This one is a strange case because it seems very obvious. Except for one issue, the skull of the victim is identified and now laid to rest but her body is missing.
I do not like this case. It is old enough that a proper paper trail is non-existent. I personally think this is the intention of the killer and the era of the time was on their side. Most of my write up is based on other people's blogs. The links and sources are below. I will edit my post and date with any updates I find or more information. Sometimes I add your theories so the next time I post it will be with updated ideas.
The key to this case is going to be a witness or finding the rest of the body. So, if you have any information or a tip, please call the Vinita Park Police Department in Vinita Park, (314) 428-7373 Missouri, or call Unsolved Mysteries at 1-800-876-5353 (If you call the unsolved it just growls at you. It's now a disconnected number.)
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Linda Sue Sherman officially vanished on April 22nd, 1985 around 6 pm. According to her husband Donald Edward Sherman, Linda came home after her 2 am work shift. According to Don, they had an argument until around 4 am in the morning which ended with her sleeping on the couch and Don sleeping in their bedroom. Linda did not wake to take their daughter Patty to school. Patty saw her mother laying on the couch with her face to the back. Patty remarks that it was very unusual that her father was taking her to school and that her mother did not wake to even say goodbye.
Don took Patty to school and went to work. He arrives home a little before 6 pm where he states that his wife was running late for work. They didn't speak much and according to him, she was angry and antsy. Linda left for work around 6 pm with no witnesses seeing this event take place. Linda did not report to work that evening and was never seen again.
Don did not report her missing until at least one more full day. The family of Linda had to urge him to do so and Don stated that this was a regular occurrence of her to leave and pointed out that her overnight bag was gone. (Investigators said they did find evidence of missing items from the home) Don stated that she had been cheating hence why they had the argument the other day. Linda's sister Fran of Hazlewood, Missouri talked on the phone every single night with Linda but not get their usual phone call on the 22nd.
Linda did have a history of leaving and she was having a confirmed by law enforcement affair with a man from her work. However, the man had an alibi and was cleared. Linda's family also pointed out that Linda never left Patty alone with Don Sherman because he had threatened to murder the entire family on a previous occasion. Linda had been making moves to secure her independence such as routing her mail to her sisters and sending her paychecks there. Linda's family was aware that she was attempting to leave for good and was having an affair.
Linda's family began a search and made flyers along with offering a 1,000 dollar reward for any information. The next clue was found entirely on a hunch by Fran and her husband Dennis. They went to the St. Louis Lambert Airport and discovered Linda's '97 yellow Volkswagon on the first turn into the short-term parking garage. No signs of a struggle and the doors were locked. They could see her school supplies and hat in the car. The trunk was unlocked but there was nothing else there. The airport kept track of cars that were parked longer than 24 hours and this car was marked on April 24th. There was no Linda Sherman that left on any airplanes either. At the time one could just buy a ticket with cash. Linda's family points out it would have been possible to walk back to the Sherman home from the airport and on google maps, it says it would be about a 1 hour and 30-minute walk.
Around this time the case switches lead investigators and Michael Webb began to work the case. It became his obsession and his family's obsession because he pursued this case until he died nearly twenty years later. It is well known that Webb looked into every tiny detail or lead that he could. It is of public opinion that the case was never solved because law enforcement did not care. I think this is untrue.
Everyone tried to move on with their lives at this point because nothing was moving this case forward. Patty moved in with her Maternal Grandmother and saw her father on the weekends. Don became depressed and starting heavy drinking. He attempted to divorce Linda on the grounds that she was cheating and abandoned him. It was overturned, the judge saying they would wait until Linda could consent.
Five years later on 12:30 p.m. on June 28, 1990, Linda's skull was recovered. Casa Gallardo Mexican Restaurant which is now permanently closed and removed. It is only about 7 minutes from the airport. Two flight attendants happen to look out the window that was on the east side and see a skull placed underneath a yucca plant that was positioned so it was staring back.
