Janice Sanders and Janeice Langs:The Michiana Murders



      

   Working on this project has led me to many conclusions.  One conclusion that I have come to is that a whole lot of people got away with murder in the 1970’s. This case is sadly no different. We might not be able to bring any Justice to the victims but we can remember them. Just thinking about these women and speaking their names is still an important act. 

Janice Sanders and her children. 


     On July 21st 1973 Janis Sanders of Niles, Michigan disappeared. Later that year on November 7, 1973 Janeice L. Langs of nearby South Bend went missing. Other than the sound of their first names and that they both lived in the “Michiana” area; what else did they have in common? They were both dating Gerald Casimer Libertowski when they disappeared. 



    Gerald Casimer Libertowski was described as a “Lothario”.  He had a string of girlfriends. He was known to be cruel and abusive. His friends said at one time he had three women pregnant at the same time.  That fact was later substantiated by detectives. 

   Janis Sanders had been living with him in 1973 but broke up with him about a week before she disappeared on her way home from work. Gerald had a reputation for being violent with his girlfriends. Janis disappeared on July 21st 1973. Her car would turn up at the Niles, Michigan Holiday Inn parking lot.

   Gerald seemingly got over the loss of Janis Sanders very quickly. He was soon living with Janeice Langs. She disappeared after trying to break up with him as well. She was driving home from work in Elkhart, Indiana to South Bend but never made it home. She made it to South Bend where she dropped off a coworker. But after that she and her car vanished into thin air just like Janis Sanders. 

   Either Gerald had astronomically rare bad luck or he was a murderer. 

   Gerald got caught with Janeice Langs’ car.  He had driven it south to a junkyard to have it destroyed.  

   Why have a perfectly good car destroyed?  What if your girlfriend Janeice comes back and wonders where her car is? Won’t she need her car? 

    Gerald was accused of the murder of Janeice Langs. But the Langs family would not see the Justice that they sought. Libertowski was tried and acquitted. 

   Gerald Casimer Libertowski died on January 31st 2010.  He was cremated. I found that information and a photo of him on Find a Grave. 

  Janeice Langs and Janis Sanders have never been found. Their families did not get to hold funerals. They have no graves to place flowers on. 

   Perhaps there is someone out there who knows where they are. Maybe they felt loyal to the killer at one time but they no longer do. 

  Perhaps someone will stumble across their bodies at some time.  

  Hopefully, someday these two women will be able to be returned to their families. 

  Rest in Peace Janeice Langs and Janice Sanders. 

   


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