THE CIRCLEVILLE LETTERS MYSTERY

The small town of Circleville, Ohio is known for pumpkins, parades, and quiet Midwestern charm. But in 1976, something sinister crept into the town—one envelope at a time.

Someone out there knew Circleville’s secrets.

Someone who watched.Someone who listened. Someone who wrote.

For nearly two decades, anonymous threatening letters flooded homes, schools, and government offices. They exposed affairs, accused residents of crimes, and terrorized an entire town.

And even after an arrest…

The letters never stopped.

This is the chilling, still-unsolved nightmare known as The Circleville Letters Mystery.

The Letters Begin: February 1976

It started quietly.

Mary Gillespie, a respected school bus driver, opened her mailbox and found a handwritten, all-caps letter accusing her of having an affair with the school superintendent.

The message wasn’t vague—it was specific, personal, and deeply threatening.

It ended with a warning:

“I am watching you. I know where you live. I know what you’re doing.”

Mary hid the letter. She told no one—not even her husband, Ron.

But the writer wasn’t done.

More letters came. More accusations. More threats.

And soon, other Circleville residents began receiving their own letters—spreading fear across the entire community.

Whoever wrote them…

knew everything.

“Your Husband Will Pay the Price.”

The threats escalated.

The letter writer became fixated on Mary, demanding she confess the alleged affair. Mary denied it. Her husband Ron denied it. Family members denied it.

Then one letter delivered a chilling prediction:

“Your husband will pay.”

On August 19th, 1977, Ron received a mysterious phone call—believed to be from the letter writer.

He grabbed his gun, stormed out of the house, and drove off.

Minutes later, he was dead.

His truck plowed into a tree. Police called it a drunk-driving accident.

But the evidence said otherwise:

• Ron’s gun had been fired

• No bullet was found

• The crash angle didn’t match an accident

• Witness reports didn’t align

Some believe Ron encountered the letter writer that night—and never made it home.

The Booby Trap on the Bus Route

After Ron’s death, the letters grew cruel and malicious. The writer targeted Mary’s young daughter. Signs appeared along Mary’s bus route, forcing her to stop the bus and tear them down herself.

One sign contained more than insults.

Behind it, Mary found a small wooden box with a loaded gun rigged as a booby trap.

Someone was no longer content with threats.

Someone wanted her dead.

The gun’s serial number had been filed off—but not completely. Detectives traced it back to:

Paul Freshour. Mary’s former brother-in-law.

Paul insisted the gun had been stolen.He denied any connection to the trap—or the letters.

But Circleville was desperate for answers.

Police arrested him.

The Trial That Didn’t Add Up

Paul Freshour’s trial was odd from the start.

He was charged only with the booby trap—not writing the letters.

Yet the prosecution read dozens of letters aloud anyway, convincing the jury that Paul must have been the author.

Paul was convicted and sentenced to 7–25 years in prison.

Circleville breathed a sigh of relief.

Finally, it seemed, the nightmare was over.

But it wasn’t.

The Letters Continue — Even After Paul Is in Prison

Almost immediately after Paul entered prison, the letters began again.

Same handwriting. Same tone. Same threats.

Some letters mocked the justice system:

“You can’t stop me.”

Others taunted Paul directly:

“Now you know I’m still out there.”

Here’s where it gets stranger:

• Paul was placed in solitary confinement

• He was denied access to paper, stamps, and envelopes

• Guards monitored his mail

• He had zero way to send letters

Yet the letters still arrived—many postmarked from Columbus, Ohio, nowhere near the prison.

The sheriff claimed Paul had help.But no evidence ever surfaced.

Eventually, authorities simply stopped trying to explain it.

After serving 10 years, Paul was paroled. He maintained his innocence until his death in 2012.

Who Was the Circleville Writer? The Leading Theories

1. A Jealous Coworker

Someone close enough to Mary to know her habits, schedule, and private life.

2. A Family Member

The writer knew deeply personal details—things only relatives might know.

3. Superintendent Gordon Massie

Rumors suggested he may have started the affair rumors to protect his reputation.

4. Someone Connected to Ron’s Death

Ron’s crash remains suspicious to many residents.

5. A Postal Worker or Outsider

Someone with access to mail routes or the ability to observe the entire town.

6. Multiple Writers

The style of the letters shifted over time. Some believe several people contributed.

To this day, none of these theories have been proven.

Unsolved Mysteries Receives a Letter of Its Own

In 1993, the TV show Unsolved Mysteries began investigating the case.

Before filming even started, the show received a letter:

“Forget Circleville. If you do anything to hurt Circleville, you will pay.”

It was postmarked from Columbus.Same handwriting.Same tone.

Paul was in prison.

And he denied any involvement.

The Case That Still Haunts a Town

The letters devastated Circleville:

• Marriages ended

• Friendships shattered

• People left town

• Residents lived in fear of their own mailboxes

Even after the letters stopped, the psychological impact remained.

Today, the Circleville Letters Mystery stands as one of the most disturbing unsolved cases in American history—a blend of intimidation, obsession, and secrets that refuse to stay buried.