Murder: True Crime Stories - SOLVED: Bernice Worden, Pt. 1

Episode Date: August 13, 2024

November 16th, 1957 marked the first day of Wisconsin's deer hunting season. It was also the day Bernice Worden disappeared from her hardware store. When the police zeroed in on a suspect, they also discovered a collection of horrors so disturbing it defied explanation. Murder: True Crime Stories is part of Crime House Studios. For more, follow us on Instagram @crimehouse. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Crime House. In the immediate years following World War II, the United States experienced unprecedented growth and prosperity. Material wealth boomed, the middle class grew, and people moved out of the city and into the suburbs. Manicured lawns and white picket fences popped up across the country. There was an undeniable sense of security in these sleepy communities. But in the fall of 1957, a shocking and brutal murder would reveal that America's squeaky clean post-war image was nothing more than a facade, and that no matter where you went, nobody was safe. People's lives are like a story.

There's a beginning, a middle, and an end. But you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon, and we don't always get to know the real ending. I'm Carter Roy, and this is Murder True Crime Stories, a Crime House original. Every Tuesday, I'll explore the story of a notorious murder or murders. I'll be bringing awareness to stories that need to be heard with a focus on those who are impacted. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing, and following

Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly matters. This is the first of two episodes on the murder of Bernice Worden, a 58-year-old hardware store owner who was killed on November 16, 1957. Her tragic death unveiled one of America's most infamous killers and the gruesome secrets he was hiding. Today, I'll be taking you through Bernice's life, the community she lived in, and the day she disappeared. Then, next week's part two will focus on exploring the man who killed her in the shocking house of horrors that police uncovered. All that and more, coming up. All that and more, coming up. Hey everyone, it's Carter.

I have a favor to ask you. If you are enjoying Murder True Crime Stories, I would be honored if you took a moment to rate and review us on Apple and Spotify. Your valuable feedback helps us improve and expand our reach so other true crime fans can find us too. Your support means everything. Like so many Midwestern states, Wisconsin is home to hundreds of small rural towns, communities that pepper the farmland like clearings in the forest, the kinds of places that create strong communities whose residents know they can count on each other through thick and thin. One of those towns is called Plainfield, and in the late 1950s, this sleepy, quiet, solitary community suddenly became the center of attention throughout

the United States. Plainfield is an old town, first settled in 1849. It slowly but surely grew throughout the 19th century. As time went on, it transformed into a quaint little village, adding a few general stores, blacksmith shops, a bank, a newspaper, and some churches. The town was far away from the hubbub of the big city. Milwaukee is about 130 or so miles away, and Chicago is over 200 miles away. By the early 1900s, miles away. By the early 1900s, Plainfield was the quintessential Midwestern town, a small community with a quiet main street filled with a handful of diners, taverns, and shops seemingly cut off from the rest of the world. But the isolation didn't seem to matter to folks, nor did the fact that the surrounding land was actually not that

great for farming. Farmers attempted to cultivate potatoes and rye, but their efforts rarely resulted in much of a crop. The same went for ranchers trying to raise cattle in an area with brutal winters. Sadly, the majority of the people in Plainfield, especially farmers and ranchers, were on the edge of poverty. And yet, Plainfield built a strong community. This was the kind of place that you see in films set in the Midwest. The entire town coming together for the elementary school play or recital, massive potluck dinners, or citizens sitting around outside shooting the breeze. It was like a bubble protecting the community from the problems of the outside world. And in the early 20th century,

this bubble was the home of Bernice Warden, one of the town's most prominent residents. of Bernice Warden, one of the town's most prominent residents. Bernice wasn't originally from Plainfield, not even from Wisconsin. She was born in Canton, Illinois on May 9, 1899. Her father was a man named Frank Conover, and her mother was Agnes Putnam. Unfortunately, not much is known about Bernice as a child. We have no idea what she dreamed of doing with her life as a child, nor do we know what kinds of people her parents were. What we do know, however, was that when Bernice was a young girl, she and her family picked up and left Canton, Illinois. Their ultimate destination was over 300 miles north to Plainfield, Wisconsin. After that, Bernice never moved again.

