Patricia Ann Heinen (1941-1967)

HEINEN, KALSEIM, LARSON

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:11

From Nevada Journal August 21, 1967 (page 1)

Gets Chair For Murder Of S. C. Girl

The murderer of a former Story City girl was sentenced Thursday in Chicago to die in the electric chair October 27.

Jose Torres, 25, an unemployed welder, was sentenced to death in the knife-slaying of Miss Patricia Ann Heinen, 25, on February 27.

Miss Heinen, an airlines reservation clerk, was the daughter of the former Mayme Kalseim of Story City. The girl was born in Minneapolis when the Heinens lived there. Her father died when she was young. Miss Heinen was raised in California and attended college in Colorado.

On the night of February 27 she was waiting for a bus on a downtown Chicago street when Torres attempted to snatch her purse. Miss Heinen resisted. Torres stabbed her. The girl was aided by a night watchman at a nearby store, but she died later in a Chicago Hospital.

She was buried in the Story City cemetery. Among her survivors are an uncle, Robert Kalseim, and an aunt, Mrs. Theodore Larson, both of Story City.

Torres, after a four day trial, was convicted by a jury that deliberated for only two hours. The jury recommended the death penalty.

At the time of his arrest Torres was quoted as saying "I didn't mean to kill her. I only wanted her purse."