The Facts

WHAT WE KNOW

MURDER IN MORTON GROVE-

THE STORY

Disclaimer: The information presented in Murder in Morton Grove has been compiled from various outside sources, including newspapers, interviews, and other public records. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts are based on their interpretation of these sources. It is important to note that no one has been charged or found guilty in connection with the murders of Susan Ovington and Eyvonne Bender. The purpose of this podcast is to explore the case and encourage further discussion and investigation.

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On September 5th 1979, in a quiet suburb outside of Chicago, the sun-soaked days of summer were quickly drawing to a close. Morton Grove, Illinois was the kind of place you want to raise a family, it was the kind of town where you left your door unlocked, you knew your neighbor’s names, and children would run through the streets without a care in the world.

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Everyone felt safe in Morton Grove until the day that Eyvonne Bender and Susie Ovington were murdered.

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 In daylight. 

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In cold blood.

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On that balmy September day, the air hung heavy with the promise of freedom as the exciting news spread like wildfire through the suburban streets of Morton Grove- school was postponed due to a teacher's strike. Excited shouts filled the air as kids dashed out of their houses, their faces lit up with unrestrained joy. Backpacks were cast aside, forgotten relics of the academic routine, as they embraced the unexpected reprieve with open arms. 

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Time seemed to stand still for a moment as laughter echoed through the neighborhood, mingling with the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. With carefree abandon, they embraced the extension of their summer break, relishing the opportunity to throw caution to the wind and bask in the warmth of the sun for just a little while longer.

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Eyvonne and Susie were typical seniors in high school. They felt the excitement of their last year at Niles West High School, yet they decided to take advantage of the unexpected free time. They wanted to scratch out just one more teenage escapade. Like all teenagers do, they longed for freedom and fun.  Little did they know, this day would be their last.

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Eyvonne, 17, and Susan, also 17, made plans to visit a nearby shopping center, eager to while away the hours exploring the stores and catching up on the latest gossip. The girls gathered some cash, threw it in their purses, and went to the Korvette Strip Mall.  As they left Susan's house on Oakton Street around 2:30 PM, their laughter echoed through the quiet neighborhood streets. 

Morton Grove is nestled beside a winding river and a patch of woods. Teenagers often sought solace in this forest preserve from the prying eyes of authority figures.

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It was a place where they could unwind while sharing secrets, and sometimes indulging in forbidden pleasures like smoking cigarettes and drinking. It was a teenage mecca, where you could be just a teen.

Eyvonne and Susie were both described as typical teens. They both had a halo of bleach blonde hair, loved their families, and never caused trouble. Ever.  

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Each girl had an older boyfriend. Eyvonne was dating Larry Olker, aged 22 and Susie was dating Joe Majerus, aged 26. All accounts recall they were smitten. Yet, there are lingering doubts about the status of their relationships at the time of their deaths. We know when murder investigations take place, the people closest to the victims are looked at first.

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Within the context of the 1970s, it was not unusual for high school girls to date older guys. Often, girls would graduate high school, find a job, and get married. This is just how it was. 

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Larry, Eyvonne’s boyfriend was very dutiful in talking with his sweetheart every day at 5:30 pm. Eyvonne was a creature of habit and would jump on the phone with him, check in and share her day. On September 5th Larry did not hear from Eyvonne. 

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 Larry grew increasingly anxious as the afternoon wore on without any word from her. It wasn't like Eyvonne to be late, especially on the days she had religious education classes to teach. 

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Larry called her home. In the seventies, phones were tethered to a cord and usually mounted on the kitchen wall. There were no cell phones at the time, so it was the status quo in communicating. 

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Larry called. And called. Eyvonne’s mom, unphased by her late arrival, answered the phone. Larry’s urgency was palpable. By 6:30 PM, Larry's concern had turned to panic, prompting him to contact Joe, Susan's boyfriend, for help.

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At that time, Joe had laced up his roller skates, yes roller skates, this was the 70s,  and started a canvas of the area he believed the girls were at. As he skated around the perimeter of St. Paul’s woods, he spotted Eyvonne’s car. 

Joe's revelation about Eyvonne's car parked near the Par-King Miniature Golf Course sent chills down Larry's spine. Eyvonne had no reason to be there at that hour, especially since the golf course didn't open until later. Fear gripped Larry. He was panicked. 

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Larry immediately dialed up Eyvonnes mom, and she calmed his nerves, telling Larry that she must have just lost track of time.  Yet there was something that did not feel quite right.  Larry pulled together a makeshift search party and headed to the forest preserve.

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Their search began at St. Paul Woods. St Paul Woods is an inviting oak-hickory woodland situated east of the North Branch of the Chicago River. Trails weave throughout the densely wooded preserve offering an escape from urban sprawl. At the time this preserve was not heavily trafficked with hikers and bikers.

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Into the twilight, they ventured into a canopy of trees and the fading sunlight searched feel more urgent. Larry's heart pounded with each step, racing with dreadful possibilities. His fears were realized when he stumbled upon a pool of blood, a stark contrast against the earthy hues of the forest floor.

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He found the girls. Bloodied by gunshot wounds, the girls lay lifeless, half-clothed.  This was their worst nightmare.

The reality of the search was shocking to say the least. Their once vibrant spirits were extinguished in the most tragic of ways. Shock reverberated through the group as they grappled with the senseless violence that had shattered their peaceful community.

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Despite exhaustive police investigations and even a psychic consultation, the case remained unsolved, shrouded in mystery and speculation. As the months passed, the memory of Eyvonne and Susan faded into the background noise of daily life, their deaths relegated to the annals of cold case files.

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We have to ask, why have there been no arrests? Over 60 interviews were conducted, yet there are no answers. 

DNA was collected, but onlookers noticed the disarray of a crime scene. Fingernail clippings were processed, and there was other evidence collected, like an RC Cola bottle, a hair brush and marijuana pipe. 

The Morton Grove Police Department was most likely ill-equipped to handle a murder of this magnitude. There were no murders in Morton Grove, as it was a relatively safe suburban town. And it continues to have a low crime rate. 

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And the story gets more chilling.  As the Bender family tried to make sense of their daughter's death, they were taunted by white crosses scrawled on their cars.

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This haunting image of crosses painted on Eyvonne's parents' car and driveway seven months later served as a chilling reminder of the unresolved questions that lingered like shadows in the night.

 Who had taken the lives of two innocent girls on that fateful September day, and why?

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Here are the facts-

Eyvonne and Susan were shot with a high caliber gun, .38 special.

They were shot multiple times in the head, the chest, leg and arm.

They were not fully clothed. 

There were drag marks on their bodies.

They were found within hours of their murder by their boyfriends and 5 other young men.

No arrests have been made.

The case remains cold. 

 Until those answers came to light, the truth remained as elusive as the whispers of the wind through the trees. 

There are a lot of holes in this story. There are a lot of questions to be asked. 

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And we won’t quit until someone says something. 

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We are Stacey Nye and Julie Lokun, we are sisters in finding justice for Eyvonne and Susan. Stacey is a psychologist, podcaster and classmate of the two victims. Julie, is a journalist with a law degree, podcaster and truth seeker.

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Welcome to Murder in Morton Grove. 

There is an answer to this senseless crime. Somebody knows. If you know something, say something. Bring justice to Eyvonne and Susan. 

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