She grew up in Plainfield and made it her home, marrying a local man named Leon Worden. Leon's family had lived in Plainfield for decades. Sometime during the 1890s, the family opened up Warden's, a harness shop and one of the town's first major commercial businesses. Over time, the harness shop evolved into a hardware store. In the early 1920s, Leon partnered up with Frank Conover, Bernice's father. Together, they co-owned the hardware store. It was also around this time that Bernice, now in her early 20s, married Leon. Over the next decade, Bernice and Leon had two children, Frank and Miriam.

Her marriage to Leon more or less tied Bernice to both Plainfield and the hardware store. In fact, Warden's was more than just a store. It was part of the family's identity. And before long, Bernice was the one calling the shots. was the one calling the shots. In 1929, Leon bought out Frank Conover's half of the hardware store. For the next two years, Leon ran the shop himself, overseeing day-to-day operations. Then, in February 1931, Leon suddenly passed away. Exactly how he died remains a mystery. But in the wake of Leon's death, 31-year-old Bernice, mother of two young children, became the owner and operator of Warden's Hardware and Implement Store. Over the next 25 years, Bernice oversaw the hardware store's success, which wasn't a small feat. The shop wasn't just a local mom-and-pop hardware store.

It was Plainfield's main source for farming equipment and appliances, as well as a telegraph office and freight depot. In many ways, Bernice Warden became one of Plainfield's most prominent residents. Whether or not she always had a business sense or learned along the way, Bernice transformed herself into something of a local business magnate. Thanks to her commitment to the hardware store, Bernice also became a respected figure within the community. In fact, as one long-time resident noted, pretty much everyone in town knew her. Though she threw herself entirely into the hardware store, it wasn't her only defining feature. Bernice was a devout Methodist and loved to go fishing, and as her children had children of their own, Bernice became a loving grandmother. The majority of Plainfield residents thought

highly of Bernice, so much so that in the summer of 1956, they recognized her as the Citizen of the Week. What made this even more notable was the fact that she became the first woman to receive the honor. Of course, not everyone loved Bernice. Some thought she was a little too curt or acerbic. Though true crime author Harold Schechter speculates that the people who felt this way about Bernice were perhaps jealous of her financial success. It wouldn't be surprising that some townsfolk whispered petty comments behind Bernice's back. After all, in 1950s small-town America, a woman being so successful and independent was a bit of a rarity. On the other hand, it wouldn't be surprising if Bernice

attracted admirers. A widow with two children who was able to steer a local institution toward quite a bit of success, it was certainly admirable. As it turned out, Bernice Worden did, in fact, have an admirer. And in the fall of 1957, his playing field dove headfirst into hunting season that admirer's obsession consumed him and sent shockwaves throughout the nation. throughout the nation. Hey there, Carter Roy here. If you're enjoying the chilling tales of murder true crime stories, then you'll love the Crime House original, Mind of a Serial Killer.

What sets Mind of a Serial Killer apart is its focus on the twisted psychology of the world's most notorious serial killers. Names like Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, the Night Stalker, featuring expert psychological analysis from licensed clinical and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels. Mind of a Serial Killer will take you into their stories like never before. So get ready to uncover what drives someone to commit the unimaginable. Mind of a Serial Killer is a Crime House original. New episodes drop every Monday. Just search Mind of a Serial Killer and follow wherever you listen to podcasts. If you're fascinated by the darker sides of humanity,

join us every week on our podcast, Serial Killers, where we go deep into notorious true crime cases. With significant research and careful analysis, we examine the psyche of a killer, their motives and targets, and law enforcement's pursuit to stop their spree. Follow Serial Killers wherever you get your podcasts, and get new episodes every Monday. Fall in Wisconsin, especially in its more remote regions, is an exciting time. It signals the start of a favorite

