On a Halloween night in 1973, the quiet town of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, was forever altered by a tragedy that shattered its innocence. Nine-year-old Lisa Anne French set out to trick-or-treat dressed as a little hobo, her excitement palpable as she ventured into the evening darkness. But when the clock struck 7:00 p.m. and Lisa failed to return home, her motherâs concern quickly escalated into panic. A community-wide search ensued, with thousands of volunteers scouring the streets and fields for the missing child. Tragically, three days later, Lisaâs body was discovered, tucked inside garbage bags in a rural area, a grim revelation that would haunt the town for decades.
Lisa’s death marked a turning point for Fond du Lac, a place where families felt safe letting their children roam freely. The community’s belief in its safety was shattered when it was revealed that the perpetrator was not a stranger, but a neighbor. Gerald Turner, a 24-year-old machinist, lived just a few doors down from the Frenches. Known as a friendly figure in the neighborhood, Turner had even played with Lisa on previous occasions. However, unbeknownst to the community, he had a dark history of sexual misconduct, having previously molested a babysitterâa crime that had gone unreported.
On that fateful Halloween night, Lisa approached Turnerâs home, expecting a friendly exchange over candy. Instead, he led her into his bedroom, where he assaulted and ultimately killed her. Afterward, in a chilling attempt to cover his tracks, Turner disposed of her body and belongings, returning home as if nothing had occurred. As the investigation unfolded, suspicion began to focus on him, but initial attempts to link him to the crime were unsuccessful. Despite his insistence of innocence, circumstantial evidence and fibers found on Lisaâs body eventually connected him to the scene.
In August 1974, after months of investigation, Turner confessed to the crime, leaving the community reeling. His trial in early 1975 resulted in convictions for second-degree murder and multiple counts of sexual perversion. Despite the gravity of his actions, Turner received a sentence of just 38 years and 6 months in prison. Outrage erupted across Wisconsin when, after serving only 17 and a half years, he was released on parole in 1992, prompting public protests and calls for justice.
The backlash against Turnerâs release led to the enactment of “Turner’s Law,” a legislative measure designed to keep dangerous offenders incarcerated beyond their prison terms if they were deemed still a threat to society. Today, Turner remains in a state mental health facility, continuing to assert that he has changed, but the scars of his actions linger on.
In Fond du Lac, the Halloween celebrations that once represented innocence and joy have transformed into a tightly regulated event. Trick-or-treating is now restricted to daylight hours, with children required to return home before dark. The memory of Lisa Anne French serves as a somber reminder that the real monsters can often hide in plain sight, forever altering the fabric of community trust. The tragedy that unfolded on that Halloween night not only claimed a young life but also reshaped the way families approach the holiday, ensuring that the shadows of the past are never forgotten.
