Investigation Discovery explores the infamous Burger Chef murders, a cold case from 1978 that shocked the town of Speedway, Indiana. The fast-food restaurant’s assistant manager, Jayne Friedt (20), and three teenage employees, Daniel Davis (16), Mark Flemmonds (16), and Ruth Shelton (18), vanished On November 17, four young employees of a Burger Chef restaurant vanished, sparking an investigation that revealed a sinister crime. The case quickly escalated from a suspected petty theft to a grim discovery of robbery, kidnapping, and ultimately, murder.
The victims, assistant manager Jayne Friedt (20) and teenagers Daniel Davis (16), Mark Flemmonds (16), and Ruth Shelton (18), were reported missing when a fellow employee found the restaurant empty, with the safe open and the back door ajar. Initial police response was lackluster, and critical evidence may have been lost when the scene was cleaned shortly after. However, when Friedt’s car was found partially locked in town and the four employees failed to reappear, the case took a more serious turn.
The bodies of the four youths were discovered in a wooded area of Johnson County on Sunday afternoon, revealing a brutal end. The perpetrators used a firearm, knife, and blunt object to carry out the killings. Despite intensive investigations and a $25,000 reward offered by Burger Chef, the case remains officially unsolved. Over the years, there have been numerous leads and suspected perpetrators, but a lack of physical evidence and confessions has prevented any successful prosecutions.
The episode explores the lasting impact of these murders on the community of Speedway and the victims’ loved ones. In 2018, they came together to honor the four lives lost by planting red oak trees, each accompanied by a commemorative plaque. The enduring mystery of the Burger Chef murders has also attracted plenty of media attention, with documentaries and films revisiting the tragic events and unanswered questions surrounding this cold case.
The Burger Chef Murders: Friday Night Fear airs on Investigation Discovery on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 10:00 PM.
