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Sue Gunderson Higgins
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SERIAL KILLER: Eugene Gall

In 1977, a 14-year-old girl vanished while walking to school in a quiet Ohio suburb. Her belongings started turning up in strange places, but it would be a week before her body was found miles from home. The detective assigned to her case, Lance West, eventually believed he put the killer away for good — but what he uncovered left him with a much bigger fear: that this wasn’t one isolated murder. It was the beginning of a question he would chase for the rest of his life… how many victims were still out there?

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Left to right: Beth Ann Mote and Lisa Jansen

Left to right: Beth Ann Mote and Lisa Jansen

Source: Block Parole Inc., Courtesy: Bette Thomas

Beth Ann Mote

Beth Ann Mote

Source: Block Parole Inc.

Beth Ann Mote

Beth Ann Mote

Source: Find a Grave

Paula Payne

Paula Payne

Source: Ohio Attorney General

Paula Payne

Paula Payne

Source: Ohio Attorney General

Lisa Jansen

Lisa Jansen

Courtesy: Bette Thomas

Detective Lance West

Detective Lance West

Source: Baker-Hazel Snider Funeral Home

Eugene Gall in 1978

Eugene Gall in 1978

Source: Block Parole Inc.

Eugene Gall

Eugene Gall

Source: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation & Correction

Cheryl Fossyl

Cheryl Fossyl

Source: The Ledger Independent

Additional Information:

Tips

If you have information about Paula Payne’s case, contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office by following this link. 

For Cheryl Fossyl’s case, contact the Brown County Sheriff’s Department by following this link. 

To write Eugene’s parole board, visit your state’s official .gov parole board website for submission details. Include the inmate’s name and case information at the top, keep your letter to one page, focus on public safety and accountability, and send it early so it’s included in the file.

