The Golden Pheasant Murders

Late on a May night in 1930,someone crept into the Golden Pheasant Inn.

The local restaurant was popular for its chicken dish, and for being a haven where Wisconsinites could blow off steam with slot machines, booze, and sex workers. But the intruder wasn't there for any of that. He was after owner John Van Veghel and waitress Lucille Birdsall, a couple sound asleep in their bed.

The subsequent murders shook the small town of Preble, Wisconsin, situated on the outskirts of Green Bay. Rumors began to fly. But over ninety years later, we still don't know who killed John and Lucille.

This week, the Murder Sheet interviews Sergeant Mike Knetzger of the Green Bay Police Department.

Check out Mike's book on the Golden Pheasant murders, and other local cases here (shorturl.at/akFK5). If you have information on this case, send tips to Mike.Knetzger@greenbaywi.gov.

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