Dennis Madden:1964, Cincinnati

   

  Dennis Madden was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Madden of Alpena, Ohio. Dennis went to Central Catholic High School in Alpena. 

  He was married and had one child and another on the way. Christmas was coming up on December 21st, 1964. I imagine Dennis was thinking about getting some shopping done for his wife. He might have had the radio tuned to Christmas music or maybe a ball game. 

  The Tri-State Shell Station was located at the corner of Princeton Pike and East Kemper Road in Cincinnati. 

   Dennis Madden was the manager of the Tri-State Shell Station. He was young but very serious about his job. 

   He was trained in industrial drafting but had not yet found a job in that field yet. The management position at the Shell Station would have to do, for now. 

   Dennis Madden was well liked at work. He was described as “the quietest guy”. 

   He was shot and killed on December 21st, 1964 while at work. Dennis had been mopping the service bay floor around 3:15 a.m. Someone surprised him and demanded cash. He was shot five times with a .38 caliber weapon in the robbery attempt while fleeing from the building. He fell in the street and died quickly from his injuries. 

   Strangely enough another young overnight worker at a nearby Cocolene Gas Station had a similar experience. As he entered the men’s room after three in the morning to mop it; he was attacked and hit on the head. His wallet, containing about $76 in cash was taken. The empty wallet was later found on an embankment near yet another gas station. 

   Who was attacking and robbing gas station attendants in December of 1964? 

   It could have been just about anyone. But, I would look at Eugene William Gall, Jr.  

   I believe he was back in Ohio living with his parents in Hillsboro at the time.  We know that he was capable of armed robbery. In 1978 that’s one of the last crimes he committed before being sentenced to life in prison for the murders of Beth Ann Mote and Lisa Janson. After abducting, raping and murdering Lisa  Janson; Gall robbed a store and even robbed each of the customers in it at gunpoint. 

   Gall needed money in late 1964. He had been discharged from the Army after a “peeping tom” arrest. I think it was more than just peeping. Gall was a serial rapist. He drove around a lot and needed money and gas in order to continue to do that. 

   I suspect him of the June 1964 murder of Jessica Minter and the December 1964 murder of Beverly Jarosz. I believe he gained access to their homes by wearing his Dad’s postal carrier uniform. I think he wore a spare uniform when simply stalking potential victims as well.

   I also suspect him of the November 1964 murders of Dennis and Evelyn Coby.  Dennis Coby was an orderly at the V.A. Psychiatric ward in Cincinnati. The Coby’s also lived near that hospital. I believe Gall may have encountered him there and developed a grudge against Mr. Coby. I think Gall followed Mr. Coby after work that day in November. It was the afternoon before Thanksgiving. The Coby’s were shot in their garage with a .38 caliber weapon. 

   I know this is a lot of conjecture but what if those .38 caliber bullets from November 1964 match the December 1964 Shell Station crime scene? 

   I wonder if bullets from both crime scenes (Dennis Madden and Mr. And Mrs. Coby) could be compared.  I wonder if any fingerprints were left behind and if that evidence was saved. I wonder if anything exists in an evidence locker that could connect Gall.

   I imagine that if Gall killed Jessica Minter and Evelyn and Dennis Coby; he would have been concerned with not getting caught. He still needed money. He still felt compelled to drive around and stalk women. What if he was trying to sneak up on gas station attendants and just knock them out. He probably was thinking about ballistics comparisons possibly tying him to a crime. He brought the gun but didn’t really want to use it. Then Dennis Madden ran and could identify him. So he shot in order to eliminate a witness. Serial killers have an incredibly high level of self preservation instinct. 

   We do know that Gall was arrested in December 1970 for a series of armed robberies, abductions and rapes in Lima, Ohio. He served less than 7 years for a sentence that was supposed to be from 10-30 years long. 

   He lived in Middletown in 1970 and is driving to Lima and committing crimes regularly enough to be nicknamed “The Friday Night Rapist”. 

   In 1977 he was back in Hillsboro with his parents and driving regularly to Dayton and to Cincinnati. He volunteered to drive elderly neighbors to their doctor’s appointments. He used the wait time to stalk, abduct, assault and murder Beth Ann Mote in October 1977. He did the same to Lisa Janson in April of 1978. 

   A gas station robbery and shooting could be just about anybody but I think Gall should be looked at. It’s interesting to think about. 

   Dennis Madden’s murder is still unsolved. If you have a tip, use the link below. 

Rest in Peace, Dennis.