In the dark, early morning of May 29th 1928, a man entered a room shared by three sisters, when he left he held 7-year-old Dorothy Selangowski tightly in his arms, his hand over her mouth. A search soon started, with police and neighbors
looking, then a grisly discovery was made only doors away, on the porch of the child’s grandfather. Suspects would emerge, including one of the girl’s brothers, but the evidence pointed to someone else, another family member who had at one time lived with Dorothy and her family.

Hear the full story of the taking of Dorothy Selangowski and how police and a female reporter were able to track down the one who abducted and murdered her on the latest episode Crimes We Forgot.

REDRUM True Crime is a podcast focusing on the true victims of crime. Each episode focuses on a new story. Real life, real victims, real crime. This is REDRUM. Written and presented by Grace Cordell.

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Sources:

Lancaster New Era – May 29, 1928 – Stolen from Her Home, Strangled Beaten to Death

The Cincinnati Post – May 29, 1918 – Kidnaped Girl Found Slain Near Home

Petaluma Daily Morning Courier – May 30, 1928 – Girl, 7, Victim of Fiend

The Daily Times – May 30, 1928 – Police Hold 3 Relatives of Dead Girl

The Herald Press – May 30, 1928 – City Aroused Over Kidnaping, Slaying of Girl

Sapulpa Herald – May 31, 1928 – Chauffeur Admit He Slew Girl

The Belleville News Democrat – May 31, 1928 – Trap Fiend Who Kidnaped, Killed Girl

The Daily Advocate – June 1, 1928 – Young Victim of Kidnaper Buried Today

The Daily Times – June 1, 1928 – Fear Slayer May End Life

The New Messenger – June 1, 1928 – Insanity Plea to be Used by Child Slayer

Wichita Falls Times – June 3, 1928 – Accused Denies Guilt as Slayer of Child

The Gailon Inquirer – June 7, 1928 – Attorneys Threatened

The Brownsville Herald – June 8, 1928 – Kidnaping Case is Solved by Quick Work of Girl Reporter

Marysville Journal Tribune – July 5, 1928 – Hoppe Trial is Delayed

The Daily Advocate – July 6, 1928 – Charles Hoppe Admits Series of Brutal Clubbings

The Piqua Daily Call – July 7, 1928 – Defense Will Strive to Prove Confessed Club Killed Insane

Lancaster Eagle Gazette – July 16, 1928 – Confesses to Killing Lily Croy

The Portsmouth Times – July 16, 1928 – Charles Hoppe Is Found To Be Sane

The Dayton Herald – July 17, 1928 – Killer Breaks Down in Prison; Weeps in Night

The Evening Review – October 20, 1928 – Toledo Girl’s Killer Given Lease of Life

Troy Daily News – November 9, 1928 – Clemency is Refuse Slayer of Ohio Child

Troy Daily News – November 16, 1928 – Child Slayer Doomed to Die November 30

The Piqua Daily Call – November 30, 1928 – Chair to Kill Two Ohio Men

Sidney Daily News – December 1, 1928 – Rucker and Hoppe Pay the Penalty

The Plain Dealer – November 4, 1929 – Toledo Girl Is Missing