himself. Rekdahl found him friendly and talkative--perhaps too much so, for he often strayed widely from the subject at hand. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. When the White Bear Lake police called her a year ago, she knew immediately whom they were talking about. Many years later, he explained why: I was quite certain it was a homicide, quite certain, Gingold said recently in an interview. Lt. Clarence (Buzz) Harvey at first did not know what to make of the blonde 42-year-old woman who appeared at the front desk of this towns solitary police station on the morning of Sept. 18, 1986. When Lois found him gasping and gurgling at 9 a.m., she promptly called Dr. Peterson. Why was there no disposition of this case? During his short life, Dennis . She is buried at the Union Cemetery, in Maplewood, Ramsey County, Minnesota. In summer, Peterson caught little sunfish off his dock or from his motorboatthey had the loveliest taste, the fillet just the size of a half dollar, two good bites each. They wanted to do something, but felt it was none of their business. Sherwood also told D'Angelo that Dana Ivey's interpretation of Lois Jurgens is eerily accurate.
of Lois Jurgens are considered landmarks in the history of The neighbors talked among themselves that afternoon. If Votel had called it a homicide, at least that prospect would have been removed. I would question him. The official cause of death was peritonitis due to perforation of the small bowel. You can second-guess yourself until you get an ulcer, Lindholm said recently. Lois' remedy for the toddler wetting his diaper too frequently was to place a spring-action clothespin upon the end of his penis. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. And her release from the states prison for women in Shakopee only angered the biological mother whose search for her child led to the discovery of the crime. Obituary. She said she had set Dennis in the sink to wash him after he had wet his diaper, then had gone into another room to get a clean diaper. Learn more about managing a memorial . Sherwood eventually located Dennis's death certificate; because the death was categorized as "deferred", the case was still technically open. Robert fit in well at the Jurgens household, as he learned from a young age not to get in his mother's way or cause an undue mess that would likely send Lois Jurgens into a rage. The rows of neatly kept houses, the modern police station and the shopping strips all reflect a level of modest comfort rather than affluence. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. To this end, she forced religious training on her young sons; reports had young Robert flawlessly reciting the Rosary at 2. She was right. Her brother, Jerome Zerwas, was the police lieutenant of the town of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, where she lived at the time. To all appearances, they were a normal midwestern family, but Jerry suspected that something sinister had happened in the Jurgens household. Building a general history of abusive conduct would not be sufficient. Do I think this happened just here, just this one? Drag images here or select from your computer for Lois Germaine Josephine Zerwas Jurgens memorial. There was also talk years earlier of her having started the fire at her in-laws' home which killed her mother-in-law, with whom she never got along. This account has been disabled. They were of varying colors--black and blue, yellowish green, reddish--which meant that some were fresh, some old. Dennis had thrown up then. The childs death occurred before there were state-mandated sentencing guidelines, and Thomson argued that she should have served less time.
In 1992 A made-for-TV movie was made based on both Jerry's story The way Lindholm figured it, instead of prosecuting Lois Jurgens for murder, lets move to take Robert away. There is a problem with your email/password. Beatings and displays of Lois' explosive temper were daily events; especially bad days could include her slamming a child's forehead into a nail protruding from a wall, forcing a child to stand barefoot in snow, and shoving a used sanitary napkin in a child's face. By this point, Lois' rage and mania had gone beyond her ability to maintain an appearance of normalcy, and she and Harold had relocated to rural Stillwater, Minnesota, possibly to escape the gossip of their former neighborhood where Dennis was killed. When Dennis cried, Lois would force his head under the cold water faucet at the kitchen sink. Murderpedia has thousands of hours of work behind it. Aside from the incident when Dennis was hospitalized with burns on his genitals, there were many other incidents of abuse that fell under the category of sexual sadism. Lois Jurgens was convicted in May 1987 of murder (by abuse) in the death 22 years earlier of her adopted son, Dennis.
This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. The word homicide remained unspoken.
