Love Letters and Blood: The Brutal Murder of Mary Petry and Bill Sproat

The blood was everywhere. It painted the walls, soaked into the carpet, and told a story of unimaginable violence that had unfolded in a quiet off-campus apartment near Ohio State University. When Bill Sproat's roommate returned home on the evening of February 28, 1970, he discovered a scene so horrific that seasoned detectives would later compare it to the Charles Manson murders that had terrorized California just months earlier.

Twenty-year-old Mary Petry and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Bill Sproat, lay dead in a tableau of such savage brutality that newspaper headlines could barely capture the viciousness of what had occurred. Bill had been stabbed more than twenty times, his wrists bound to his ankles with wire hangers, a gag shoved into his mouth. Mary had suffered more than a dozen stab wounds, her skull crushed with a bowling ball, and she had been sexually assaulted.

What made the carnage even more incomprehensible was the gentle nature of the victims. These were not people who lived dangerous lives or moved in violent circles. They were studious, devout Catholics who spoke French together, wrote love letters, and dreamed of teaching in France. Their murder would become one of Ohio's most notorious cold cases, a puzzle that has confounded investigators for more than half a century.

But now, 54 years later, advances in DNA technology and the relentless efforts of the victims' surviving sisters may finally be bringing justice within reach.

Two Souls United by Love and Language

Mary Petry and Bill Sproat should never have met. She was from Portsmouth, Ohio, a small town along the river where opportunities were limited and horizons felt narrow. He was from a middle-class family, studying French literature at Xavier University in Cincinnati. But fate intervened through mutual friends, and when the two introverted students discovered their shared passion for French language and culture, a deep and lasting bond formed almost immediately.

Mary was studying at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, then an all-women's institution where she pursued her dream of becoming a French teacher. Bill had already spent time in France on a scholarship, an experience that had deepened his love for the language and culture he hoped to share with others. Despite the 116 miles that separated Columbus from Cincinnati, their relationship flourished through frequent letters and visits.

Those who knew them described a couple obviously and deeply in love. Mary's identical twin sister, Martha, remembered the special relationship she shared with Mary, including their playful habit of switching identities to confuse relatives. "Mary and I had agreed that if one of our relatives called us by the wrong name, we would just pretend to be that other twin," Martha recalled. "Mary very quietly said, 'We are so glad that you know us so well because I am not Martha.' We were blessed to have that kind of relationship."

The twins were exceptional letter-writers, and Mary's surviving correspondence reveals a young woman with clear plans for her future. "Mary did not have a doubt in the world about her pathway," Martha said. "She was gonna marry Bill, she was going to teach at one of the Catholic high schools until both of them could go over to France and live their lives."

Bill's sister, Pat Sproat Loeliger, remembered him as a gentle, studious young man who was passionate about his academic pursuits but never combative. "He was not a fighter kind of person," she said. "He was quiet but fun-loving, very conscientious about his studies, yet not nerdy." She remembered her last conversation with Bill the Sunday before his death, when he promised to bring Mary home for Easter to meet the family properly.

A Weekend of Horror

February 27, 1970, started as an ordinary Friday for Mary Petry. She was in her third year at Mount St. Joseph, focused on her studies and counting down the weeks until she could see Bill again. When an opportunity arose for a last-minute ride to Columbus that evening, Mary didn't hesitate. She was adamant about making the trip, insisting to her traveling companion that she would wait in a hotel lobby for Bill to pick her up.

The young couple spent what would be their final weekend together in Bill's off-campus apartment at 178 West 8th Avenue, Apartment C. It was a modest place that Bill shared with a roommate, located in the area near Ohio State's campus where many graduate students lived. For Mary and Bill, it was a chance to escape the pressures of their respective schools and simply enjoy each other's company.

Bill was in his first year as a graduate student studying French at Ohio State, building on the undergraduate degree he had earned at Xavier University. Like Mary, he hoped eventually to teach, and they had discussed their dreams of someday living and working in France together. Their shared vision of the future made these weekend visits precious opportunities to plan and dream together.

February 28 should have been like any other Saturday. The couple likely spent the day together, perhaps walking around campus, studying, or simply talking about their plans. As evening approached, Bill's roommate left the apartment, not knowing that he would return to find a scene that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Discovery of Evil

When Bill's roommate returned to the apartment that evening, he found the door unlocked and a radio playing. These small details, seemingly innocuous, would later take on ominous significance as investigators tried to piece together what had happened. As he entered the apartment, he discovered a scene of such shocking violence that he immediately called the police.