pastime, hunting season. For many Wisconsinites, hunting season is a party, especially the first few days, and Plainfield took its deer hunting seriously. So on November 16, 1957, the first day of the season, the place was a ghost town as most of the men flocked to the woods in search of a prize buck. Of course, not everyone went out on the hunt. 58-year-old Bernice Warden stayed in Plainfield that morning. She had the hardware store to run. Bernice wasn't the only one who stayed behind in town that morning. A man by the name of Bernard Mashinsky also hung back. Bernard operated a Phillips 66 gas station, which sat directly across from Warden's hardware store. During hunting season,

the gas station also became the place where hunters weighed their trophies. But with the season just kicking off, nobody would be stopping by for a while. Since the morning was so quiet, Bernard had plenty of time to just sort of watch and observe the town. At about a quarter after 8 a.m., Bernard saw Bernice make her way inside the hardware store. It appeared as if she had just come back from collecting her mail. A little after that, Bernard watched as a delivery truck briefly stopped by the hardware store to drop off some freight. About an hour later, Bernard, still at his gas pump, casually looked across the street at the hardware store. He watched as Bernice's panel truck, the one used

for store-related business-like deliveries, left the garage and headed down the street. Bernard couldn't quite make out who was behind the wheel. Author Harold Schechter notes this would not have been out of the ordinary. Given Bernice's age and her success, she often brought in people to help out around the store. Generally, her son Frank would be the one to lend a hand. When he wasn't available, Bernice hired other help, and with Frank out hunting with the rest of the town, it wouldn't be surprising if Bernice got someone else for this job. Bernard would have known this, so he shrugged off the unknown man driving the hardware store's truck

and went about his business. But as the hours passed, Bernard grew a little curious about the lack of activity coming from the hardware store. Sure, it was to be expected to be slow on the opening day of hunting season, but it seemed like no one had come by. So he walked across the street to check it out. Bernard wasn't surprised to find the doors locked. The whole town was quiet that day, so there wouldn't be much reason to keep the store running. But what did confuse him was the store's lights were on. Bernice wasn't the kind of person to forget to turn them off on her way out. Bernard wasn't the only local who began to wonder what was going on with Bernice and the hardware store. As the afternoon ticked by, more and more folks within the community became concerned.

At around 5 p.m., Bernice's son Frank pulled into Bernard's gas station. Unfortunately, day one of hunting season had been a bust. He came home with an empty truck bed. But Frank was in good spirits. He knew that he still had plenty of time to take down a buck or two. In fact, the reason he stopped by Bernard's gas station was to talk about Plainfield's annual hunting contest. The moment he walked in, Bernard asked Frank if he knew where his mother had gone. Frank had no idea.

To his knowledge, his mother was going to be working all day. She wasn't planning on closing the store. But Bernard was sure Bernice had left. Not only was the store closed, he had seen the store's truck drive off earlier that morning. As Frank listened, he suddenly became concerned. He rushed across the street and tried opening the front door. But it was still locked.

Frank didn't have a key to the store on him, so he hopped into his truck, rushed home, grabbed a spare, and barreled back down to the hardware store. The moment Frank entered, he knew something was off. He immediately walked over to the counter and saw that the cash register was empty. It's hard to imagine the thoughts racing through Frank's head at this moment. The man hears that his mother hasn't been seen all day, and now there's evidence of a robbery. Of course, standing around pondering these questions wasn't going to find her, so Frank started looking around just in case Bernice was still there. But just as he began his search, his eyes darted to something on the floor. What he saw was a trail of blood, and it led to the back door.

