25: Ep.25 Fan Request: The Circleville Letters, Ohio's Most Terrifying Unsolved Mystery

Listener Discretion is advised.

Dive deep into the chilling true story of the Circleville Letters - one of Ohio’s most disturbing unsolved mysteries. For nearly 20 years, anonymous letters terrorized the small town of Circleville, Ohio, exposing dark secrets, threatening lives, and tearing apart a community.

This comprehensive investigation covers the mysterious death of Ron Gillispie, the shocking booby trap that nearly killed school bus driver Mary Gillispie, and the controversial conviction of Paul Freshour - who may have been wrongly imprisoned while the real letter writer remained free. Explore the twisted tale of anonymous harassment, small-town paranoia, and a case that remains unsolved to this day.

**What We’ll Cover:**

- The complete timeline of the Circleville Letters from 1976-1994

- Details of Ron Gillispie’s suspicious death in 1977

- How the booby trap nearly killed Mary Gillispie in 1983

- Why Paul Freshour’s conviction is controversial

- Evidence the letters continued while Freshour was in prison

- Top suspects and theories in this unsolved case

- Why this case remains one of America’s strangest mysteries

REFERENCES & RESOURCES

Primary Sources

**CBS News / 48 Hours**

- “The Circleville Letters: You’ve Got Hate Mail” (May 2024)

- “Has the Anonymous Author of the Infamous Circleville Letters Been Unmasked?” (May 2024)

- Erin Moriarty investigation and interviews

- Crime Junkie Podcast

- “INFAMOUS: Circleville Letters” episode (January 2025)

- Whatever Remains Podcast**

- Host: Marie Mayhew

- Comprehensive multi-episode series on the Circleville Letters

Secondary Sources

**All That’s Interesting**

- “Inside The Eerie Mystery Of The Circleville Letters That Terrorized An Ohio Town For Nearly 20 Years” (2025)

**Columbus Navigator**

- “Small Town, Big Secrets: The Chilling Circleville Letter Mystery That Stunned Ohio” (October 2024)

**Mental Floss**

- “Unknown Sender: The Mystery of the Circleville Letters” (2021)

**Unsolved Mysteries Wiki**

- Detailed case documentation and episode information

**Vocal Media / Criminal**

- Multiple investigative articles on the case

Court Documents & Official Records

- State of Ohio v. Paul L. Freshour (1983) - Pickaway County Common Pleas Court

- Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation reports

- Pickaway County Sheriff’s Department records

- Ron Gillispie death investigation files

Additional Resources

**Books:**

- “The Circleville Letters: A True Story of Small-Town Terror” by Erin Moriarty (2023)

**TV/Media:**

- Unsolved Mysteries (Season 7, Episode 6, 1993)

- 48 Hours on Paramount+ - “The Circleville Letters”

For More Information

Visit the Pickaway County Sheriff’s Office or Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation for official case information. This case remains unsolved and tips are still accepted.

**Case Status:** Unsolved

**Location:** Circleville, Pickaway County, Ohio

**Time Period:** 1976-1994

**Victim:** Multiple residents of Circleville, Ohio

**Convicted:** Paul Freshour (attempted murder only, 1984)

*All information presented is based on publicly available sources, court records, and investigative journalism. No claims are made regarding the guilt or innocence of any individuals mentioned.*