When a woman’s headless body is found on fire in a picnic area of a popular Illinois recreation park, the news shocks everyone. The brutality of the crime was difficult to comprehend, but even more confounding, the fact that she could not be identified and remained a Jane Doe for more than a year. Eventually, justice came knocking on the door of the predator who discarded her like trash.
Lynne Matchem-Thomas Grave Stone (Source) Find A Grave
Curtis Thomas (Source) Missouri Department of Corrections
Lynne Matchem-Thomas ID Made News Clipping (Source) Herald & Review
Lake Lou Yaeger Recreation Area Image (Source) River and Routes Website
Lake Lou Yaeger Recreation Area Map (Source) Google
Episode Source Material
- The Taylorville Daily Breeze Courier: Decapitated body found near Yeager picnic area Via newspapers.com.
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Decapitated Body Discovered Near Campground In Illinois Via newspapers.com.
- The Belleville News-Democrat: Woman’s body found at campground Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press via The Times: Decapitated body found at campsite Via newspapers.com.
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Police Call In Experts To Study Headless Body. By Patrick E. Gauen Via newspapers.com.
- The Associated Press and Herald and Review: Identity of dead woman a mystery Via newspapers.com.
- Evansville Courier and Press: Aid asked in identification Via newspapers.com.
- Herald and Review: Charitable to give Jane Doe decent burial. By Judy Tatham Via newspapers.com.
- Herald and Review: Headless body found at campsite identified as woman from St. Louis. By Judy Tatham Via newspapers.com. (1)
- Herald and Review: Headless body found at campsite identified as woman from St. Louis. By Judy Tatham Via newspapers.com. (2)
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Husband Charged Months After Wife Found Decapitated. By Bill Bryan Via newspapers.com.
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: St. Louis May Try Illinois’ Suspect Via newspapers.com. (1)
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: St. Louis May Try Illinois’ Suspect Via newspapers.com. (2)
- Chicago Tribune: A community seeks justice for murdered woman dumped in park. By Wes Smith Via newspapers.com. (1)
- Chicago Tribune: A community seeks justice for murdered woman dumped in park. By Wes Smith Via newspapers.com. (2)
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Ruling Allows Husband’s Trial In Killing. By Tim Bryant Via newspapers.com.
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Miscellaneous Via newspapers.com.
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Jury Find Man Guilty In Wife’s Beheading. By Tim Bryant Via newspapers.com.
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Gruesome Question Left A Mystery In Murder Trial. By Tim Bryant Via newspapers.com.
- Illinois Times: The corpse in the campfire. By Jolonda Young Via newspapers.com.
- Lay Them To Rest by Laurah Norton. Pages 14-16. Hard copy scan, no direct link.
- Missouri Department of Corrections: Curtis Thomas Offender Profile
- Litchfield: A Strange and Twisted Saga of Murder in the Midwest. By Wm. Stage. Hard copy purchased online by Delia D’Ambra, no direct link available.