Ossiana Tepfenhart
The Locked Room Murder
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Most murders seem at least somewhat plausible and explainable, but this one is really hard to figure out. In 1920, professional bridge player Joe Elwell’s body was discovered by his maid. Unlike most other murders, his body was found in a room that was locked from the inside with no feasible way additional entry point available.
The maid ran out screaming, and told others that a “stranger had died in the apartment.” Upon closer inspection, it was her boss, Joe Elwell. He was shot in the chest, and left for dead. Despite being surrounded by cash and valuables, nothing was taken.
Few people who saw the cadaver recognized him. The reason he was unrecognizable was because he wasn’t wearing his dentures or trademark wig. Without them, he no longer looked like the youthful ladies’ man he once was. Elwell’s position made it clear that he was relaxed, suggesting he may have even talked to the killer while being shot.
People immediately assumed his death was linked to his womanizing ways. Just the night before, he was spotted at the Ritz-Carlton with Viola Kraus, one of his many lovers. Elwell’s ex-wife, Helen Derby, was immediately under suspicion.
Derby was credited with Elwell’s rise to fame and fortune. Their relationship ended due to his infidelity, and Derby always felt cheated out of her fortune because of it. However, Derby herself was exonerated when it became clear she was with others at the time of the murder.
Though the investigation was fairly aggressive, no one was ever revealed to be the murderer, how he left a room locked from the inside, or why it appeared that Elwell was calm during his killing.