If she could not get it by lying, cheating and stealing, she would find some other way. The night nurse, one Velma Pietila had been called in at the last minute when the scheduled nurse couldnt make it. Suzanne Congdon LeRoy: Yes. Dissatisfied, he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota with $31 in his pocket, passed the Minnesota bar, and joined a law firm. It is estimated that 1% of the population are psychopaths. When we were invited to dinner, it was never casual. Intelligent and often charming, Marjorie married and had six children before the marriage ended amid stresses exacerbated by . Meanwhile, during all this legal back and forth, the Glensheen mansion had opened to the public. It seemed clear to prosecutors that Roger could not have committed the murders alone. Beyond the sensational nature of the crime, a fortune worth millions was at stakeand family members immediately identified a suspect who stood to gain a substantial fraction of that fortune. The stables at Glensheen Mansion where Marjorie was discovered trying to poison a horse. The Guilford Press, 1999, Hendry, Sharon Darby. It looked like justice was finally catching up with her. Condgon was found smothered with a satin pillow. "People do see her out and about. But when she fully enters their lives, they become entwined in a series of bizarre crimes. It took the authorities less than two weeks to arrest Roger Caldwell, but not before he wound up in the hospital after having collapsed at breakfast with seizures. Since Marjorie's release from prison, she has lived in several senior residential communities in Tucson, where neighbors often had conflicts with her and her service dogs. Pietila was beaten with a candlestick holder. The cause was arson, but her presence there could not be connected to the crime, and she was not arrested. She wanted the money, and she was not content to wait for her inheritance. Death Becomes Her: With Lianne Appelt, Scott Bruffey, Tom Cutler, Erin DeCaprio. Clarence H. Johnston, Sr.; Charles W. Leavitt, Jr. Marjorie was a compulsive spender and liar, and eventually Dick LeRoy had enough and divorced her on April 29, 1971. The Creepiest Town in America: Danvers, MA. Eight years later in 1974 after arranging for the remodeling of a house shed purchased, Marjorie was slow to pay the contractor, so the contractor placed a lien on her property. Suzanne is estranged from her mother, telling MinnPost interviewer Amy Goetzman in 2014 that the last shed heard, her mother was calling herself Marjorie Hagen and living in the Southwest. She wasnt there long. He used to call her, My Angel., Psychotics are not the same thing as psychopaths, but for a whole generation of people theres only one way to be psycho. In a plea bargain, the remainder of Rogers prison sentence was dismissed as authorities hoped his confession would implicate Marjoriethough that didnt turn out to be the case. He worked in a lumber mill from the age of fifteen to support his family after his fathers death. Is there a movie about the Glensheen Mansion? While darkly comic elements pepper the musical, Poling emphasizes that he and Hatcher have been respectful of the victims. An additional note: The History Theatre musical, "Glensheen" is on stage starting July 6 and runs through July 30, 2017. She was sentenced two and a half years in prison and fined $10,000. "She got no bulk sum after the murders - she basically lost it all . Marjorie used her inheritance to acquit her of the murder of the person who controlled her inheritance. Candance Renalls is a retired Duluth News Tribune reporter and freelance writer. With Roger out of prison under supervision and a retrial looming, authorities decided to strike a deal rather than risk an acquittal. Marjorie Congdon's mugshot, when she was arrested for arson in Arizona on March 25, 1991. Much of the following information came from the book Will to Murder: The True Story Behind the Crimes and Trials Surrounding the Glensheen Killings by Gail Feichtinger, John Desanto, Gary Waller, and John E. Desanto (2005:X-Communication). "She got no bulk sum after the murders she basically lost it all," Feichtinger said. She and her new husband, Roger Caldwell, were living in Colorado and were flat broke.. Now, the city might start buying garbage trucks, Let's talk about our racist and ugly state flag, Minnesota Democrats might spend big in bid to fix a struggling child care industry, The long, bitter fight over Minneapolis Roof Depot site, explained, Time to celebrate our Minnesota public schools, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives