Tom Kueter Mystery

[kamy]

Does anyone remember this one? It was the guy who was suspect in the missing woman case and then was found with his head ran over by his own forklift. I recall a brief update where Robert says they found the woman buried at Tom's workplace but nothing else after that. I did an internet search and came up with nothing. I was wondering if they found a cause of death for the woman (Tina, I think?) and linked Tom to her with DNA. Also, if there was an update about his murder/suicide.

I'm inclined to believe he was murdered but did murder the Tina girl. Maybe someone knew he murdered her (her husband, perhaps?) and killed him. I dunno, interesting case. Anyone know anything?

K

[bell83]

Originally Posted by kamy

Does anyone remember this one? It was the guy who was suspect in the missing woman case and then was found with his head ran over by his own forklift. I recall a brief update where Robert says they found the woman buried at Tom's workplace but nothing else after that. I did an internet search and came up with nothing. I was wondering if they found a cause of death for the woman (Tina, I think?) and linked Tom to her with DNA. Also, if there was an update about his murder/suicide.

I'm inclined to believe he was murdered but did murder the Tina girl. Maybe someone knew he murdered her (her husband, perhaps?) and killed him. I dunno, interesting case. Anyone know anything?

K

I vaguely remember it. I did a search, and it's on the current UM website, Unsolved.com. The guy's last name was actually spelled Kueter. I don't know if maybe yours was a typo, but that may have been why you couldn't find anything. It says there was an update, basically that his wife got life insurance benefits, because they couldn't prove it was a suicide, and they still really don't know much. Check it out on the site, if you'd like to know more

[kadrmas15]

Hmm, this is a tough one. I mean it seems like such a bizarre way to kill ones self. However if someone is desperate enough desperate times call for desperate measures. I too believe that Tom Kueter did kill Tina. Now, I do not necessarily believe the murder itself was premeditated. I go along generally with the police theory. That he had been playing softball that night, he dropped his friend off and then he went to where Tina worked planning on trying to get her to have sex with him. I imagine he was probably under the impression something would happen. However she rejected his advances and I imagine his ego was hurt, plus he was probably afraid she would tell his wife that he tried to hook up with her. So he panicked and he killed her.

Now, the bigger question is, was Tom Kueter murdered or did he kill himself? My theory is, he probably killed himself. I think Tom knew he was going to go down for the murder rap sooner or later. His story was bogus (for whatever reason that is a common alibi defense for a guy suspected of a murder, that his car broke down, then he gives a very specific location where this allegedly happened yet no one remembers seeing him or his car there).

So basically, Tom made the classic mistake of running his yap to the cops, being very specific about where he was, which was also a mistake because he was so specific that if he was lying (which he was) it could be easily proven as a lie. To be honest, I think Tom probably could have beat the rap on this case had he just stayed quiet but he felt that common pressure to talk to the cops because he probably felt if he lawyered up it would look like he was hiding something.

So, I think Tom knew sooner or later he was going to go down for this. Especially once they found the body, he knew he would be arrested and he knew that sooner or later the body would be found. If he was arrested, he would have to put his family through the case, he would have to go to prison, his wife and kids would lose out on all his benefits. So I think he decided to kill himself in this way knowing that they could not really prove it was a suicide, thus his family would get his life insurance proceeds, he would not have to go to prison or put his family or himself through a trial.

One other theory I have considered in this case, is it possible Tom and Tina were having an affair? When I think about it, this theory almost seems more plausible. In the segment, remember, Tina's longtime boyfriend asks Tom, 'Tom just be straight with me, are you messing around with my old lady?' he asked it in the present tense, so that tells me that the boyfriend had suspicions that Tina and Tom were having an affair.

[egswanso]

I think it's pretty clear Tom killed Tina. In his own death, there does not appear to be any evidence of murder. Suicide is certainly possible, esp. given that he likely would have gone down for the murder and didn't realish the possiblity of jail. It could also have been an accident. Honestly, the wife just comes across as someone unable to accept her husband as a rapist and murderer, so prefers to think of him as a victim instead.

Googling the name, it appears his son just died too, aged 18.

[Mastermind]

Has it been comletely ruled out againts this being an accident?

[egswanso]

Originally Posted by Mastermind

Has it been comletely ruled out againts this being an accident?

The segment made no mention of it being an accident, but that's just as probable, if not more so, than suicide.

