Jean Annette Cheuden John: 1974, Shelbyville, Indiana

   

   Jean Annette Cheuden John. That’s her name. I had to do quite a bit of research just to find her name. I first found this puzzle in an article about her husband, Lowell G. John. 

  It mentions the murder and the fact that he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. He was released because psychiatrists say he was no longer insane a month later. The article mentioned his three children will remain with relatives for the time being. 

  The article says all that but doesn’t even mention the dead woman’s name. I was gut-punched. All that injustice and also they don’t even bother to type out her name?!

  Who was she? She was born on the 4th of June in 1937 in Brandywine Township in Shelby County, Indiana. Her Parents were Virginia and Frederick Cheuden. She went by her middle name, Annette, in school. Her father was a farmer and her mother was a homemaker. In 1957 she was a bridesmaid at the wedding of a friend in Fairland, Indiana. Jean was also a Registered Nurse.  It couldn’t have been easy for a farm girl to go to college and become a nurse but she managed to achieve that distinction. 

  She was married to Lowell G. John. I didn’t find an article describing their wedding or the date. The couple had three children. 

  Annette was killed by her husband, Lowell G. John, on November 7th, 1974. She died of a craniocerebral injury. It was likely one very strong blow or multiple blows to the head. “Beaten by Assailant” is listed as the cause of the injuries. 

  Lowell G. John was taken into custody and granted due process. He was found to be suffering from a mental illness and therefore not at fault for the murder of his wife. A month later he was found to be all well and just fine and was released. 

  He then manages to stay out of the newspapers for the rest of his life. 

  In case you are wondering…because he was acquitted of murder he cannot be tried again. 

  Abused women of Shelbyville and the surrounding area certainly took notice and realized that there was no help for them. 

  Jean Annette Cheuden John’s life should have been a long one. She should have been able to raise her children and meet her grandchildren. She should have been able to enjoy her work at the Children’s Hospital until her retirement. 

  When I think of Annette, I think of the movie “The Burning Bed” starring Farrah Fawcett from 1984. When it came out it ignited a firestorm of debate. In it, an abused wife and mother resorts to murder to save herself and her children from her abusive husband. Some people were outraged at her actions. But, all the women in my life understood her actions completely. Women’s shelters were just beginning to be a place that abused women could turn to. They were few and far between still. 

  

   Rest in peace, Annette. You deserved so much better. 

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