The Disappearance of Evelyn Grace Hartley — Part Two: Following the Evidence On October 24, 1953, fifteen-year-old Evelyn Grace Hartley vanished while babysitting in La Crosse, Wisconsin. When her father arrived at the home after she failed to make an expected telephone call, he discovered a disturbing scene. Broken eyeglasses, scattered schoolbooks, signs of a struggle, and blood evidence inside and outside the residence. The young child Evelyn had been caring for was found sleeping peacefully, unharmed. But Evelyn was gone. In Part Two of this haunting Wisconsin mystery, Cheese Curds, Beer & Murder takes a closer look at the investigation, the witness accounts, the mysterious automobiles, and the physical evidence discovered in the days following her disappearance. We also explore the possible connection to Ed Gein, the bloodstained clothing recovered near Coon Valley, and an extraordinary reel-to-reel recording made in a Wisconsin tavern sixteen years after Evelyn vanished—a conversation that would not reach investigators until decades later. Who knew what happened to Evelyn Hartley? And how many opportunities to find answers may have slipped away over the years? More than seventy years later, Evelyn's disappearance remains one of Wisconsin's most troubling unsolved mysteries. Coming Soon — Our Official Fourthwall Website Our Cheese Curds, Beer & Murder website is currently under development! Extensive episode show notes, historical background, research materials, investigative timelines, source references, and additional information for all episodes will soon be available on our Fourthwall website. We look forward to giving listeners a place to explore the stories and research beyond what we can cover in each episode. Support the Show If you enjoy our storytelling and would like to help keep the stories coming, you can support Cheese Curds, Beer & Murder here: https://buymeacoffee.com/cheesecurdsbeerandmurder Music Credits Opening and closing theme: “Long Day” by Purpplecat Music sourced through Pixabay. Used under the Pixabay Content License, which permits commercial use subject to its terms. Attribution provided in appreciation of the artist. Production Credits Cheese Curds, Beer & Murder Created and Narrated By: M Rowland Produced by North Star Productions © 2026 North Star Productions. All rights reserved. Remembering the victims. Honoring their stories. Keeping their memories alive.
