Anna E. Bergman and Octavio R. Martinez:1962, Rockford

   

   Inside a Rockford, Illinois tavern a dance contest was held. Anna Emily Bergman, 18, and Octavio R. Martinez, 32, won the Twist competition on August 8th 1962. Their prize was a bottle of champagne. The two left the tavern together with their bottle shortly after. Perhaps they left the tavern quickly as they already sensed troubling brewing. What had been a fun night out dancing had turned ugly and deadly. 

   They were carjacked in Octavio’s car. His car was later driven back to Rockford and parked. 

   Octavio R. Martinez was found shot to death and thrown from a car almost immediately after leaving the bar. He was found about 7 miles from the tavern. 

   A week later and 16 miles south of the Tavern, a man spotted bare feet protruding onto the road. The area was an out of the way road that was seldom used. 18 year old Anna E. Bergman had been shot once. 

  It seems that the two were definitely the victims of a hate crime. In 1962 a pretty, blonde young woman dating a Hispanic man would have angered some racist patrons of the bar, I imagine. 

  I think that several people would have had to be involved.  One would be needed to drive the car. I think at least two others could have held onto Anna and Octavio or perhaps only one person holding them at gunpoint as they left the tavern. 

  Anna would have had to seen Octavio’s murder. How cruel and terrifying. 

  Octavio was a widower. He lived with his parents and his two young sons. Anna lived nearby in an apartment with two roommates. The two had been dating for just a little while. Octavio’s two children had to grow up without their father after already losing their mother. 

   Who did this? It’s likely that there were witnesses at the tavern who could have pointed out suspects. Did they not come forward out of fear or loyalty or because of shared racist feelings? 

   A tavern in Rockford likely had a great many regulars.  I would imagine quite a few people there that night saw what was happening and guessed what would happen next. They might not have stepped up out of fear. Maybe some of them wanted to help but felt powerless. 

   When I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s in Southern Indiana, I wanted to believe that the people around me weren’t racist.  I really wanted to believe that.  The evidence was there. I tried to dismiss it. I wanted to believe that because I was trying not to be racist that people in the future would be less racist. I knew I would try to raise my children to love everyone. The racism I tried to ignore has been exposed for all to see lately. It makes me so sad.  I thought our society was getting somewhere. I thought we were becoming better people. Yes, there are still good people. Perhaps the world will become kinder and less racist in the future. I choose to remain hopeful. 

   Anna Emily Bergman is buried at Willwood Burial Park in Rockford.  She has two entries on Find a Grave. One has an incorrect date of death. The correct date is August 8th, 1962. Octavio R “Chico” Martinez is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Rockford, Illinois. 

   Someone knows something about Anna’s and Octavio’s murders. Maybe you have heard something in the years since 1962. Maybe your tip could help solve this crime. 


   If you have information please call the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office at 815-319-6000



Watch and share this case on YouTube at:

https://youtu.be/gBS6CETE6XA?si=TkZpiv1VdzUC_4VY


   

   

  

   

  


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