The Charlie Grimille Case, Beatrice Nebraska
So here is what I’ve dug up on what I am now referring to as “The Grimille Case.” I managed to get some scans of the Beatrice Daily Sun issues from October 31st, 1983 and October 30th, 2008 (not very easy to come by I might add). First off I’d like those reading this to remember that these are my opinions and findings based solely off the facts presented in the articles. These events did happen. The connection between them is however, unknown and not entirely understood.
What I do know is that (as explained in the article) Charlie Grimille was an avid thespian. He devoted much of his own time to the school’s drama club and assisted in dozens of productions throughout his high school years. I actually looked up his parents in Beatrice and gave them a call, but they didn’t want to talk to me. Even though I was only interested in his life before the accident and not so much the accident itself, I understand their hesitation. From what I gather from other sources, theater was Charlie’s life until he lost his life to it.
After hearing other accounts of strange happenings in the theater up until the 2008 deaths, I quickly came to believe that just because Charlie was dead, didn’t mean he ever left the theater. As stated in the 83′ issue Daily Sun, “the theater simply doesn’t feel right anymore.” Well of course it doesn’t feel right anymore! Something terribly unfortunate happened to a great young man who didn’t have a chance to finish one of his last high school shows. There was unfinished business and as any thespian knows, the show must go on! Again this is my theory, but theatrical superstitions have been incredibly powerful. If Charlie Grimille was a true believer in such superstitions, then why shouldn’t he be able to finish what he started?
Which brings me to the 2008 killings; which I do believe were killings and not self-inflicted cries for attention as many believe. What compelled the students to break into a school which they knew was haunted, I am not sure. Perhaps they were simply looking for a good time? Or perhaps they wanted to see for themselves if the school’s theater was home to the accused spirits. Either way, it was a bad decision which cost them their lives. But what happened to them is fairly clear in my opinion. As I said, Charlie Grimille had unfinished business. Why then would Charlie take it out on these poor kids in such a gruesome way? There are several possibilities in my opinion. 1. They stepped over the boundaries of the school, and more importantly disrupted the sanctity of the theater. 2. Perhaps one or several of the students were relatives of those who had wronged Charlie while he was alive. 3. Charlie was intended to play the hangman and was denied that role. The night he died from what I hear, he was somewhat upset that the hangman role was not fulfilled in the show.
Did Charlie come back from the grave to complete his role of the hangman? It would appear so to me. This is a case that I think will remain unsolved because there is no “person” to point fingers at. It is 100% paranormal and bizarre. My prayers go out to the families of the deceased.
- Dr. WPJ
November 22, 2008 at 12:14 am
I did theater at Beatrice and when I was told the stories about the murders, I personally didnt believe in ghost at that time, but when this stuff started to happen, it was just a shocker to the whole town. I remember one incident where I walked back into the theater to grab my notebook, and as I starting to walk back towards the door, I felt an intense pressure around my neck. I was so startled and scared that I sprinted out of the theater. I would never walk back into that theater by myself again.
November 23, 2008 at 10:09 am
Sammy thanks for the contribution. That’s very interesting stuff. Definitely something going on at BHS.
November 24, 2008 at 2:33 am
I remember hearing about this..always thought my uncle was joking about it, but when I got to high school, I found it was always something mentioned in classes, especially my choir class. Nothing like this ever happened to me when I went there, but it was always on the back of your mind.
December 2, 2008 at 11:30 pm
You don’t get much more paranormal than that.
December 28, 2008 at 8:29 pm
THIS IS CRAZY!!!
January 2, 2009 at 6:48 am
I agree with you Walter. The connection is undeniable. This is incredibly creepy. God bless the families.
February 3, 2009 at 10:53 am
I was hoping this whole thing would go away, but I have something to add as well. My uncle was a janitor at BHS through 2009, until he retired, but I honestly think this was all the reason behind him retiring. He had been there since the mid-2000s. He always seemed spooked by something when he came back from work…with clunking sounds all around, and constantly heard footsteps, seemingly impossible since he was the only person in the building during the night shift. He knew something was amiss, and never worked with the lights off in the center. I have always wanted to see what was up, but he swore on his life that he would never permit me to enter that building alone at night. It’s because of him I believe Walter 100%.
February 17, 2009 at 2:56 am
This is the first time in many years I have talked about this, but I was in attendance of the play where Charlie was killed in 1983. My husband and I were spooked naturally already by the play in itself, but when Charlie got up in that noose, you knew something wasn’t right. I screamed when I saw him hanging up there, in shock. I knew it couldn’t be an act…he was truthfully hung, and dead. That is something you can never forget. It wasn’t until years later I attended another play put on in the theater, and I don’t know if it was just me being paranoid, but I swear I could hear someone whispering ‘Charrr-liee’ and when looking around, it would suddenly stop. I still have a cold sweat thinking about it, and will never attend another event in that center or school. Something just isn’t right.
February 17, 2009 at 3:12 am
Cheryl, I would like to speak with you about this if it’s alright with you. You can email me directly at walterjensen1951@yahoo.com. Thanks
April 19, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Breaking into a haunted school in the middle of the night….not the brightest idea.
October 17, 2010 at 3:16 am
This is total bull shit!
October 17, 2010 at 6:16 am
Yeah well where are you from SkepticSam?
October 17, 2010 at 9:17 am
Ohio.
October 18, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Well there you go. You have no idea what it’s like there.
November 20, 2011 at 5:17 am
I’m from a small town about 30 miles from Beatrice. A few years after Charlie Grimille died, my high school buddies and I used to drive out to the school, just to get a thrill at being close to a place where something so weird happened — pretty stupid of us. When those kids died in 2008, I couldn’t help feeling lucky that nothing too bad ever happened to me and my friends. I saw and heard some really strange things around that stage. There is definitely something going on in that theater. Now that I’m not so young and stupid, I never want to go back there.