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Questions and Answers
What was the main effect of the threatening letters sent to the residents of Circleville, Ohio?
What was the main effect of the threatening letters sent to the residents of Circleville, Ohio?
The letters sent to the residents of Circleville were typed and included a return address.
The letters sent to the residents of Circleville were typed and included a return address.
False
Who was the superintendent of Westfall schools during the time the letters began arriving?
Who was the superintendent of Westfall schools during the time the letters began arriving?
Gordon Massey
Mary Gillespie was identified in the letters by her employee number, which was _________.
Mary Gillespie was identified in the letters by her employee number, which was _________.
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Match the following residents with their roles or characteristics:
Match the following residents with their roles or characteristics:
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What was the initial content of the anonymous letters received by Mary?
What was the initial content of the anonymous letters received by Mary?
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Ron Gillespie was charged with the death of his wife after the incident.
Ron Gillespie was charged with the death of his wife after the incident.
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Whose name was revealed in one of the threatening letters that Ron Gillespie received?
Whose name was revealed in one of the threatening letters that Ron Gillespie received?
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Mary Gillespie and Ron received letters for several years, threatening to publicize __________ if Mary did not admit to her affair.
Mary Gillespie and Ron received letters for several years, threatening to publicize __________ if Mary did not admit to her affair.
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Match the following characters with their roles:
Match the following characters with their roles:
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What was a significant change observed in the letters after Ron confronted Mary?
What was a significant change observed in the letters after Ron confronted Mary?
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Mary Gillespie admitted to having an affair with Gordon Massey immediately after the letters started.
Mary Gillespie admitted to having an affair with Gordon Massey immediately after the letters started.
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What was found linked to a sign that Mary Gillespie attempted to remove?
What was found linked to a sign that Mary Gillespie attempted to remove?
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The sheriff who investigated Ron's death was named __________.
The sheriff who investigated Ron's death was named __________.
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What was one of the accusations made against Paul Freshauer after the incident?
What was one of the accusations made against Paul Freshauer after the incident?
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Study Notes
Circleville Letter Writer
- The Circleville letters began in 1976, anonymous letters full of intimate details.
- Gordon Massey was the superintendent of Westfall schools, receiving letters about his relationships with female bus drivers, accusing him of affairs with bus drivers.
- Mary Gillespie, a bus driver, was threatened with letters about her husband and children - the writer knew she lived nearby and knew what bus she drove.
- The writer then contacted Mary's husband, Ron Gillespie, with letters about Mary's affair with Massey.
- The letters escalated threats and Ron and Mary received phone calls from their alleged tormentor.
- Mary suspected David Longberry, another driver, who was resentful about her rejections of his advances.
- Ron and Mary went to Paul Freshhour and Karen Freshhour for help - Paul wrote to David Longberry claiming he knew about David's actions and threatened to go to the police.
- The letters and phone calls stopped - the writer then started placing signs around town with the same message as the letters, accusing Massey of affairs with Mary and her daughter, Tracy.
- Ron would remove the signs every morning.
- Mary had a breakdown and travelled out of town.
- Ron was found dead on August 19th, 1997 after being thrown from his truck into a tree - it was ruled an accident due to his blood alcohol content being 0.16.
- The Gillespie family suspected it wasn’t an accident and demanded further investigation - the sheriff said it was an accident and the truck was quickly crushed.
- David Longberry was a suspect and failed a polygraph test, but his name was never released.
- The letters continued with accusations against the sheriff, including claims he was covering up the truth.
- Paul Freshhour became vocal about the sheriff’s cover-up and started receiving letters himself.
- Two years later, Mary Gillespie admitted to an affair with Massey, which began after the letters started - she claimed the stress brought them together, but the letters continued.
- Mary received over 40 letters over the next seven years, including threats towards her children - signs also continued to be posted on her bus route.
- In 1983, Mary found a sign with an attached box that had a loaded gun with a trigger attached to the sign - if she pulled the sign, she would’ve been shot.
- The gun was traced to Wes Wesley, who claimed he sold it to his supervisor - Paul Freshhour.
- Paul admitted to owning the gun but said it had been stolen weeks before and he forgot to report it.
- Although he had an alibi, he was questioned and the sheriff said his handwriting matched the letters.
- Paul was found guilty and sentenced to 7-25 years in prison.
- The letters continued while Paul was in prison - it is unclear how he could write them, from 100 miles away.
- Paul maintained his innocence and was denied parole after seven years in prison because the board believed he was still writing the letters.
- Paul was released from prison after 10 years and maintained his innocence until his death in 2012.
The Circleville Letters - A Timeline
- The letters started in 1977 after a confrontation between a school bus driver and a student's mother.
- The letters contained threats and harassment directed towards Mary Gillespie, a school bus driver.
- The letters stopped around the same time Paul Freshour was released from prison in 1978.
- The case was officially closed when Paul Freshour was arrested but many questions remained unanswered.
Suspects
- Paul Freshour: Accused by some of sending hundreds of letters from prison.
- David Longberry: A bus driver who had a romantic interest in Mary Gillespie, he fled town in 1993 to avoid prosecution.
- Karen Freshour: Paul's wife who was involved in a bitter divorce with him.
Evidence and Theories
- Paul Freshour's handwriting matched some of the letters.
- Paul Freshour’s son, Mark, stole his gun a few weeks before the incident.
- Karen Freshour was witnessed asking Paul’s sister to borrow a typewriter.
- Karen Freshour's brother owned a yellow El Camino.
- Many believe Karen had motive to hurt Mary Gillespie, as she had cheated on her brother Ron.
- The divorce decree heavily favored Paul, Karen would gain everything if Paul went to jail.
- There was a witness who saw a tall man with sandy brown hair near the sign where the letters were found, matching Karen’s boyfriend's description.
- Karen claimed to have found dozens of letters written by Paul, but said she had thrown them away.
- Karen testified against Paul that he had written the letters.
- The letters switched from handwritten to typed.
The Circleville Letters - Unsolved Mystery
- The case remains unsolved, despite multiple investigations and media attention.
- The mystery has no villains, all involved are considered victims.
- It is speculated that the letters started with William Massey’s son and David Longberry, the bus driver.
- Paul and Karen Freshour were involved in a bitter divorce and used the letters as an anonymous weapon against each other.
- The letters included specific details about school district employees, suggesting insider knowledge.
- The story ended in tragedy, with Paul Freshour imprisoned and his son taking his own life.
Themes
- The story is a complex web of relationships, deceit, and revenge.
- The characters are not simply black and white; they all have shades of grey.
- The case highlights the impact of domestic abuse and the consequences of seeking revenge.
- The lack of closure and the ambiguous nature of the truth make the story both compelling and frustrating for those seeking justice.
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