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Does the Sausage King’s Wife still Haunt Chicago?
Does the Sausage King’s wife still haunt Chicago? Favorite guest Mondo joins Pat and Rebecca to discuss and debate the story of the Sausage King. In 1897, the wife of Adolph Luetgert, the Sausage King of Chicago, was reported missing. Two trials later, Luetgert was convicted of killing his wife Louisa. Since her death, reports of her ghost have haunted both their former home and the sausage factory where her body was supposedly dissolved. Listen to the debate and then you decide – does Louisa Luetgert haunt Chicago?
Questions Explored in this Episode
Who was the sausage king of Chicago, Adolph Luetgert? What was his early life like and how did he reach his high status? Who were his first wife and children? What happened when Louisa went missing as well as what happened during the investigation? Why were there two murder trials? Why did Adolph think Louisa was haunting him in jail? What are the reports of Louisa haunting the factory and their former home? Does she haunt the city?
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Listener Mail and Questions
This week’s listener mail is about a figure seen from behind. Have a spooky story or question of your own (or someone you know)? Send your story or question to info@ghostlypodcast.com and we might read it on the podcast. You could be on a future episode of Ghostly!
History of the Sausage King Murder
Pat explores the history of Adolph Luetgert, the Sausage King of Chicago and the mystery of his missing wife in 1897. He also reveals the story of the two murder trials and the king’s final fate.
The Debate
Rebecca, Mondo, and Pat debate the stories of Louisa Luetgert’s ghost. Adolph was first convinced the police hired people to pretend to be Louisa’s ghost, but in then he claimed it was her real ghost. Since then, multiple reports of her ghost have been reported at the site of the former factory as well as their former home.
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THANK YOU to Special Guest Mondo!
Sources for this Week’s Episode
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolph_Luetgert
Chicagology: https://chicagology.com/notorious-chicago/sausagevatmurder/
Crime Capsule: https://crimecapsule.com/adolph-luetgert-the-sausage-king-killer-of-chicago/
The Yale Review: https://yalereview.org/article/sausage-vat-murder-1897
Chicago Tribune: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-08-03-8602250600-story.html
Virily: https://virily.com/culture/chicago-history-sausage-king-murder/
Sword and Scale: https://www.swordandscale.com/the-chicago-sausage-factory-murder/
Murderpedia: https://murderpedia.org/male.L/l/luetgert-adolph.htm
The Scare Chamber: https://www.thescarechamber.com/the-sausage-ghost-of-chicago/
Mysterious Chicago Tours: https://mysteriouschicago.com/ghosts-of-the-luetgert-sausage-factory/
Haunts of Missouri: https://hauntsofmissouri.wordpress.com/2019/11/28/louisa-luetgert/
Mysticalminds: https://mysticalminds.net/category/paranormal-stories/
Huff Post: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/in-search-of-mrs-luetgert_b_1063967
Alcemyofbones: http://www.alchemyofbones.com/stories/factory.htm
Music for this episode was performed by Michael Rivers
Intro: “III. Allegro moderato from Gargoyles” by Lowell Liebermann
Outro: “Dream Images (Love-Death Music)” by George Crumb
Bumper: “Ghost Waltz” by Lowell Liebermann
“Pat Facts” and “Ghost Story” themes by Mondo
“Time for a Debate” theme by Gail Gallagher gailgallaghermusic.com