Town of Menasha police say a jailhouse confession is the biggest break they’ve had in a 19-year-old missing persons case. However, investigators say the case is far from closed.
Convicted kidnapper Larry Hall claims he is responsible for the disappearance of Laurie Depies in 1992. Hall told investigators in November that he followed Depies to an apartment, abducted her, then killed her and disposed of the body.
Hall is currently serving a life sentence at a federal prison in North Carolina.
Town of Menasha Police Chief Rod McCants says Hall’s confession is the most credible lead they’ve had in the case yet, following several false confessions in the past. He says Hall did know details of the case that were not released to the public.
However, McCants says more evidence is needed to actually link Hall to Depies’ disappearance and death. He says investigators will look for physical evidence in the coming months, along with trying to locate the victim’s body.
McCants says they should know in the next six months if Hall is telling the truth or if it’s another false confession.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:21)
Audio courtesy of Rick Schuh, WHBY