Prone to arson, Marjorie was suspected of torching her home in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, but the matter was dropped. From 1952 to 1954, the LeRoys lived at 2744 Salem Ave., a bungalow built in 1941. I found out that her classmate at Vassar was the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. Also that year, she pleaded no contest in connection with arson fires at an Ajo storage yard believed set for a fraudulent insurance claim. Marjorie Hagen, then known as Marjorie Caldwell, was accused of conspiring with her then-husband, Roger Caldwell, to kill Elisabeth Congdon, 83, and hernight nurse in the Congdon mansion in Duluth . She wasnt there long. She helped found a baby clinic in Duluth that eventually became a Planned Parenthood. How many of the Andes Survivors are still Alive? Eighty-nine-year-old Marjorie Congdon has been called both a sociopath and a psychopath. And I whispered to the guide, 'You know she was brutally murdered, right?'". It looked like justice was finally catching up with her. She is released 21 months later. Editor's note: This story originally appeared in the June 25, 2017, edition of the News Tribune. Your email address will not be published. Marjorie did not call the fire department. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); I have had no contact with her for 40 years. I burst out laughing, says Poling. Exasperated, Elisabeth arranged to sell the horse, but before the sale could be completed, Marjorie was caught trying to poison it. Whatever the diagnosis revealed was something Elisabeth would never tell anyone. Marjorie Congdon Caldwell Hagen's son is a candidate for a state judge spot. It happened because she lacked a conscience. But she's not able to get around town like in the old days. The bottle in question was some type of clear spirit, , Bartenders everywhere know that people hate vermouth. In 1990, the Hagens moved to Ajo, Ariz. Sadly, he was only able to enjoy his home for seven years. It was a pattern that would repeat itself throughout her life. On January 13, 1984, Marjorie was given 21 months in the Shakopee Womens Prison for burning down her and Wallys home in Mound, Minnesota. Chester Adgate Congdon accrued a fortune, How long is the tour? "It was clear she was then on a path to wanting to speed up her inheritance," said DeSanto, who's a judge now and co-author of a book on the case, "Will to Murder.". As the nurse climbed the stairs, she stopped dead in her tracks. Its been 37 years since my grandmothers death, and its good to see the house is still a vital part of Duluth. When jewelry matching that taken from Glensheen, and a convenience store receipt from the morning of the crime printed in the MinneapolisSt. It appears someone can be born a psychopath, and it also appears that psychopathology can run in families. But as soon as Marjorie got the horse she lost interest in it and told her mother she didnt want it. A satin pillow was lying over Elisabeths face. We see that you have javascript disabled. It was an honor and a privilege to find out more about her. She left an extensive record of philanthropic activities, with the Red Cross, the Duluth Art Institute, the Kings Daughters, numerous museums, hospitals, historical societies. The book shop promotes books about the homicides and I didnt want this book to be with them. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. My interest in travel, education, nature and nursing all come from her. Shes had many aliases. Marjorie did not attend a single day of his trial. What does it mean when someone is succumb? Most Minnesotans know of Marjorie Congdon as the woman who was tried and acquitted of conspiring with her then husband, Roger Caldwell, to murder Marjorie's mother, heiress Elizabeth Congdon. From the beginning, the child was different. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. TUCSON, Ariz. -- Marjorie Congdon Caldwell Hagen, the 74-year-old woman acquitted in connection with the June 1977 deaths of her mother and her mother's nurse at Duluth's Glensheen mansion, was. The combination of Antabuse and alcohol can produce seizures, congestive heart failure and even death. conniving.''. They turned him down flat. But nothing could be further from the truth. Marjorie used her inheritance to acquit her of the murder of the person who controlled her inheritance. At the age of nineteen she emerged as an engaging, charismatic young woman. She recently moved to a house. How much does the Glensheen Mansion cost? Marjorie pleaded guilty to the crime of forgery and was given probation. Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. They never suspected what was about to happen. To celebrate they bought an Airstream trailer and traveled the country, eventually settling in Ajo, Arizona, a town of 2,500 persons near the Mexican border. Marjorie was caught red-handed setting fire to her neighbors house. "People have seen her as recently as the last couple weeks, walking her dog without a walker," Feichtinger said at the time. When she was alerted to the fire, she was nonchalant. Your email address will not be published. Suzanne Congdon LeRoy: Yes. Antabuse is a prescription drug that reacts badly with alcohol. Norman Bates, as depicted in the film, was a psychotic. But too many people remember only that she was killed at home at Glensheen mansion, along with her nurse, Velma Pietila, in 1977. She added that she hasnt had contact with her for 40 years. An expert disputed a fingerprint that linked Roger to the crime. Caldwell served only five years in prison; in 1983, he was released after confessing to