Somebody Knows Something – S2E3: The Girl In The Grass (1976)

Elgin Police Department Cold Case Podcast

Hosts: Detective Andrew Houghton & Detective Chris Hall
Release Date: September 8, 2025

Overview

In this deeply haunting episode, Detectives Andrew Houghton and Chris Hall revisit the 1976 unsolved murder of 16-year-old Lori Jean Bolger, a case significant both for its enduring impact on the Elgin, Illinois community and its grim connection to a string of attacks against young women in the 1970s. By sharing Lori’s story—with input from family members, painstakingly assembled timelines, and detailed discussions of suspects—the hosts humanize the victim, dissect investigative missteps, and invite new information from the public, hoping for long-awaited justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Remembering Lori Jean Bolger (03:32–08:58)

• Background: Lori was a popular Larkin High School student, described as vibrant, fun-loving, and “larger than life.” (05:05)
• Family Tragedy: Her father’s death just nine days before Lori’s murder compounded the family’s grief (03:32–05:52).
• Personal Memories:
  • Lori’s devotion to Christmas and family road trips to Michigan (05:31).
  • Emotional impact—brother Larry stayed awake the night after the murder to protect his family (06:42).
  • Keena, Lori’s sister, shares memories but asks not to have her voice used, to preserve privacy (04:47).
• Lasting Effect: The family endured a devastating series of losses (father, Lori, later brother Larry, and mother Jan), each marked by unresolved sorrow due to the lack of closure in Lori’s murder (07:09, 29:09).

Notable Quote

“Keena wonders what Laurie’s life would have been if someone hadn’t taken it from her that summer in 1976. And now, 49 years later, she still wants to know who robbed her sister of that life.” – Detective Andrew Houghton (07:09)

Memorial Poem (08:14)

The hosts read a memorial poem from Larkin High School’s 1977 yearbook, reflecting the depth of loss felt by Lori’s friends and classmates (08:14–08:58).

Timeline and Details of the Crime (09:19–13:32)

• Day of the Murder (June 22, 1976):
  • Lori attended a summer driver’s ed class (8am–9am). (09:19)
  • Planned to walk home and meet friends at the “quarry,” a local swimming spot (09:46).
  • Last seen walking south on McLean Boulevard between 9:10–9:15am, wearing a distinctive shirt, and waving to acquaintances (10:42).
  • At approximately 10:30am, a man noticed a girl lying in a field by the Elgin Estates Sewage Treatment Plant (11:51).
  • By 11:27am, two workers arrived and discovered Lori’s body (12:48).
• Crime Scene & Circumstances:
  • Lori appeared to have been beaten to death (at least eight cuts to her forehead, fractured skull), her pants and sweater disarranged, and her purse later found along a nearby road (13:32).
  • Hosts strongly believe Lori did not voluntarily walk to where her body was found, as all her planned destinations were in the opposite direction (11:51).

Notable Quote

“It just kind of comes out of nowhere… She was just to the east of here. You can’t even see the highway from here anymore… But 49 years ago, you’ve been able to see the roadway from here. I mean, people could see her lying in the grass from the roadway. So it’s just crazy…” – Detective Andrew Houghton (17:19)

Eyewitnesses, Investigation, and Early Suspects (14:10–16:05)

• Initial Media and Police Response:
  • Large amount of case information was made public at the time, not common practice today (13:32).
  • Four young men (one juvenile, three adults) were charged in September 1976 based on blood type evidence found in their vehicle (15:01).
  • All charges were later dismissed after alibis, witness accounts, polygraphs, and ultimately 1990s DNA analysis exonerated them (16:00).

Revisiting the Crime Scene (16:05–18:50)

• The detectives retrace Lori’s route and physically explore the place where her body was found, reflecting on how exposed, yet hidden, the location felt then and now (17:19–17:59).

Notable Quote

“Definitely seemed like whoever’s responsible [was] getting rid of her in a hurry. You’re just gonna dump her in the middle of a field where everybody could see her in broad daylight. Not exactly trying to hide.” – Detective Chris Hall (17:44)

Connections to Broader Crime Patterns (18:50–21:01)

• Other Attacks: Numerous assaults on young women in Elgin during 1975–76 (beatings with blunt instruments, hit-and-runs, victims attacked from behind, and the use of substances like bleach or oil) led police to consider potential links to Lori’s murder (19:43–20:57).
• Key Similarities: Victims were mostly young women alone, attacked on Elgin’s southwest side, and struck on the right side of the head—a pattern seen in Lori’s case as well (20:16–20:57).

