Rock County's Unsolved Murders and Missing Persons

By Terri Garcia

This book is a collection of unsolved murder cases and missing persons in the area of Rock County Wisconsin. This book was created as a way to get these cases into the hands of the public. With your help, we may be able to find that missing piece of information that could lead to the case being solved and getting justice for the families. A true life "Whodunit". What do you say - will you help us solve a case?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Terri Garcia
• Release date: Jun 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9780578266152

Book preview

Murders

Albert Buehl - June 16, 1969

When Vic Monroe went into the Cronin-Hovland Liquor Store in Janesville to check on an ice machine that had been repaired the day before, he never expected to find Albert Buehl, 62 shot to death in the walk-in beer cooler.

Albert opened the store only 16 minutes earlier at 8:00 am. Monroe said he thought Albert might be in the cooler stocking, so he went looking. When he opened the cooler, he found Albert’s body. He immediately called police and an ambulance. Even with their quick response, they were unable to save Albert.

Police believe Buehl was shot with a shotgun, once in the face and once in the right side, inside the cooler with the door closed. A neighborhood survey found no witnesses hearing any gunshots. However, two witnesses said they saw a white 1959 Chevrolet Impala in the area where the killing occurred. The white Impala was never recovered.

Several people, including friends and relatives, were questioned in this case, but no suspects developed.

Two weeks later, a similar situation happened in Chicago. The person who was arrested in that case was questioned, but then cleared in the homicide.

Albert was employed by the liquor store for about three years. He was a previous partner in a tavern business and was always on time for work. Many people described Albert as a nice guy without any enemies. Then there were others that said he often cheated on his wife and was a gambler who was not good at paying his debts.

Detective Goth of the Janesville Police Department said This type of investigation requires an out-right confession to solve because so much time has passed. He also said finding the person or persons in the Impala would be the key to closing this case. (Goth)

Detective Erik Goth came up with three theories of what might have happened to Buehl. The first was robbery, but that theory was quickly disputed because Buehl had $85.00 in his wallet and nothing was missing from the store or cash drawer.

The second theory was involving Buehl’s gambling problem and the way he didn’t pay his debts. He thought Buehl may have been killed by the Mafia. At one time, Buehl’s name had come up in an investigation dealing with the Mafia. However, Goth quickly dismissed that theory because Buehl still had money in his wallet. If the mob killed him because he owed a debt, maybe paying with his life was enough.

The third theory is that so many people could have been mad at Buehl because he may have messed with the wrong woman or owed the wrong person money.

Over the last 10 years, the case and evidence has been reviewed by the State Department. They sent physical evidence, such as clothes and fingerprints to the crime lab, but no DNA leads have come up. Over the years, police have received tips, but nothing has ever led to an arrest.

Still the questions exist. After 41 years, who killed Albert Buehl on the morning of June 16, 1969 and why? Could it have been the Mafia, a robbery that went bad, or just a person that had it out for Albert on that fatal morning?

Marlene Mulholland - February 16, 1977

Was Marlene Mulholland shot to death by her police officer husband, Jerry Mulholland, or was it an accident?

At 5:50 pm on February 16, 1977 Rock County Sheriff Officers were called to Evansville. They were headed to police officer Jerry Mulholland’s residence on Fifth Street, just outside of Evansville’s city limits for a shooting. When they arrived, they found Mr. Mulholland kneeling on the floor in the living room with his head in his hands. Mrs. Mulholland was lying on her back in the doorway between the living room and kitchen. She had been shot in the head, and though they responded quickly and transported her to Mercy Hospital, she died in the hospital at 7:30 pm.

The next day at 12:30 pm, Rock County officers arrested Officer Mulholland in connection with the shooting. Mulholland told officers he was taking his 357 police revolver out of the house. Marlene grabbed his revolver and it accidentally discharged, shooting Marlene in the head. Family members said Marlene had recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus and that she had walked with a cane. They did not feel she was in any position to fight with her husband over his gun.

Due to the nature of the charges, Jerry Mulholland was put on suspension indefinitely. Shortly afterwards, Mulholland resigned and it was accepted by the city on February 21, 1977. No motive for the shooting was ever released by the Sheriff’s Department.

Coroner Richard McCaul performed an autopsy on Marlene in Beloit. He listed the cause of death as shock and hemorrhage from a gunshot to the head at close range.

In 1970, Mulholland was enrolled in the Beloit Police Reserves training from November through late 1971. He passed with one of the highest grades in his class.

Mulholland was hired by Chief Richard Luers in November 1974 after being recommended by a school official at Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville. The chief and some of Mulholland’s co-workers said he was a good employee and in some incidents, he did not use enough force when it was warranted. They said he always kept his cool, even in the toughest situations.

When he was charged, Mulholland posted 10 percent of his $50,000 bail. While out on bail, police were called to South Wright Street in Orfordville, Wisconsin to help with a subject having mental issues. When police arrived, they found Mulholland restrained by a jacket. He was taken to Mercy Hospital in Janesville for observation.

Shortly before Mulholland was set to go to trial, the attorney for the State, Blakely, died. A second autopsy was performed and the charges against Mulholland were dropped.

The couple had an eight year old child that was spending the night with Mr. and Mrs. Harold Morris, the parents of Marlene Mulholland. Relatives say she was kept from her grandparents by Mr. Mulholland and was allowed to spend the night on the night of her mother’s murder.

Could Mr. Mulholland be a cold blooded killer who got away with murder or was this truly an accident?

Barbara Nelson - August 5, 1982

Barbara was included in this book because a friend of hers asked me to add her story. She lived in Rock County and was a resident of Edgerton.

On August 5, 1982, Barbara Nelson was canning beans with her husband Terry. She received a phone call from the Stop and Shop convenience store that she worked at for the past couple weeks. Her boss asked if she could come to work to cover a shift for another employee. Barbara agreed and set off for work.

At approximately 5:40 pm, James Peterson pulled up to get gas. Barbara came