Cabin in the Woods is examining the murder of student Jodi Bausman from Dubuque, Iowa, who was raped and strangled at a remote cabin by Randy Rhomberg, Michael Shaffer, and Gregory Otterbeck.
On April 13, 1981, 18-year-old Bausman left a Dubuque bar and was never seen again. She went in a car with Rhomberg, Shaffer, Otterbeck, and a fourth man, Robert Miller.
The group of five had reportedly left the bar to continue drinking and to smoke marijuana somewhere private.
They drove to a cabin on the remote Stumpf Island which is in the Mississippi River just over the state line in Wisconsin. In the cabin, Bausman was forcibly restrained and raped by Rhomberg, Shaffer, and Otterbeck.
After the sexual assault, Bausman allegedly said something about going to the police, which led Rhomberg to strangle her. The gruesome group then stuffed the teenager’s remains into an old, broken refrigerator.
Otterbeck and Rhomberg then threw the refrigerator out of the cabin and loaded it onto a small rowing boat. Rhomberg and Shaffer then took the boat out onto the Mississippi River and flung the body into the water.
Bausman’s decomposing remains were recovered from the river nearly a month later on May 10.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelRobert Miller was a key witness in Jodi Bausman murder case
The case hinged mainly on the testimony of Robert Miller, who said he was in the cabin and witnessed the rape and murder of Bausman. Miller admitted to not doing anything to save Bausman but claimed he didn’t take part in the rape or murder.
He agreed to testify against the other three men.
Defense lawyers tried to discredit Miller’s version of events at the men’s trial. They also claimed that springtime flood water had been too high for the men to have been able to drive to the cabin.
However, the jury disagreed.
Randy Rhomberg, Michael Shaffer, and Gregory Otterbeck convicted of killing Jodi Bausman
In November 1981, Randy Rhomberg, Michael Shaffer, and Gregory Otterbeck were found guilty of first-degree murder, sexual assault, and rape. Judge James Fiedler immediately sentenced all three men to mandatory life sentences; however, they were all eligible for parole.
Judge Fielder told the killers, “The jury deserves an ‘A’ for those verdicts. I have no doubt in my mind that you raped and killed that girl.”
Thirty years later, Gregory Otterbeck pleaded guilty to a second murder. In December 1980, the body of 23-year-old Thomasina Dunivant was found by the side of the road in Grant County, WI. Her killer remained unknown until 2007, when DNA evidence was matched to Otterbeck.
The two-time killer was given another 20 years behind bars.
Cabin in the Woods airs Mondays at 10/9c on Investigation Discovery.