Focusing on a Suspect: William Charles Reinbold (21:01–27:48)

• Reinbold’s Violent History:
  • Arrested for a “paint attack” shortly after Lori’s murder, linked by media as a possible suspect (21:21).
  • Long record of violent acts against women:
    • 1970: Stabbed Ann Ward 45 times, convicted and served 5 years; released 1975, returned to Elgin (22:31–23:31).
    • 1977: Suspect in the disappearance and murder of 15-year-old Bethann Hedrick in Harrisburg, IL, but never charged (23:31–23:48).
    • 1978–80: Multiple attacks in California—oil squirting, assaults, suspected in attempted murders, stalking near high schools, but frequently released (24:24–26:22).
    • 1983: Suspect in disappearance and murder of Kimberly McClasky in Illinois.
    • 1988: Convicted for the murder of Mary Clark using similar methods as previous attacks (21:48–22:14).
  • Pattern: Most attacks involved approaching from behind, use of blunt objects, targeting lone young women—mirroring circumstances of Lori Bolger’s death.
• Current Status: Reinbold remains in prison for Mary Clark’s murder, maintains innocence in Lori’s and other cases (26:59–27:48).

Notable Quote

“All in all, Reinbold was someone who media and police looked at seriously as a suspect in numerous cases in Illinois, Iowa and California between 1970 and 1988. … But he has also been considered a suspect in the murder of Laurie Bulger, the murder of Beth Ann Hedrick, and the disappearance of Kimberly McClasky, and also the attacks on both Diane Rodriguez and Debbie Chessy, as well as numerous other cases.” – Detective Chris Hall (26:59)

Appeals for Public Help & Reflection (27:48–30:06)

• Call to Action: The detectives implore listeners to come forward if they:
  • Knew or worked with Reinbold at Carman Company in 1976
  • Had information about Lori Bolger, Bethann Hedrick, or Kimberly McClasky
  • Were witnesses or victims of similar attacks (oil/bleach thrown, etc.) in Elgin in 1975–76 (27:48–29:09)
• Family Suffering & Justice: Recap of losses suffered by the Bolger family and their enduring quest for answers (29:09).
• Poignant Note:
  • Lori’s aunt recalled that Lori wished for “a grave out in the sun” (29:45).
  • Lori now rests in a sunny grave near her father, a symbol of lost youth and unresolved hope (30:06).

Notable Quote

“When I die, you’ll have to find a grave out in the sun. The grave that Laurie described came much sooner than anyone anticipated, and she now rests in a plot not far from her father in a sunny spot in Mount Hope Cemetery, waiting for the day that her murderer is identified.” – Detective Andrew Houghton (30:06)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Victim’s background and family memories: 03:32–08:58
• Timeline of Lori’s last day & crime scene: 09:19–13:32
• Early investigation and exonerated suspects: 14:10–16:05
• Revisiting the scene and emotional reflection: 16:05–18:50
• Discussion of crime patterns, serial attacks: 18:50–21:01
• Suspect focus (William Reinbold): 21:01–27:48
• Calls for help & closing thoughts: 27:48–30:06

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “She was cool, she was fun, loved by her family.” – Keena (as relayed by Detective Chris Hall, 05:05)
• “It just really hits you… the whole family is affected.” – Detective Chris Hall (06:42)
• “…she never got the chance to do that. She never got the chance to have a life after 16. Who knows what she would have become?” – Detective Andrew Houghton (07:09)
• “You’re just gonna dump her in the middle of a field where everybody could see her in broad daylight. Not exactly trying to hide.” – Detective Chris Hall (17:44)
• “If you attended Lori’s driver’s Ed class, knew her well, or were originally interviewed in her case, please contact us.” – Detective Chris Hall (28:19)
• “The grave that Laurie described came much sooner than anyone anticipated, and she now rests in a plot not far from her father in a sunny spot in Mount Hope Cemetery, waiting for the day that her murderer is identified.” – Detective Andrew Houghton (30:06)

Concluding Thoughts

This episode serves as both a memorial for Lori Bolger and a methodical walk through an unsolved case that continues to haunt Elgin. The detectives’ empathetic approach, connection to living family members, and openness about both evidence and investigative frustrations create an intimate, urgent atmosphere. The episode ends with a heartfelt plea for anyone—no matter how tangential their knowledge—to step forward, reaffirming the podcast’s core belief: “Somebody knows something.”

Contact Information for Tips:

• Elgin PD Cold Case Email: ColdCaseTips@elginil.gov
• Tip Line: 1-847-289-COLD
• Full list of cases: https://epdopendata-cityofelgin.hub.arcgis.com/pages/cold-cases