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THY WILL

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 week…

by m.c. merrill

AND SO HE RUNS

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 that…

by m.c. merrill

MORE ODDNESS

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 burning…

by m.c. merrill

“I THINK I KILLED A GIRL”

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 Fry…

by m.c. merrill

LAST TO BE WITH YOU

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 Stukel…

by m.c. merrill

A TALE OF TWO SEARCHES

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 calls…

by m.c. merrill

THE SEARCH BEGINS

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 not…

by m.c. merrill

IF THIS IS LOVE

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 body…

by m.c. merrill

THE CAR WASH

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 to…

by m.c. merrill

THE STORY CHANGES…AND CHANGES

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 still…

by m.c. merrill

STOOD UP SO THE STORY GOES

First posted September 9, 2009 Pathologist who studied the wounds on Tammy’s body determined and testified in court that Tammy didn’t die accidentally, but was deliberately killed at the hands of another.1 Out of all the suspects who could have potentially killed Tammy, only one would confess to this crime while Tammy was still missing…

by m.c. merrill

ANOTHER LOOK AT THE RAVINE

First posted September 7, 2009 There was some early speculation by members of law enforcement that somebody had returned to the ravine between the interim of the disposal of Tammy’s body and its discovery to make it look like Tammy was raped and murdered in some sort of random, serial type of attack. How do…

by m.c. merrill

SHE MIRACULOUSLY APPEARS?

Originally posted September 6, 2009 According to the defense timeline, Tammy would make two appearances, one not long after leaving Eric Stukel’s house, the other the next day, at the homecoming parade. According to defense witness Jennifer Jones, Tammy would arrive at the Pump N Stuff gas station on 2nd and Walnut between 12:30 and…

by m.c. merrill

A PRACTICAL JOKE GONE WRONG?

First posted September 4, 2009At Eric Stukel’s trial in September of 1996, witness-for-the-prosecution Tyler Mahoney testified that his friend Jamie Horacek had urinated in the open window of the passenger’s side of Eric Stukel’s car around 11:35 pm, just as he, Horacek, and a few others were leaving the Stephenson party.1 Stukel claims he left…

by m.c. merrill

THE EVIDENCE TRAIL

First posted September 3, 2009 Forensic analysis would reveal extensive urine stains on the back of Tammy’s pants legs, as well as a secondary urine stain on the back of her underwear. Note well that the urine on Tammy’s pants and underwear would be of different blood and secretion types, meaning that the two urine…

by m.c. merrill

A WRINKLE IN TIME

First posted September 2nd, 2009 Tammy was last seen by reliable, multiple witnesses at about 11:15 pm on Sept. 17th 1992, at the Stephenson farm in northwest Nebraska.1,2 At about this time, Tammy was getting ready to go back to Yankton with Eric Stukel, who claims he took her back to his parents’ house.3 Nearly…

by m.c. merrill

THE THREE FIBERS

First posted September 1, 2009 Three pieces of physical evidence would become critical to linking Eric Stukel directly to Tammy’s death. Several hair fibers matching Tammy’s hair type would be found in the trunk of Eric Stukel’s Chevy Beretta. These hairs arguably could have gotten there many different ways. However, on Tammy’s clothing were found…

by m.c. merrill

PRIMARY SOURCES

For those interested in primary sources regarding this case, I would point you to the Yankton Press and Dakotan, whose coverage was the most in depth. This website is not a primary source. In other words, as I have been saying since 2005, do not take my word for it. Experts testified. The press reported.…

by m.c. merrill

THE PATHOLOGISTS CALL IT MURDER

First posted on August 28, 2009 On September 17th, 1992, Tammy Haas went to a Yankton High School homecoming party on a Cedar County, Nebraska farm owned by the Stephenson family of Yankton, SD, located eight miles southwest of Yankton, South Dakota. In attendance with her was Eric Stukel. They had ridden together in his…

by m.c. merrill

OPPORTUNITY

First posted August 21st, 2009 On September 17th, 1992, Tammy Haas went to a Yankton High School homecoming party on a Cedar County, Nebraska farm owned by the Stephenson family of Yankton, South Dakota, located eight miles southwest of Yankton, SD.1 In attendance with Tammy was Eric Stukel. They had ridden together in his silver…

by m.c. merrill

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