Columbus Murders
Unsolved Serial Murder Case
CLASSIFICATION: Serial Homicide
LOCATION
Columbus, Ohio
TIME PERIOD
1965-1966
VICTIMS
3 confirmed
The Columbus murders refer to a series of four shootings that occurred in Columbus, Ohio, between 1965 and 1966, resulting in three fatalities. The crimes were linked through ballistic evidence, but despite one survivor providing a facial composite of the assailant, no suspects have been identified, and the case remains unsolved. Law enforcement continues to seek new leads in this cold case.
Theories surrounding the Columbus murders suggest that the killings may be connected through a common assailant, as indicated by ballistic evidence linking the shootings. Some speculate that the motive behind the murders could be robbery, particularly in the case of Chester Joseph Scowden, where money was stolen. Additionally, the vague description provided by survivor Raymond Sigler has led to speculation about the assailant's identity, but law enforcement deemed it too general to be useful in the investigation.
Columbus Murders
Unsolved Serial Murder Case in Ohio, U.S.
The Columbus murders refer to a chilling series of four shootings that took place in and around Columbus, Ohio, between 1965 and 1966. Out of these four shootings, three tragically ended in death. What’s particularly haunting about this case is that despite the connections revealed through ballistic evidence, and even after one of the victims managed to survive and provide a facial composite of his assailant, no suspect has ever been identified. As of now, all cases remain cold, leaving a lingering cloud of mystery over the city.
Quick Facts
- Victims: 3
- Span of Crimes: 1965–1966
- Country: United States
- State: Ohio
- Date Apprehended: N/A
Attack on Raymond Sigler
The story begins on September 3, 1965, when 48-year-old gas station attendant Raymond Sigler was ambushed at his workplace on the eastern outskirts of Columbus. Sigler, who had been partially paralyzed from childhood polio, faced his attacker with remarkable courage. During the assault, he was shot once in the jaw and once in the back. However, in a desperate act of survival, he pretended to be dead, successfully tricking the intruder into leaving the scene.
After months of recovery in the hospital, Sigler returned to his apartment, where he provided law enforcement with a description of his assailant. He described the shooter as a young white man, likely in his early 20s or 30s. Unfortunately, this vague description was not particularly useful for investigators, as it lacked distinguishing features.
Murders
Joseph Scowden
Fast forward to the early morning hours of October 2, 1965. Patrolman Robert Holmes entered the Certified Oil Co. gas station, only to stumble upon a horrific scene: 19-year-old Chester Joseph Scowden, a promising young man and former Golden Gloves champion, lying dead on the floor. Scowden had been shot twice with a .25 caliber pistol—once in the heart and once in the back of the head. His wallet and $80 were missing, suggesting the possibility of a robbery gone wrong.
From the outset, both investigators and Scowden's acquaintances expressed their belief that he likely knew his killer. After all, it seemed improbable that he would have voluntarily opened the door to a stranger. To encourage tips, authorities offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Claude F. Quesenberry
On the early morning of November 11, 1965, tragedy struck again. Robert Quesenberry went to pick up his brother Claude, a 41-year-old WWII veteran and Purple Heart recipient, from his job at the Kocelene Oil Co. gas station in West Jefferson. To Robert’s horror, Claude had been shot to death. An autopsy revealed that Claude had been shot four times—three times in the back of the head and once in the body.
Interestingly, while some money had been stolen from Claude and the cash register, the killer had left behind a significant amount of cash lying on his body. This led investigators to doubt that robbery was the true motive behind the killing. Due to the striking similarities between the murders of Scowden and Quesenberry—both victims shot with a .25 caliber weapon—authorities began to suspect that the same perpetrator was behind both crimes. Ballistic tests later confirmed that the same weapon had indeed been used in both murders, officially linking them to one killer.
Loren Bollinger
The final victim in this grim series was Loren E. Bollinger, a 40-year-old assistant professor in aeronautical engineering. On the night of May 22-23, 1966, the owner of a recording company found Bollinger’s body slumped on the staircase of their building. He had been shot five times—once in the left shoulder, once in the hip, and three times in the head.
At the time of his discovery, Bollinger had only 52 cents in his pockets. Given that he was not known to carry large sums of money, investigators were once again unable to definitively conclude that robbery was the motive. Initially, his murder was treated as an isolated incident, but ballistic expertise soon linked it to the earlier murders of Scowden and Quesenberry. Interestingly, authorities denied any connection to the unsolved murder of Lisabeth "Lisa" Davenport, a British-born beauty queen whose body was discovered stuffed in the trunk of a car in Findlay on May 6.
Investigation and Status
Bollinger’s death generated significant media attention, especially given his prominence in the scientific community. Speculation arose about his possible sexual orientation, with some suggesting that his alleged homosexual inclinations could have led to his murder. However, this theory was never conclusively proven.
