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.
For our friends in the Deaf and Signing community, you can view an ASL version of this episode.
Listened to this episode? Let us know what you think here.
We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.
If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
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.
Suggested Episodes
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Kacee Terry
In 2024, Kacee Terry died after a suspicious insulin overdose, leading to a shocking investigation that exposed years of deception, manipulation, and a deadly relationship with her best friend—ending in a 2026 manslaughter conviction and lingering questions about who was really in control.
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Joseph “Jo-Jo” King III
On Feb. 23, 2020, 6-year-old Joseph “Jo-Jo” King III was found unresponsive at home with his stepfather. The initial explanation was simple: he had accidentally suffocated inside a toy chest.
But the toy chest was not airtight. Parts of the scene were wet. And the autopsy was later amended to include “concern for possible homicidal drowning.” Still, the manner of death remains undetermined.
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: The Day-Stewart Family
A Chicago house fire killed a firefighter’s wife and their three children. The city called it a tragic accident. But as we pulled records and spoke with those who knew the family best, the story began to unravel. This is the untold story of the Day-Stewart family fire.
Join our Fan Club to listen to this episode and more!
Unlock all of the exclusive benefits and dynamic listening experience as a Crime Junkie Fan Club member.
Join the Fan Club now to reap the rewards!
