Picture this: A quiet farmhouse in North Dakota, 1915. Expecting nothing more than a routine day, construction workers suddenly unearth a chilling secret. Six bodies are discovered buried beneath the foundation. This grisly find would lead to one of the most baffling cases in American crime history. At its center: a man named Eugene Butler.
Known by the eerie monikers “Midnight Rider” and “Great Plains Butcher,” Butler’s story is a twisted journey. It begins in the bustling streets of Niagara, New York, and ends in the windswept plains of Niagara, North Dakota. Along the way, we’ll encounter crowded insane asylums, flood-damaged courthouses, and vast, lonely farmlands.
Yet, questions linger. Who was Eugene Butler? What drove this wealthy farmer to become North Dakota’s first – and only – known serial killer? And why, after more than a century, have the victims remained unidentified?
Buckle up, dear reader. We’re about to explore a true crime mystery that has puzzled historians and crime buffs for generations. Welcome to the chilling saga of the Midnight Rider.
The Grisly Discovery
On a summer day in 1915, a horrifying discovery was made that would shake the community to its core. While excavating beneath an old house’s foundation, construction workers in rural North Dakota unearthed six bodies. Immediately, a flurry of questions arose: Who were these victims? How long had they been there? And most importantly, who was responsible for this heinous crime?
The bodies were found in two separate locations within the property. One victim was buried under about three feet of dirt in the middle of the home. Meanwhile, the other five were discovered in a sloping hole dug from outside, under the foundation. Several chilling details were noted by investigators, pointing to a calculated and brutal killer.
All victims, it seemed, had been killed with a sharp instrument. Each skull bore a clearly defined hole on the left side. Disturbingly, some victims’ legs appeared to have been broken, possibly to fit them into the burial space. Perhaps most troubling of all, no clothing or personal effects were found with the bodies, making identification nearly impossible.
To this day, the victims have not been positively identified. Thus, a century-old mystery remains unsolved.
The Butler Family Background
To understand the man behind these brutal murders, we must first look at his origins. The Butlers were a large farming family from Niagara County, New York. Ephraim and Rebecca Butler had five children: Oscar, Eugene, Orzello, Luella, and Frank. Among them, Eugene Butler, born around 1850, would eventually become the prime suspect in these murders.
Around 1880, a significant change occurred. Eugene moved to North Dakota with a group of New Yorkers seeking to homestead in the vast, untamed lands of the Great Plains. By 1900, census records paint a solitary picture: Eugene living alone in Niagara, North Dakota at age 51. Despite his isolation, he continued farming and became quite wealthy, amassing over 400 acres of land.
The Midnight Rider: A Portrait of Madness
While Eugene Butler’s wealth grew, so too did his erratic behavior. Known as a recluse and extremely paranoid, he soon earned a chilling nickname: the “Midnight Rider.” This moniker was given due to his unsettling habit of riding rapidly at night across the countryside, screaming loudly as he went. Furthermore, he believed he was being persecuted by unknown persons and reportedly thought all widows and old maids wanted to marry him.
Paradoxically, despite his considerable wealth (estimated at $50,000 in 1904, equivalent to $1.4 million today), Butler lived in squalor. His farmhouse was described as a “perfect shell” with few articles of furniture. An antiquated cook stove stood as his only significant possession. Interestingly, large sums of money were found hidden throughout the house, suggesting a deep-seated paranoia about banks or theft.
Commitment to the Asylum
In 1904, a significant event occurred. Butler’s behavior led to his involuntary commitment to the North Dakota Hospital for the Insane in Jamestown. Reportedly, he was the wealthiest man ever sent to the asylum. His paranoia and delusions were cited as reasons for commitment.
The asylum itself was a place of horrors during Butler’s stay. Although built for just over 100 patients, by 1904 it housed over 400. Patients were forced to sleep two to a bed, even in attics. Later reports describe inhumane conditions including cages, straight jackets, and leg irons.
For six years, Butler remained in the asylum. During this time, he developed a mortal fear of having his picture taken. On October 22, 1911, at 62 years of age, Eugene Butler died of phlebitis. Whatever secrets he held were taken to his grave.
The Investigation
After the bodies were discovered in 1915, several theories emerged about the victims’ identities and the circumstances of their deaths. Some believed Butler had killed a visiting relative. Alternatively, one newspaper suggested the victims might include a former servant and two housekeepers with their children. Adding to the speculation, a man from Minnesota reported his brother had gone missing after working for a bachelor farmer in the area. This led to theories that he might have been one of Butler’s victims.
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Unfortunately, the investigation hit several dead ends. The skeletons are now missing, and case records were reportedly destroyed in a courthouse flood. With no active leads persisting, the case has gone cold, leaving us with more questions than answers.
Conclusion
The case of Eugene Butler, the Midnight Rider, remains one of North Dakota’s most haunting mysteries. As North Dakota’s first and only known serial killer, Butler’s story serves as a chilling reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of even the most unassuming individuals.
While the truth may never fully come to light, the legacy of the Great Plains Butcher continues to fascinate and horrify to this day. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of unsolved crimes to capture our imagination and remind us of the complex nature of human psychology.
As we reflect on this century-old case, we’re left to wonder: Will modern forensic techniques ever shed light on the identities of Butler’s victims? Or will the secrets of the Midnight Rider remain buried in the vast plains of North Dakota, as silent as the graves he dug so long ago?