the murders. Her adopted daughter Marjorie LeRoys mother along with her new husband, Roger Caldwell, were accused of murdering Congdon in an attempt to inherit her fortune. SCL: I visited archives all over the country. MinnPost | P.O. A civil suit filed by five of her seven children in 1979 to disinherit their mother from her inheritance on the grounds she was involved in the murders was settled out of court in 1983. She was seventy-one years old. But prosecutors didn't want to risk a not guilty verdict. But psychopaths are different. The murders at Glensheen mansion were sloppy. Rather, they seek money as a means of control. DULUTH Trouble continued to follow Marjorie Caldwell after her 1979 trial and acquittal for murder conspiracy in the slayings of her mother and her mother's nurse at Glensheen. She was accused of attempting to deposit his $11,181 inheritance into her account after he died. Tour lengths vary depending on the type of tour and the desired experience. Marjorie Caldwell served two prison terms for arson, and she's been linked to several mysterious deaths. If she could not get it by lying, cheating and stealing, she would find some other way. Marjorie Congdon Caldwell Hagen arrested in Arizona Review: New Glensheen book a riveting inside story Glensheen defense attorney dies at 85 Author's revisions offer inside stories to Congdon. This was now two years after the murders and, as Kimball recalled, two new developments hurt the prosecution. Peter Treworgy LeRoy, born September 2, 1953, Suzanne Congdon LeRoy, born November 1, 1954, Andrew Webster LeRoy, born March 30, 1956, Rebecca Warner LeRoy, born October 23, 1957, Heather Mannering LeRoy, born June 23, 1959, Richard Webster LeRoy, Jr., born September 13, 1960. They cannot believe the things people say about her. Glensheen director Dan Hartman talks about a Congdon family portrait. Dissatisfied, he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota with $31 in his pocket, passed the Minnesota bar, and joined a law firm. Police alleged it was a crime of greed, saying Marjorie Caldwell and her new husband, Roger Caldwell, were desperate for money and wanted to speed up their $8 million inheritance. The cause was arson, but her presence there could not be connected to the crime, and she was not arrested. MP: You write with such rich detail about visiting your grandmother at Glensheen, and the functions of the house the service, the secret call buttons. in Minneapolis in 1957, but took good care of the new, pregnant owner of the Huntington house, giving her all of her maternity clothes and sending up strawberries to the hospital. No one had taken the time to write about what a remarkable woman my grandmother was. The research was a wonderful process, and I felt privileged to discover so many things about her I didnt know. Marjorie was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. The stables at Glensheen Mansion where Marjorie was discovered trying to poison a horse. Poling is channeling these past experiences for Glensheen.. Pietila was beaten with a candlestick holder. The staff rarely saw her. MP: In the book, you implicate her in numerous murders across the country, although she never served time for any. Whether or not he had taken the pills of his own volition was never determined. The Caldwells were broke, living in Colorado, and had been asking Miss Congdon for money to buy a ranch. The evidence pointed toward Marjorie. When she left, they told her they were going to miss her. Genres True Crime History Nonfiction Biography Biography Memoir 332 pages, Paperback First published November 23, 1998 Book details & editions By 1977, she was living in Colorado and married to her second husband, Roger Caldwell. What they did is public record.. Read this article as it appears in themagazine. Marjorie Hagen was again arrested on a murder charge but it was dropped for lack of evidence. Caldwell was a bad alcoholic. A wealthy woman is murdered in her bed, smothered with a pillow in the landmark lakeside mansion built by her parents. I thought that was kind of brilliant., Although hes best known for his work with The Suburbs, Poling is no stranger to the stage. Marjorie Congdons sudden magnetic appeal to men is remarkable in light of the fact that she was in no way conventionally attractive. And he said it's too grisly to discuss on tours with families. We remember all the wrong things about Elisabeth Mannering Congdon. Marjorie Congdon was born Jacqueline Barnes on July 14, 1932, to an unwed mother in Tarboro, North Carolina. Marjorie stood to inherit $8.2 million upon her mother's death. How do I create a group in Contacts on iPhone? Eastern Promises: Shochu and baijiu are entering the Minnesota marketgetting them right in a cocktail takes a delicate touch. (function(d, s, id) { The promise of a big pay combined with plenty of publicity may have been factors that led Ronald Meshbesher to take her case. "We spend a lot of time trying to make sure that the focus of Glensheen is not the murder. That's in part because of what happened afterward when the story gets even crazier. She was a contemporary of Margaret Sanger and in the years after birth control became legal, she helped bring access and information to northern Minnesota, which made a big difference for countless working families and women living in poverty. An additional note: The History Theatre musical, "Glensheen" is on stage starting July 6 and runs through July 30, 2017. Sadly, Marjories mother neglected to mention Marjories psychological problems to her new husband before he married her. Marjorie Congdon Caldwell was