Creative Commons license. Just before the fire, Marjorie was seen carrying valuables out of the house and loading them into her car. Marjorie is now 84 years old and shes still out there. But she's not able to get around town like in the old days. Later it came to light that her friend had thought the world of her. The killings were carried out by Roger Caldwell, allegedly at the urging of his wife, Congdons adopted daughter Marjorie, though she was later acquitted of conspiracy to murder at a trial. Today, the University of Minnesota-Duluth operates the mansion, tours and events that take place inside and on the mansion's grounds. DeSanto charged Roger Caldwell first. Partnering with a friend, Congdon obtained leases for iron ore properties that contained ore mixed with sand. A traumatic childhood can turn a person into a sociopath. They are not creepy. She would be strange. He was taken into custody and arraigned on charges of first degree murder. She was connected to numerous schools and organizations reaching as far away as China. In a 2009 plea agreement, she pleaded guilty to attempted forgery and was sentenced to three years of intensive probation. The next morning Walter Hagen was found dead, the victim of an apparent suicide. MinnPost | P.O. She was released on October 19, 1986, and she and Wally moved to Ajo, Arizona. I started out with a Gothic feel, really influenced by Cabaret, Chicago, and Sweeney Todd, he says. Marjorie said they had a suicide pact, but she couldn't go through with her end of it. She was given 15 years, but on October 30, 1992, Wally was found dead, a day before she was to report to prison. The coin had been mailed the day after the murders in an envelope Caldwell had addressed to himself. MP: In your memoirs, your grandmother seems to be a much greater influence on you than your own parents were. 40 years later, Hartman said the murders are still fresh and raw for members of the Congdon family, some of whom sit on the museum's board. in Minneapolis in 1957, but took good care of the new, pregnant owner of the Huntington house, giving her all of her maternity clothes and sending up strawberries to the hospital. Because psychopaths are unable to experience genuine human emotions like love and empathy, their emotions are impersonations informed by observation, essentially a performance perfected by years of practice and study. "In recent years, she has kept a surprisingly low profile," she said in 2017. All Rights Reserved. His was the classic American rags to riches story, and he was just getting started. Your email address will not be published. Nancy and her brother Tom were always curious about their mother's rich friend, Marjorie Congdon. Im interested in at-risk youth, and drawn to help people in difficult situations. They may charm you, they may trick you, or they may put you in a difficult position. Marjorie Caldwell, as Hagen was then known, was instantly considered a suspect in her mother's murder. "We always believed, and the whole theory of the case was, that she was the woman behind the man," DeSanto said. Make a gift of any amount today to support this resource for everyone. How can I tell how big my Cockapoo will be? Sadly, most people from her generation would not be able to square what they know about Marjorie with the diagnosis of a psychopath. From an early age, Marjorie showed signs of devious behavior, and as a teenager she was diagnosed as a sociopath. Marjorie Congdons sudden magnetic appeal to men is remarkable in light of the fact that she was in no way conventionally attractive. The evidence pointed toward Marjorie. They were soon up to their ears in debt and desperate for money. Marjorie and Dick LeRoy had seven children: When LeRoy was transferred to Minnesota, they lived in Minneapolis, then moved to St. Louis Park. At the time, it was not possible to separate ore from sand, so the ore was worthless. In November 2010 a judge in southern Arizona refused her request for a reduction in the terms of her probation so that she could move to a nursing home. Exasperated, Elisabeth arranged to sell the horse, but before the sale could be completed, Marjorie was caught trying to poison it. TUCSON, Ariz. -- Marjorie Congdon Caldwell Hagen, the 74-year-old woman acquitted in connection with the June 1977 deaths of her mother and her mother's nurse at Duluth's Glensheen mansion, was. The day after she was convicted, Wally Hagen was found dead of a drug overdose. Who wrote youll like my mother?Jo HeimsNaomi A. Hintze. After other evidence was discovered at their home in Denver, Marjorie tried to poison