The Deck: Episode Summary – Lisa Staes (Jack of Diamonds, Wisconsin)
Episode Release Date: April 30, 2025
Host: audiochuck (Ashley Flowers)
Introduction
In this gripping episode of The Deck, host Ashley Flowers delves into the haunting cold case of Lisa Staes, also known as the Jack of Diamonds from Wisconsin. Disappearing in the winter of 1976, Lisa's unresolved murder has lingered for nearly five decades, leaving her family and law enforcement agencies desperate for answers.
Lisa Staes: The Disappearance and Initial Investigation
In the winter of 1976, 20-year-old Lisa Staes embarked on a journey of independence, moving out of her parents' home in Leawood, Kansas, to attend community college. However, her life took a tragic turn when she disappeared shortly after moving to Chicago.
Key Events:
- January 14, 1976: Lisa was last seen by her cousin Kurt Rahn at Mother's Bar on Rush Street in Chicago around 6 PM. She mentioned meeting a man and considered leaving with him, asking Kurt to wait for her return.
- When Lisa failed to return within the promised 30 minutes, Kurt left, and Lisa was reported missing the next day by her cousins Michelle Wadman and Kurt Rahn.
Investigation Shortcomings: Ashley Flowers highlights significant lapses in the initial investigation by the Oak Park Police Department. According to the original incident file, after entering Lisa's information into the NCIC database, the police did not conduct interviews, neighborhood canvases, or even obtain a photograph of Lisa. This negligence left the case stagnant for over a year.
Discovery of "Frigid Frida" and Identification
A turning point in the investigation came almost two years later when Captain Al Sellers from the Leawood Police Department initiated his own inquiry. In April 1977, Sellers discovered a bulletin from the Sauk County Sheriff's Office about an unidentified female body found under a bridge. The remains matched Lisa's description, leading to the temporary name "Frigid Frida."
Notable Quotes:
- Detective Drew Bolen [10:01]: "I think it was more like slang from investigators back then, because obviously there was a year plus before she was positively identified as who she was."
Despite extensive efforts, including hundreds of flyers and a composite sketch, the identification and murder details remained elusive. Lisa's remains were eventually exhumed for dental comparison, confirming her identity and bringing a sense of closure to her immediate family.
Family Impact: Lisa's parents, Jack and Susan Stays, expressed profound gratitude toward the Sauk County law enforcement for finally identifying their daughter, as recounted by Susan in her heartfelt letter to the Baraboo News Republic.
Susan Stays [13:14]:
“When we learned the whole story and found that our girl had been given a beautiful funeral... It is over for us now, the long nights of wondering.”
Forensic Challenges and Investigative Stagnation
Despite identifying Lisa, the mystery of her murder remained unsolved. Initial forensic techniques, particularly hair analysis, provided limited leads. Foreign pubic hairs found on Lisa suggested recent sexual contact, but comparisons to suspects yielded no matches.
Challenges Highlighted:
- Hair Analysis Limitations:
Detective Drew Bolen [11:28]:
“I think just based on her positioning where she was found, obviously being nude, they assumed that there was probably a sexual component.”
Over the years, advancements in forensic science, especially DNA analysis, offered a glimmer of hope. However, attempts in 2001 and 2009 to extract usable DNA from the evidence were unsuccessful due to degraded samples.
Suspected Serial Killer: William Zamastel
The case took another complex turn in the late 1990s when a letter from inmate Justin Welch implicated fellow prisoner William Zamastel in Lisa's murder. Zamastel, a convicted serial killer with multiple murders across the United States, became a person of interest.
Details:
- Zamastel was serving a life sentence in Wisconsin for murders committed in the 1970s and 2000s.
- Investigators attempted to verify his involvement, but discrepancies in custody records and Zamastel's uncooperative stance left the matter unresolved.
Grant Stays [26:34]:
“The only person I know of right now that I never really got any closure on whether he's involved is William Zamastel.”
Zamastel's inconsistent alibis and refusal to provide substantial information stalled this lead, pushing the case back into dormancy.
Renewed Efforts and Modern Forensic Techniques
In the fall of 2022, Detective Drew Bolen was assigned to Lisa's case, reigniting the pursuit of justice. Leveraging contemporary DNA technology, Bolen hoped to extract a full male profile from the remaining evidence. Despite multiple submissions in 2023, the samples remained too degraded for definitive analysis.
Ongoing Investigations:
- Search for Additional Information:
Detective Bolen is actively seeking out Lisa's boyfriend at the time, Mark Hanstead, and David McKenzie, another individual connected to Lisa's last known whereabouts.
Detective Bolen [35:03]:
“There is a possibility that someone's out there who knows what happened to Lisa and they're still alive and for whatever reason, they've never come forward.”
The detective emphasizes the potential of solving the case through either advanced DNA techniques or new information from individuals who may possess crucial details.
Family's Perspective and Appeals for Information
Lisa's family remains hopeful for closure, though the prolonged uncertainty has taken a toll. Grant and Susan Stays express a deep longing for answers, especially as their parents age.
Grant Stays [43:11]:
“They're up there in years... So the fact that they've just... they've had to live with us for a long time.”
Jack Stays reflects on the life their family has built despite Lisa's untimely death, underscoring the enduring impact of her loss.
Jack Stays [43:42]:
“She was just a baby in our arms. And there were so many things that she just missed out on this life.”
Recent Developments and Final Appeals
In 2023, an inmate named Justin Welch came forward with claims about William Zamastel's involvement in multiple murders, including Lisa's. However, these claims remain unverified, and authorities continue to seek concrete evidence.
Call to Action: Detective Bolen urges anyone with information about Lisa's case to come forward, emphasizing that no tip is too small and could be pivotal in resolving the decades-old mystery.
Detective Bolen [42:43]:
“No tip is going to be disregarded... you truly don't know what you know and we truly don't know what you know.”
Conclusion: The Unyielding Search for Justice
As the 50th anniversary of Lisa Staes' disappearance approaches, The Deck episode serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring quest for truth and justice. Through meticulous storytelling and emotional interviews, Ashley Flowers not only narrates Lisa's tragic story but also champions the relentless efforts of her family and dedicated investigators striving to finally solve this enduring mystery.
If you have any information about Lisa Staes' murder or her whereabouts between Illinois and Wisconsin in January 1976, please contact the Sauk County Sheriff's Office at 608-355-4495 and ask for Detective Bolen, or reach out anonymously via the Sauk County Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-800-TIP-SAU K.
This summary is based on the transcript provided and encapsulates the key elements discussed in the episode while adhering to the user's guidelines for structure, clarity, and engagement.