The Murder of Jack James Kroecker Jr., Christmas 1968
Jack Kroecker was born on May 1, 1945, and grew up in Parma, OH. His father, Jack James Kroecker Sr, was the vice president of Permold Inc, an aluminum foundry in Medina, OH.
In 1963 Jack graduated from Parma High School, where he was a district wrestling champion. He then completed three years as a mathematics major at the University of Dayton before being drafted into the US Army in May 1968.
He graduated first in his class at Army Finance School at Ft Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis, IN and took basic training at Fort Knox, KY. At the time of his death he was working in the finance section of Fort Carson in Colorado.
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| Photo from FindAGrave. |
At about midnight on Wednesday, December 25, 1968, Jack returned to his friend's car and lay down to rest. A few minutes later the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) received a call about a man lying on the seat of a car. In response, a patrolman checked the location at 12:15am and found Jack inside the vehicle. He told the officer that he was alright, just resting after being out celebrating with a friend. The friend's whereabouts at this time were not stated by sources, but it is implied that he was still out celebrating.
At approx. 12:39am, two cruising CSPD officers came along and found Jack lying on the sidewalk at the intersection of Cucharras Street and Nevada Avenue. He was lying behind the car, which was parked in the 100 block of East Cucharras Street. Jack was unconscious, and had been shot in the chest.
Jack was quickly transported to St Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He was killed by a small caliber gunshot wound to the heart. Sources do not indicate whether Jack was shot while inside or outside the vehicle.
Police questioned the friend that Jack was out celebrating with, but he was not held. CSPD also questioned Jack's other friends, as well as others who were known to be in the area that night. The FBI were also investigating. Despite this, investigators did not have any motives, suspects, or leads by December 29th; from this it seems that robbery was ruled out as a motive.
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| Photo from CBI. |
Anyone with information regarding Jack's death is urged to please call CSPD at (719) 444-7000. According to CBI the agency case number is 69-60412, though, considering the year of occurrence, it is likely actually 68-60412. Tipsters wishing to remain anonymous may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or at 1-800-222-8477.
Note: Jack was murdered on Christmas Day. See the Holiday & Events Reference Page for an explanation as to why this is being mentioned.
Sources
Fort Collins Coloradoan 12/26/68
Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph 12/26/68, 12/29/68, 3/23/72
The Plain Dealer 12/27/68
The Cleveland Press 12/27/68
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