The police did not declare the scene a crime as nothing else had been disturbed. The event was classified as 'found human remains' and quickly dismissed as a cruel teenage prank. In the area, a local cemetery was being exhumed and moved. There had already been an incident with teens breaking into the area and taking photos of skeletons. The skull was taken to the morgue and sat on a shelf.
Don was actually at the restaurant that day in the evening. This was his favorite spot to go and drink and he heard reports of the skull being found.
14 months later, on September 6, 1991, a letter arrived at the police. It was an unsealed envelope with a flyer from the restaurant and the day the skull was recovered. One side of it in purple ink sometimes described as rubber-stamped was the sentence. "THE BRIDGETON POLICE HAVE L. SHERMAN'S SKULL."
The skull was taken off the shelf and matched to Linda Sherman's dental records. There were no further clues to gain from the skull or the letter. Both were void of any evidence.
Don was informed at his home and Patty was there as well. Patty said all he told her was "They found your mom" and went to his room. Patty was 16 years old at the time and didn't learn the details until much later through a cousin.
Webb desperate with any leads begged the public for information with a news article. Anytime he went to a police convention he would pull aside detectives that worked the world's most difficult and famous cases. They were not able to provide any more tips or ideas.
When technology had finally advanced enough Webb tried to test the soil samples that were on the skull. They also tested the plant matter growing on the skull. They exhumed Linda's skull and sent her to the University of Columbia in Missouri. They concluded the skull had been buried in a large wooded area in Missouri and that the plant was common purple morning glory. Webb sent cadaver dogs to Perryville, MO where he thought matched the description and a rumor but nothing turned up there.
Unsolved Mysteries aired an episode about the case on July 2, 2001. You can see in-person interviews with her family, Patty, and even Don.
With nothing else to propel the case forward, everyone moved on with their lives. Webb passed away with the case unsolved. Many people from Linda's family passed away as well. Patty Sherman relocated and had her own child. Don relocated, remarried, and passed away.
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Profiles
Linda Sherman is also known as Linda Sue Lutz Sherman. There are no other alias or nicknames that I could discover except for that people may have just called her Linda Sue. Birthday is 19th Oct 1958, St. Louis City, Missouri, and her death is listed as 1985 from her gravestone and April 22nd, 1985 on the find a grave memorial site. Linda's skull is currently buried at Steedman Cemetery in Steedman, Callaway County, Missouri. Linda was working at the U.S. Government Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri. (Renamed National Personnel Records Center) and lived in Vinita Park, Missouri at the time of her disappearance. Linda had a large and loving family who tried to support her and advocated for her. Linda was the youngest of the group with her personality being described as sheltered, quiet, and reserved. (Sister Fran Miller, Brother Dennis Through interviews of family, friends, and co-workers they determined Linda did not have any enemies. The opposite of what Don describes her as. Linda was raised in Florissant on other accounts grew up Dadebridge Court in Ferguson and attending McCluer High School which is still in the St. Louis area. There at McCluer High School, she met future husband Donald Sherman.
They wed on February 10, 1975, at Christ Memorial Baptist Church. Linda was 17 at the time. The couple rented a home next to Linda's parents Walter and Elenora Lutz (both now deceased and buried in the same cemetery as their daughter) Linda gave birth to Patricia Marie Shermanat at 17 years old in August of 1975. Linda still graduated from high school and pursued education. It is noted that Linda's family said their marriage was always strained. During the early years, the often worked opposite work shifts to make ends meet and it was hard on them. Linda worked many jobs; Sears, Site Oil Company, and as a cocktail waitress at the Flaming Pit restaurant. Don was particularly upset by Patty working at the Flaming Pit and said she flirted with many and changed there.
Linda filed for divorce in 1977 in October important to note she wanted the home and custody of Patty. They reconciled and moved to Vanita park in a five-room bungalow it may have been at this address 8300 block of Monroe Ave.
