SPEEDWAY, Ind. — The building that once housed a fast food restaurant connected to the unsolved murders of four young people in 1978 is set to be demolished in Speedway, Indiana. Formerly a Burger Chef and more recently a pawn shop, the building’s dark history has loomed over the community for decades.
The victims, Jayne Friedt, 20; Daniel Davis, 16; Mark Flemmonds, 16; and Ruth Ellen Shelton, 18, were abducted from the Burger Chef and found dead a few days later in a neighboring county. Despite decades of investigation, the murders remain unsolved, leaving the community haunted by the senseless violence.
Former Speedway police officer, Bill Jones, reflected on the lasting impact of the tragic events, stating, “People drive by and see the building and they’re always reminded of what happened here.” The eerie association with the murders has lingered, with previous attempts to repurpose the building into new shops failing to succeed.
Town officials have revealed plans to demolish the building and replace it with a dental office, hoping to bring a fresh start to the site. The building’s last incarnation as a CashLand pawn shop closed its doors in 2016, marking the end of a series of unsuccessful endeavors to revitalize the space.
The significance of the building’s grim past is not lost on the community, as the painful memories of the Burger Chef murders continue to cast a shadow over the neighborhood. The impending demolition signals a new chapter for the site, though the unanswered questions and lingering sorrow from the tragic events of 1978 will forever remain a part of Speedway’s history.