A new documentary about the 45-year-old unsolved murders of four Burger Chef employees who were found dead in Johnson County will be released later this year.
Titled “The Speedway Murders,” the true crime feature documentary will explore the murders of Jayne Friedt, 20, Ruth Shelton, 17, Mark Flemmonds, 17, and Daniel Davis, 16, who were kidnapped from a Burger Chef restaurant at 5725 Crawfordsville Road in Speedway on Nov. 17, 1978. Two days after the teens were reported missing, their bodies were found in a densely wooded area east of State Road 37 and south of Stones Crossing Road in White River Township in northwestern Johnson County.
Shelton and Davis were shot execution-style. Friedt was stabbed in the chest. Flemmonds was brutally beaten and choked to death on his own blood.
The murders of the four Burger Chef employees shocked Johnson County and the greater Indianapolis area. Police launched a massive investigation and considered many suspects. But no one has ever been charged, and the case remains unsolved to this day.
“The Speedway Murders” is described as “gripping, poignant and visually striking.” It was directed by first-time filmmakers and writer-directors Luke Rynderman and Adam Kamien. Altitude Films is the studio behind the film, and Vertical Entertainment acquired the North American distribution rights, according to a news release provided to the Daily Journal.
For the documentary, actors will re-enact four theories as to what happened to the teens that night. It will lead the audience through “the intricacies of that grisly night, challenging assumptions, casting doubt on the innocence of various characters and weaving an intricate web of intrigue,” the news release says.
The documentary is finished and will be released later this year, according to Vertical.
“The Speedway Murders” stars Essie Randles (“Apples Never Fall”), Nya Cofie (“The Unlisted”), Davida McKenzie (“Silent Night”), and Joseph Zada (“Total Control”). It was produced by Bonnie McBride (“Demonic”), Anna Vincent (“I Am Mother”), Louise Nathanson (“Golda”) and Lisa Scott (“The Tourist”); Ari Harrison (“Talk to Me”) served as executive producer, according to the news release.
Rynderman and Kamien are “thrilled” to work with Vertical to bring the film to audiences later this year, they said in the news release.
“The mystery of the so-called Burger Chef Murders has endured for over 45 years, and yet remains unsolved,” Rynderman and Kamien said. “In getting this film out into the world we’re hopeful new evidence will come to light, that the case can be closed, and those [affected] by the crime will finally have a sense of relief.”
The filmmakers have “injected a sense of urgency” into the case through use of the film’s structure to present different theories, said Tony Piantedosi, the senior vice president of acquisitions for Vertical.
“The film is a must-watch for true crime enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the dark allure of unsolved mysteries,” Piantedosi said in the news release.
This is not the first time the Burger Chef Murders have been the subject of documentaries or media coverage over the years.
The Murder Sheet, an Indianapolis-based podcast that specializes in investigative deep dives into crimes and legal proceedings, has focused on the case over the last several years. In August, they told the Daily Journal that they hoped hundreds of pages of federal investigative records released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request would provide new details about the murders. They also hoped it would jog memories and finally lead to justice for the victim’s families.
In December, it was learned that the former Burger Chef restaurant was set to be torn down. A town of Speedway spokesperson was unsure at the time of the intended plans for the property.
The case is still under active investigation by the Indiana State Police. If anyone has information about the murders, they can contact the ISP District 52 Investigative Commander by calling 317-899-8577 or 1-800-852-8440. They can also visit the District 52 post at 8620 E. 21st St., Indianapolis, IN 46219.
