When your town’s name really is just a seed to a elaborate murder mystery…your town is Dead Women Crossing in Oklahoma.
The origin of the name involves divorce, prostitutes, murder, and even suicide. Not necessarily in the order one would expect. Wiki explains:
Of course the loose ends on the story were not all tied up.
- Did Katie and Norton meet on the train by chance, or had Norton sought out Katie? Was Norton somehow involved with Katie’s estranged husband, and if so what was his role in the murder? Katie’s husband had a strong alibi for the time of her disappearance, but he did not take a part in her search, and showed no interest in finding her.
- Why were Katie’s remains not found for two months? The area was extensively searched. Did somebody move Katie’s body later, and if so, who did it? The only suspect in the case, Fannie Norton, was long dead by that time.
- Why did Katie leave the train at Clinton, rather than continuing to Ripley as planned? What did a schoolteacher find in common with a prostitute?
And now the least surprising part of the Wiki page: It’s purported to be haunted.
The Wiki page is called “Dead Women.” Another page on Google lists it as “Dead Woman” which would make more sense.