July 21, 1976 – Madison, WI – Unsolved
The charred and decomposed remains of Debra Bennett were discovered by land assessors in a gully along Old Sauk Pass Road, outside
Cross Plains.
An autopsy revealed that Debra had been dead for at least 10 days, but the exact cause of death was unknown. A fractured collarbone
and dental records had enabled her identification. Soon after her discovery, investigators learned from friends that she had
recently been evicted from her apartment and had been staying in a room at the
Cardinal Hotel in downtown Madison. A native of Ridgeway in Iowa County, Debra had
only lived in the area a short time. Investigators had no suspects and very little evidence to go on. In a mysterious twist, three
weeks after her body was found, the key to her room was mailed to the hotel. There was no note, return address, or any identifying
marks.
Debra Bennett (20)
One of the
Capital City Murders