In the early evening of November 16th, 1957, Frank Warden returned to his hometown of Plainfield, Wisconsin after an unsuccessful day of hunting. He headed over to his mother's hardware store and made a shocking discovery. The cash register was empty and a trail of blood painted the floor. Frank followed the trail to the back door. Normally, the store's truck would be parked in the driveway. Instead, it was still missing. Frank had to wonder where it could have gone and who was driving it. Frank returned to the main section of the store and stared at the dark streak of blood on the ground.

In a situation like this, most people would become hysterical, maybe even irrational. But Frank was a deputy sheriff. He knew how to keep his emotions in check, even if the blood possibly belonged to his mother. Frank raced to the phone and called the new sheriff of Washera County, Art Schley. At the time of the call, Sheriff Schley was in Watoma, about a 20-minute drive southeast. But it didn't take long for Schley and a deputy to make their way to Warden's hardware store. When they arrived, they began searching for any clues that could point them to Bernice's location. As they looked around, Frank told Schley that there was only one person who could have done something to his mother,

a local handyman named Ed Gein, who lived on a farm a few miles outside of town. 51-year-old Gein was a loner. A lot of people found him odd, yet the people of Plainfield also appreciated Ed as someone who was always willing to pitch in or help someone with a task. So it was a little confusing as to why Frank thought he was involved in Bernice's disappearance. was involved in Bernice's disappearance. Frank explained that over the last few weeks, Gein had developed an infatuation with 58-year-old Bernice, almost an obsession. His trips to the hardware store had increased in frequency. He had even started asking Bernice out to the movies, the ice rink, and dancing. And beyond these unwelcome advances, Frank had physical proof that Gein was probably the last person to see Bernice.

Before the sheriff had arrived, Frank had looked around the store for clues. He'd found a receipt for the sale of some antifreeze written in Bernice's handwriting. It was made out to Ed Gein and dated for that morning. Finding the receipt triggered a memory for Frank. Just the night before, Gein had stopped by the hardware store just as Frank was getting ready to close up, and had asked about antifreeze. However, Gein also asked Frank if he was going to go hunting the next day. At the time, Frank kind of shrugged it off. It seemed like a normal question to ask a man in town.

Now, though, Frank had to wonder. Had Gein been casing the store? Was he making sure that Bernice would be alone the next day? When Sheriff Schley heard this, he agreed that Gein needed to be found. In the meantime, he called for backup. Over the next couple of hours, lawmen from across Wisconsin made their way to Plainfield. As investigators scoured the hardware store for more clues that could lead to Bernice's whereabouts, officers fanned out in search of Gein. Naturally, the first place to look was Gein's farm, so a pair of officers, Dan Chase and Arden Spees, drove out to the property roughly six miles from town. Chase and Spees arrived at the farmhouse and banged on the front

door. However, it became quite obvious to them that Gein wasn't home. After quick consideration, home. After quick consideration, Officer Chase realized that perhaps he was at the home of Lester and Irene Hill. It was known around Plainfield that Ed Gein often visited the Hill family and had dinner with them. Chase and Spees headed over there and knocked on the door. Irene Hill answered and the two lawmen asked her if Ed Gein was there. Irene nodded and told Officer Chase that Gein was in the driveway, about to take her son into town. Chase peeked his head around the side of the house and saw that a car was idling in the driveway. As Chase approached the car, he noticed that Gein was sitting inside with Irene's son Bob, dressed in hunting gear and sporting a five o'clock shadow. Chase casually walked up to the driver's side of the car and knocked on the window.

