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Murder In Lakemoor, Illinois
Murder In Lakemoor, Illinois
Sun, 01/4/09 – 1:03 am | 2 Comments

On the morning of June 2, 1981, two people were found shot to death in the living room of an apartment at the rear of the P.M. Pub, located at 238 West Rand Road in Lakemoor, Illinois.

The victims were the tavern’s owner, 37-year-old Ronald Scharff , and barmaid Patricia Freeman, who had worked her first shift at the bar the previous evening. Lakemoor is situated about 45 miles northwest of Chicago and was a community of around 800 at the time.

These were the first reported homicides there since its incorporation in 1952.

Read the full story »
Interviews

Interviews with Paul, Holly and others around the case.

Messages From Paul

This category contains personal messages from Paul Scharff related to the site and case.

Newspapers

Links to newspaper articles and other print media covering the case.

Television

Links to television coverage around the case.

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Supplementary videos about the case or the people involved.

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Sun Times : Bar Slaying Case Closed
Tue, 07/21/09 – 6:28 pm | No Comment

Sun Times : Bar Slaying Case Closed

The baby-sitter, it turns out, got it right.

The McHenry County sheriff’s office has concluded that a now-dead mob hit man named Larry Neumann, in all likelihood, killed two people in 1981 in the small town of Lakemoor — a long-cold case that was reopened last summer on the basis of a tip from Holly Hager, who baby-sat for the children of one of the pair back then.

Read the full Sun Times article on the Scharff/Freeman murder.

Northwest Herald – Probe Into ’81 Deaths Closes
Sun, 07/19/09 – 3:20 pm | No Comment
Northwest Herald – Probe Into ’81 Deaths Closes

Today’s article in the Northwest Herald talking about the current status of the Scharff/Freemen murder investigation.

“Almost a year after sheriff’s investigators revived their efforts to solve the 28-year-old case, they announced that they believe Larry Neumann – a mob hitman who died Jan. 9, 2007, in prison for an unrelated murder – is responsible for slaying P.M. Pub owner Ronald Scharff and his bartender, Patricia Freeman.”

Read the article here.

Frank and Me
Tue, 06/30/09 – 6:56 pm | No Comment
Frank and Me

I am sorry that I have not put a blog in a couple of weeks, but I placed an entry today. I have taken a break to some of the more dreary things that I have been writing as of lately to something a little more upbeat. I promise to get back to the dreary stuff on my next entry.

This week I have written about my trip to Las Vegas and my day with Frank Cullotta. Please take a look at and I hope that you enjoy.

Paul Scharff Interviewed on TheVegasMob.com
Mon, 06/22/09 – 2:14 pm | No Comment
Paul Scharff Interviewed on TheVegasMob.com

Mark Anthony, editor of The Vegas Mob and host of The Vegas Tourist Podcast, interviews Paul Scharff about the murder of his father and Patricia Freeman in Lakemoor, IL in 1981.

Northwest Herald: Elusive Peace
Tue, 06/2/09 – 6:56 am | No Comment
Northwest Herald: Elusive Peace

There is a new article in the Northwest Herald today covering the Scharff case.

Earth to Earth and Ashes to Ashes
Tue, 05/19/09 – 10:53 pm | No Comment
Earth to Earth and Ashes to Ashes

Finally, my father is being put to rest. The surreal feelings that I have been having is starting to wear off. This is good because I need to move from feeling shocked. However, I feel that I am giving in to my anger. The reality of never seeing my father again is sinking into my bones.

Happy Birthday to Me
Sun, 05/17/09 – 10:04 am | No Comment
Happy Birthday to Me

Larry Neumann killed my father and Patricia Freeman on June 2nd, 1981. My Birthday is June 5th which was the same day as my father’s wake. Unfortunately but understandably this is the birthday in my life that I remember most. The loss of my father still is not setting in yet but my memories of him are almost immediately start fleeting from me. I started to grow up I think on that day. I think that this also may have been one of the longest days in my life.

The First Dark Day
Sun, 05/10/09 – 12:24 pm | 17 Comments
The First Dark Day

This week I wrote about the first couple of days after Larry Neumann killed my father and Patricia Freeman. I had some immediate struggles trying to comprehend what happened to my dad. You will sense the fears that I had moving forward with my life. I did not even know how I was going to move forward or what I was going to be working with. When I write about those days back then, I feel sad for that little boy!

June 1st, 1981 and Before
Sun, 05/3/09 – 9:59 pm | 11 Comments
June 1st, 1981 and Before

This week I wrote about what things were like before June 2nd, 1981. Before Larry Neumann murdered my father Ron Scharff and his barmaid Patricia Freeman in my father’s tavern in Lakemoor, IL.

What Is The Purpose of McHenry County 1981 and Why Should We Care?
Sun, 04/26/09 – 8:45 am | No Comment
What Is The Purpose of McHenry County 1981 and Why Should We Care?

Paul Scharff, the eldest son of Ron Scharff, who was murdered in Lakemoor, Illinois in June of 1981 along with his employee Patricia Freeman, gives his thoughts on why the public should care about this case and what the purpose of the efforts are around the McHenry County 1981 group and web site.

Simon Barrett: Ronald Scharff & Patricia Freeman – A Cold Case Once Again?
Tue, 04/14/09 – 6:37 pm | No Comment
Simon Barrett: Ronald Scharff & Patricia Freeman – A Cold Case Once Again?

Simon Barrett from The Bloggers News Network has written an article today talking about his discussions with McHenry County Sheriff about the current activity around the Scharff case. According to Barrett, they have scaled resources back to 2 officers handling the case – though its not clear how much time they are spending on it as nothing seems to have been done. Read Simons take on the case and his conversations with the McHenry County Sheriff.