The Heartbreaking and Infuriating Murder of Mary Ellen Deener
Lester Eubanks is a convicted felon who, assuming he’s still alive, should be behind bars.
As a true crime aficionado, there are some cases that just stick with you. For whatever reason, they get under your skin and infuriate you in a way that the myriad of other stories you consume don’t. For me, the murder of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener and the subsequent escape of her killer is one of those crimes.
Background
In the fall of 1965, Mary Ellen Deener lived with her two sisters, mother, and stepfather in Mansfield, Ohio.
The city is situated halfway between Columbus and Cleveland through Interstate 71. It has had a historically high crime rate according to both the FBI and a website called Neighborhood Scout. Many of its crimes are property-related, though there are violent crimes that occur as well.
However, Mary Ellen and her family were happy and the 14-year-old dreamt of becoming a nun. Of the children who still lived at home, she was the oldest. Her younger sisters were named Brenda and Gail. Her older sister, Myrtle, lived across town.