When Gein rolled it down, Chase said he needed to talk to him. Gein seemed confused, but he didn't resist. He slowly got out of his car and followed the officers to the squad car parked nearby. Once they had climbed in, Chase asked Gein what he had done throughout the day. It's not clear exactly what Gein told him, but he happily obliged. Chase asked Gein if he could run through his day once more, but there were inconsistencies between both accounts. Chase called him out and Gein cracked. He told Chase that he was being framed. When Chase asked about what he was being framed for, framed. When Chase asked about what he was being framed for, Gein said that it was related to Bernice Worden. There was just one problem. Chase hadn't mentioned Bernice at all. He asked Gein to

elaborate and he said, well, she's dead, ain't she? When Chase asked Gein how he knew Bernice was dead, Gein claimed to have heard other people talking about it. But Chase wasn't buying it. As officers Chase and Spies drove Ed Gein to the station for further interrogation, Sheriff Art Schley and Captain Lloyd Shepoyster made their way to his farm. With Gein in custody, Schley knew that his next move was to locate Bernice Warden, hoping that perhaps she was still alive. It was around 8 p.m. by the time Schley and Shepoyster arrived at Gein's farm.

Gein's farm was nearly 200 acres and had been in his family for over 40 years. For over a decade, he had lived on the farm by himself. The last person to live in the house with Gein was his mother, Augusta, but she had died 12 years earlier back in 1945. Since then, the farmhouse had become dilapidated. Its white wood panel siding was caked in dirt and clearly rotting in some places. That evening, as snow covered the roof and icicles dangled from the eaves. The home seemed even more isolated. The air was heavy. Puffs of vapor appeared in the moonlight with every breath they took. Yet, despite the cold, the two lawmen pressed on.

As they approached the farmhouse, they tried the front door, but it was locked. The two men fanned out and tried the surrounding doors. The majority of them were locked as well. However, one door wasn't, at least not entirely. The door led to a shed attached to the main house, and the only thing keeping it secured was a flimsy bolt, so flimsy that Captain Shepoyster was able to kick it in. The two lawmen entered the dark shed and were immediately greeted with the smell of rot. They covered their noses, shining flashlights around the place. To their shock, the place was a cluttered mess. Piles of trash were

literally everywhere. Schley and Shup Oyster slowly crept in, wading through the scattered debris. After a few seconds of looking around, Shup Oyster spotted a door he assumed led to the main room and made his way toward it. Meanwhile, Schley continued to gaze around the room, struggling to make heads or tails of it all. Suddenly, he felt something bump into him. He quickly shined his flashlight in that direction and gasped in horror. and gasped in horror. In front of Schley was a naked body dangling upside down from the ceiling by the feet. The body had been hollowed out and was missing its head.

Schley couldn't believe his eyes. He was staring at a human body hung up and butchered like a deer. The sight of it was too much. Schley turned around and stumbled out of Gein's house. Once outside, he fell to his knees and vomited. A few seconds later, Shep Oyster appeared, also in complete shock. They had found Bernice Warden slaughtered like an animal. And that was just the beginning

of the unspeakable horror they would discover in Ed Gein's farmhouse. Thanks so much for listening. I'm Carter Roy, and this is Murder True Crime Stories. Come back next week for part two of our series on Bernice Worden. Murder True Crime Stories is a CrimeHouse original powered by Pave Studios. Here at CrimeHouse, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support.

If you like what you heard today, reach out on social media at Murder True Crime Pod on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Don't forget to rate, review, and follow Murder True Crime Stories wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference. We'll be back next Tuesday. Murder True Crime Stories, a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios, is executive produced by Max Cutler. This episode of Murder True Crime Stories was sound designed by Ron Shapiro, written by Joe Guerra, edited by Alex Benidon, fact-checked by Claire Cronin, and included production assistance from Kristen Acevedo and Sarah Carroll. Murder True Crime Stories is hosted by Carter Roy.

You may know a serial killer's crimes. Now, uncover the psychology behind them. Mind of a Serial Killer is a Crime House original. New episodes drop every Monday. Just search Mind of a Serial Killer and follow wherever you listen to podcasts. If you're fascinated by the darker sides of humanity, join us every week on our podcast, Serial Killers, where we go deep into notorious true crime cases. With significant research and careful analysis,

we examine the psyche of a killer, their motives and targets, and law enforcement's pursuit to stop their spree. Follow Serial Killers wherever you get your podcasts and get new episodes every Monday.