Murder of Larry Jo Phebus

In October on 1962 14 year old Larry Jo Phebus was living in Tioga, North Dakota with his older brother Chester Phebus and friend Sam Wallace. He had moved from Petersburg, Indiana to live with the two. All three of them were living in a travelers motel, and Chester worked at an oilfield job.

On October 20, 1962 Sam and Chester went on a double date to watch a movie in Willston. They left Larry Jo home alone, and when they got back there was no sign of him. It was strange because whenever Larry Jo would leave he always left a note, so that they wouldn't worry. There was no note left at the motel room.

Chester started his search by asking friends of Larry Jo if they had seen him. He also went and asked people both from Ray and Tioga if they had seen him, but no one had. The last time anyone saw him was that Saturday. On Monday October 22, 1962 Chester told the police that Larry Jo was missing.

Larry Jo was known to hitchhike between Ray and Tioga, but never hitchhiked for over 30 miles. Thinking it could be possible though Chester had contacted his family in California, Illinois, and Indiana to see if Larry Jo had shown up. He never did and never would. On March , 1963 his body was found in a grain field near Alexander, North Dakota on Mar 28, 1963.

On March 28, 1963 Farmers were removing rocks from their field near Alexander, North Dakota when they found a body of a boy. It was obvious that before death the boy had suffered. Larry Jo was found nude with cord wrapped around his wrists and feet tied and neck. He had been strangled to death and sexually assaulted.

SOURCES:
https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/public-safety/cold-cases
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13837070/larry_phebus_murder/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13837206/murder_of_larry_phebus/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13837279/larry_phebus_murder/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13837289/larry_phebus/
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Phebus&GSfn=Larry&GSbyrel=all&GSdy=1963&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=25324384&df=all&