As the investigation unfolded, it became clear that the motives behind the murders were shrouded in uncertainty. Some investigators even theorized that the killer derived thrill from the act of killing rather than seeking financial gain. In June 1966, Columbus Police began using large wanted posters displayed on billboards to solicit information about the killer. The suspect was described based on a facial composite—believed to be between 30 and 35 years old, standing around 5 ft 9 in (175 cm), weighing between 170-200 lb (77-91 kg), with no discernible scars, and possibly driving a gray 1960–1961 Chevrolet Corvette.
Despite these efforts, no updates have surfaced on the case, and the murders remain unsolved, leaving the Columbus community in a state of unease.
Sources
- "First 'Executioner' Victim Neither Bitter Nor Scared". Dayton Daily News. May 26, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Columbus Youth Killed In Robbery". Springfield News-Sun. October 2, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Clues Sought In Columbus Robbery Slaying". Springfield News-Sun. October 3, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Authorities Attempting To Link Up Columbus, Madison County Slayings". Springfield News-Sun. November 12, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Attendant at Service Station Murdered in West Jefferson". The Marion Star. November 11, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Same Gun Used In 2 Killings". Record Herald. November 16, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Missile Expert SLain; No Clues". Kingsport Times-News. May 24, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Missile Expert's Death May Be One Of Series". The Charlotte Observer. May 25, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Police Deny Davenport, Bollinger Murders Link". Sandusky Register. May 25, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
- Richard Zimmerman (June 3, 1966). "Only Slayer Unknown In Probe Of Bollinger's Life". Dayton Daily News – via Newspapers.com.
- "Giant Wanted Posters Put Up In Columbus". Odessa American. June 11, 1966.
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First Shooting Incident
Raymond Sigler, a gas station attendant, is shot but survives by pretending to be dead.
Joseph Scowden Murdered
19-year-old Chester Joseph Scowden is found shot dead at a gas station, suspected robbery.
Claude Quesenberry Murdered
Claude F. Quesenberry is shot to death at a gas station, linking his murder to Scowden's.
Link Established
Ballistics confirm the same weapon was used in the murders of Scowden and Quesenberry.
Case Goes Cold
Despite investigations and media attention, all three murders remain unsolved.
Loren Bollinger Murdered
Loren E. Bollinger is found shot dead, later linked to the previous murders through ballistics.
Wanted Posters Issued
Columbus Police release wanted posters with a facial composite of the suspected killer.
The Columbus murders refer to a series of four shootings that occurred in Columbus, Ohio, between 1965 and 1966, resulting in three fatalities. The crimes were linked through ballistic evidence, but despite one survivor providing a facial composite of the assailant, no suspects have been identified, and the case remains unsolved. Law enforcement continues to seek new leads in this cold case.
Theories surrounding the Columbus murders suggest that the killings may be connected through a common assailant, as indicated by ballistic evidence linking the shootings. Some speculate that the motive behind the murders could be robbery, particularly in the case of Chester Joseph Scowden, where money was stolen. Additionally, the vague description provided by survivor Raymond Sigler has led to speculation about the assailant's identity, but law enforcement deemed it too general to be useful in the investigation.
Columbus Murders
Unsolved Serial Murder Case in Ohio, U.S.
The Columbus murders refer to a chilling series of four shootings that took place in and around Columbus, Ohio, between 1965 and 1966. Out of these four shootings, three tragically ended in death. What’s particularly haunting about this case is that despite the connections revealed through ballistic evidence, and even after one of the victims managed to survive and provide a facial composite of his assailant, no suspect has ever been identified. As of now, all cases remain cold, leaving a lingering cloud of mystery over the city.
Quick Facts
- Victims: 3
- Span of Crimes: 1965–1966
- Country: United States
- State: Ohio
- Date Apprehended: N/A
Attack on Raymond Sigler
The story begins on September 3, 1965, when 48-year-old gas station attendant Raymond Sigler was ambushed at his workplace on the eastern outskirts of Columbus. Sigler, who had been partially paralyzed from childhood polio, faced his attacker with remarkable courage. During the assault, he was shot once in the jaw and once in the back. However, in a desperate act of survival, he pretended to be dead, successfully tricking the intruder into leaving the scene.
After months of recovery in the hospital, Sigler returned to his apartment, where he provided law enforcement with a description of his assailant. He described the shooter as a young white man, likely in his early 20s or 30s. Unfortunately, this vague description was not particularly useful for investigators, as it lacked distinguishing features.
Murders
Joseph Scowden
Fast forward to the early morning hours of October 2, 1965. Patrolman Robert Holmes entered the Certified Oil Co. gas station, only to stumble upon a horrific scene: 19-year-old Chester Joseph Scowden, a promising young man and former Golden Gloves champion, lying dead on the floor. Scowden had been shot twice with a .25 caliber pistol—once in the heart and once in the back of the head. His wallet and $80 were missing, suggesting the possibility of a robbery gone wrong.
