It was supposed to be a night of costumes, candy, and laughter — but for one small Midwestern town, Halloween 1973 became a night of unspeakable horror. In Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, nine-year-old Lisa Anne French, dressed as a cheerful little hobo, left her house to go trick-or-treating… and never came home. What unfolded over the next few days would not only devastate a family — it would forever change the way America celebrates Halloween.
The search for Lisa began as a community effort full of hope and determination. Parents, neighbors, and police scoured every block, knocking on doors, praying for good news. But when her small, lifeless body was discovered in a rural field days later, that hope turned into a collective nightmare. The truth that followed was more horrifying than anyone could imagine.
The man responsible wasn’t a shadowy stranger or a passing drifter — he was Gerald Turner, the quiet, polite neighbor who lived just three doors down. Turner was someone Lisa knew, someone her parents trusted. But beneath his calm exterior lurked a darkness few had ever seen. On that fateful Halloween night, he invited the little girl inside — and committed a crime so monstrous it would haunt the nation for decades.
When police finally connected Turner to the murder months later through forensic evidence, the town’s innocence was shattered. His 1974 confession revealed a chilling, emotionless account of the assault and killing, and his casual attempt to hide the body. At trial, the community sat in stunned silence as prosecutors described how Turner had exploited the trust of a child on the safest night of the year.
Turner was convicted and sentenced to prison — but outrage erupted years later when he was paroled after just 17 years behind bars. How could a man who had committed such a brutal act walk free? The backlash was immediate and fierce, sparking a movement that led to “Turner’s Law” — legislation allowing violent sexual offenders to be confined indefinitely after their prison terms if deemed a continuing threat.
Today, Gerald Turner remains in a state mental health facility, still considered too dangerous for release. But for Fond du Lac, and for parents across America, the damage was already done. The murder of Lisa Anne French changed Halloween forever. What was once a carefree night of neighborhood fun became a ritual shadowed by fear and vigilance.
Every October 31st, as children put on their costumes and step into the night, parents lock eyes with their neighbors and remember — monsters don’t always wear masks. Sometimes, they smile at you from the house next door. 👻