Episode Source Material

  • Original reporting by Mallika Dhaliwal and Madison Cavalchire.
  • “Middletown police charge man with rape, robbery.” The Cincinnati Post, 17 Dec. 1970. 
  • Associated Press. “Man jailed in string of offenses.” Springfield News-Sun, 17 Dec. 1970.
  • “Former Hillsboro man held as suspect at Middletown.” The Press Gazette, 18 Dec. 1970. 
  • “Coed files charge of rape.” Dayton Daily News, 18 Dec. 1970.
  • “Rape suspect is charged in Warren.” The Cincinnati Post, 22 Dec. 1970.
  • “Gall ruled insane, ordered to Lima.” The Cincinnati Post, 06 Jan. 1971.
  • Edmiston, Martha. “Suspect ordered to hospital.” The Journal Herald, 07 Jan. 1971.
  • “Former local man sent to Lima hospital.” The Press Gazette, 08 Jan. 1971.
  • “Inmate petitions court in bid to gain freedom.” The Journal News, 11 Oct. 1975.
  • Associated Press. “Ohio man suspected of slaying 12-year-old.” The Newark Advocate, 07 Apr. 1978.
  • Associated Press. “Ohio man due to be charged in death of girl, officers state.” The Park City Daily News, 07 Apr. 1978.
  • “Gall held on murder rap; no bond set.” The Press Gazette, 07 Apr. 1978.
  • “Hillsboro man charged with murder of girl.” News Journal, 07 Apr. 1978. 
  • Blincoe, Caden. “Gall faces court trial for life.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 08 Apr. 1978. 
  • Enquirer Bureaus. “Accused murderer was once convicted of rape.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 08 Apr. 1978. 
  • Associated Press. “Ohio man charged in murder of girl, 12.”  The Lima News, 8 Apr. 1978.
  • Harris, Daisy, and Hosie Ron. “Gall key suspect in rape of two girls, police say.” Dayton DailyNews, 9 April 1978. 
  • “Hillsboro man charged with murder of girl, 12.” Greenfield Daily Times, 10 Apr. 1978.
  • Kubik, Betty. “Gall remains jailed in Kentucky shooting.” Dayton Daily News, 10 Apr. 1978.
  • Unite Press International. “Kentucky police plan air search.” The Delaware Gazette, 10 Apr. 1978 
  • Graham, Tim. “Abduction suspect linked to rape cases.” The Cincinnati Post, 10 Apr. 1978. 
  • “Girl found in Walton.” The Boone County Recorder, 13 Apr. 1978.
  • Krieger, Dave. “Accused murderer has complex personality.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Apr. 1978.
  • Blincoe, Caden and Reid, David W. “Murder suspect Gall faces rape charge.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Apr. 1978. 
  • “Ohio man caught at Dry Ridge.” The Falmouth Outlook, 14 Apr. 1978.
  • Holden, Sandra A. “Gall charged in kidnap case.” The Journal Herald, 14 Apr. 1978.
  • “Gall plans to plead insanity.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Apr. 1978.
  • “Insanity plea is expected.” The Press Gazette, 25 Apr. 1978.
  • Associated Press. “Man pleads innocent in slaying.” The State Journal, 28 Apr. 1978.
  • “Gall pleads innocent to girl’s murder.” Greenfield Daily Times, 28 Apr. 1978.
  • Blincoe, Caden and, Reid David W. “Gall faces new count of rape.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Apr. 1978.
  • “Suspect Gall picked out in lineup.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 12 May 1978.
  • Associated Press. “Man indicted in 2d abduction.” The Journal Herald, 18 May 1978.
  • Sacash, David. “Gall still suspect in Mote case.”Dayton Daily News, 26 May 1978.
  • “Probe may determine if man is connected with Mote killing.” The Journal Herald, 26 May 1978. 
  • Dirck, Joe. “Jury indicts Gall in Dayton rape.” The Journal Herald, 31 May 1978. 
  • “Dayton kidnap, rape charged against Gall.” Dayton Daily News, 31 May 1978.
  • Blincoe, Cade, and, Reid David W. “Eugene Gall now faces charges in seven counties.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Jun. 1978. 
  • “Seventh charge filed against Gall.” The Cincinnati Post, 12 Jun. 1978.
  • “Jansen Girl’s mother testifies.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Sept. 1978.
  • “Slain girl’s mother testifies at trial.” The Cincinnati Post, 26 Sept. 1978.
  • “Mother of victim, others take stand at Gall trial.” The Press Gazette, 26 Sept. 1978. 
  • Fogarty, Bob and, Blincoe Cade. “Judge rules Gall can be own Lawyer.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Sept. 1978. 
  • Fogarty, Bob. “Gall says detective fired shot at Lisa.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Sept. 1978.
  • Associated Press. “Defendant argues with witnesses.” The State Journal, 28 Sept. 1978.
  • “Gall says detective shot Lisa Jensen.” The Press Gazette, 28 Sept. 1978. 
  • “Ballistics tests link gun, body.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Sept. 1978. 
  • “Same gun used on cary, Jansen.” The Press Gazette, 29 Sept. 1978. 
