Beyond the Pillars: The Murder of Laurel Jean Mitchell: The Town Marshal

Murder Sheet

MurderSheet

True Crime, Murder, Unsolved Case, Killing, Murderer, Cold Case

3.8 • 2.8K Ratings

🗓️ 27 August 2024

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This episode was originally published on The Murder Sheet's main feed on August 27, 2024.

For years, Tony Strombeck served as the town marshal of the tranquil, lakeside community of North Webster, Indiana. Over the years, one case came to haunt him. That was the 1975 abduction, rape, and murder of 17-year-old Laurel Jean Mitchell.

Sadly, Tony died in 2020, before there was a break in the case. But we were fortunate enough to speak with his daughter and grandson, who continue to continue his legacy by serving their communities.

This episode is not only a profile on a longtime lawman. It's a reflection of the ripple effect that a heinous murder can have over the years.

Part one of our initial coverage of Laurel Mitchell's case: https://art19.com/shows/murder-sheet/episodes/82950532-43e3-4b6a-8fd6-3c60f3cbbdc7

Part two of our initial coverage of Laurel Mitchell's case: https://art19.com/shows/murder-sheet/episodes/5c12c101-98ab-4a81-a0ee-4b294ff2853b

Our coverage of the arrests of Fred Bandy and John Wayne Lehman in Laurel Mitchell's case: https://art19.com/shows/murder-sheet/episodes/98739e01-ed80-4069-9d2d-bb924a776a6c

Our interview with Laurel Mitchell's friend Toni and Toni's daughter Miranda about the impact of the murder: https://art19.com/shows/murder-sheet/episodes/17392251-76a4-4952-b718-298af74da195

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Content warning, this episode contains discussion of murder and sexual assault.
0:05.0	Many law enforcement officers come across a certain case during their careers,
0:10.0	a case that just doesn't close, one that doesn't provide easy answers.
0:14.4	One so disturbing that it lodges in their minds forever,
0:17.7	a case that comes to haunt them.
0:19.5	For the late Burdette G Strombeck, or Tony, the town marshal of North Webster. That case was the
0:27.0	murder of Laurel Jean Mitchell.
0:29.9	We've covered the case of Laurel Jean Mitchell on the podcast previously.
0:34.6	She was a 17-year-old girl living in North Webster in Indiana's Casiosko County.
0:40.4	She had her whole life ahead of her in 1975.
0:43.2	After a shift at her summer job, she walked out into the darkness
0:47.7	to head to the local Adventure Land amusement park
0:51.0	which she was due to meet some friends.
0:53.9	She never got there.
0:55.8	She vanished.
0:57.8	Shortly thereafter, she was found raped and murdered in Noble County.
1:01.9	Her case went unsolved for decades until recently. A team of
1:06.1	Indiana State Police investigators, led by Captain Kevin Smith, used DNA to
1:12.3	link the case to Fred Bandy and John Wayne Lehman.
1:16.7	These two men are now facing accountability for what they allegedly did to Laurel all
1:21.8	those years ago.
1:23.0	As of the time of this recording, Lehman appears to be possibly moving toward a guilty plea,
	...

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