By: Diane Benjamin
In case you missed the podcast, it’s about an unsolved murder in Normal from 1975. https://blnnews.com/2023/02/10/all-9-episodes-now-available/
Last week CI Proud and News 25 did stories claiming Normal police are now trying to solve the murder:
Two more episodes were added in November. Listen here: https://radiomisfits.com/podcasts/carols-last-christmas/
Just 48 hours before Christmas, 1975, 21 year old Carol Rofstad was bludgeoned and left for dead on the lawn of the Delta Zeta sorority house at Illinois State University. She never opened her eyes again. Her friends and family believe whoever killed Carol was the same person who attacked her in a darkened sorority bedroom the prior summer. And they believe that man is still alive.
Why was he never charged? Why was he never even interrogated? Two investigative reporters and a career Chicago homicide cop uncover the missed leads, missteps and shocking new revelations in a case nearly a half century COLD.
Carol’s murder isn’t the only unsolved crime in Normal. According to Episode 12 the Normal police do not keep documents for unsolved cases after 7 years if the statute of limitations would prevent prosecutions. The 1970’s had many unsolved attacks on women. One victim said the police made her feel like the attack in her home was her fault. Those files might have helped with the Rofstad case, the researchers had to reply on news reports instead.
Keep in mind the 1993 Jennifer Lockmiller murder is still unsolved too.
The podcast states the Normal police did not participate, FOIA requests were heavily redacted. The last episode states 2 of the 3 people who know what happened the night Carol Rofstad died are still alive. It remains to be seen if anyone will be charged. The final episode states the case should have been solved within weeks if ISU and Normal had wanted it solved. ISU didn’t want it to become a national story.
If you listened to the first 11 episodes catch the last two. Otherwise listen to all 13.
Thank you for putting this out there. I have followed this case all my life. It really upsets me that this case and Jennifer Lockmiller’s case were never solved. There is no excuse for all that happened in the 70’s and with Jennifer’s case. I believe a lot had to do with staining the reputation of ISU and the case affecting enrollment. I also find the response of the sorority rather shocking. My biggest question is why was the suspect so protected? Apparently he had a lot of dirt on a lot of people and that is another question as well. The Normal Police appeared to have a hands off response to Carol’s case and I don’t know really know why they won’t pursue Jennifer’s case except they claim it is solved. Jennifer’s case is not solved to matter what is said. There needs to be closure. I also have suspicions about Jelani Day and the handling of this case as well.
Ask Alan Beaman on Lockmiller, he knows.
Sure makes me wonder WHO the “important” person is that the police are afraid to go after? Who is the killer related to? That’s the answer I’d be interested in knowing about. Does anyone REALLY believe the Normal Police Department will actually “solve” this case and hold the killer accountable?
videttearchive.ilstu.edu/?a=d&d=vid19761101-01.2.13&e=——-en-20