Athens is a small town of about 1100 people west of Wausau. For the most part, it’s a small, sleepy farm town. But back in 1987, it was the location of a group of murders and the story of the Kunz family murders in Wisconsin just continued to get weirder and creepier as more details emerged.

The Kunz family lived on a primitive farm outside of town. On the night of the 4th of July, 1987, elderly siblings Clarence, Irene, and Marie Kunz and their nephew Randy were shot in the head. The siblings' mother, Helen, went missing.
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Another sibling who lived elsewhere on the property in a trailer was the one who discovered the bodies the next morning. He was the initial suspect in the murders but was later cleared of suspicion.
Flickr/Alison_dc
The investigation into the crime uncovered the Kunz family's sordid past. They were hoarders, and the house they lived in was as crude as could be. There was no running water or heat. Large sums of money were found stashed all over the place, as well as large amounts of pornography.
Helen's body was found nine months after the initial murder discovery in a frozen bog not far from town. She had been killed in the same manner as the rest of the family.
Flickr/AlexWeimer

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Investigations revealed likely incest in the family, and a later biography revealed a history of mental illness. Combined, these revelations paint a picture of a family not particularly well-equipped for the world. It's said the local community looked down on the Kunzes. The animosity is thought to have dated back to when Helen was 15 and accused a neighbor of rape. That family was ruined and Helen was made a scapegoat. The way the Kunzes lived added fuel to the community's dislike of the family.
Flickr/Darin
The main suspect in the murders became a local man who had purchased used cars from the family. He was acquitted at trial because of a lack of solid evidence.
Flickr/WilliamGarrett
After the man's acquittal, his ex-girlfriend said that the suspect had admitted to the murders. He could not be retried for those, but he is currently serving a sentence after being convicted of kidnapping Helen. He maintains that he is innocent.
Wikimedia/BobekHaEri
Though the authorities are happy with their likely suspect and his conviction for the kidnapping, there is still plenty of hearsay and gossip about the murders. There's the local woman who said she saw a car using a spotlight alongside the property the night of the murders. Whoever was driving the car shone the light in her face to make sure she couldn't identify the car. There's a theory that the murders were the result of a drug deal gone wrong. Another farmhouse murder that happened nearly 20 years later and less than 10 miles away is also unsolved, leaving some to wonder if they are linked.
It's unlikely that this gruesome story will ever be solved, and little Athens is now infamous for the murders that happened there. The details of how the Kunzes lived and the assumptions about their twisted lives were perfect tabloid fodder, making this small-town crime rather infamous. But the crime remains unsolved. Add that to the other unsolved murder and there's a definite creepy air around Athens.
Wikimedia/BobekHaEri

 

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Did you know about the Kunz family murders in Wisconsin? Looking for more scary real-life Wisconsin stories? Learn about a county in Wisconsin that was once known as the most dangerous place in the state. These days, it’s pretty safe, so it’s a great place to take a road trip and learn some state history!

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Creepy Stories and Places in Wisconsin

Will Suphan | October 09, 2023

What are the creepiest urban legends in Wisconsin?

The creepiest urban legends in Wisconsin include:

  • Bloody Bride Bridge. People crossing this bridge claim to see the ghost of a woman who was killed on her wedding night in their rearview mirror or on the road, and she then disappears.
  • Rhinelander Hodag. Hodags are said to be ugly creatures who cry about their ugliness and come after people. Three things are said to kill them: dynamite, lemons, and chloroform. 
  • The Phantom Man on Highway 12. Locals report seeing a hitchhiker wearing a worn-out green army jacket and when they drive past and look in their mirrors, he has disappeared.

Learn more about the creepiest urban legends in Wisconsin. 

What ghost stories are there in Wisconsin?

A ghost story in Wisconsin is that of the Beast of Bray Road:

The tiny town of Elkhorn has a road named Bray Road, and in 1936, someone claimed to have seen some kind of hairy creature that looked like a werewolf or a bear. During the 1980s and 1990s, there was a sudden increase in sightings and while descriptions varied, they all agreed that it was some kind of huge, furry creature that could run on all fours and walk on two legs. 

Discover more about this ghost story in Wisconsin. 

What is the creepiest town in Wisconsin?

The creepiest town in Wisconsin is Whitewater:

This town is often called a Second Salem due to claims that it is filled with witches. This dates back to 1889 when there were seances at the Morris Pratt Institute and it was said that witches attended these. There is also a book in the Andersen Library that is thought to be evil and drives people to go crazy and kill themselves. There’s a stone tower said to be a ritual site for local witches. 

Find out more about the creepiest town in Wisconsin. 

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