1980 Linda had a miscarriage or a stillbirth and was diagnosed with epilepsy and seizures. The couple chose to not have any more children, something Don reportedly was upset with. This event seemed to be a catalyst for discontentment with the marriage.
Linda suspected Don had tampered with her car and Don told the court he did because it was in his name. The reasons were because he was suspicious of her movements and whereabouts. It was reported he was even jealous of her spending time with her own family. Eventually, she got a protection order and moved to a small apartment in St. Ann, Missouri with Patty after Don threatened suicide and murder of Patty and Linda. The order was granted but after only a month Patty discontinued it on the grounds they were back together.
In the early months of 1985, Patty decided to finally start putting things together to leave. This time however she saved money, re-rerouted her mail, and then on April 11, 1985, she filed for divorce with Frank Vatterott as her lawyer.
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Donald Edward Sherman born April 6, 1957, in Missouri and died 10:54 a.m. on Thursday, May 07, 2015, at Good Samaritan Regional Health Center in Mt. Vernon Illinois Don's memorial page says he lived in Nashville along with his wife Sue Gale and her children; John "Jake" (Rebecca) Gale and Tiffany Gale. The memorial mentions a daughter but lists her name as Hanna Sherman of St. Charles, Mo, and not Patty. I assume this was Patty and maybe whoever wrote the obituary did not realize all the details about this daughter. On his memorial page there a virtual candle lit by his "One and only daughter". He was also survived by 4 grandchildren; Jax, Jasmine, Noah, and Emmalyn Gale. A brother; Ken Sherman of Missouri and numerous friends. His obituary also describes him as a "manufacturing machinist and loved to build things. He enjoyed hunting and spending time with loved ones." Interesting as he has no final burial spot as he was cremated.
Don worked as a gas station attendant, a manufacturing machinist, it's reported as well as various factory jobs.
Don is described most often as controlling, verbally abusive, physically abusive, and very jealous. Linda's brother said Don would have a fit even she even went out to lunch with her own brother. There was a confirmed incident in which Don admits to disabling his wife's car. Don has an interview on the unsolved mysteries episode. I would appreciate anyone with good body language skills to watch it and leave their thoughts. Body language is not my strong suit.
Don had wild theories about what happened to his wife and often convoluted the casework with them. He also was offended that that police made him the main suspect. One week after his wife's disappearance he told police that he had seen her in a truck/van with another man and had ducked out of sight when he chased after/yelled. At one point he said she had been killed for her involvement in a cocaine ring at her workplace. Then he said the skull was placed at his favorite restaurant to frame him or intimidate him. sometimes he'd deflect the topic entirely by saying things like "I don't remember exactly what was going through my head," he says now. "It's way too long ago to remember that."
Don lawyered up right away with Frank Anzalone and refused polygraph testing and even his choice in lawyers was Bizzare because it was the same lawyer that represented his mother. February 25, 1974, his mother Audrey shot her husband and tried to say someone broke into the house. They found the gun in the air duct. His mother went to prison just after they were married and served 6 months in jail. Don says the murder happened because they were both alcoholics. Don also said his choice in lawyer was simply because he already knew him.
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Lieutenant Michael Webb started his way as a patrol officer in 1974 and ended up being a Police Cheif of Vanita park police in 2001. Webb also was an investigator for the Major Case Squad. Webb refused to allow the case to rest and investigated it for over twenty years. February 4, 2009, due to pancreatic cancer he passed away in his own home of St. Peters. Webb had a son Sean Webb who spoke of the fact his father didn't want this case to be forgotten so that he could get justice for Linda. "Frankly, this has become a sort of an obsession for us and for the family," Mr. Webb told reporters in 1993. "In addition to his son, survivors include his wife, Donna J. Webb of St. Peters; two other sons, Nicholas Webb of San Diego and Daniel Webb of St. Peters; a stepdaughter, Dawn Waters of Stillwater, Okla.; a stepson, Tim Nolting of St. Charles County; his mother, Maryann Webb of St. Peters; a brother, Gene Webb of Creve Coeur; two grandchildren; and five stepgrandchildren." - Obituary Webb was buried at St. Charles Memorial Gardens and any memorial contributions can be made to the BackStoppers.
