Dennis Craig Jurgens (Dennis Craig Puckett)

Dennis Craig Jurgens (December 6, 1961 – April 11, 1965) was the most famous and only fatal victim of prolific child abuser Lois Jurgens, who abused a total of six adopted children during a period spanning the 1950s to 1970s. Lois and  Harold Jurgens eventually lost custody of the 5 other adopted children: the eldest, Robert Jurgens, who testified against his mother, and the 4 Howton siblings from Kentucky. The eventual trial of Lois Jurgens for Dennis' murder made national headlines and was the top news story for the state of Minnesota in 1987. Twenty two years after Dennis' death, Lois was convicted.

Date: 1965-03-28

Placement type: Adoption

Type of abuse: Lethal physical abuse

Abuser: Adoptive mother

Fundamentalist faith: yes

Location

White Bear Lake, Minnesota
United States

See map: Google Maps