Most of the time, we talk about the beauty of and wonderful places this gorgeous place we call home has to offer. But there are some things you don’t hear about as often that give our beautiful state a bit of a darker side, including the unsolved murders of South Dakota (and other unsettling mysteries). Which South Dakota mysteries keep you up at night? Let us know.
Tina Marcotte was last seen on June 24, 1994. After calling a friend stating she had a flat tire and needed a ride, she told them that a coworker was going to help her out. That coworker was Tom Keuter. Yet, after ending the call with her friend, Tina was never heard from again. Tina's friend confronted Tom and he denied having ever spoken with her. He claimed to have had car trouble himself that night. Tom's wife was unable to corroborate his story, as he did not arrive home until 3:30 a.m. on the evening (well, morning) in question. Soon after Tina's disappearance, Tom was questioned by the police. The day after this questioning, Tom was found dead: he had been run over by his own forklift at work. Police and family remain unsure if Tom created the situation to commit suicide or if it was an actual accident. Tina's case remains open to this day and no trace of a suspect exists.
2. The unsolved mystery of the "coincidental deaths" in Rapid City
Starting in May 1998, and continuing over the course of the coming years, there were a string of bodies that began showing up in and around a creek in Rapid City. Most of the bodies found were Native Americans and/or homeless men. Local news sources point out that many believe the murders were not properly investigated to begin with (which is likely true) and protests regarding these cases have been held as recently as 2014. These mysteries remain unsolved, and still not enough effort exists to solve them.
The deaths of Arnold Archambeau and Ruby Bruguier are especially perplexing. They were involved in a car crash with Ruby's cousin, Tina, on December 12, 1992. While Tina was found in the crashed car and saved by law enforcement that night, it appears that Ruby escaped from the car, closing the door behind her. Both Arnold and Ruby were nowhere to be found after the accident. Months went by with no sign of them until when in March 1993, the bodies of Arnold and Ruby were found. Most concerning, perhaps, was that the bodies were found in the same ditch where their car had crashed three months prior. Even more peculiar, each of the bodies was at a different level of decomposition. It was impossible to determine when (or exactly how) they died. Friends of Arnold claim to have seen and spoken with him in the months between the accident and the discovery of his body in the ditch. What really happened to Ruby and Arnold? We may never know, and the only folks who do know are deceased.
Bordering on urban legend, this unsolved mystery involves the ghost of the hotel's namesake, Mr. Seth Bullock. Bullock was the sheriff of Deadwood, SD in 1887, and in 1895 he opened Hotel Bullock. After dying in 1919, it is said that he haunts the place (we wouldn't have left either). Many guests and employees of the hotel claim to have heard or felt Mr. Bullock on the premises. It is also said that a psychic from England has received multiple communications from Mr. Bullock regarding gambling in the area and his distaste for it. This is one unsolved mystery in South Dakota you can come experience for yourself!
The death of Morgan Lewis, in November 2004, had enough mysterious qualities to make it the perfect case to write a book about. That is just where Brenda Donelan got her inspiration for her book entitled "Day of the Dead." Lewis, a German professor at Northern State University in Aberdeen, was found deceased with multiple gunshot wounds, spreading panic throughout the college campus. Police concluded that Morgan Lewis died of a self-inflicted wound but many are not so easily convinced. Lewis' fatal wound was to the back of his neck and no gun was ever found near him or his body. In fact, the gun was found in a dumpster... outside... with no fingerprints on it. It appeared to have been wiped clean. Those who knew Lewis called him generous and caring. The police report on this case speculates Morgan may have committed suicide in an attempt to leave two life insurance policies to his loved ones. Many others speculate that the case was ruled a suicide to protect the reputation of the school. What do you think? We're not sure how a man could manage to kill himself and then clean off and dispose of the gun, but... we digress.
Thinking about these unsolved mysteries in South Dakota is enough to get your skin tingling. They date from hundreds of years ago to quite recent, but each one of them is mysterious and thought-provoking. What are your theories on what happened in some of these cases? What happened to these folks? Tell us your theories in the comments!
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Unsolved Murders in South Dakota
Tori Jane|December 24, 2022
What are some unsettling unsolved murders in South Dakota?
South Dakota, like anywhere else, is not immune to violent crime. And with crime comes cold cases – crimes that were never quite solved. Some of the most unsettling unsolved murders in South Dakota include horrific cases like:
The murder of Sherwin Gittens, 2001
The murder of Malaika Logan, 1988
The murder of Cleveland Richardson, 2012
2. Which South Dakota cold cases are the most frightening?
Unfortunately, the above list is not exhaustive; there are other frightening South Dakota cold cases worth mentioning (and researching), such as:
The terrifying abduction of Jessica Gutierrez from her home while asleep in 1986
The eerie disappearance of Tina Marcotte, 1994
3. What are some other interesting South Dakota mysteries?
Of course, cold cases are ALSO not the only fascinating South Dakota mysteries out there. Other notable mysteries in SD include: