The Unsolved Murder Mystery

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of checking into a hotel—a temporary escape from the everyday, a place to kick back and relax while others take care of your needs. Hotels are meant to provide safety and security, turning your room into a sanctuary. However, in the annals of history, one particular hotel and one enigmatic guest would make headlines for an inexplicable and chilling occurrence.

The year was 1935, and the Hotel President in Kansas City, Missouri, stood proudly as one of the crown jewels of the city's Power & Lights District. Having hosted prestigious events, including the Republican National Convention, it had an illustrious past. The Drum Room lounge, where legendary entertainers like Frank Sinatra had performed, was a hub for the city's elite. Yet, the hotel's most notorious guest was yet to arrive.

The mysterious man in question was Roland T. Owen, who walked into the Hotel President on January 2nd, requesting an interior room on the upper floors. He claimed to be from Los Angeles, but what captured attention were the peculiar features—a nasty scar on his temple and a deformed ear, leading many to speculate that he might be a professional boxer.

Throughout his stay, Roland T. Owen exhibited odd behavior, prompting hotel staff to grow increasingly curious about his identity and intentions. His luggage consisted of just a few personal items—hairbrush, comb, and toothpaste—and no suitcase. He seemed nervous and reclusive, avoiding turning on the lights in his room.

On the first night, Owen left a note addressed to someone named Don, suggesting he was expecting a visitor. However, no one ever saw anyone else enter his room, and he communicated more with Don than with any of the hotel's staff or guests.

The following day, maid Mary Soptic made a shocking discovery when she entered Owen's darkened room. He asked her to clean while he sat silently, creating an eerie atmosphere. Strangely, Owen never turned on the lights in his room during his stay, always preferring the dim lamp. He appeared anxious and seemed to be waiting for someone.

The mystery deepened on the second day when Soptic heard two men conversing inside Owen's room. When she knocked, a deep voice responded, but she was denied entry. Later, another guest, Jean Owen, reported hearing multiple voices, shouting, and cursing from Room 1046.

As night descended, the peculiar behavior around the hotel intensified. A woman believed to be a prostitute roamed the hallways, looking for her client, whom she expected to find in Owen's room. Additionally, a half-dressed man ran into the street, claiming he would kill someone, but he disappeared without a trace.

The situation escalated further when Della Ferguson, the switchboard operator, attempted to make a wakeup call to Room 1046 on January 4th. She noticed that the phone was off the hook and called for assistance. When hotel staff tried to enter the room, they found it locked from the inside, with Owen on the other side, unresponsive and injured.

Upon entering the room, they discovered a horrifying scene. Owen lay on the floor, tied with cord around his neck, wrists, and ankles, and he had sustained multiple stab wounds and a skull fracture. Despite being rushed to the hospital, he slipped into a coma and died shortly after arrival.

The police investigation revealed that Roland T. Owen was likely not his real name. They searched for possible suspects but faced dead ends and conflicting witness accounts. Additionally, several people came forward, claiming to know Owen under different names, creating further confusion.

The case went cold until a breakthrough occurred over a year later. Ruby Ogletree from Birmingham, Alabama, identified Owen as her son, Artemus Ogletree, who had disappeared in 1934. While this revelation shed light on the victim's true identity, it also added another layer of mystery, as letters postmarked after Artemus's death were sent to his mother.

A suspect, Joseph Martin, was arrested in New York for killing his roommate, and his wallet contained fake identification and handwriting matching the letters sent to Ruby Ogletree. However, no charges were filed in connection with Artemus's murder.

The mystery of Room 1046 at the Hotel President remains unsolved to this day. Multiple theories continue to circulate, including the involvement of organized crime, a lover's quarrel, or even a supernatural presence. Yet, none provide a definitive explanation for the chilling events that occurred within the hotel's walls.

The enigma of Roland T. Owen, who turned out to be Artemus Ogletree, continues to captivate the minds of investigators and those intrigued by unsolved mysteries. The Hotel President, now known as the Hilton President Kansas City, still stands as a witness to the perplexing events that transpired within its rooms.

In conclusion, the Hotel President's Room 1046 remains a haunting tale of a mysterious guest, inexplicable events, and a murder that has eluded resolution for decades. The true identity of Roland T. Owen and the circumstances surrounding his death may forever remain a riddle, leaving us to ponder what dark secrets are hidden behind the locked door of that historic hotel room.