MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Elfrieda Knaak
In 1928, a 30-year-old woman is found barely alive, burned beyond recognition, in a basement of a small-town local police station… and her chilling last words and the bizarre circumstances of her death are just as mysterious now as they were a century ago.
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Episode Source Material
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Details of affairs are shrouded in mystery. No byline. Published October 30, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois): Ex-coed is near death; quiz film actor cop. No byline. Published October 31, 1928. Accessed September 5, 2024.
- The Daily Chronicle (De Kalb, Illinois): Girl burns in furnace, by United Press. Published October 31, 1928. Accessed August 19, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- The Urbana Daily Courier (Urbana, Illinois): Former U.I. girl burned in furnace, by Jack F. Hiertz (United Press). Published October 31, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- The Taylorville Daily Breeze Courier (Taylorville, Illinois): Woman near death from self inflicted burns to prove faith in spirit love, by Associated Press. Published Oct 31, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Girl, dying, takes all blame. No byline. Published October 31, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Hitchcock tells of power over burning victim, by International News Service. Published October 31, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Sterling Standard (Sterling, Illinois): Self torture by fire, woman’s idea of faith, by Associated Press. Published October 31, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Journal Gazette (Mattoon, Illinois): Proves faith in psychic sweetheart, by Gene Hoffman (INS Staff Correspondent). Published October 31, 1928. Accessed August 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois): Burned girl held victim of self hypnosis. No byline. Published Thursday, November 01, 1928. Accessed September 5, 2024.
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois): Family refuses to believe Miss Knaak tortured self. No byline. Published Thursday, November 01, 1928. Accessed September 5, 2024.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Steadfast in a dying refusal to name mate. No byline. Published November 01, 1928. Accessed August 25, 2024.
- The De Kalb Daily Chronicle: Case still is puzzle, by United Press. Published November 1, 1928. Accessed August 19, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- 1928-11-01 // The Rock Island Argus (Rock Island, Illinois): Woman near death in fire ritual case, by Associated Press. Published November 1, 1928. Accessed August 22, 2024.
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois): Girl burned in Lake Bluff furnace dies. No byline. Published November 2, 1928. Accessed September 5, 2024.
- Alton Evening Telegraph (Alton, Illinois): Secret of girl’s self inflicted torture mystery, by Associated Press. Published November 2, 1928. Accessed August 23, 2024.
- The De Kalb Daily Chronicle: Knaak girl fails to shed light on furnace case. Published November 2, 1928. Accessed August 20, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Suicide is held to be illogical solution. No byline. Published November 02, 1928. Accessed August 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Physicians think girl inflicted own burns. No byline. Published November 3, 1928. Accessed August 27, 2024.
- The Daily Chronicle (De Kalb, Illinois): Think case is murder. No author. Published November 3, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Chicago Tribune: Mystery clings to furnace case after girl dies. No byline. Published November 3, 1928. Accessed September 5, 2024.
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois): Relatives start own inquiry of furnace death. No byline. Published November 04, 1928. Accessed September 5, 2024.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Knaak case solution is sought by state. No byline. Published November 5, 1928. Accessed August 27, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois): Crowds fail to get glimpse of death furnace. Published Mon, Nov 5, 1928. Accessed September 5, 2024.
- The Daily Chronicle (De Kalb, Illinois): Think case was murder, by United Press. Published November 5, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois): Furnace victim is buried; 500 attend service. No byline. Published November 06, 1928. Accessed September 6, 2024.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Probe new clue in Knaak case at Lake Bluff. No byline. Published November 06, 1928. Accessed August 27, 2024.
- The Daily Chronicle (De Kalb, Illinois): Will examine brain of dead tortured girl, by United Press. Published November 6, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Another clew linked with murder case, by INS. Published Nov 6, 1928. Accessed August 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- 1928-11-07 // Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois): Put burned girl in death trance, mystic asserts. No byline. Published Nov 7, 1928. Accessed Sep 6, 2024.
- The Lake County Register (Libertyville, Illinois): Burned girl succcumbs at Lake Forest. No byline. Published November 07, 1928. Accessed August 22, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Thirty called to testify in Knaak inquest Sat. No byline. Published November 08, 1928. Accessed August 28, 2024.
- Daily Illini: Mystery of Knaak death is unsolved; strange letter sent. No byline. Published 8 November 1928. Accessed September 5, 2024.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Witnesses may throw light on tragedy. No byline. Published Friday, November 09, 1928. Accessed August 28, 2024.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Knaak case inquest is being held here today. No byline. Published November 10, 1928. Accessed August 28, 2024.
