Elmer Kesterson born 13 January 1913 in Athenls Co Ohio, was the son of Charles Henry & Anna Mae (Hardsock) Kesterson. He was married twice, I believe Ora was his first wife and Elsie Rutter his 2nd wife. Whether or not he was guilty of the acutal murder of Ora is questionable. He was released and the story is wide open for debate. She was obviously running from someone and ultimately died of exposure.
25 May 1951 Athens Messenger - Woman's Body Found in Field
"Foul Play" Indicated, Sheriff Says
Athens County Coroner Dr. John H. Elias stated the "circumstances of this woman's death are very suspicious and must be thoroughly studied." Doctor Elias ordered the body sent to Mt. Carmel Hospital, Columbus, where an autopsy to determine the actual cause of death was to be performed late Thursday night. The coroner estimated Mrs. Kesterson had been dead from two to three days.
Mrs. Kesterson's lightly clad body was found in a field along the Connett Road, about a quarter-mile from her hillside home in southern York Township. The body severely beaten about the face and neck and scratched, was lying in the middle of the field, about 80 yards from the road. The Kesterson's modesthome is located about four miles south of Nelsonville.
Beside Mrs. Kesterson's body was the family's three month old pup. The dog had apparently stood guard at his mistress' side since her death and he would not leave until neighbors forcibly carried him from the scene.
Neighbors aiding the woman's husband, Elmer (Doggie) Kesterson, in the search discovered the body about 5 p.m. and summonded Sheriff Bateman. Earlier Thursday, Kesterson had reported his wife missing and Sheriff Bateman had called at the home to question members of the family about the woman's disappearance.
High weeds near the body, and in a path formation to the road, were beaten down, indicating the body had been dragged about 75 yards diagonally acros the field to the position where it was found. Mrs. Kesterson's elbows and knees were terribly bruised, giving evidence she had been dragged over rough ground. Her arms, legs and face bore deep scratches , apparently from a barbed wire fence through which Sheriff Bateman theorized the woman had been pulled.
Sheriff Bateman and deputy Pincelli discovered several strands of black hair on the barbs as they toured the area for evidence. One of Mrs. Kesterson's shoes was found near three rural mailboxes along the fence and her eye glasses were discovered nearby. The other shoe was found at the family home.
Mrs. Kesterson was a slight built woman with black hair. She weighed between 85 and 100 lbs, and was about five feet tall. She was clad only in a light print dress. The husband told Sheriff Bateman earlier Thursday that he missed his wife Tuesday evening when he returned from an auto trip to Kentucky. Kesterson related he had driven to Kentucky with friends Monday afternoon and upon his return his wife was missing. However, he did not call the sheriff's office until Thursday afternoon.
Ann Wollett, 17, who lives near the Kesterson's told the sheriff she had noticed the shoe by the mailbox Wednesday morning when she picked up the mail. The Nelsonville High School girl added that she gave little thought to the shoe, but Thursday night she identified it as the one she had seen.
Searching for Mrs. Kesterson, in addition to her husband, were Floyd Martin, Nelsonville Route 2, and Ben and Willard Newlun, both of Carbondale community. The quartet were together when the body was discovered.
Rural neighbors quickly gathered at the scene and women friends of the victim described Mrs. Kesterson as "very cautious." The farm ladies recounted that Mrs. Kesterson was exceptionally afraid when alone and would never open her house door to them until they had identified themselves. They added she seldom left the house alone.
A motive for the woman's deth could not immediately be given, but Sheriff Bateman ruled out robbery because of the family's financial condition and the fact no money was taken from the woman's pocketbook found at home.
The husband is unemployed.
The chance of a sex offense did not seem probably from all outward evidence, said the sheriff, but he nevertheless requested the pathologist to make the necessary study to determine the possibility of such a crime.
The Kesterson family has two children, both of whom are adults living in the vicinity. The body was taken to the Stout funeral home, Nelsonville, where arrangements are incomplete pending the autopsy report which is expected within a few days.
May 26, 1951 Athens OH -
Results of an autopsy on the body of Mrs Kesterson will not be received until Monday Sheriff Bateman said. He added however that a preliminary examination indicated the victim had been beaten about the face and neck with bare fists and had been dead about two days. Four persons were questioned after discovery of the body but no arrests were made and "none are planned at the moment", the sheriff added.
