If you can say one thing about me…I’m not a quitter!

I was a young man when I wrote Abandoned Prayers about convicted killer Amishman Eli Stutzman, his son Danny, aka, "Little Boy Blue," and his wife Ida. That was more than three decades ago. Even now, so many things haunt me. Besides Danny’s death — about which the truth will likely never be known— what floats to the top is the ruling Ida’s death in a barn fire was accidental/natural causes.

No one close to the situation thinks that’s true.

You might be one who knows it wasn’t an accident. You might have heard something. You might even be tormented by a secret that you’ve held for a very long time. I’m hoping, and yes, praying, that you will find the strength and courage to set your worries aside for the greater good — getting to the truth. Ida deserves that. The Amish do too. We all do. Look for my book, THE AMISH WIFE, coming out later this year.

And while I was in Ohio…another story caught my interest…read on below.

Who Poisoned Clifford Badger? 

I stumbled on to this fascinating case of the “West Salem Candy Murder” when I returned to Ohio to research the death of Ida Stutzman. The only link between the two is that Wayne County Sheriff James Frost was involved in both.  

On March 15, 1971, sheep rancher Clifford Badger made his way home from a trip to town, stopping at the mailbox in front of his place in West Salem as he did nearly every day. From the mailbox, the 59-year-old father of five retrieved a box of homemade chocolates. On the box was a handwritten message; "To Our Good Neighbor."  

Clifford ate one of the chocolates and immediately fell to the floor. His wife Helen also ate some of the candy. Luckily, she was able to call for help. Her husband, however, didn’t make it. Authorities later determined by strychnine. 

Here’s the James Frost connection: The Wayne County Sheriff pronounced the case solved in 1974. He said in deference to the killer’s family, there would be no announcement of who had killed Clifford. Frost said that the perpetrator was dead and the Badger family agreed with the coverup. Really? A poisoner, one of the most devious and despicable of all killers, identity is hidden? In what world is that justice? 

Even today, more than fifty years later, no one will speak up for Clifford and name his killer. 

Will you? Tell me what you know. 

I’m asking for your help in either case. No detail is too small. Use the form below or feel free to write or call me. Anonymity assured.

Gregg Olsen
PO Box 7
Olalla WA 98359
Message phone: 253-230-4096

Your tips can be anonymous. Your name is not required, but appreciated.