On September 27, 1972, 17-year-old Susan Carol Place and her friend, 16-year-old Georgia Jessup, left Susan's Fort Lauderdale home with an older man identified as "Gerry Shepherd." They had informed Susan's parents that they were going to play guitar at a nearby beach. Tragically, this was the last time they were seen alive.
Their decomposed and mutilated remains were discovered in April 1973 in a wooded area of Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Investigations revealed that both girls had been tied to a tree and had suffered severe trauma before their deaths. The nature of their abduction and the condition of their remains bore striking similarities to a previous case involving Gerard John Schaefer, a former Martin County sheriff's deputy.
Earlier, in July 1972, Schaefer had been arrested for abducting two teenage girls, whom he had taken to a remote area, tied to trees, and threatened with death. The girls managed to escape, leading to Schaefer's arrest on charges of false imprisonment and assault. He was released on bail pending trial.
Following the discovery of Susan and Georgia's bodies, a search of Schaefer's residence uncovered personal belongings of several missing young women, including jewelry and diaries. Among these items was a purse identified as belonging to Susan Place. This evidence, combined with witness testimonies, led to Schaefer being charged with the murders of Susan Place and Georgia Jessup. In October 1973, he was convicted and sentenced to two life terms in prison.
Authorities believe that Schaefer was responsible for the deaths of numerous other young women and girls, with estimates ranging up to thirty victims. He often targeted hitchhikers, luring them with offers of rides before subjecting them to horrific acts. Schaefer's reign of terror was brought to an end with his arrest and subsequent conviction, providing some measure of justice for Susan Place, Georgia Jessup, and the many other young lives he claimed.