The brutality of the crime was extraordinary. Bill Sproat had been stabbed more than twenty times with what appeared to be a kitchen knife. His wrists had been bound to his ankles with wire hangers in a grotesque position, and a gag had been forced into his mouth. The positioning suggested the killer had taken time to arrange the body, indicating a level of planning and sadistic intent that went beyond a simple robbery or crime of passion.

Mary Petry's injuries were equally horrific. She had been stabbed more than a dozen times, and her skull had been crushed with a bowling ball found at the scene. She had also been sexually assaulted, adding another layer of violence to an already incomprehensible crime. The sexual assault would prove crucial to the investigation, as it provided physical evidence that could potentially identify the killer decades later.

Bloody fingerprints were found throughout the apartment, evidence that the killer had moved around the space after the attacks. The crime scene suggested someone who was either in a complete rage or who took pleasure in the violence they were inflicting. The level of overkill indicated a personal motivation, yet Mary and Bill had no known enemies.

An Investigation Begins

The Columbus Police Department immediately launched an intensive investigation into what was clearly one of the most brutal crimes the city had seen. The violence of the murders, combined with the fact that the victims were young college students, generated enormous public attention and pressure on law enforcement to find the killer quickly.

The roommate who discovered the bodies was quickly eliminated as a suspect. His shock and horror were genuine, and he had a solid alibi for the time of the murders. Similarly, the cab driver who had dropped Mary off at the apartment was investigated and cleared. This left investigators with no obvious suspects and a crime scene that, while bloody, provided few clear leads.

The lack of signs of forced entry suggested that the killer had either been let into the apartment by Mary or Bill, or had gained access through some other means. This detail led investigators to theorize that the killer might have been someone known to the victims, though no one in their circle of friends and acquaintances seemed capable of such violence.

Despite extensive interviews with friends, family members, and acquaintances of both victims, no clear motive emerged. Mary and Bill were described by everyone who knew them as gentle, studious people who avoided conflict and had no involvement in dangerous activities. They didn't use drugs, weren't involved in radical politics, and had no known romantic rivals or enemies.

The investigation expanded to include anyone who might have had access to the apartment building or who had been seen in the area around the time of the murders. Police canvassed the neighborhood extensively, but in an era before widespread security cameras or cell phone records, physical evidence and witness testimony were the primary tools available to investigators.

A Case Goes Cold

As weeks turned to months, the investigation began to stall. Within six months of the crime, Columbus police were telling newspapers that they had no strong leads and little hope the case would ever be solved. The brutal nature of the murders and the lack of obvious suspects created a perfect storm for a case that would fade from public attention and become buried in police files.

The early 1970s were a turbulent time in America, with the Vietnam War raging and civil unrest common on college campuses. The murders of Mary and Bill, while shocking, became one tragedy among many in a time when violence seemed to be erupting everywhere. Additionally, violent crime was increasing in the area around Ohio State's campus, making the murders less unusual than they might have seemed in a more peaceful time.

The investigative technology available in 1970 was primitive by today's standards. DNA analysis didn't exist, and fingerprint comparison was a slow, manual process. Without witnesses or a clear suspect, there was little investigators could do beyond following up on tips and hoping for a break in the case.

As the original investigators retired or moved on to other cases, the Mary and Bill file was passed from detective to detective. Each new investigator would review the case, but without new evidence or witnesses, there was little they could do to advance the investigation. The case gradually faded from active investigation status and joined the growing list of unsolved murders in Columbus.

Families Shattered

The impact of the murders on the families of Mary and Bill was devastating and long-lasting. Martha Petry, Mary's identical twin, experienced what she described as a supernatural connection to her sister's death. On the night of the murders, while alone in her dorm room in Minnesota, Martha woke up "choking to death" and feeling like she couldn't breathe. "Well you know some twins have ESP," she said. "I can remember feeling like, 'I can't breathe, I can't breathe.'" Little did she know that her twin sister was taking her last breaths hundreds of miles away.

For both families, the lack of resolution was particularly painful. "There's always a missing chair at the table, and that's what it feels like, that there is not a wholeness, that there's something that went terribly amiss," Martha said years later. The absence of answers made grieving even more difficult, as families struggled to understand not just why Mary and Bill had died, but who was responsible and whether the killer might strike again.

Pat Sproat Loeliger, Bill's sister, remembered the anger that consumed her in the months after the murder. "I was so angry when I was 21, 22," she said. "If there was a gun, I would have shot the person." The combination of grief and rage, with no outlet for either emotion, created lasting trauma for both families.

