Robert Dirscherl

[Infojunkie]

I've searched the forum but I couldn't find anything on this one, same with google. It's the case about a supposed suicide in 1977. The family received a letter 15 years after the suicide, that was a confession that it was in fact a murder. I thought the weirdest part of the story was the psychic who met a family member on a train, and told her it was a murder and laid out how it happened.
Just wondering if anyone had an opinion. To me it sounds like another case of the police rushing to a conclusion, as no investigation was done.

[crystaldawn]

Yes, I remember that one. I do believe the letter and that it was a botched robbery like he said. I remember he said in the letter he said he was dying of AIDS and I guess wanted to clear his conscience. The whole psychic angle seemed far fetched to me.

[SP4CE INV4DERZ]

There isn't much discussion on this eerie case. This seems to be another one of the better cases of the post "UM glory years". I actually came here hoping to find an update, sadly not. I wonder if the letter was genuine and can only hope the unknown author has died as he/she stated. One thing I thought was odd is his wife never heard or saw the attacker (if there was one) leave the house. I guess they never heard him arrive either.. bit strange that. And then the pyschic angle, I'll give it some merit. What does everyone else think of the strange death of Robert Dirscherl?

[justins5256]

I have not watched this story in a long time. Regardless, I find it far easier to believe that someone who is on their deathbed and feeling guilty about an age old murder case would own up to it as opposed to believing that the note was some random prank. I also think it's more credible because, if I remember correctly, the family didn't even question Dirscherl's death until the note was found.

The psychic angle was poo poo and should have been left out of the story IMO.

[wiseguy182]

The letter writer was irritating, asking the family to pray for him/her even though they admitted to killing rorbert dirschel. what nerve. I view the psychic segments with an open mind, but while I lean towards Dirschel being murdered, I'm not fully convinced. Space Invaderz had a good point about it being weird that the wife not hearing the intruder enter or leave. I would add that it's even more weird (weirder?) that she didn't here a scuffle, which there probably was, as Dirschel wasn't shot from behind so he must have seen his attacker, it would seem. He certainly would have retaliated.

But, the police work appears to be pretty bungled here, so that makes me believe it very well could have been homicide. Plus, I would imagine Dirschel would have at least killed himself alone as opposed to doing it while his wife was in the next room. The far-fetched scenario by police had Dirschel pulling the trigger with his toe to explain how he could shoot himself with a shotgun. What? Then the police rationalized that he committed suicide because he had an unsucessful surgery a few years back, but he sounded like he was in relatively good shape to me.

I would strongly lean towards he was murdered. Not 100%, but a strong 90 or so.

[Cori aka ChrisSCrush]

Originally Posted by NA4STER

What does everyone else think of the strange death of Robert Dirscherl?

If what the family said was true...he wouldn't shoot himself because he had athlete's foot. He'd been through a lot worse.

[mozartpc27]

This is a toughy. 99.9% of the time, I'm convinced the suicide/murder ones are suicide, as I have posted elsewhere in hypothetical terms. This one is a little different, certainly in part because the family didn't appear to think the police were wrong until they received a random note of confession.

That said, if the UM depiction is accurate at all, there are significant problems. This was early in the morning, and it would appear that Mr. and Mrs. Dirscherl were really just getting up. If it this is indeed a murder, Someone would have managed to get in to the house with NEITHER Mr. or Mrs. Dirscherl seeing him, and without doing anything to break in, yet also doing this while he knew the house was full of people. Whatever he was after (this still isn't entirely clear), he must get caught, shoot Mr. Dirscherl, and then slip out of the house, again unnoticed by Mrs. Dirscherl, all in a very short space of time if the UM segment is to be believed.

Without a motive, and without any obvious signs that there had been anyone else in the house (even though this person would have had to have been ducking potential witnesses at nearly every turn), it's hard to assume this is what happened, at least for me. The psychic stuff is a non-starter. My guess is that the old aunt, knowing how important it would be to the family if some sort of corroboration for the murder story could be found, dummied up the whole thing. Notice how she --- the one who supposedly met the woman on the train --- is not interviewed in the segment.

EDIT: Fran, the sister who told the story about the psychic, was deceased at the time the UM segment was filmed, explaining why she didn't appear on the segment. I still say the psychic stuff is bogus.

[PiGuy22]

Wow I can't believe there hasn't been more discussion on this case, I personally think its one of more intruguing cases on UM. It's painfully obvious this man did not commit suicide. Why would he choose to kill himself like that? I wonder if the family always had their doubts about him committing suicide? Also does anyone remember where Robert Dirscherl kept his gun? I don't remember them mentioning that.

[TracyLynnS]

I don't think he killed himself.

Sort of off topic... did the actress who played the psychic also have a role in the mini series North and South? She looks really familiar.

[jack1957]

I am currently writing a book about this "unsolved mystery." The TV show scratches the surface, barely. The family approached me last year and I have been investigating it a great deal. The psychic angle is not a farce. I'm as much a cynic as anyone, as was the family, but it seems to have some substance. The full investigation is pretty wild and the allged suspect's past is very intriguing. The book should be done very soon. Hopefully, there will another update after the book comes out.

[TracyLynnS]

Jack,

This is very exciting news! Thanks for letting us know about your book. I'm sure there are many folks on this board who will be interested in reading it.

Do you think your book will be published this year or next? Please keep us informed. Thanks!

[jack1957]

The book should be published this year -- ideally. I'll keep everyone updated.

[Justice4Dad]

Robert Dirscherl was my father. When the train arrived in California, my Aunt Fran introduced the lady she met on the train to her son who was picking her up. Aunt Fran and her son went to a recording studio (he helped produce Natalie Cole records) and recorded the train incident because it was so amazing. I too had a very tough time w/ the psychic aspect...was not a believer. The info the lady provided was detailed and spot on. This was a stranger boarding a train in New Orleans, meeting my Aunt from Indiana, who had been visiting my mom in Florida, and then heading to California. Still can't explain it.

[Blackout]

odd

[Blackout]

well i just saw this on an old tape and was spooked