Frank's Place: Sam Sheppard Murder Case

60 years ago this morning one of the most sensational murder cases in Cleveland history began. In the early morning hours of July 4, 1954 Marilyn Sheppard was found beaten to death in bed, her husband Dr. Sam Sheppard would claim he struggled with a bushy haired intruder, suffering head and neck injuries as a result. After a six month media circus, Dr Sam was convicted of murder, his conviction later overturned by the Supreme Court. Dr Sam was acquitted in the 1966 retrial in which lawyer F. Lee Bailey became famous. Much speculation ensured over the years, many feel Dr. Sam got away with murder, others point to a local window washer, Richard Eberling whose blood was found on the basement stairs. Another suspect, an AWOL Air Force Major, James Call who went on a cross country crime spree in the summer of 1954 and who was later convicted of killing a New York State policeman at Lake Placid later that year. It is a mystery that has baffled Clevelanders and crime buffs for 60 years.