"She lives in very nice properties," Gail Feichtinger, co-author of "Will to Murder: The True Story Behind the Crimes & Trials Surrounding the Glensheen Killings," who continues to keep track of Marjorie's whereabouts and crimes told the News Tribune in 2017. At the age of nineteen she emerged as an engaging, charismatic young woman. In 2007, Marjorie was charged with fraud, theft, forgery and computer tampering after befriending a man in his 70s and becoming his power of attorney. And a witness from the first trial changed her story to say she saw Roger elsewhere the day of the murder. She was denied parole in 2001 after 10 people, including one of her daughters, sent strongly worded letters to the parole board urging her continued incarceration. She was arrested and convicted of second-degree arson and insurance fraud. Prone to arson, Marjorie was suspected of torching her home in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota, but the matter was dropped. She and Caldwell kept asking Elisabeth for money, reportedly so they could realize their dream of a horse ranch. By 1977, she was living in Colorado and married to her second husband, Roger Caldwell. Marjorie Caldwell served two prison terms for arson, and she's been linked to several mysterious deaths. Velmas body was as cold as concrete. She always told stories about her nursing training in World War I, and I was fascinated. Whether or not he had taken the pills of his own volition was never determined. She was released on October 19, 1986, and she and Wally moved to Ajo, Arizona. Thats when Marjorie got an idea. The officers who dropped her off found her quirky and engaging, a charming old lady. Marjorie's second marriage was to a man named Roger Sipe Caldwell. Marjorie got good grades but was considered something of a weirdo by her classmates. SCL: She is remembered primarily as a victim of homicide, which of course bothers me. Female psychopaths are rare, occurring at half the rate of men. Marjorie Congdon's mugshot, when she was arrested for arson in Arizona on March 25, 1991. The promise of a big pay combined with plenty of publicity may have been factors that led Ronald Meshbesher to take her case. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; A short time later, Wally Hagen moved in with Marjorie. Her adopted daughter Marjorie LeRoy's mother along with her new husband, Roger Caldwell, were accused of murdering Congdon in an attempt to inherit her fortune. Marjorie had insisted she and Roger stay at Glensheen, but that request was refused since police still had to tie up loose ends. Marjorie Congdon Caldwell was one of two daughters adopted in the 1930s by Elisabeth, who never married. The murders at Glensheen mansion were sloppy. The primary victim, Elisabeth Congdon, was 83 years old. She made few friends. Congdon was the only surviving child of mining magnate Chester Congdon, who built the lavish mansion in 1909. But she's not able to get around town like in the old days. His conviction had been overturned by the Minnesota Supreme Court after fingerprint evidence used in his trial was called into serious question during Marjories own criminal trial in 1979win which she was acquitted of her alleged role in planning the murders. In addition, they are charming, charismatic and engaging. Illustration by Allegra Lockstadt; Photography provided by Dana Hall; Glensheen | University of Minnesota-Duluth; St. Paul Pioneer Press | Handwritten will courtesy of Zenith City Press as presented in Will to Murder: The True Story Behind the Crimes & Trials Surrounding The Glensheen Killings, considered the Definitive Book about the murders. You want to raise your hand and draw attention to it, even if it might be considered a bit crass. Sociopaths are rarely so engaging. I visit anonymously and join tours to see what they say, and see how people react. In the early years of the twentieth century as the demand for iron ore increased, Chester Congdons wealth grew. Everybody loves a murder mystery! Meanwhile, during all this legal back and forth, the Glensheen mansion had opened to the public. She was arrested again in 1984 when she burned down her house in Mound, Minn. She was convicted of arson and insurance fraud and sentenced to 21 months in prison. On January 13, 1984, Marjorie was given 21 months in the Shakopee Womens Prison for burning down her and Wallys home in Mound, Minnesota. Psychopaths are driven by their need for control. MP: In the book, you implicate her in numerous murders across the country, although she never served time for any. Paul Airport, were found in the Caldwells hotel rooms, authorities arrested Roger and charged him with the murders. "Certainly, it isn't surprising she's back in the news today. If Marjorie couldnt have it, nobody would. With Roger out of prison under supervision and a retrial looming, authorities decided to strike a deal rather than risk an acquittal. The trial was moved to Brainerd and in July of 1978 the jury found Roger Caldwell (Marjorie's husband) to be guilty of the crimes. She parted ways with her second husband, Roger Caldwell, after the trials. She was accused of murdering her third husband, although those charges were dropped. And I whispered to the guide, 'You know she was brutally murdered, right?'". The mansion itself is located in Duluth Minnesota, 2 1/2 hours from my home in Brainerd Minnesota. The mansion was constructed as the family home of Chester Adgate Congdon. Most psychopaths are not violent, but all are treacherous. She added that she hasnt had contact with her for 40 years. We see that you have javascript disabled. Adopted by one of the wealthiest families in Minnesota, she was brought up in lavish surroundings with all the comforts money could buy, Marjorie had an idyllic childhood. But her mother, who was murdered in 1977, was not. I have had no contact with her for 40 years. 