Some family members eventually chose to let the case rest, finding it too painful to continue hoping for answers that might never come. "For my family, some of my siblings, have been quite content with just letting the case rest," Martha said. But both Martha and Pat refused to give up, holding onto hope that someday new technology or new evidence would provide the breakthrough needed to solve the case.

The Podcast That Changed Everything

In 2020, fifty years after the murders, the case received new attention through an unexpected source. Justin Glanville, a producer at Ideastream Public Media, had grown up hearing about the case because his parents had been friends with Bill Sproat. Glanville's father had even been one of the first people to arrive at the scene after the bodies were discovered, making him briefly a person of interest before being cleared.

Glanville decided to investigate the case himself, partnering with Martha Petry and Pat Sproat Loeliger to produce a podcast called "Mary & Bill: An Ohio Cold Case." What began as a journalistic project became a three-and-a-half-year investigation that would ultimately help restart the police investigation.

The podcast brought new attention to the case and connected the surviving sisters with each other for the first time in decades. Martha and Pat had lost touch after the initial investigation, but working together on the podcast helped them process their shared trauma and coordinate their efforts to push for new action on the case.

Most importantly, the podcast attracted the attention of the Columbus Police Department's Cold Case Unit. The media attention and the families' persistent advocacy convinced investigators to take another serious look at a case that had been largely dormant for decades.

DNA: The Key to Justice

The preservation of evidence from the 1970 crime scene proved to be crucial to the case's potential resolution. Despite the passage of more than fifty years, investigators had carefully maintained physical evidence from the scene, including biological samples that could be analyzed using modern DNA technology.

Detective Sergeant Terry McConnell of the Columbus Police Cold Case Unit became the latest investigator to take on the Mary and Bill case. Unlike his predecessors, McConnell had access to forensic tools that hadn't existed in 1970. "One of the biggest things now, and everybody's talking about it, the investigative genealogy that's kind of becoming the new upfront tool that we can use to solve these cases," McConnell explained.

Genetic genealogy has revolutionized cold case investigations by allowing investigators to identify suspects through their family trees. Even if a perpetrator has never been arrested or provided DNA to law enforcement, their relatives' participation in genealogy databases can provide investigators with leads that eventually point to the killer.

"This is one of the oldest cases that I've been working on and just seeing how our detectives and crime scene agents have preserved that evidence over the years has been very beneficial for us today now that we have these tools that we can go back and grab some of that evidence, and reprocess it using today's technologies," McConnell said.

The evidence preservation in the Mary and Bill case was particularly good because the original investigators had hope that future technology might provide answers. Their foresight in carefully maintaining the evidence has given modern investigators multiple samples to work with, increasing the chances of developing a usable DNA profile.

Recent Developments

As of 2024, the investigation has taken on new urgency and focus. The Columbus Police Department has indicated that they are working to rule out two suspects before submitting DNA evidence for forensic genealogy analysis. This process involves comparing crime scene DNA with samples from individuals who were investigated during the original case.

The approval process for submitting DNA evidence for genealogy analysis has proven time-consuming, as police departments must navigate legal and procedural requirements. However, investigators have indicated that they believe the case can be solved and that they have identified a person of interest.

"There is really great DNA evidence in this case, and there's actually more DNA evidence than they even originally thought," Justin Glanville reported in 2023. "The evidence in this case has been really well preserved and just a couple weeks ago, lab technicians were in that evidence box getting more DNA from the suspected perpetrator."

The Columbus Police Department's Cold Case Review Team has been particularly active in recent years, solving 20 cold cases in 2024 alone, several using new DNA technology. This success rate has given investigators and the families renewed hope that the Mary and Bill case might finally be resolved.

Theories and Speculation

Over the decades, various theories have emerged about who might have killed Mary and Bill and why. The brutal nature of the crimes, combined with the lack of obvious suspects, has led to speculation about everything from serial killers to religious fanatics.

One theory that emerged in the mid-2000s suggested that a religious figure in Mary's life might have wanted to punish her for considering premarital sex. This theory, which Martha Petry found bizarre and unsupported by any evidence, reflected the desperation of investigators grasping for any possible motive in a case that seemed to lack one.

The lack of forced entry into the apartment has consistently led investigators to believe that the killer was either known to Mary and Bill or had gained access through deception. The personal nature of the violence, particularly the overkill evident in both murders, suggests an emotional component to the crimes that goes beyond robbery or random violence.

