SPEEDWAY, Ind. – The site of a former fast food restaurant in Speedway, Indiana, linked to the unsolved murders of four young people in 1978 is set to be demolished in the coming weeks. The building, which once housed a Burger Chef, was later converted into a pawn shop. The planned demolition has stirred up memories of the tragic events that took place over four decades ago.
The Burger Chef building is where four workers were abducted in 1978. The victims, Jayne Friedt, Daniel Davis, Mark Flemmonds, and Ruth Ellen Shelton, were found dead a few days later in a neighboring county. Their murders have remained unsolved for 45 years, leaving a haunting legacy in the community.
Local authorities have confirmed plans for the building’s demolition and its eventual replacement with a dental office. The location has seen various businesses come and go over the years, but has never been able to shake off its dark past. Former police officer Bill Jones recalled the impact the murders had on the community, noting that the building served as a constant reminder of the tragic events.
The Burger Chef murders initially appeared to be a case of petty theft, and the restaurant was even cleaned and reopened the day after the killings. Despite years of investigation, the case remains unresolved, leaving a somber cloud hanging over the location. The building’s history as a fast food chain and later as a pawn shop has now come full circle, as it is set to make way for new development in the area.
As Speedway prepares to bid farewell to the Burger Chef building, the community continues to grapple with the unresolved nature of the 1978 murders. The planned demolition marks the end of an era for the building, which has witnessed numerous attempts at redevelopment but has ultimately remained tied to the tragic events that unfolded within its walls.