40 years later, Hartman said the murders are still fresh and raw for members of the Congdon family, some of whom sit on the museum's board. After his wife mysteriously died after a visit from Marjorie, Wally Hagen became Marjories next husband. On March 24, 1992, she was arrested for burning down her neighbors house. They care nothing about anyone else, although they are often good at making it seem as if they do. In 1995 an Arizona judge decreed that Wally Hagens ashes must be divided between Hagens children and Marjorie. Her trustees earlier had cut Marjorie off from the Congdon millions, after the. Nowadays, criminal psychologists recognize the allure of psychopaths as practiced behavior. Hagen was arrested in 1977 in connection with the deaths of her mother, mining heiress Elisabeth Congdon, and her mother's nurse, Velma Pietila. At the same time, she essentially only comes after people she can get something from, and none of my siblings or myself have anything for her. We hope Marjorie doesnt show up at the theater with a box of matches, Poling says. It is so beautiful and wonderful Im glad that everyone can enjoy it. They agreed. Then the story took another turn when the Minnesota Supreme Court court threw out Roger Caldwell's conviction based on the new evidence introduced at Marjorie's trial. What they inadvertently let loose on a summer day in 1932 destroyed many lives, and it all began with an act of generosity. All marjorie congdon caldwell hagen artwork ships within 48 hours and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. The man who actually committed the murder was Roger Caldwell, the second husband of Elisabeth Congdon's adopted daughter, Marjorie, according to MinnPost. Marjorie Congdon was born Jacqueline Barnes on July 14, 1932, to an unwed mother in Tarboro, North Carolina. Just before the fire, Marjorie was seen carrying valuables out of the house and loading them into her car. MP: What do you consider to be her most important and lasting legacy to Minnesota? They never suspected what was about to happen. A big contingent are coming in opening nighttheyve got their tickets already.. Please enable javascript and refresh the page to continue reading local news. Caldwell was a bad alcoholic. Police said they believed he was exposed to natural gas from the kitchen stove through a garden hose. Marjorie and Dick LeRoy had seven children: When LeRoy was transferred to Minnesota, they lived in Minneapolis, then moved to St. Louis Park. That has always bothered me. The cause was arson, but her presence there could not be connected to the crime, and she was not arrested. How do you feel about the recent moves to open up the private areas of the house to the public? Also that year, she pleaded no contest in connection with arson fires at an Ajo storage yard believed set for a fraudulent insurance claim. She was convicted of attempted arson, and the judge allowed her to go home before reporting to prison to make arrangements for her 84-year-old husband. A garden hose was found running from the gas stove in the kitchen to their bedroom. At great personal expense, Congdon hired a mining engineer to develop a washing mill that could remove the sand. Four years into his sentence, though, Roger Caldwell walked out of prison, never to return. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); In 1951 Marjorie found herself in St. Louis, Missouri, and married Richard Dick Webster LeRoy, an insurance executive. Roger Caldwell was identified by a Duluth cab driver who remembered taking him out to Glensheen on the night of the murders. Are any of Freddie and the Dreamers still alive? Hagen endorsed and deposited an $11,000 check into a bank. The reason why they dont talk about the murders on the tour isnt because they are trying to hide it, its because murder is a horrendous thing to happen and not everyone wants to hear about it. She taught me to give back. Marjorie Congdon became Marjorie LeRoy on June 30th, 1951. Now, the city might start buying garbage trucks, Let's talk about our racist and ugly state flag, Minnesota Democrats might spend big in bid to fix a struggling child care industry, The long, bitter fight over Minneapolis Roof Depot site, explained, Time to celebrate our Minnesota public schools, Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives Creative Commons license. 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