Lois Germaine Josephine Zerwas Jurgens was an American convicted murderer. "There are certainly problems," says Jurgens, one of the main architects of . Lois Jurgens at the time that she had custody of Dennis. Dennis Craig Jurgens (December 6, 1961 - April 11, 1965) was an American 3-year-old boy who was murdered in White Bear Lake, Minnesota in April 1965. She thought the postplacement period had been quite successful. Along with the aforementioned evidence of starvation and the scarring and bite-marks on his genitalia, the coroner discovered multiple lacerations and multiple generations of bruises covering most of his body. Korolchuk would never get the chance to answer such questions. Dan Jurgens on how The Death of Superman has "withstood that test of time" By Grant DeArmitt published 27 July 2022 The creator best known for The Death of Superman explains its impact 30. Peterson, a slender 6-footer, was a respected local doctor, a University of Minnesota medical graduate who had served in the Marines before opening a private practice in White Bear Lake in 1951. Dennis Craig Jurgens (December 6, 1961 - April 11, 1965) was an American 3-year-old boy who was murdered in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, in April 1965. He would testify that he had talked to some lady down there. Oops, we were unable to send the email. They beat my baby to death, Sherwood told Buzz Harvey. He liked them. It would have been difficult at the time to prove that Lois Jurgens had committed murder. She saw Harold, then 40, as a tall, rather swarthy man of German and Norwegian extraction, with dark brown hair and eyes. The same day that she spoke to the priest--Aug. 30, 1962--Rekdahl informed the Jurgenses that they were going to be approved for a second adoption. To keep creating You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. The trial of Lois Jurgens for the murder of 3-year-old Dennis made national headlines and was the top news story of the . When he wet his pants, she said, she put a clothespin on his penis. Much of the testimony related to Dennis, not Robert. The official records say 1,200 children died of abuse in 1986, but many experts believe the figure would reach 5,000 if closer attention were paid to some deaths attributed to accident or blamed on sudden infant death syndrome. Well, I do, he replied. Add to your scrapbook. The author's ability to set the scene of a tranquil. Fittingly for a major anniversary like . Robert was returned to the Jurgens home and, going through new channels, the couple was eventually able to adopt four school-aged siblings from Kentucky. It is essentially unconceivable to me, without a protruding object above the floor, that he could have been injured in this way, Woodburn said. What was to be the core of the case against Lois Jurgens 22 years later essentially came out then, albeit in a less detailed, more muted fashion. I have never seen anything like that done.. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. From a newspaper notice of his death she had learned that the boys body bore multiple injuries and bruises. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Petersons house sat precisely on the site of the old Wildwood Amusement Park. Others promised that they would do so. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Homicide was not the issue at the hearing. Just past one year of age, Dennis was placed in the Jurgens' home in 1962, in anticipation of an adoption after spending much of his first year in foster care. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. He was shaken. need your help for this. The roller coaster had been just to the west of his lot, the water slide just to the east, and the dance pavilion exactly where his house now stood, the old foundation still there below his lawn and patio. . After all, Dorothy Engfer more than once had seen Lois smack Dennis so hard the blood flowed from his nose, and Gladys DeMars had watched Dennis over two summers wither from a husky, jolly baby to a wan little boy covered with bruises and black eyes and split lips. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. The next morning, six coroners jurors were asked to view the body of a dead boy, and to remember everything they saw. Pitera stared at the body. The boy was obviously dead. Jurgens was the only fatal victim of Lois Jurgens, his adoptive mother and a prolific child abuser, who abused a total of six adopted children from 1960 to 1975. He is extremely alert. There was enough evidence to sustain child abuse and neglect charges. And a Dr. Peterson called at 10:09 a.m. to report a DOA--dead on arrival--at 2148 Gardenette Drive. The next day, Rekdahl phoned the Jurgenses family physician, Dr. Roy Peterson, who was treating Dennis. Such stories are not rare. Camille Brass knew the blue convertible belonged to Dr. Peterson. On the other hand, he could not bring himself to embrace the notion that Lois Jurgens was a murderer. . Theres nothing worse, Peterson had thought, than seeing a dead child. According to sworn testimony by both Korolchuk and VanderWyst before a grand jury last year, Zerwas at the time warned the investigating officers that he would do everything in his power to keep his sisters name clear. Did the doctor remember his thoughts on why this child died, his inner feelings that day? Statements in the police logs were riddled with discrepancies. He assured that it was going on, that this would be his responsibility to get the information, bring it back to me so I could complete the certificate. At the urging of authorities, Jerry placed Dennis for adoption after being told that he would receive good care.[1]. What to make of Dennis Jurgens death now was passed into the hands of the Ramsey County coroner. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Together they went into Dennis room to inspect the body. Petersburg, ILLois A. Jurgens (92) of Petersburg passed away September 25, 2019. to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really Thank you for supporting our partners, who make it possible for The Lineup to continue publishing the terrifying stories you love. My God, he thought, looking at the body. Now VanderWyst was looking at him, asking a question: What was the cause of death?. One of Lois Jurgens responses was to call Father Riser, the priest who had so warmly recommended them to the county welfare worker. I dont know how to describe it, she said. As he viewed the body, he thought: This boy has been murdered. He would wait until the police investigation could resolve the matter. Soon the word spread from house to housethered been a death, the younger Jurgens boy had died. Harold Jurgens had converted a breezeway off the kitchen into a large, open family, dining and cooking area. A few wondered how the Jurgenses had ever been allowed to adopt children.
Dennis Craig Jurgens, 3.
My clients have rights, he said. She wanted assurances. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option.The autopsy report mentioned bruises head to toe. I was young then, just out of college, the social worker said recently in an interview. Lois obsessed about Dennis' weight, which according to medical records was appropriate for a child of his age and build at the point of his adoption. Robert was leaving things alone at the age of 1 year. called, 'A Child Lost Donna Mae, about 5 feet away, watched in horror as Lois force-fed that vomit to him, made him eat it. He found bruises running the length of the body--50 to 100 of them, he would say later, the exact number hard to judge because many were overlapped. From the death certificate she had learned that the coroner never ruled whether the death was an accident, a homicide or the result of natural causes. ). No prosecution was taken at that time.
