MURDERED: Linda Sherman

The gist

Linda Sherman vanished on April 22, 1985, from Saint Louis County, Missouri, leaving behind her 9-year-old daughter Patty. Her husband Don reported her missing two days later, claiming she'd run off with a coworker. For five years, the case went nowhere—until her skull was discovered outside Casa Gallardo restaurant in 1990, deposited with apparent deliberation. An anonymous letter to police connected the dots, but the investigation stalled, and both the lead detective and primary suspect have since died without resolution.

Key takeaways

• Linda filed for divorce on April 11, 1985, just 11 days before disappearing—she was storing important documents at work and planning to leave Don, who she had reported to police as mentally abusive and controlling
• Don admitted to police that he had been recording Linda's phone calls and spying on her with listening devices, behavior he dismissed casually as normal for marriage
• Don's attorney was Frank Anzalone, a criminal defense lawyer whose only prior connection to the Sherman family was representing Don's mother, Audrey, after she killed Don's father (Charles Sherman) in 1974 and served only six months in jail
• Linda's last confirmed sighting was when she called her therapist, Doctor W, between 3:30-4:15 p.m. on the day she disappeared; Don claims he saw her leave at 6:45 p.m., but a neighbor witness couldn't confirm who was driving
• An ex-girlfriend of Don's claimed he confessed to killing Linda "with my bare hands" and showed her an aerial map pointing to a spot near a river where he said Linda was buried under a concrete slab, but police could never locate remains there
• Linda's skull was found at Casa Gallardo, a restaurant Don visited five nights a week with his name on a hat rack; he was at the restaurant the day the skull was discovered but denies involvement
• After Linda's skull was identified in September 1991, Don attempted to divorce her in absentia (1988), though the divorce was dismissed; he later remarried and had another daughter
• The case file has effectively disappeared: Vanita Park PD was absorbed into the North County Police Cooperative a decade ago, and no agency claims responsibility for the case despite it being a homicide

Notable quotes

• "She was sentimental and steady, this loving mother to Patty...despite Don's accusations, she says that Linda denied having any kind of affair." — Doctor W, Linda's therapist, describing Linda to police
• "I know that Linda's not coming back since I killed her with my bare hands." — Don Sherman, allegedly confessing to an ex-girlfriend (her account to police)
• "I still deserve answers." — Patty Sherman, Linda's daughter, on why the case should remain active

Worth a full listen?

Listen to the full episode if you want deep insight into how domestic abuse escalates to potential murder, how police mishandled crucial evidence and investigation, or if you're moved to contact the North County Police Cooperative at (314) 428-7374 with any information about Linda's case.