Author Archives: m.c. merrill

First Posted December 11, 2009 Twelve years ago I wrote: “Too quickly, this year and decade are coming to a close. As we reflect upon the past and hope upon the future, we often turn to a higher authority in search of spiritual guidance, comfort, and renewal. That’s why I thought it best this weekContinue reading “THY WILL”

First posted September 16th, 2009 On early Wednesday morning, Sept. 23, 1992, Rick Kuchta of Yankton was searching for golf balls in the ravine across from the Lakeview Community Golf Course on Nebraska Highway 121 when he stumbled upon Tammy’s body.1 Law enforcement arrived, and so began a homicide investigation. When Eric Stukel learned thatContinue reading “AND SO HE RUNS”

First posted September 15th, 2009 When Tammy’s friends Travis Novak and Marjo Swedeen visited Eric Stukel on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 20th, 1992, still searching for Tammy, they found him in his bedroom playing a song called “Chloe Dancer,” which he described as Tammy’s song. The room was dark and there were candles and incense burningContinue reading “MORE ODDNESS”

First posted September 14, 2009 Early Sunday morning, September 20, 1992, between 3 and 4:00 am, Eric Stukel wanders into his parents’ Fryn’ Pan restaurant in Yankton, apparently severely under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. His server, Josh Fry, asks him what’s wrong.1 “I think I killed a girl,” Stukel says.1 Josh FryContinue reading ““I THINK I KILLED A GIRL””

First posted September 13th, 2009 On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 19, 1992, after his drive to Nebraska with Eric Stukel, Jason Adamson had to return to work at Yankton’s Fryn’ Pan restaurant (owned by Stukel’s parents) while Stukel attended a party at Dan Fitch’s apartment. Just after 11:00 pm that same night, Eric StukelContinue reading “LAST TO BE WITH YOU”

First posted September 12th, 2009 On Friday afternoon Eric Stukel washes his car, gets “stood up” by Tammy, (but has the foresight to throw a chili party for his friends,) then he goes to the Yankton high school dance, and tells classmate Darcy Isburg he’s ready to marry Tammy.2 The next day, Tammy’s aunt callsContinue reading “A TALE OF TWO SEARCHES”

First posted September 11th, 2009 On the morning of Saturday, Sept. 19th, 1992, Tammy’s aunt, Vicki Larsen, with whom Tammy was living at the time, began her search for Tammy by calling Tammy’s place of employment.1 When Larsen learned nobody had seen Tammy at work, she called Tammy’s friend Travis Novak, who also had notContinue reading “THE SEARCH BEGINS”

First Posted September 10, 2009 My original post in 2009 was much longer. In that post, I recounted a story about what Tammy told me Stukel had written in 1991. In short, she had told me that she had stumbled across a note he had written saying that he wanted to f*ck her cold bodyContinue reading “IF THIS IS LOVE”

First posted September 8, 2009 Eric Stukel was not alone when he was spotted at the vacuum station of the Magic Touch Car Wash in Yankton, on Friday, Sept. 18th, 1992. With him was his best friend Jason Adamson. (Perhaps they were just detailing Stukel’s car for the evening’s homecoming festivities?) Interestingly, every door toContinue reading “THE CAR WASH”

First Posted September 5, 2009 According to Eric Stukel’s original version of events, Tammy and he left the Stephenson party at around 10:45 pm to return to his parents’ house. He even had time to stop off at the Cork ‘N Bottle in Yankton to purchase a twelve pack of Miller Genuine Draft and stillContinue reading “THE STORY CHANGES…AND CHANGES”