May 27, 1951 Sunday
Shock and exposure were the direct causes of Mrs. Ora Mae Kesterson's death, a Dolumbus pathologist said Saturday. The 45 year old woman's badly beaten body was found Thursday night near her Connett home. She had been missing since Tuesday. In a telephone conversation, Dr. Horace Davidson todl Athens County Coroner Dr. John Elias, that Mrs. Kesterson died, as the direct result of shock and exposure. Doctor Elias relayed the information to Sheriff George Bateman. The Columbus doctor, who conducted an autopsy a the request of county officials, did not elaborate upon his findings. He did not say what part the brutal beating sustained by the small woman might have had in her death. Sheriff Bateman said a letter with a fuller report of the pathologist's findings is expecteed early in the week. In the meantime, Sheriff Bateman and Deputy Mame Pincelli continued their investigation of the woman's slaying. Sheriff Bateman has termed the death, "definitely foul play." The sheriff said he and his duputy had questioned numerous neighbors of the Kestersons Friday and Saturday. Sheriff Bateman stated he had picked up several bits of information, "but nothing conclusive". He added that what evidence he now has, and the information gleaned from residents of Connett, do not yet piece together into a complete picture. No arrests have been made in the case and as yet the sheriff has reported no strong suspects. A search party found Mrs. Kesterson in a field about a quarter of a mile from her home in southern York Township. She was badly beaten about the face and neck and her arms and legs showed severe scratches. Her husband, Elmer (Doggie) Kesterson told the sheriff his wife had been missing since Tuesday. Apparently the woman had been dragged through a barbed wire fence bordering the field. Her elbows and knees showed evidence she had been dragged over rough ground. Officials found one of Mrs. Kesterson's shoes beside a mailbox near the fence, and her eye glasses along the fence. The victim's husband told the sheriff he noticed his wife was gone from the home when he returned from a Kentucky trip Tuesday evening. Wednesday, Kesterson said he inquired of neighbors about his wife's whereabouts and Thursday afternoon notified the sheriff's department. Several hours after Kesterson told Sheriff Bateman his wife was missing her body was found. She was described by friends as a very cautious woman who was afraid when alone and seldom left her house without a companion. Services for Mrs. Kesterson will be conducted by the Rev. T.H. Arnott, Sunday, 2 p.m. at the Stout funderal home in Nelsonville. Burial will be in the Connet cemetery. Surviving in addition to her husband are a son by a former marriage, Alvin Powell, and a daughter, Miss Estella Powell of Carbondale.
May 28, 1951 Slain Woman's Husband Jailed for Questioning Elmer (Doggie) Kesterson, 46, Connett, has been arrested and is being held for investigation of his wife's slaying. Sheriff George Bateman reported he took Kesterson into custody while he was visiting in NElsonville Sunday evening. The stocky, part-time Mechanic-truck driver, was brought to the county jail where he is still being held. No charges have been filed in the case and Sheriff Bateman did not elaborate upon his findings. He only stated he has questioned Kesterson and will continue the questioning today. Sunday's action by the sheriff marked the first arrest in the case of tiny, 45 year old Ora Mae Kesterson, whose body was found Thursday evening in a field near her log cabin home, four miles south of Nelsonville. Mrs. Kesterson had been beaten about the face and neck and her body was scratched. Preliminary reports of an autopsy performed in Columbus show the woman died as a direct result of shock and exposure. The report was made by telephone to Dr. John H. Elias, county coroner, and did not indicate what effect the beating might have had upon Mrs. Kesterson. Sheriff Bateman added that he plans to question members of the Kesterson family sometime today. Friday and Saturday the sheriff and Deputy Mame Pincelli questioned neighbors of the victim. At the same time the sheriff reported his arrest, he denied the report of a Columbus newspaper quoting him as saying Mrs. Kesterson was beaten with bare fists. As yet the sheriff has publicly offered no theory as to how the woman was beaten. The condition of the woman's body indicated she had been beaten an then dragged into the field about 30/80 yards from the roads from the road, and left to die. Mrs. Kesterson had been missing since last Tuesday. Her husband reported her absent Thursday afternoon, a short time before the body was found. He told the sheriff he had taken a trip to Kentucky to attend a funeral and when he returned Tuesday, his wife was gone. Friends have described Mrs. Kesterson as a very cautious woman who was afraid when alone in her remote York Township residence. Funeral services were conducted for Mrs. Kesterson Sunday afternoon at the Stout funeral home in Nelsonville. She was buried at the Connett Cmemetery, a short distance from her home.