Roger, but he was sent to Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park on July 5, and was ready to be handed over to Duluth police on July 7, 1977. Caldwell was a bad alcoholic. Elisabeth named her Marjorie. In spite of the fact that it came to light during the trial that Marjorie had attempted to poison her mother on a previous occasion, Marjorie was acquitted. She had a strong interest in infectious diseases, and worked with programs to help improve the health of factory workers. The LeRoys moved to an eight bedroom house at 4705 Fremont Ave. No. Would hydrogen chloride be a gas at room temperature? The family has written some letters, and weve had discussions. Then at the age of thirteen she did something that wouldve been a warning sign to any criminal psychologist, had there been such a thing in 1945. Caldwell served five years for the murder; Marjorie was acquitted. All marjorie congdon caldwell hagen artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. Marjorie Congdon Caldwell with her attorney Ronald Meshbesher. The officers who dropped her off found her quirky and engaging, a charming old lady. Our reporters are only able to do their work thanks to support at all levels. Born in 1853, the son of a Methodist minister, Chester showed ambition and drive at an early age. Elisabeth was the last surviving child of mining magnate Chester Congdon, who built Glensheen in the first decade of the 20th century and was reportedly the richest man in Minnesota when he died in 1916. "We spend a lot of time trying to make sure that the focus of Glensheen is not the murder. I wanted more people to understand why she was so special. The police investigation quickly focused on Elisabeth's daughter by adoption, Marjorie Caldwell, 44, and Marjorie's husband, Roger, 43, in a murder-for-inheritance plot. Marjorie did not call the fire department. Avoid being drawn in. The Duluth newspaper archives included thousands of mentions of her activities. The public needs to be educated. In the world Marjorie Congdon grew up in, wealth was everything. She appealed, was let free on bond and, after a year of setbacks and delays, she was finally remanded to Shakopee Womens Prison in Shakopee, Minnesota. And I loved nursing; I was very privileged to work in Minnesota, nationally, and internationally as a nurse. The victims' families "were really hopeful that we would not have to retry the case with a chance of Roger walking free," DeSanto said. The Congdon story is one that is quite close to me literally. Will you still be able to buy Godiva chocolate? Elisabeth Mannering Congdon about the age she was when she adopted Marjorie. She parted ways with her second husband, Roger Caldwell, after the trials. The primary victim, Elisabeth Congdon, was 83 years old. With her history of arson, she was immediately a suspect. Read this article as it appears in themagazine. I have had no contact with her for 40 years. Suspicions about Marjorie were already heightened by a 1974 incident in which Elisabeth became dangerously ill after eating a sandwich made by her daughter. When authorities called Marjorie to tell her what had happened, she said nonchalantly, It isnt our house. Suzanne Congdon LeRoy, one of Marjories daughters, recently published a biography of her late grandmother, highlighting Elisabeths philanthropic legacy. No one had taken the time to write about what a remarkable woman my grandmother was. Marjorie's second marriage was to a man named Roger Sipe Caldwell. I thought that was kind of brilliant., Although hes best known for his work with The Suburbs, Poling is no stranger to the stage. To celebrate they bought an Airstream trailer and traveled the country, eventually settling in Ajo, Arizona, a town of 2,500 persons near the Mexican border. Im not going to sell the book at Glensheen. In 1988, Roger took his own life, leaving a suicide note that read in part, referring to the Glensheen victims, I didnt kill those girls., Theres a lot of ground to cover, says Poling, around why the trials of Roger and Marjorie ended so differently. Convicted, Wally Hagen was found dead, the Glensheen mansion had opened to the public conventionally attractive devious!, when she adopted Marjorie in a difficult position connected to numerous schools and organizations reaching as away..., Sharon Darby from sand, so the ore was worthless to light that her had... Around Town like in the old days America: Danvers, MA woman my grandmother was mentions! Resource for everyone was instantly considered a suspect in her mother & x27. 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