Some investigators have wondered whether the killer might have been someone who knew about Mary's weekend visits to Columbus and had been watching the apartment. The timing of the attack, when Bill's roommate was away, suggests either careful planning or extraordinary luck on the part of the perpetrator.

The sexual assault of Mary indicates that sexual violence may have been a primary motivation for the crime, with Bill's murder possibly being an attempt to eliminate a witness. However, the extreme violence inflicted on both victims suggests a level of rage that goes beyond what would be expected in a typical sexual assault case.

The Impact on Ohio State

The murders of Mary Petry and Bill Sproat had a significant impact on the Ohio State University community and the surrounding area. The brutality of the crimes shocked students and faculty, many of whom had previously felt relatively safe in the campus area.

The murders occurred during a time when violent crime was already increasing in the area around Ohio State's campus, particularly sexual assaults. While the Mary and Bill case was extraordinary in its brutality, it was part of a broader pattern of violence that was making students increasingly concerned about their safety.

Lou Heldman, a former reporter for The Lantern student newspaper who covered the story when it first unfolded, said he was still shaken by what had happened. "On one hand, it was an absolutely horrifying crime. On the other hand, it wasn't surprising," Heldman said. "This was just so awful that it stuck with me all these years."

The case also highlighted the vulnerability of off-campus housing, where students often lived in apartments with minimal security. The ease with which the killer had apparently gained access to Bill's apartment raised questions about safety measures that continue to be relevant today.

Media Coverage and Public Interest

The Mary and Bill case generated significant media attention when it first occurred, with newspapers drawing comparisons to the Charles Manson murders that had shocked the nation just months earlier. The level of violence and the innocence of the victims made the case particularly compelling to the public.

However, as the investigation stalled and new crimes captured public attention, media coverage of the case gradually faded. The early 1970s were a time of significant social upheaval, with the Vietnam War, civil rights protests, and other major events competing for public attention.

The recent podcast has brought new attention to the case, introducing it to a generation that wasn't alive when the murders occurred. The podcast format has allowed for a more detailed exploration of the case than traditional media coverage typically permits, helping to generate new tips and renewed interest from the public.

The podcast has also highlighted the importance of family advocacy in keeping cold cases alive. Without the persistent efforts of Martha Petry and Pat Sproat Loeliger, the case might have remained buried in police files indefinitely.

The Role of Technology

The Mary and Bill case illustrates both the limitations of 1970s investigative technology and the potential of modern forensic science. In 1970, investigators had to rely primarily on witness testimony, fingerprints, and basic physical evidence. DNA analysis didn't exist, and even fingerprint comparison was a slow, manual process.

Today's investigators have access to sophisticated DNA analysis, genetic genealogy databases, and computer systems that can quickly search through vast amounts of data. These tools have already proven successful in solving other cold cases from the same era, giving hope that the Mary and Bill case might finally be resolved.

However, the success of modern forensic techniques depends on the quality and preservation of evidence from the original crime scene. In this case, the foresight of the original investigators in carefully preserving physical evidence has been crucial to the current investigation's potential for success.

The case also highlights the importance of genetic genealogy databases, which have grown exponentially in recent years as more people submit DNA samples to learn about their ancestry. These databases have become powerful tools for law enforcement, though their use raises important questions about privacy and consent.

Challenges in Modern Cold Case Investigation

Despite the advances in forensic technology, cold case investigations face significant challenges. Police departments are often understaffed and underfunded, making it difficult to dedicate sufficient resources to cases that are decades old. The Mary and Bill case has benefited from media attention and family advocacy, but many cold cases lack these advantages.

The legal and procedural requirements for using new forensic technologies can also create delays. James Renner, a true crime author and founder of the nonprofit Porchlight Project, has warned that the window for solving cases using genetic genealogy may be closing as the technology becomes increasingly regulated.

"A window for solving the case may be closing as forensic genealogy becomes increasingly regulated," Renner observed in connection with the Mary and Bill case. This creates urgency for investigators to move quickly on cases where genetic genealogy might provide answers.

The cost of modern forensic analysis can also be prohibitive for cash-strapped police departments. Advanced DNA analysis and genetic genealogy services can be expensive, and departments must prioritize which cases receive these resources.

Hope for Resolution

Despite the challenges, there are reasons for optimism about the Mary and Bill case. The Columbus Police Department has indicated that they believe the case can be solved, and they have identified a person of interest. The quality of the preserved DNA evidence gives investigators multiple opportunities to develop a usable profile.

