Remember the ‘weird death’ officers were investigating in Blackfoot in 1951? Here’s what the autopsy revealed.

BLACKFOOT — The “slaying theory” astir a Utah female recovered dormant successful Blackfoot successful 1951 was “dimmed” aft a astonishing autopsy study was announced successful nan section paper.

EastIdahoNews.com shared nan story of Laura Florine McNamara Brewer — it was antecedently reported arsenic Laura Macklemar but Blackfoot officers clarified her sanction successful a later article — successful our play Looking Back column, which looks backmost connected what life was for illustration during definite clip periods successful eastbound Idaho history.

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The assemblage of nan Salt Lake City woman, 46, was recovered connected April 30, 1951, astatine 9:30 a.m. connected nan Westcott Oil institution spot adjacent Broadway. Her “rain-soaked battered assemblage was discovered … beneath 2 bulk lipid tanks.”

Coroner believes female was nan ‘victim of foul play’

Al Trolin, coroner, said he believed nan female had been dead betwixt 8 to 10 hours. Although location were nary signs of weapon aliases gunshot wounds, Bingham County Sheriff Everett Goodwin said location was nary uncertainty successful his mind that she was nan unfortunate of foul play.

“The woman’s legs were reported severely bruised and a heavy pain showing marks for illustration that of a basking waffle robust connected her near enarthrosis were found,” nan Idaho Falls Post Register said connected April 30, 1951. “The assemblage was truthful covered pinch mud that astatine first it was intolerable to opportunity whether aliases not she was a achromatic woman.”

The Idaho Falls Post Register reported connected May 1, 1951, location had been an “ironic twist successful nan case” erstwhile a .25 cent caller called “Journey into Ecstasy” was recovered wrong 25 feet of nan body.

Trolin said nan assemblage appeared to person been dragged to nan spot it was discovered at.

Witnesses ’rounded up’

The sheriff’s agency had “rounded up” respective witnesses. One of nan witnesses was a Salt Lake man named Raymond Hartsfield, 43, who Brewer came to Blackfoot with. He admitted he had been surviving pinch Brewer and referred to her arsenic his woman and “sweetheart.” He was being held successful jailhouse arsenic a “material witness.”

Hartsfield grounded to study for activity arsenic a steamfitter astatine nan atomic reactor tract nan greeting Brewer was recovered dead. He was arrested that time successful Blackfoot while drinking astatine nan Empire Bar.

Hartsfield primitively reported that Brewer was missing pursuing a drinking statement Saturday night. He said he past saw her astatine 8:30 p.m. Saturday erstwhile he was thrown retired of nan El Rancho Bar by 2 men successful his party. One of nan different men was pinch a woman, according to Hartsfield.

After being thrown retired of nan bar, he went backmost to nan Kesler Motel wherever he and Brewer were staying.

“Hartsfield told officers he had been asked to time off nan Kesler motel wherever he had been staying pinch nan dormant woman,” nan insubstantial states. “His movements were being intimately checked from Saturday nighttime until Monday morning.”

In a written connection to Police Chief Frank Kunz and Goodwin, a Blackfoot female by nan sanction of Evelyn O. Lee, said she saw Hartsfield pinch nan unfortunate twice. Once connected Sunday astir 11 p.m. erstwhile they entered nan Blue Plate Cafe and Monday astatine 1 a.m. erstwhile Hartsfield and 2 different men entered nan cafe wherever nan female was sitting.

The witnesser said she didn’t announcement erstwhile Hartsfield and Brewer near aliases if they near together.

Autopsy results announced, investigation continues

Pocatello pathologist Dr. E.B. Webb conducted nan autopsy connected Brewer, who officers discovered had been joined doubly and divorced. The Idaho Falls Post Register reported connected May 2, 1951, that nan autopsy revealed Brewer died from earthy causes.

Webb said nan origin of decease could person been “cardiac nonaccomplishment owed to mitral stenosis astir apt aggravated by acute alcoholism. Mitral refers to nan bosom valve and stenosis to nan stoppage of nan valve to a closing of nan entrance.”

After nan autopsy results were announced, Hartsfield was instantly released from jail. However, he was later notified of his dismissal from his job.

The region coroner said no inquest would beryllium held, but Kunz and Goodwin said they were still investigating nan circumstances surrounding Brewer’s death.

They insisted nan information of nan woman’s assemblage indicated “some violence.” They were besides focusing connected really nan woman’s assemblage sewage to wherever it was recovered successful a mudhole. Officials mentioned nan pain connected Brewer’s enarthrosis “apparently was inflicted respective days” earlier her death.

EastIdahoNews.com could not find further accusation aliases articles astir Brewer different than she near down a girl who was walking to Blackfoot to declare her body. Brewer was to beryllium buried successful Salt Lake City.