The unsolved Bricca family murders

On September 25, 1966, it was another ordinary Sunday on Greenway Avenue. After the Bricca family attended mass at St. Aloysius Church, Jerry Bricca, 28, went to work at the Monsanto plastics facility where he worked as a chemical engineer. Jerry, his wife Linda, 23, and 4-year-old daughter Debbie had relocated from Seattle to Cincinnati after Jerry received a job transfer. Little did anyone know, but it would be the last time anyone would ever see anyone from the Bricca family alive again. On September 27, neighbors became concerned when no one had seen the Briccas.

Linda would often be outside with Debbie and the family’s two dogs. But no one had seen them. It was unusual for the Bricca’s trash cans to still be outside. A neighbor said Linda always brought the trash cans back to the house shortly after they were emptied. Dick Meyer, a concerned neighbor, tried calling Jerry at work. Meyer learned that Jerry hadn’t shown up to work in two days.

Meyer’s wife encouraged Dick and another neighbor to visit the Bricca home to make sure they were okay. After opening the door, Meyer, a WWII veteran, recognized the smell of death. He shut the door and called the police.

Neighbors find the Bricca family murdered

Police found Jerry, Linda, and Debbie. Someone had brutally murdered the entire family. Jerry had nine stab wounds, Linda had eight and Debbie had four stab wounds. Debbie’s stab wounds were so vicious, they went completely through her body. The police found Jerry and Linda Bricca dead in their bedroom and Debbie’s body was found in her bedroom. Also, the killer stuffed a sock in Jerry’s mouth.

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office launched a massive investigation. They interviewed at least 400 people. Sadly, five decades have passed since the homicides on 3381 Greenway Avenue in Cincinnati. Today, this murder case has gone so cold, it’s nearly frozen.

The Bricca murders still haunt Cincinnati. It’s disturbing to believe someone could kill an entire family with such brutality. For many years, people have shared their theories about the murders. An author named JT Townsend, wrote “Summer’s Almost Gone,” a book about the crime. He wrote the book to dispel many of the false rumors associated with the case.

The Bricca murders will likely remain unsolved

Townsend’s book mentions suspects and possible motives. One potential suspect was Fred Leininger, a veterinarian who temporarily employed Linda Bricca at his veterinary practice. It was rumored that Leininger and Linda Bricca were having an affair. But no one has confirmed this.

When police tried to question Leininger, he retained an attorney and refused to cooperate. He kept his practice until 1995. Leininger and his wife both committed suicide in 2004. So if Leininger committed the murders, no one will ever know. Townsend, however, thinks a group of people may have committed the murders. He also thinks Debbie may have known the killer or killers. Otherwise, why would anyone kill her so viciously?

Current Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil allowed Townsend complete access to the Bricca murder file for his book. Police examined the home for evidence. They collected hair samples and fingerprints, but they never found the knife used to kill the family. Apparently, the killer left with it.

Cold case detectives who inherited the Bricca case weren’t even born when this crime occurred. With modern technology, it may be possible that someone may one day solve this murder. Even if this happens, it’s most likely the killer or killers are deceased. With the passing of so many years, I don’t think anyone will ever solve the Bricca murders. And that is a real tragedy.