Crime Library: Criminal Minds and Methods

A Million Dollar Murder

Midnight Migraines

After school let out in late May 1964, Candy traveled to Key Biscayne with her own daughter, Rita, and three of the four adopted children. No one knows the nature of the Mosslers relationship in Key Biscayne, whether contemptuous, cordial or conjugal.

But soon after Candy arrived in Florida she apparently began experiencing debilitating migraine headaches.

Three times she sought emergency treatment at Miami s Jackson Memorial Hospital, on June 24, 26 and 29. Each time she drove herself to the hospital between 1 a.m. and dawn, taking the children with her and leaving Jacques Mossler home alone with his boxer dog. The June 29 trip was particularly odd.

DuPont Plaza Hotel
DuPont Plaza Hotel
 

She loaded the children in her red convertible at 1 a.m., saying she had to mail some letters. She drove to the DuPont Plaza Hotel, where she bought stamps and posted several letters. She then went to the hospital for a migraine treatment.

In her two hours there, Candy received three phone calls from the same man at the nurses station near the emergency room. The caller was not Jacques Mossler, a nurse would later say.

Back on Key Biscayne, Mosslers dog woke neighbors with ferocious barking at 1:30 a.m. This was followed by a series of thuds, muffled groans and a strange mans voice. The noises were so troubling that three neighbors went to Mosslers door to check on him. Their knock went unanswered, and they gave up and went home. Candy and the children returned at 4:30 a.m., and found Mosslers body in the living room. Candys teenage daughter, Rita, called police.

Mossler Stabbed to Death, headlines
Mossler Stabbed to Death, headlines
 

Deputy Sheriff Jim Jorgenson arrived at 4:53 a.m. Candy answered the door and said, Hes over there, gesturing into the living room.

The deputy said the freshly minted widow was strangely dispassionate. But Dr. Handwerker attributed her dull reaction to shock.

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