Town file
Trail Creek, Indiana
Trail Creek, Indiana (LaPorte County, Indiana) is the town in one episode of Small Town Murder, the comedy true-crime podcast: episode 384, "Dismembering Grandma" (29 April 2023).
- Town
- Trail Creek
- County
- LaPorte County
- State
- Indiana
- Country
- USA
- Episodes
- 384
- Approximate location
- 41.696, -86.856
Episode 384 / 29 April 2023 / 69 min / express
Dismembering Grandma
"the town is Trail Creek, Indiana, here that we're going to; northern Indiana, up near Lake Michigan, about an hour and 15 minutes from Chicago" about 0:04:25
The case: Murder of Paul Whitty (September 1, 1981); Murder of Elaine Whitty (January 8, 1984). Read the case file.
The figures, as told in 2023
- Population
- 1,954 people
- Median household income
- $64,063
- Median home value
- $199,600
History, in brief
- Trail Creek was incorporated in 1924, when it was known as Roskyville, after a pair of German immigrant brothers, the Roskeys; there were only about 150 people then. about 0:04:30
- The Michigan Road, completed in 1831, opened northwest Indiana to settlers and ran through what was then forest to this place. about 0:04:53
- In 1834 a man built a dam across Trail Creek, then a sawmill, and sold it to the German immigrants the Roskies, which is how the town got its name. about 0:05:16
- The Roskeys had brickyards on the lake so the bricks could be loaded onto boats; the site of the brickyards is now the Michigan Fish and Game Club. about 0:05:56
- The town now has a thriving plant producing economical building materials. about 0:06:30
The reviews read out
5 stars
"I live in a small town; it is quiet and peaceful, everyone knows everybody, which makes a safe neighbourhood, and people watch over each other's property and report suspicious behaviour."about 0:06:43
3 stars
"There are a few abandoned lots throughout the area, but mostly occupied lots, even if they are not the most beautiful looking ones."about 0:07:12
3 stars
"Michigan City's crime rate typically fluctuates; some days it is pretty decent and other times it hits an all-time low, just like it would anywhere else."about 0:07:42
3 stars
"The town used to be lower on a scale of one to five but has definitely improved; while certain areas of Michigan City are not great, the reviewer's particular neighbourhood is nice, quiet and safe."about 0:08:39
Nearest Small Town Murder towns
- La Porte, Indiana9.6 miles
- Hammond, Indiana33 miles
- Chicago, Illinois44 miles
- Oak Park, Illinois50 miles
- Palos Park, Illinois50 miles
- Villa Park, Illinois59 miles
Everything here is as told in the episode, on the date it went out; figures and places may have changed since. Endings are covered: open an episode and use the spoiler switch to read them.