Ralph Probst, a 30-year-old white male and Cook County sheriff's police patrolman, was tragically murdered on April 10, 1967, in his home in Hometown, Illinois. On that fateful evening, Ralph was spending time with his wife, Marlene, watching television. At some point, he went into the kitchen, where an unknown assailant fired a bullet through the kitchen window, striking him in the back of the head. The bullet ricocheted off a kitchen cabinet and fell onto the stove. Ralph was found lying on the kitchen floor by his wife, who had been awakened by the sound of the gunshot. Despite immediate efforts to save him, Ralph succumbed to his injuries, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The investigation into Ralph Probst's murder revealed several potential leads but ultimately left many questions unanswered. Ralph was known for his strict adherence to the law and had made some powerful enemies during his career.
Notably, a few months before his death, Ralph and his partner, Bob Borowski, were assigned to guard a notorious mobster named Sam DeStefano. During this assignment, Ralph handcuffed DeStefano to the bed, which angered the mobster, who threatened to kill him. This incident raised suspicions that DeStefano or his associates might have been involved in Ralph's murder.
Despite these suspicions, no arrests were made, and the case remained unsolved. Ralph's partner, Bob Borowski, vowed to find the killer and continued to investigate the case for years. However, the lack of concrete evidence and eyewitnesses made it difficult to identify the perpetrator. The murder weapon was never found, and no one in the neighborhood reported seeing the gunman, although some heard the shot.
Over the years, the case of Ralph Probst's murder has remained a cold case, with occasional reviews by law enforcement and interest from true crime enthusiasts. The Cook County Sheriff's Office continues to seek information from the public in hopes of solving the case and bringing justice to Ralph Probst and his family. Despite the passage of time, the memory of Ralph Probst's dedication to his duty and the tragic circumstances of his death continue to resonate with those who remember him.