Michael Webb was a true-crime memorabilia collector and also a supporter of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
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Patrica Marie Sherman was born in August of 1976. Patty is now Patty Harvell of Attica, Indiana. Patty still has recurrent nightmares of the last day she had seen her mother. Though she is aware her father is the main suspect of this case she still hopes for closure and wants to bring all of her Mother's body home to rest. “In my heart, I think that he might’ve done it. You know, I can’t think of anybody else who would’ve.” -Interview from Unsolved Mysteries.
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Notes/Thoughts/Theories/Loose Ideas
Watch the interviews from Unsolved Mysteries; Patty Sherman's body language is interesting. When speaking about the last time she had seen her mother she shakes her head adamantly no. It was obviously a traumatic moment because in other news articles she says she has recurrent nightmares about this moment even into adulthood. When speaking in the rest of the interview she does not shake her head no but is not steady and adamant.
I wonder if she doesn't know just a little more than she is letting on? Did Don threaten her to never speak of something? After all, he did previously threaten to murder Linda AND Patty. It's an interesting theory to think about especially since a lot of people seem to think Don had an accomplice at least with hiding his wife's body.
Most people seem to think Linda was dead on the couch that morning or dying.
Did Patty actually go to the school that day? What time did she come home? Did she not encounter her mother at home after school?
Don's jealousy went from insanely persistent and intense to none after her disappearance. I wonder if that's because he knows where she is.
Interesting that her skull appears at a restaurant especially since Don particularly got jealous of her going out to lunch with her brother. I wonder if this was one last dinner/lunch date that she could not refuse.
The fact her car was locked but the trunk unlocked was also interesting.
If I understand the timeline of events correctly... Don would have had a day or so to hide Linda's body but I think it would have been done a little at a time to avoid long periods of absentees.
Linda's death date listed on her memorial website is April 22nd. Obviously, Patty or Linda's other family would have had to choose this date. I find that interesting that they believe she had died on that day and not a few days after.
Don uses his wife's full name during the interviews. Just a strange quirk. I'm not sure what to make of it. I read someone thought this might indicate his dissociative nature to her at this point.
Don may not have kept contact with Patty as his obit either omits her or mistakes her information. Indicative someone wrote the obit that didn't have much information about Patty. They lived in different states.
Many people seem to agree that Don killed his wife and had to have evidence of her death in order to remarry/divorce from her legally.
People rumor that the skull was placed at that particular restaurant simply because Don knew it well enough to take the risk of placing it there. It's interesting he even had a flimsy reason on why at the ready.
My impression of Don is that he is the kind of man that mixes a whole lot of truth with a little bit of a lie.
https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Linda_Sherman
https://unsolved.com/gallery/linda-sherman/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13038307/linda-sue-sherman
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10550337/st-louis-post-dispatch/
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/michael-webb-vinita-park-police-chief-pursued-murder-case-for/article_af4d26e9-195a-5206-ba1c-4bad8557c3c9.html
https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/body-of-evidence/Content?oid=2475396
https://peoplelegacy.com/linda_sue_lutz_sherman-3s1L16
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/apc6m4/the_unsolved_disappearance_of_linda_sherman/
https://www.styningerfuneralhomes.com/notices/Donald-Sherman
https://medium.com/true-crime-by-cat-leigh/womans-skull-placed-outside-of-restaurant-35cf547edd4e
https://truecrimearticles.com/2019/02/11/the-unsolved-disappearance-of-linda-sherman/
http://www.theoccultmuseum.com/skull-staring-back-unsolved-homicide-linda-sherman/
http://trailwentcold.com/2019/05/01/the-trail-went-cold-episode-122-linda-sherman/
