This Disturbing Event In Nebraska Is So Shocking It Inspired A Movie
By Delana Lefevers|Published January 20, 2019
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Delana Lefevers
Author
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
No place is without its share of crime, mysteries, and shocking news stories. Even in a place that’s generally considered very safe, sometimes the unthinkable can happen. One of the most bizarre and intriguing mysteries to come out of Nebraska was the death of a brilliant math professor in 2006.
The quiet city of Chadron in far northwestern Nebraska is typically thought of as a safe place to live and visit. The natural beauty and small-town charm make it a destination for nature lovers and people who love discovering the best places in Nebraska.
In 2006, Steven Haataja was a mathematics professor at Chadron State College. He was described as a brilliant man whose knowledge of math theory was positively stunning.
One December morning in 2006, Professor Haataja was reported missing when he failed to show up for a class. Upon investigating, police discovered that there were no signs the professor planned to leave. His family and friends could offer no theories about where he may have gone. His disappearance remained a mystery for three months.
In March 2007, two ranchers happened upon a horrifying scene in the rolling hills south of the college. The land and a tall tree had been scarred by fire. Upon closer examination, the ranchers discovered a body tied to the tree. It would later be identified as the missing Steven Haataja.
An autopsy determined that the professor had died of smoke inhalation and thermal injuries. Haataja had been bound to the tree and lit on fire while he was still alive. At first blush, it appeared to be a homicide - and for good reason. How else would this horrific death have played out?
But there was no easy explanation for the scenario, and it baffled investigators for months. They discovered that Haataja had been depressed and felt isolated in Chadron, where he had moved only seven months prior to his death. He reportedly attempted suicide the previous year, a fact that contributed to investigators' final determination in the case.
After months of investigation, police announced that Haataja's death was an elaborate suicide. Accelerant was found on his clothing and a nearly-empty bottle of peppermint Schnapps was found near his body. There were no signs of a struggle, nor any indication that there had been a second person there with Haataja. As implausible as it sounds, all of the pieces fit with this new theory.
The determination of suicide was called into question by plenty of people who had been following the case, including some who knew the professor. The case was so bizarre that it inspired a book by Poe Ballantine entitled “Love & Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere.” A movie by the same name was eventually made; watch the fascinating trailer below.
Haataja’s family has accepted the suicide theory and the case has officially been closed. But for many people, it remains one of Nebraska’s most compelling unsolved mysteries.
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