Since the insurance paid out, it would lead me to conclude that's what it found. If there was any significent evidence of suicide, insurance would not have paid.

[crystaldawn]

I've always wanted to see an update to this case. It seems after the story was filmed, Tina's body was found. I was curious to see if there was any evidence of rape and if so if it could be linked to Tom by dna. Such a bizarre way Tom died. I lean towards him being guilty but that was a very hit and miss way to commit suicide. I wouldn't rule it out though, I think its very possible.

[Clockworkhigh]

Tom killed Tina. Tom's wife has denial written all over her. I can understand that, but there is too much going against Tom.

First off the phone call where the friend of Tina's was told that Tom was there to pick her up from work. Then Tom washing his clothes in the middle of the night as soon as he came home. No alibi for Tom's whereabouts.

Whether his death was an accident, suicide or murder is debatable. It's hard to see how someone could have killed him in broad daylight in a lumber yard. You'd think someone would have seen something, but maybe Tom worked in a big area and was often on his own, who knows? The murder theory is possible in revenge for Tina.

An accident? I don't know. Why would the forklift stop then? Same with a suicide. I am leaning towards murder to be honest, but either way Tom got what he most certainly deserved

[sdb4884]

Never offically solved? thought they might have closed the book on this one.

[j_slickk@yahoo.c]

There are alot of things that have not been said regarding my husbands death. And yes I have lost my son Dustin Kueter.

[Zlatko]

Originally Posted by j_slickk@yahoo.c

There are alot of things that have not been said regarding my husbands death. And yes I have lost my son Dustin Kueter.

I assume you're Nancy? If so, welcome. I'm sorry about both of your losses.

Nancy, could you provide us with some of the details that haven't been released abou this case? I ask this since UM often omits important details.

[j_slickk@yahoo.c]

Yes, this is Nancy. I fought for years regarding my husbands death as you know the dead can't speak. There was no evidence it was speculation what the police department said. It was there theory. I live to this day not knowing the answers. I will always believe in my heart Tom did not kill Tina. I believe/know other things happened that were not said.

Now I live with the death of my son, he died a tragic death, his life was in the hands of FRIENDS, that failed to take the necessary action that would have saved his life. It makes me sick and I will fight for him.

www.friendsdontletfriendsdie.com this is the web site I am involved with and will be the rest of my life. I will continue to save lives and get the word out.

Thank You
Nancy Kueter

[cocytus]

I've personally witnessed numerous people dismounting a forklift w/o taking it out of gear or engaging the brake,so I can see this as being an accident.Using a forklift to crush your own head will probably cause the instant death that someone is looking to find in suicide.
As for Tina, it seems likely that Tom Kueter may have killed her
especially if no other suspect has come to the fore in the time since his death.
I'm surprised that they haven't released any of the blood evidence that was gathered.Unless,of course,it didn't match Tina's blood.

[j_slickk@yahoo.c]

There was no blood found. The police department said they found blood in our vehicle it was not blood it was kool-aid that was spilled from the kids. This is one of the things not said.

I could speculate or have a theory of what may have happened ( like the rapid city police department did )

Also there were two Tom's that worked out at Black Hills Molding another thing not said.

The not knowing what really happened is killing me inside, and when you ask questions to the investigators and you don't get answers tells me they don't really know that's why they speculated and said there theory.

Thank You
Nancy Kueter

[cocytus]

Originally Posted by j_slickk@yahoo.c

There was no blood found. The police department said they found blood in our vehicle it was not blood it was kool-aid that was spilled from the kids. This is one of the things not said.

I could speculate or have a theory of what may have happened ( like the rapid city police department did )

Also there were two Tom's that worked out at Black Hills Molding another thing not said.

The not knowing what really happened is killing me inside, and when you ask questions to the investigators and you don't get answers tells me they don't really know that's why they speculated and said there theory.

Thank You
Nancy Kueter

You'll forgive me,but if you are really Nancy Kueter,I find it odd that you would be on an online forum answering comments rather than pushing the authorities to resolve this matter once and for all.
Do you have a web site dedicated to this?
If not..why not?
A Myspace/Facebook/Twitter page?
Again...why not?

If you are NOT Nancy Kueter, then your masquerade is in very poor taste and you should hope that if there is a God, that he has a sense of humor.