May 30, 1951 LIE DETECTOR TEST SET FOR KESTERSON Sheriff George Bateman said late Tuesday afternoon he will place ELmer (Doggie) Kesterson, 46, Connett, under a lie detector test. Kesterson is being held for investigation in the slaying of his wife, Ora Mae Kesterson, 45, whose beaten body was found Thursday in a field near her Connett home. The sheriff saide he decided to subject Kesterson to a lie detector test after an all day session of questioning during which the victim's husband steadfastly maintained his innocence. Plans for the test will be arranged with a Columbus laboratory; the sheriff explained, but he could not say immediately when the test will be held. Sheriff Bateman said although Kesterson denies any part of the slaying he is not "entirely satisfied' with the part=time truck driver-mechanic's story. Kesterson was arrested Sunday in Nelsonville following his wife's funeral. He reported his wife missing Thursday afternoon a few hours before her body was found. She had been missing since last Tuesday. A pathologist said Mrs. Kesterson died of shock and exposure. Her face and neck were severely beaten and her arms and legs scratched. Since the slaying neighbors of the Kesterson's have been questioned but no strong evidence has been reported by officers. Monday afternoon the sheriff questioned Mrs. Kesterson's son and daughter, childreno f another marriage. Sheriff Bateman said he picked up soem additional evidence from the children, Alvin Powell, 22, Nelsonville and Estella Powell 27, Carbondale, but he did not elaborate. In the meantime Kesterson has been transferred from the country jail to the Athens city jail. Kesterson Quizzed Again Concerning Wife's Death New action in the three-month-old slaying of Mrs. Ora Mae Kesterson was seen today when her husband, Elmer (Doggie) Kesterson, 46, was again subjected to questioning. Kesterson appeared voluntarily at the courthouse about 10:30 a.m. and Sheriff George Bateman said he had asked the victim's husband to come in for further questioning. At 11:30 a.m.Kesterson was being questioned by Sheriff Bateman, Prosecuting Attorney James F. Shumaker, Police Chief Joseph B. Grogan and Patrolman Joe McBride. The presence of Grogan and McBride was unexplained, since Mrs. Kesterson's body was found in a field near Connett and not within the jurisdiction of Athens city police. Today marked the first action in many weeks in the mystery of how the slight built Mrs. Kesterson was ... and scratched prior to her death. Her body was found May 24, two days after her disappearance from her home. A pathologist's report whowed Mrs. Kesterson, 45, died as a result of shock and exposure and probably lived sometime after entering the field. Sheriff Bateman has maintained throughout the investigation that MRs. Kesterson was the victim of foul play. Sheriff Bateman said today that there is additional evidence in the case, but he did not elaborate. He also would not say what, if any, charges will be filed against Kesterson. Apparently the move was no surprise to Kesterson. He is reported to have ... a Columbus lawyer last week. The lawyer is said to be Ray E. Hughes who for a brief time represented Harry E. Deds, Jr. when the youth was first arrested for the murder of Eleanor Gifford in 194?. Kesterson was arrested for investigation in his wife's death on May 27 and was held in the county jail until June 2, but no charges were ever filed against him. During his incarceration Kesterson was subjected to a lie detector test which showed discrepancies in his story. He was released when rumors that relatives and friends indicated they would file a writ of habeas corpus for his release. Kesterson has been injured in an auto accident since his wife's death and has spent several weeks in a Dayton hospital. Sheriff Bateman indicated that the husband might have been picked up for questioning earlier had he been in better physical condition. Charge of Manslaughter Prepared for Kesterson A manslaughter charge was being prepared this morning against Elmer (Doggie) Kesterson, 46, Connett, in connection with the death last May of his wife, Ora Mae Kesterson 45. The charge was being prepared at 11:30 a.m. following a conference between Sheriff George Bateman and Prosecuting Attorney James F. Shumaker. Arraignment time has not been set. Kesterson is now in the county jail after bein arrested Wednesday afternoon. He was arrested earlier in