Compiled and written by David R. Schleper, 2020
Geraldine Theresa Mingo, who was born in Shakopee on July 24, 1931, was the daughter of Andrew and Katherine Mingo. Her father died in 1944, and in 1948, Geraldine was looking for an adventure. While looking for an interesting summer job, she heard about a job as au pair in St. Paul.
The word “au pair” is a French term, which means “on par” or “equal to,” denoting living on an equal, caring relationship between the host family and the children. An au pair typically will be a young woman who chooses to help look after the children of a host family and provide light housekeeping. The au pair is given room and board and is typically paid a weekly “pocket-money” salary.
Geraldine secured a position as an au pair with the Alfred S. Butwinick family in the Highland Park area of St Paul. She took care of the children during the days and stayed at their place each night. On weekends, Geraldine went home to Shakopee to visit her mother
On Monday, Aug. 9, 1948, Geraldine, age 17, left the Butwinick residence early Monday evening to attend a show. Later, she met with her fiancé, Lawrence Ludeen, age 22, and spent the evening in company of another friend. Lawrence brought Geraldine to the Randolph Hazel Park streetcar at 12:30 a.m. According to a report, motorman Glenn Anderson reported that Geraldine and one other passenger were on the streetcar when it reached the Highland Park neighborhood. She alighted the streetcar alone.
And that was all that was seen of Geraldine Mingo.
At 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 10, Saul L. Selle, age 45, let his dog, Tippy, out to do its business. After returning to the bedroom, Saul looked out a rear window and saw what appeared to be a bare leg. Saul asked his wife, and they both looked from the window, and then called the police.
The police arrived and looked at the young adult, who had been slashed and stabbed on both sides of her neck, the back of her head, and both wrists. From a slip of paper in a billfold in her sweater pocket, the police identified the victim of a most sadistic slaying.
Sheriff J.P. Wermerskirchen was also called, and he took George Mingo to St. Paul to confirm the identity. It was believed that Geraldine was attacked and slain at some other spot and deposited near the Selle’s backyard. It was about twenty blocks from the Butwinick home.
The St. Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press posted a reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the murderer, but no critical information was received.
Services for Geraldine were held on Saturday, Aug. 14, 1948, at the home and St. Mary’s Church. Rev. Michael McRaith led the requiem mass, and the burial was at St. Mark’s Cemetery (now the Shakopee Catholic Cemetery).
Pallbearers were James Anderson, Eugene Brown, Louis Engel, Steven DeMers, Thomas Huth, and George Rutherford. Honorary pallbearers include Lelia Dellwo, Valerie Dellwo, Carol Dellwo, Jean Dellwo, Delores DeMers, Della DeMers, Bonnie Meuwissen, and Lucille Koll.
Preceding her in death were her father in 1944, brother Henry and sister Catherine. She was survived by her mother, three brothers, George, John, and Bernard, and sisters Mary Thorbus and Betty Christensen.
The outpouring of sympathy for the bereaved family was boundless. Flowers, mass cards, and other tokens of condolences gave mute testimony to the sorrow felt by the entire community.
More than one thousand people attended the funeral of Geraldine Mingo.