The success rate of the Columbus Police Cold Case Review Team provides additional hope. With 20 cold cases solved in 2024 alone, the department has demonstrated both the capability and commitment needed to resolve decades-old crimes.

The continued advocacy of Martha Petry and Pat Sproat Loeliger has been crucial in keeping the case active. Their partnership with journalist Justin Glanville has brought new attention to the case and helped maintain pressure on investigators to continue working toward a resolution.

"Police departments right now have been having a lot of trouble just staying staffed up. There are a lot of cold cases out there," Glanville observed. "Because of all that, it's not that police aren't trying to solve these cases or that they don't have an intention to solve them... But the fact that the two sisters have been so involved and gotten increasingly involved over the four years I've been working on this project has been instrumental in refocusing the police on this case."

The Human Cost of Unsolved Crime

The Mary and Bill case illustrates the profound and lasting impact that unsolved crimes have on families and communities. For more than five decades, the families of Mary Petry and Bill Sproat have lived with the knowledge that their loved ones' killer has never been brought to justice.

Martha Petry and Pat Sproat Loeliger have shown remarkable resilience in their pursuit of answers, but the emotional toll has been enormous. "There's always the empty chair," Pat said, capturing the permanent sense of loss that unsolved murders create for families.

The case has also highlighted the therapeutic value of talking about trauma and seeking answers. "Reach out to people," Pat advised. "Take a risk. Talking about the past might be awkward and painful, but it's a catharsis."

Their example demonstrates how family advocacy can keep cold cases alive and potentially lead to resolution decades after the original crime. Without their persistence, the Mary and Bill case might have remained permanently cold.

Looking Forward

As the investigation continues, the families and investigators remain cautiously optimistic. The combination of preserved evidence, modern forensic technology, and renewed investigative focus provides the best chance for resolution that the case has seen in decades.

The success of other cold cases using similar techniques provides a roadmap for how the Mary and Bill case might be solved. DNA evidence submitted to genealogy databases could identify the killer or lead investigators to family members who could provide crucial information.

However, expectations must remain realistic. Even with the best evidence and technology, not all cold cases can be solved. Witnesses may be dead, evidence may be degraded, and time may have erased crucial clues. The families understand these limitations but remain committed to pursuing every possible avenue for resolution.

A Legacy of Love and Determination

Whatever the ultimate outcome of the investigation, Mary Petry and Bill Sproat's story has become more than just an unsolved murder case. It's a testament to the power of love, the importance of family advocacy, and the potential for modern technology to provide answers to decades-old questions.

The love letters that Mary and Bill exchanged, carefully preserved by their families, provide a poignant reminder of what was lost when their lives were so brutally cut short. These documents reveal not just a romance, but a partnership built on shared dreams and mutual respect.

Their families' determination to seek justice has inspired others dealing with similar tragedies. Martha Petry and Pat Sproat Loeliger have shown that it's never too late to seek answers and that persistence can sometimes overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.

The case has also demonstrated the important role that journalism can play in reviving cold cases. The podcast created by Justin Glanville has not only brought new attention to the case but has also provided a platform for the families to share their story and continue their advocacy.

As investigators continue their work with DNA evidence and genetic genealogy, there is hope that Mary and Bill's story may finally have the ending that their families have sought for more than half a century. Whether that ending comes in the form of an arrest, a conviction, or simply the identification of their killer, it would provide a measure of closure that has been too long in coming.

The brutal murders of Mary Petry and Bill Sproat shocked a nation already reeling from violence and social upheaval. Fifty-four years later, their case continues to haunt all who encounter it. But with new technology and the unwavering determination of those who loved them, there is finally reason to hope that justice may yet be served.

In an era when violent crime often seems random and senseless, the Mary and Bill case reminds us that every victim has a story, every family deserves answers, and the pursuit of justice should never be abandoned, no matter how much time has passed. Their love letters may have ended in blood, but their legacy lives on in the determination of those who refuse to let their memory fade into history's forgotten pages.

Sources

1. Cold case breakthrough? DNA could reveal who killed Mary and Bill in 1970
2. The tragedy of Bill and Mary: an Ohio State cold case, revisited
3. A 53-year-old Ohio cold case gets new hope for answers thanks to time and perseverance
4. Mary & Bill: An Ohio Cold Case | NPR
5. 'Mary and Bill' digs into a fifty-year-old Ohio cold case
6. As Ohio true crime podcast wraps up, new hope for solving a cold case
7. New podcast investigates 1970 cold case murders of Ohio college students
8. Sproat - Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost
9. Mary & Bill: An Ohio Cold Case Podcast