the case and released. Today marked the first charge filed in the three-month-old mystery of how Mrs. Kesterson met her death in a lonely field near her hillside cabin in York township. Her bruised and scratched body was found May 24, two days after her husband reported her missing and officials at the scene said there were indicationfs that the slight woman had been beaten before she crawled, or was dragged, into the field where she died. Three days after he body was discovered her husband was ... for investigation... until June 2. No charges were made at that time, but Kesterson has been undere investigation by sheriff Bateman throughout the case. What if any new ... has been found.... .. .... Throughtout the investigation, SHeriff Bateman has maintained the woman was the victim of foul play. A laboratory report showed she died as the result of shock and exposure. .... other laboratory check showed that hair under the victim's fingernails washer own; and not that of a possible slayer. Also lacking in the case is an evident motive for the alleged slaying. Mrs. Kesterson had not been criminally assaulted, nor was she robbed, the investigation revealed. Mrs. Kesterson's daughter, Estella Powell, 26, Carbondale, was also questioned early in the case. SHe was jailed for 13 days but no charges were filed against her. Sheriff Bateman said upon her release that the girl was turned loose because of insufficient evidence, but that her release did not constitute exoneration. The sheriff claimed he did not believe Miss Powell was telling him the truth on all matters. A Columbus law firm has been retained by Kesterson. Attorney Ray E. Hughes was named as the lawyer and indications were that Kesterson will not be arraigned until he (Hughes) is present.
September 18, 1951 - Athens Mess. Kesterson Makes Plea of Innocent In Death of Wife Ora Mae Kesterson either crawled or was dragged to the spot in a field where she died near Connett last May, a witness in a preliminary hearing said today. Testifying in proceedings before Mayor W.P. Mickle was Willard Newlan, 34, Carbondale, second witness called in connection with manslaughter charges filed against the dead woman's husband, Elmer (Doggie) Kesterson. Kesterson opened the hearing by entering a plea of innocent to the affidavit read to him by Mayor Mickle, Representing the defendant at the preliminary proceedings, staged to establish probability that a crime was committed, were Ray E. Hughes and H. Alfred Glascor, of Columbus. Prosecuting Attorney James F. Shumaker was still calling witnesses at press time. Newlan having been preceded by Dr. John H. Elias, County Coroner. Doctor Elias affirmed that a Columbus pathologist's report said Mrs. Kesterson died of shock and exposure but indicated that it was his original opinion that her death had been the result of force and violence. The coroner said he had been called to the scene in the afternoon of May 24. He said there was evidence Mrs. Kesterson had been in the field for approximately two days and that she had been dead for "between 24 adn 48 hours'. As the hearing neared a close at noon, Newlan said kesterson came to his home on the afternoon of May 24 to obtain his aid in a search for Mrs. Kesterson, said to have been missing for two days. His home, Newlan testified, is three or four miles fro where the Kesterson's lived. The two were accompanied by Newlan's father and floyd Martin. At Kesterson's direction, the four entered a field about a quarter of a mile from the Kesterson residence to begin a search. They had spread out within earshot and had walked for about 75 or 100 yards when Newlan said he spotted the woman's body and said "there she lays". Standing guard over her was a pet dog, he added. Doctor Elias had described Mrs. Kesterson as a very small woman, about five feet three inches tall and weighing approximately 95 pounds. Her right eye and right hip were bruised and her lower limbs bore numerous scratches, he said. But the injuries were not sufficient to cause her death, Elias said he believed. Both Elias and Newlan testified that the ground around the body was trampled and Newlan said it was from that ... that he thought the woman had either crawled or had been dragged through a wire fence. Kesterson, a large man limping from an injury received in a recent automobile accident, was present for today's proceedings, as were a number of relatives and neighbors.
