Last Entry: August 1, 2003  
 

THE FOUR SCIENTISTS CLUB'S INVESTIGATION JOURNAL
 Journey along with the Four Scientists as their search for clews lead them through Chicago's past and present...
Accompanied by stills from the upcoming documentary being filmed of our investigation.
July 27, 2003
The Four Scientists Club is formed to investigate the unsolve murder of Judith Mae Andersen. To learn more about the club and why it was formed visit the 4SC Origin section.
July 28, 2003

Peter, Alan and I (Brandon) met at 10am to begin the investigation. The first place we investigated was the Sulzer Library on Lincoln Ave in Chicago. A helpful librarian, perhaps impressed with our oversized magnifying glass, searched for anything that would aid us in our search. But alas, there was nothing available.

We headed downtown to continue the search.
The Harold Washington Library's microfiche (microform) room yieled many news articles from 1957 about Judith Mae Anderson and the search for her killer.
After sifting through reels of microfiche, we finally found the first headline from the of the story from the Chicago Sun-Times.
Reviewing a map of Chicago from 1956.
The investigation then continued to City Hall where a bureaucratic chase lead us from one office to another and eventually to the basement of the building.
We attempted a shortcut that led us into a winding stairwell inside City Hall. The door locked behind us and we were forced to walk all the way down.
On the way, we passed floor 3 1/2. Perhaps Spike Jonze's inspiration for Being John Malkovik.
In the basment office of the City Hall building (our second time down there) we were able to locate the previous owner's of Peter and Shelly's house. They started freaking out when I was filming wanting to know if I was a spy or if I had a bomb.
Later, Shelly met us and we all sifted through the information we had gathered and plotted the locations involved in the investigation on a large map which Alan procured for us from 1956.
A search of the web reveals little information about Judith or the murder.
July 29, 2003
We met again at the microfiche room at the library. After nearly exhausting the information contained there, we headed out to visit the address where Judy (Judith) lived at the time. Rush hour traffic caused us to revise our strategy and we instead decided to pay a visit to Montrose Harbor where her body was was found and the 100+ scuba divers searched for clues.
This photo series shows our search of the harbor area for anything that might be relevant to the case.

We visited t the Park Bait Shop to see if there was anyone who had been around during the time of the murder. I interviewed a man who lived in Chicago at the time, but did not want to discuss the case. He did not want us filming inside either.

On the way back, we spotted the street and found the apartment building where witnesses reported hearing screams on the night of Judy's disappearance. The building owner later found a pair of pants that appeared to be covered in blood, yet decided to throw them in the incinerator (later insisting he had not heard of the investigation or the claims of hearing screams in the building).
The Four Scientists Club Website is launched in an effort to share our research as well as to request information or memories from the community.
July 30, 2003

The four scientists split up to do independent research. I received an email from Peter "I was thinking that I would put together a timeline (subject to arbitrary modification by any credentialed scientist) as well as a list of suspects whom we may want look for in Chicago. At the top of my list is Elena Abbatacola [picture below], or any Abbatacola. Also, I will call the Chicago P.D. today and see if there is any way to gather information about old unsolved cases." Alan suggested there might be news footage in existance. This is another lead we need to follow up on.

Peter has submitted a request for us to view the police records. This may take some time, but this ought to be even a better resource for information about the case.

Many emails were exchanged and I will try and summarize them here (please check back soon)

  
July 31, 2003
Peter began a timeline of the night that Judy was last seen (check out the chronology section). Cheryl, our lab technician in Seattle is working on a section for the website that will chronicle that year of 1957 and give some historical perspective to the time at which the events were taking place.  
August 1 , 2003

2am - I made lots of changes and updates to the site. I have more planned for tomorrow (later today) and this weekend. Keep checking back for the latest updates.

11am - The first installment of the 1957 time capsule is posted.