54. The Disappearance and Murder of Alma Kellner

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Alma Kellner born in 1901, was the daughter of wealthy brewers in Louisville, Kentucky.On December 8, 1909, Alma disappeared on her way to attend mass at St. John's Roman Catholic Church, not far from her home. At first it was believed she had been kidnapped but no ransom demands were ever made. Approximately six months from the time she went missing, on May 30, 1910, her dismembered body was discovered in the sub-cellar of St. John’s church.

Joseph Wendling, a Frenchman, who had been the janitor at the church, also disappeared about a month after Alma's disappearance. He quickly became the prime suspect. Wendling was found and arrested in San Francisco, California. He was sent back to Louisville where he was tried and convicted of Alma’ murder.

Although Joseph Wendling was tried and convicted, it was all circumstantial. Hans Schmidt, the killer priest is an alternate suspect in this case as he was in Louisville from August 1909 to March 1910 working between St. John’s and St. Boniface Roman Catholic churches. Listen to the episode and tell us who you think murdered little Alma Kellner.

Male Narrator- Curtis Hildreth

Music by Isaiah Hildreth

Sources

findagrave.com

newspapers.com

wikipedia.com

Southern Mysteries Podcast

Louisville's Alma Kellner Mystery by Sean M Herron

Kentucky History and Haunts Podcast

All poetry.com

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