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Closing Time : A True Crime Story of the Burger Chef Murders
On a cold November night in 1978, four young employees vanished from a small Burger Chef restaurant in Speedway, Indiana. Two days later, their bodies were found in a lonely wooded clearing. No arrests. No closure. Only a mystery that would haunt a town and investigators for decades.What really happened in those final moments before “closing time”?
Why have so many leads ended in frustration and false confessions?
And how did one ordinary suburban community become the backdrop for one of America’s most shocking unsolved crimes?
Closing A True Crime Story of the Burger Chef Murders takes you deep inside the case. Drawing on case files, witness accounts, and decades of renewed investigation, Manuel A. Ravenscroft reconstructs the lives of the victims, the night of the crime, the flawed early investigation, and the long search for justice. This isn’t just another retelling of an old case it’s a vivid, human-centered narrative that will stay with you long after you close the book.
Inside you’ll discover:
A gripping, chronological account of the murders, the investigation, and the community’s response.
Behind-the-scenes insights into how cold cases are handled and why so many go unsolved.
The human story of loss, resilience, and advocacy from families who never gave up.
Clues, suspects, and theories including some revelations and fresh angles you haven’t read before.
You won’t get every answer because the case is still officially unsolved but you will come away understanding it more deeply than ever before. Ravenscroft writes with empathy, rigor, and the credibility of extensive research, making this book an essential addition to any true-crime reader’s library.
Worried it’s “just another grim story”? Don’t be. Closing Time is not about glorifying violence it’s about remembering victims, learning from mistakes, and seeing how communities endure. Its balanced tone makes it a thoughtful read and a conversation starter, perfect for book clubs, students of criminal justice, and anyone interested in real-life mysteries.
Perfect as a gift for the true-crime enthusiast in your life or for anyone who loves compelling, unsolved mysteries.
Take your seat at the edge of the case file. Open the book, turn the first page, and step into the investigation that still echoes today.
Why have so many leads ended in frustration and false confessions?
And how did one ordinary suburban community become the backdrop for one of America’s most shocking unsolved crimes?
Closing A True Crime Story of the Burger Chef Murders takes you deep inside the case. Drawing on case files, witness accounts, and decades of renewed investigation, Manuel A. Ravenscroft reconstructs the lives of the victims, the night of the crime, the flawed early investigation, and the long search for justice. This isn’t just another retelling of an old case it’s a vivid, human-centered narrative that will stay with you long after you close the book.
Inside you’ll discover:
A gripping, chronological account of the murders, the investigation, and the community’s response.
Behind-the-scenes insights into how cold cases are handled and why so many go unsolved.
The human story of loss, resilience, and advocacy from families who never gave up.
Clues, suspects, and theories including some revelations and fresh angles you haven’t read before.
You won’t get every answer because the case is still officially unsolved but you will come away understanding it more deeply than ever before. Ravenscroft writes with empathy, rigor, and the credibility of extensive research, making this book an essential addition to any true-crime reader’s library.
Worried it’s “just another grim story”? Don’t be. Closing Time is not about glorifying violence it’s about remembering victims, learning from mistakes, and seeing how communities endure. Its balanced tone makes it a thoughtful read and a conversation starter, perfect for book clubs, students of criminal justice, and anyone interested in real-life mysteries.
Perfect as a gift for the true-crime enthusiast in your life or for anyone who loves compelling, unsolved mysteries.
Take your seat at the edge of the case file. Open the book, turn the first page, and step into the investigation that still echoes today.
58 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2025
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