- The Daily Chronicle (De Kalb, Illinois): Girl’s story told today, by United Press. Published November 10, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024.
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois): Furnace victim burned herself, jury’s verdict. No byline. Published Nov 11, 1928. Accessed Sep 6, 2024.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Continue probe of Knaak case despite verdict. No byline. Published November 12, 1928. Accessed August 28, 2024.
- Waukegan News-Sun (Waukegan, Illinois): Spiritual link found in fire torture death. No byline. Published November 13, 1928. Accessed August 28, 2024.
- The Daily Chronicle (De Kalb, Illinois): Suicide says jury verdict in Knaak case, by United Press. Published November 12, 1928. Accessed August 21, 2024.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Murder, and a woman implicated, Avers girl writer in attempt at solution of furnace mystery, by Ione Quinby. Published November 19, 1928. Accessed August 23, 2024.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Citing evidence, girl improves her theory in furnace mystery, by Ione Quinby. Published November 20, 1928. Accessed August 23, 2024.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Girl reporter reviews events in Knaak case to uphold her theory, by Ione Quinby. Published November 21, 1928. Accessed August 23, 2024.
- 1928-11-22 // The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Hypnotism, suicide theories rejected, by Ione Quinby. Published November 22, 1928. Accessed August 24, 2024.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Girl investigator gives her solution of furnace mystery, by Ione Quinby. Published November 23, 1928. Accessed August 24, 2024.
- The Daily Chronicle (De Kalb, Illinois): Police Chief At Lake Bluff Is Discharged, by United Press. Published November 28, 1928. Accessed August 22, 2024 via newspapers.com.
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois): Fire Lake Bluff chief as sequel to furnace case. No byline. Published Nov 28, 1928. Accessed Sep 6, 2024.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Army deserted confesses to furnace death, by INS. Published November 29, 1928. Accessed August 25, 2024.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois) No faith in man’s story, by INS. Published November 30, 1928. Accessed August 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Murderer of teacher tried to end lie, by INS. Published Dec 7, 1928. Accessed August 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- The Lake County Register (Libertyville, Illinois): Confession repudiated by suspect. No byline. Published December 12, 1928. Accessed August 23, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- The Lake County Register (Libertyville, Illinois): Think M’Veagh insanity faked. No byline. Published December 12, 1928. Accessed August 23, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- The Lake County Register (Libertyville, Illinois): Miss Knaak’s moods shown, by Chicago News. Published December 12, 1928. Accessed August 23, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- The Lake County Register (Libertyville, Illinois): Elfrieda tells of dual career, by Chicago News (Dec 6). Published Dec 12, 1928. Accessed August 22, 2024.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Girl attempts to kill herself by jumping in fire, by United Press. Published February 16, 1929. Accessed August 25, 2024 via Newspapers.com.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Hitchcock of ‘furnace’ fame is arrested,” by United Press. Published Aug 14, 1929. Accessed August 25, 2024.
- The Belleville News-Democrat (Belleville, Illinois): Knaak case is reopened for investigation, by United Press. Published Aug 15, 1929. Accessed August 25, 2024.
- Chicago Daily News: The weird case of Elfrieda Knaak, by Alfred Prowitt. Published November 25, 1944. Accessed September 5, 2024 via Lake Bluff History Museum archives.
- Tampa Bay Times (St. Petersburg, Florida): Mystery of the flaming beauty, by Edward Radin. Published Mar 13, 1949. Accessed Aug 28, 2024.
- Chicago Tribune: Who really killed Elfrieda Knaak? By Ron Grossman. Published November 27, 2016 at 9:06 p.m.. Accessed August 18, 2024.
- WGN-TV: Death of Elfrieda Knaak still haunts Lake Bluff residents, 90 years later, by Larry Potash. Published February 7, 2019. Accessed August 28, 2024.
- Backstory with Larry Potash (podcast): Death of the “Furnace Girl” Elfrieda Knaak. Published February 7, 2019. Accessed Sept 4 2024.
- Suicide or murder: The death of Elfrieda Knaak. Presentation by Kathy O’Hara, historian, Lake Bluff History Museum (2018). Accessed Aug 28 2024 via Youtube.
- Most Notorious (podcast), episode 146: the mysterious death of “furnace girl” elfrieda knaak W/ Kraig Moreland. Published February 27, 2020. Accessed August 21, 2024.
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