The Elusive Circleville Writer

The Elusive Circleville Writer

For almost 20 years, the residents of Circleville, Ohio, were plagued by a series of anonymous letters that spread fear throughout the small town. In 1976, the people of Circleville started receiving letters that exposed the town's most hidden and troubling secrets. One of the letters revealed an alleged affair between Mary Gillespie, a school bus driver, and the school superintendent.

A particularly shocking letter was sent to Mary’s husband, Ron, demanding that he ensure the affair ended immediately or face severe repercussions. In 1977, Ron was found dead following a suspicious car accident. The mysterious circumstances of his death only added to the atmosphere of fear and mistrust in Circleville.

In 1983, provocative signs were posted around Circleville, particularly along Mary’s bus route. When Mary stopped her bus to pull down one of these signs, she discovered that it had been booby-trapped with a loaded pistol. Police traced the pistol back to Ron’s brother-in-law, Paul Freshour. Paul was convicted of attempted murder and was widely believed to be the Circleville writer.

However, the case took an unusual turn when the letters continued to arrive, even while Paul was in solitary confinement without access to writing materials. This enigmatic situation left the residents and authorities puzzled. To this day, the true identity of the elusive Circleville writer remains unknown.

Keywords

• Circleville, Ohio
• Anonymous letters
• Mary Gillespie
• School superintendent
• Affair
• Ron Gillespie
• Car accident
• Provocative signs
• Loaded pistol
• Paul Freshour
• Solitary confinement
• Circleville writer

FAQ

Q: When did the Circleville letters first appear? A: The letters began to surface in 1976.

Q: Who was the main subject of the letters' accusations? A: Mary Gillespie and her alleged affair with the school superintendent were central to the accusations.

Q: What happened to Ron Gillespie? A: Ron Gillespie died in a suspicious car accident in 1977.

Q: Was anyone convicted in connection with the letters? A: Paul Freshour, Ron's brother-in-law, was convicted of attempted murder related to a booby-trapped sign but not directly for sending the letters.

Q: Did the letters stop after Paul Freshour was convicted? A: No, the letters continued to arrive even while Paul was in solitary confinement.

Q: Is the identity of the Circleville writer known today? A: No, the true identity of the Circleville writer remains a mystery.