From the outset, both investigators and Scowden's acquaintances expressed their belief that he likely knew his killer. After all, it seemed improbable that he would have voluntarily opened the door to a stranger. To encourage tips, authorities offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Claude F. Quesenberry
On the early morning of November 11, 1965, tragedy struck again. Robert Quesenberry went to pick up his brother Claude, a 41-year-old WWII veteran and Purple Heart recipient, from his job at the Kocelene Oil Co. gas station in West Jefferson. To Robert’s horror, Claude had been shot to death. An autopsy revealed that Claude had been shot four times—three times in the back of the head and once in the body.
Interestingly, while some money had been stolen from Claude and the cash register, the killer had left behind a significant amount of cash lying on his body. This led investigators to doubt that robbery was the true motive behind the killing. Due to the striking similarities between the murders of Scowden and Quesenberry—both victims shot with a .25 caliber weapon—authorities began to suspect that the same perpetrator was behind both crimes. Ballistic tests later confirmed that the same weapon had indeed been used in both murders, officially linking them to one killer.
Loren Bollinger
The final victim in this grim series was Loren E. Bollinger, a 40-year-old assistant professor in aeronautical engineering. On the night of May 22-23, 1966, the owner of a recording company found Bollinger’s body slumped on the staircase of their building. He had been shot five times—once in the left shoulder, once in the hip, and three times in the head.
At the time of his discovery, Bollinger had only 52 cents in his pockets. Given that he was not known to carry large sums of money, investigators were once again unable to definitively conclude that robbery was the motive. Initially, his murder was treated as an isolated incident, but ballistic expertise soon linked it to the earlier murders of Scowden and Quesenberry. Interestingly, authorities denied any connection to the unsolved murder of Lisabeth "Lisa" Davenport, a British-born beauty queen whose body was discovered stuffed in the trunk of a car in Findlay on May 6.
Investigation and Status
Bollinger’s death generated significant media attention, especially given his prominence in the scientific community. Speculation arose about his possible sexual orientation, with some suggesting that his alleged homosexual inclinations could have led to his murder. However, this theory was never conclusively proven.
As the investigation unfolded, it became clear that the motives behind the murders were shrouded in uncertainty. Some investigators even theorized that the killer derived thrill from the act of killing rather than seeking financial gain. In June 1966, Columbus Police began using large wanted posters displayed on billboards to solicit information about the killer. The suspect was described based on a facial composite—believed to be between 30 and 35 years old, standing around 5 ft 9 in (175 cm), weighing between 170-200 lb (77-91 kg), with no discernible scars, and possibly driving a gray 1960–1961 Chevrolet Corvette.
Despite these efforts, no updates have surfaced on the case, and the murders remain unsolved, leaving the Columbus community in a state of unease.
Sources
- "First 'Executioner' Victim Neither Bitter Nor Scared". Dayton Daily News. May 26, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Columbus Youth Killed In Robbery". Springfield News-Sun. October 2, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Clues Sought In Columbus Robbery Slaying". Springfield News-Sun. October 3, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Authorities Attempting To Link Up Columbus, Madison County Slayings". Springfield News-Sun. November 12, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Attendant at Service Station Murdered in West Jefferson". The Marion Star. November 11, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Same Gun Used In 2 Killings". Record Herald. November 16, 1965 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Missile Expert SLain; No Clues". Kingsport Times-News. May 24, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Missile Expert's Death May Be One Of Series". The Charlotte Observer. May 25, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Police Deny Davenport, Bollinger Murders Link". Sandusky Register. May 25, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
- Richard Zimmerman (June 3, 1966). "Only Slayer Unknown In Probe Of Bollinger's Life". Dayton Daily News – via Newspapers.com.
- "Giant Wanted Posters Put Up In Columbus". Odessa American. June 11, 1966.
No Recent News
No recent news articles found for this case. Check back later for updates.
No Evidence Submitted
No evidence found for this case. Be the first to submit evidence in the comments below.
Join the discussion
Loading comments...
First Shooting Incident
Raymond Sigler, a gas station attendant, is shot but survives by pretending to be dead.
Joseph Scowden Murdered
19-year-old Chester Joseph Scowden is found shot dead at a gas station, suspected robbery.
Claude Quesenberry Murdered
Claude F. Quesenberry is shot to death at a gas station, linking his murder to Scowden's.
Link Established
Ballistics confirm the same weapon was used in the murders of Scowden and Quesenberry.
Case Goes Cold
Despite investigations and media attention, all three murders remain unsolved.
Loren Bollinger Murdered
Loren E. Bollinger is found shot dead, later linked to the previous murders through ballistics.
Wanted Posters Issued
Columbus Police release wanted posters with a facial composite of the suspected killer.