September 19, 1951 Athens Mess. Athens OH Kesterson Is Released; Mayor Dismisses Charges "Elmer (Doggie) Kesterson was released from custody at noon today as Mayor W.F. Mickle said evidence presented against him in a preliminary hearing Tuesday had been insufficient to support manslaughter charges against him." The state's case against Elmer (Doggie) Kesterson in the death of his wife, Ora Mae Kesterson, was being studied today by Athens Mayor W.P. Mickle. The mayor took the case under advisement Tuesday afternoon after a preliminary hearing on manslaughter charges filed against Kesterson by Sheriff George Bateman. It is not within Mickle's province to declare the defendent either guilty or innocent but only to decide whether the case should be dismissed at this point and Kesterson freed or bound over to the grand jury for consideration. Bateman was the last of five witnesses called by prosoceuting attorney James F. Shumaker. Other than to enter his pleas of innocent, Kesterson himself was not heard. His defense counsel, Ray E. Hughes, Columbus attorney, concluded the proceedings with a vigorous statement to back his motion that charges against his client be dismissed and that the part-time mechanic, truck driver from Connett be freed. Hughes declared that the prosecution had not presented sufficient evidence to support "probable cause," as is necessary to have the defendant bound over to the grand jury under bond. Hughes said "probably cause'" in support of this requires "more than mere suspicion" but must be founded "on facts sufficiently substantial to present to a grand jury." The Columbus lawyer cited statutes regarding manslaughter saying involuntary manslaughter involves the killing of another in committing an unlawful act. Voluntary is such an act committed in a fit of anger, he said. "And the nearest approach, the prosecution has made to establishing that, is the statement which the sheriff claims Kesterson made to him" charged Hughes. He was referring to Bateman's testimony that Kesterson gave him two versions of the events leading up to his departure for Kentucky on May 21, three days before Mrs. Kesterson's body was found in a field near her home at Connett. Bateman said when first questioned, Kesterson told him his wife had consented to his taking the trip with a group of men to attend a funeral. This account was given him when he talked to the Connett man prior to his arrest on the day of Mrs. Kesterson's funeral. Later, said the sheriff, Kesterson admitted to him that his wife protested .... As he questioned Kesterson during the six days he was in custody last June, the Sheriff said he had found other discrepancies in h is stories before he released him. The COnnett man was arrested again last Wednesday but just what led to his action and subsequent filing of the manslaughter charge Friday of the manslaughter charge Friday was not brought to light during yesterday's hearing. Bateman also told of being called to the Connett home about noon on May 24 and being told by Kesterson that his wife was missing when he returned from Kentucky May 22. He said she had left before but "always came back." This time he was "sure someting has happened to her," the sheriff quoted her as saying. Evidence of trouble between the Connett couple was also introduced by Estella Powell, Carbondale, a daughter of Mrs. Kesterson. Miss Powell, who was also under arrest for 13 days last June in connection with the investigation, said she had seen her stepfather strike and beat her mother. But , said the witness under cross examination, the never "saw anything unusual" between the two. Fourth witness on the list, she was preceded by Ben Newlun, Carbondale, who corroborated much testimony given earlier Tuesday by his son, willard, regarding the search for Mrs. Kesterson on the day her body was found. Willard Newlun had said Kesterson organized a searching party which also included Floyd Martin and that the four began their hunt in the field where the body was encountered a short time later. From the trampled weeds around the body and in a straight path to the nearby barbed wire fence, Newlun said he had decided Mrs. Kesterson had either crawled or been dragged to the spot where she died. Mrs. Kesterson died as a result of shock, and exposure, according to a pathologist's report given in testimony by Dr. John H. Elias, county coroner, as the opening witness in the hearing Tuesday morning. But both Doctor Elias and Sheriff Bateman said the body showed a bruise near the right eye and another on the right hip, besides numerous scratches on the lower limbs. The top surfaces of the feet were also scratched (she wor no shoes when found clad only in a light dress) but the bottoms of ther feet showed no marks. The sheriff and coroner were caleld to the scene on the evening of May 24 after the searching party had found the body. For Bateman, it was his second trip to the Connett home that day, his previous talk when Kesterson reported his wife was missing having taken place just a few hours earlier.
Note 1 - From Neil Newlun, Petersburg Alaska: It is highly likely that Elmer Kesterson and the Newluns were cousins.
Floyd Martin was a nephew to Ben Newlun.
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