Podcast Summary: REMEMBERING: Donna Ingersoll (10 of Clubs, Minnesota)

Podcast: The Deck (Audiochuck)
Host: Ashley Flowers
Episode Release Date: December 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Deck revisits the 1990 cold case disappearance of Donna Ingersoll, known as the "10 of Clubs" from Minnesota’s cold case playing card deck. Host Ashley Flowers tells the haunting story of 25-year-old Donna, who vanished on a snowy December night from Wabasha, Minnesota. Through interviews with law enforcement, former investigators, and Donna's loved ones, the episode explores the initial mishandling, years of rumor and speculation, and recent renewed efforts to bring closure to Donna’s family.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Small-town Wabasha and Donna’s Disappearance

• Wabasha is depicted as an idyllic, close-knit town with little serious crime.
• Donna Ingersoll disappeared on December 16, 1990, following an argument with her boyfriend, Gary Murphy, at a friend's house.
• Despite early red flags—her car, purse, and eyeglass lens left behind—police were slow to react due to Donna's history of occasionally "cooling off" after disputes.

2. Timeline of Donna’s Disappearance

• Dec 16, 1990 (~11:45pm): Gary Murphy reports Donna missing after a fight, noting she stormed out into the snow, underdressed, leaving personal possessions behind.
• Dec 16, 1990 (midnight): Gary calls again. Police respond, find Donna's belongings (including one lens from her eyeglasses) but observe no immediate evidence of foul play.
  • "I know that she probably wouldn't want to be far away from them for too long… she could still see, but not well." – Chief Warren (08:26)
• Days Later: Law enforcement delays launching an official missing persons investigation, influenced by reports of Donna’s past behavior.

3. Early Investigation and Suspicions

• The lack of urgency delays critical searches. Only after several days and pleas from family is a missing persons report filed, and search efforts begin.
• Community rumors swirl—possible sightings, suspicions of foul play, and even tips from psychics.
• Donna’s mother, Phyllis, and best friend, Mary, both express disbelief at the idea Donna would willingly leave, especially without her car.
  • “She would always talk about him. I think she loved him, and he really loved her.” – Mary Klein (17:12)
• Gary Murphy, the last to see Donna, dies by suicide within months, deepening the mystery.

4. Case Goes Cold and Occasional Revivals

• After Gary’s death, the case stagnates for years with only sporadic, fruitless leads.
• In 2006, Chief Jim Warren, newly appointed, forms a cold case board, hoping modern eyes might find something previously missed.

5. 2012-2013: Renewed Efforts and Dead Ends

• Cold case review yields new community tips, including a psychic vision locating Donna behind the National Guard post in Wabasha, a site that was already under consideration.
• A tip about a so-called "monkey skull" found in the early ‘90s on a local farm sends investigators on a wild goose chase, only to learn the skull was destroyed years ago after being mistaken for a non-human bone.
  • “They ended up just tossing it into their manure spreader and spreading it all across their fields… That skull had been completely destroyed years ago and was now fertilizing their fields.” – Ashley Flowers (24:41)
• Chief Warren remains empathetic towards tipsters, even misguided ones.
  • “They meant well, their intentions meant well.” – Chief Warren (25:27)

6. Chief Warren’s Theory and Basement Investigation

• Warren’s primary theory: Donna never left the house after the argument; she might have died there accidentally and was concealed on the property.
  • “I think Gary shoved her like he said he did. And I think it's as easy as her hitting her head on the side, that table or the floor and killed her, and he freaked out.” – Chief Warren (29:23)
• Notably, Colleen Harwick (Gary’s ex) received a large cement delivery two days after Donna vanished—raising suspicions about a possible basement burial.
• In 2013, with homeowner permission, Chief Warren organizes a basement search using scanning tech and cadaver dogs, but only partial scans are done, and crucial scan data is never provided or saved.
  • “I was professionally disappointed that I was on that and didn't know that I didn't get to see the data. Talk about having dreams about it, even.” – Chief Warren (32:42)

7. Ongoing Hopes and Plans

• As of 2025, Chief Deputy Warren hasn't given up. New technology and resources from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension might allow another, more effective search.
  • “They have ground-penetrating radar that's got better… they have more things at their disposal than I ever thought even existed.” – Chief Deputy Warren (34:41)
• Plans to re-interview key witnesses, including Colleen and Chuck, are in place.
• He continues to believe the answer may still be close to home:
  • “Sometimes some things aren't as far away as you think they are… it's gotta be found.” – Chief Deputy Warren (34:06)

8. Community and Family Impact

• Donna’s family and friends remain desperate for answers and closure.
• Authorities appeal to listeners for tips, emphasizing how even small bits of information could make a difference.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the initial police response:
  • “Back then, it was common… if you're an adult, you can be missing.” – Chief Warren (07:24)
• On the destroyed "monkey skull" tip:
  • “I felt kind of awkward at the time. I tried to hold back some of my reactions because I didn't understand how that could happen… But their intentions meant well.” – Chief Warren (24:41, 25:27)
• On his working theory:
  • “I've been saying it from the get go. I don't believe she ever left the house… My theory is I had that argument, and I think Gary shoved her like he said he did.” – Chief Deputy Warren (29:23)
• On the need for closure:
  • “They deserve closure and Donna deserves justice.” – Ashley Flowers (36:37)

Important Timestamps

• 07:24: Chief Warren on the standard procedures for missing adults in 1990.
• 13:20: Details of the argument and timeline on the night Donna vanished.
• 17:12: Community and family reactions to rumors about Donna's fate.
• 22:52—24:41: The “monkey skull” tip saga.
• 29:23: Chief Warren lays out his personal theory about Donna’s fate.
• 31:27—32:57: Investigation of the basement and the loss of critical scan data.
• 34:41: Discussion of new technology and next investigative steps.
• 36:37: Final appeal for information and closure for Donna’s loved ones.

Conclusion

This episode paints a comprehensive, empathetic portrait of not just a cold case, but a family, a community, and a law enforcement officer desperate for answers decades later. Donna Ingersoll's disappearance remains unsolved, but the hope for justice endures—fueled by memory, dogged investigation, and the encouragement for anyone with information to come forward.

If you have information about Donna Ingersoll’s disappearance, contact Chief Deputy Jim Warren at the Wabasha County Sheriff's Office: 651-53361 or email JWarren@co.wabasha.mn.us.