Elisabeth Congdon

Elisabeth Mannering Congdon (April 23, 1894 - June 27, 1977) was a millionaire resident of Duluth, Minnesota, USA who became famous after she and her nurse were found murdered on June 27 1977.

Biography

Elisabeth Mannering Congdon was born to mining magnate Chester Adgate Congdon, and his wife, Clara Hesperia Bannister Congdon on April 22 1894 in Duluth, Saint Louis County, Minnesota, USA. In 1905, Chester began building Glensheen Historic Estate, a 39-room mansion on their 22 acre estate in Duluth, Minnesota, seeing it finished 3 years later. Chester passed away in 1916, and Clara many years later in 1950, when Elizabeth inherited Glensheen.

In 1932, Elisabeth, a single woman in her thirties, adopted a little girl and named her Marjorie Mannering Congdon. Marjorie was the "black sheep" of the family, as she constantly borrowed money from her mother and married numerous times. Early in her life Marjorie was diagnosed a sociopath, was put into institutions and for a time appeared to be improving. Marjorie's second marriage was to a man named Roger Sipe Caldwell. She and Roger kept asking Elisabeth for money, reportedly so they could realize their dream of a horse ranch. Marjorie and Roger, however, were never satisfied. Marjorie had seven children and she spoiled them with luxuries, the majority of which were furnished by Elisabeth.

On June 27 1977, Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse Velma Pietila (born April 26, 1911) were found murdered. Elisabeth was found suffocated in her bed and Velma had been beaten to death with a candlestick. The motive was initially unclear because few valuables were looted from the room.

Elisabeth's daughter Marjorie was to receive $8 million at the time of her mother's death. Three days before Elisabeth's death, Marjorie had authored a paper saying Roger was to receive about $3 million of her share. Based on evidence found at the scene and later in Roger and Marjorie's possession, they were ultimately arrested. Marjorie was acquitted, but Caldwell confessed to both murders on July 5, 1983. Caldwell committed suicide on May 18 1988.

Years later, Marjorie was convicted of insurance fraud and arson and was sent to Perryville prison in Arizona on July 19 1993. Marjorie was released from Arizona State Prison on January 5 2004. Marjorie was most recently arrested in Tucson, Arizona, at her residence at an assisted living facility on March 23 2007, on charges of computer fraud and several other counts.{http://wcco.com/local/Marjorie.Congdon.Hagen.2.366139.html}

ources

*Gail Feichtinger; Will to Murder: The True Story Behind the Crimes & Trials Surrounding the Glensheen Killings
*Sharon D. Hendry; Glensheen's Daughter, The Marjorie Congdon Story
*CourtTV, February 2005; "Power, Privilege, and Justice", hosted by Dominick Dunne.
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