  • “Expert links Gall’s weapon to shootings of girl, officer.” The Cincinnati Post, 29 Sept. 1978.
  • “Psychologist testifies Gall is incurably disturbed man.” The Cincinnati Post, 30 Sept. 1978.
  • Forgarty, Bob. “Gall convicted of murder; death penalty possible.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 01 Oct. 1978.
  • Associated Press. “Gall convicted in girl’s slaying.” The Journal Herald, 02 Oct. 1978. 
  • “Gall’s sentence considered.” The Cincinnati Post, 02 Oct. 1978. 
  • “Bulletin” The Press Gazette, 02 Oct. 1978.
  • Fogarty, Bob. “Jury approves death for Gall in murder case.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 03 Oct. 1978. 
  • United Press International. “Kentucky jury urges death for Eugene Gall.” Dayton Daily News, 03 Oct. 1978.
  • “Gall sentenced.” The Press Gazette, 06 Oct. 1978.
  • “Gall sentenced to electric chair.” The Cincinnati Post, 06 Oct. 1978.
  • Forgarty, Bob. “Gall gets sentence of death.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 07 Oct. 1978. 
  • Beyerlein, Tom and Grieco, Lou and Kline, Benjamin. “Beth Ann: ‘It is as if it happened yesterday,’ mother says.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), Oct. 19, 1997. 
  • “Despite divorce, she’s priest to be” The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio), Jan. 3, 1977. 
  • Petsonk, Judy. “Ordination first.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), Jan. 30, 1977. 
  • McKelvey, Vince. “Oakwood may tighten policies; disappearance raises questions.” The Journal Herald (Dayton, Ohio), Oct. 25, 1977. 
  • Sacash, David. “Rewards totaling $7000 offered on missing girl.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), Oct. 25, 1977. 
  • “Beth Ann left early for school.” The Journal Herald (Dayton, Ohio), Oct. 26, 1977. 
  • Sacash, David. “Mote’s sweater reported found.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), Oct. 26, 1977. 
  • McKelvey, Vince. “Bloodstained sweater found; Oakwood girl still missing.” The Journal Herald (Dayton, Ohio), Oct. 27, 1977. 
  • Sacash, David. “Bloodstained sweater found; police remain mum on missing girl.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), Oct. 27, 1977. 
  • Sacash, David. “Man out hunting found Beth Ann Mote’s body in field.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), Oct. 28, 1977.
  •  “Suspect Held in Girl’s Death.” Springfield News-Sun (Springfield, Ohio), Oct. 28, 1977. 
  • Sacash, David. “Oakwood detective questioned on gap in taped talk with Gall.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), May 16, 1979. 
  • McCarty, Mary. “Victim’s mother holds true to her faith: Don’t kill killers.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), Oct. 19, 1997. 
  • WHIO Staff. “Miami Valley Murder Mystery: Who Killed Paula Payne?” WHIO-TV and WHIO Radio, Feb. 23, 2024.
  • “Head identified, that of missing girl.” The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH). June 14, 1977. 
  • “Head Belonged to Sixteen-Year-Old girl.” The Press Gazette (Hillsboro, OH). June 15, 1977. 
  • “Slaying of girl, daylight robbery, shatter peace of rural Georgetown.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, OH).  June 17, 1977. 
  • Associated Press. “Eugene Gall To Stand Trial.” The Press Gazette (Hillsboro, OH). March 6, 1979.
  • “Murder suspect enters plea.” The Times Recorder (Zanesville, OH). February 2, 1979. 
  • Sacash, David. “Eugene Gall’s mother says son innocent in Mote slaying.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), May 24, 1979. 
  • “Eugene Gall files motion appealing murder conviction.” Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), June 28, 1979. 
  • Horn, Dan. “Pair found responsible in girl’s death.” The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, OH). November 16, 2007. 
  • Albrecht, Brian E. “24 Years Later, Sheriff Pursues Girl’s Killers.” The Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH). March 9, 2001. 
  • Perry, Kimball. “Lawsuit charges murder, coverup.” The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH). October 9, 2002. 
  • Barrouquere, Brett. “Charges expunged in killing of girl, 12.” The Courier Journal (Louisville, KY). November 30, 2010.
  • Fortney, Tom. “Police issue drawing of man seen with girl before death.” The Cincinnati Post (Cincinnati, OH). June 23, 1977.
  • “1977 Homicide Cold Case Reopened.” Dayton Daily News, Oct. 16, 2008.
  • “Lawsuit filed in Fossyl murder case.” Ledger Independent (Maysville, Ky.), Sept. 26, 2002.
  • FOX19.com Staff. “Jury Rules 2 Men Responsible For 1977 Murder.” FOX19 (Cincinnati), Nov. 16, 2007.

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