one of two daughters adopted in the 1930s by Elisabeth, who never married. She is sentenced to 2.5 years in prison. The mansion was constructed as the family home of Chester Adgate Congdon. SEE ALSO: Trail of clues, legal twists kept Glensheen murder case going for years, SEE ALSO: Glensheen murders still intrigue, Authorities ID man fatally shot by Duluth police, First Witness seeks state, local support for larger child advocacy center in Duluth, Court rejects challenge to Hibbing murder. If you feel you have received this message in error, please contact the customer support team at 1-833-248-7801. SCL: I always say, Mother Nature was the only mother I ever had. In the late 1960s, the Congdon family decided to donate the estate to the University of Minnesota Duluth, although not until Elizabeth died. Congdon's adopted daughter, Marjorie Congdon Caldwell, was acquitted in 1979 of charges that she helped plan the murders in what the prosecution called a scheme to get an early inheritance. The literature has noted cases where children demonstrate psychopathic behaviors as early as age two, and in environments that are perfectly sound. Some call it Minnesotas Downton Abbey. "People still won't talk to me on the record, because they're still afraid of retaliation," she said. Accordingly, when Marjorie was thirteen, Elisabeth bought Marjorie a horse she had been demanding. Are any of Freddie and the Dreamers still alive? As before, she was not considered a flight risk, so she was permitted to visit her husband one last time before being escorted to prison. What does that mean? He befriended the US District Attorney in St. Paul and got a job as his assistant. In the world Marjorie Congdon grew up in, wealth was everything. She had been smothered to death. When Elisabeth was found murdered, it didnt take long for the investigation to zero in on the Caldwells. Adopted by one of the wealthiest families in Minnesota, she was brought up in lavish surroundings with all the comforts money could buy, Marjorie had an idyllic childhood. She bought her things. Winter is coming, so . A garden hose was found running from the gas stove in the kitchen to their bedroom. Female psychopaths are rare, occurring at half the rate of men. Will Xbox Series X ever be in stock again? The last I heard, she was calling herself Marjorie Hagen and living in the Southwest. It became kind of obvious that the jurors were thinking, boy I don't think this lady would kill her mother.". They were set to inherit millions of dollars when Elisabeth died. I had 22 years with her and she impacted me so much in that time, and always after. It was the stuff of an Agatha Christie novel. He passed the bar and took a job as a high school principal in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Its a significant part of the mansions history, even if it is a bit unsettling, especially in light of the fact that the likely murderer is still alive and not in prison. "Certainly, it isn't surprising she's back in the news today. The grotesque story is nonetheless a true one that unfolded almost 40 years ago now: Duluths Glensheen murders, an atrocity that riveted the region for years. They are consummate actors, and the role they play is of being human when, in fact, they are something less than human, and dangerous because of it. The Marjorie Congdon Story: A Timeline | Artful Living Magazine A timeline outlining the alleged crimes committed by infamous Minnesota criminal Marjorie Congdon, the suspected mastermind behind the Glensheen murders. The next day, DeSanto charged Marjorie with conspiring to kill her mother. In 1975 Marjorie Congdon met Roger Caldwell at a Parents Without Partners meeting in Colorado. Marjorie was charged with murder but charges were dropped. Marjorie Congdon's mugshot, when she was arrested for arson in Arizona on March 25, 1991. Her nurse that night, 66-year-old Velma Pietila, had just retired and was looking forward to relaxing and traveling with her husband; shed been convinced to return to work for one more night because the regular nurse was on vacation. Partnering with a friend, Congdon obtained leases for iron ore properties that contained ore mixed with sand. She loved nature and history, and taught her children and grandchildren to protect them. She was charged with attempted arson and in a 1992 trial found guilty. But Congdon was betting on the come. With Roger out of prison under supervision and a retrial looming, authorities decided to strike a deal rather than risk an acquittal. MP: Your book includes two riveting and fairly disturbing courtroom dramas the murder trial [starring a sneering Ron Meshbesher] and the settlement of your grandmothers estate. We sold it.. Intelligent and often charming, Marjorie married and had six children before the marriage ended amid stresses exacerbated by her exorbitant spending. Candance Renalls is a retired Duluth News Tribune reporter and freelance writer. In a 2009 plea agreement, she pleaded guilty to attempted forgery and was sentenced to three years of intensive probation. When Marjorie was three, Elisabeth adopted a second daughter who she named Jennifer. Who lived in the Glensheen Mansion? Despite prosecution having only circumstantial evidence to present, Roger was convicted and handed two consecutive life sentences. From 1993 to 2004, Marjorie served 11 years of a 15-year prison sentence for the arson fires in Ajo. How do you feel about the recent moves to open up the private areas of the house to the public? They win people over, before bending them to their will. 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