Local public commenter recounts alternate theories about historic killings

A public commenter during the meeting summarized material from sheriff—s files and a chapter of a book offering multiple alternative theories about the killings of two boys. The speaker said one sheriff—s file argues John Tornow could not have killed the boys because he was 27 miles away at the time, and mentioned another file that names two people who supposedly had a vengeance against Tornow.

The commenter described Chapter 29 of the book, titled "conspiracies and theories," which the speaker said lists roughly a dozen possible explanations. Among those mentioned was a land-dispute theory: the commenter said the Schaeffer family owned land adjacent to the Tornos and wanted an easement to transport timber across the Tornos— property, a request the Tornos opposed. The speaker said some people have suggested Henry Bauer could have killed his own boys, a claim the commenter acknowledged as part of the range of theories in the chapter.

The speaker also noted that, two weeks before the boys were killed, a man in Centralia had confessed to killing two people; the commenter cited that confession as contextual evidence that alternative or unexpected perpetrators have existed in other cases. The remarks were offered as public comment; the meeting record does not include any formal investigation findings or official votes on the matter, and no speaker cited in the meeting presented new documentary evidence at this session.