Bert Bombe

Elsie Etling's Story

UPDATE: Parole has been denied for murderer Bert Bombe. Bombe will not have another hearing until August 2024. Thank you to everyone who submitted a petition to oppose this monster’s parole. Rest In Peace Mrs. Etling. You will never be forgotten.

A Brutal, Unexplained Murder

The call to police from a frightened woman came in at approximately 7:49 P.M. on Thursday March 1, 1979. The woman reported that she and her sister heard a man yelling inside 77-year-old Elsie Etling’s upstairs apartment. Moments later the women heard some scuffling, someone falling, then three short screams. Police arrived on the scene approximately two minutes after receiving the call.

Unable to open the locked front door, police had to break in after receiving no response from Mrs. Etling. Upon entering the apartment police found a horrifying scene. They located Mrs. Etling in her bedroom. She had been dragged to the bedroom feet first from her bathroom where she was attacked while using the restroom. Blood was everywhere and two knives were found in the hallway. Mrs. Etling had been stabbed 14 times. Her throat was slit. Mrs. Etling’s housedress had a zipper in the front that was unzipped. The housedress was pulled above her waist. Mrs. Etling’s underwear had been removed and her legs were spread apart.

A bloody handprint was found on a cupboard door and bloody footprints were found on the hard wood floors throughout the apartment. The footprints led to the back door and went down the outdoor steps. Police determined that the murderer fled down a back stairway right before they arrived on the scene. There was so sign of forced entry into the home.

According to police it was obvious that the 77-year-old retiree put up a struggle and fought hard for her life. The question now was what kind of evil monster would kill a defenseless 77-year-old elderly woman?

A Kind Neighbor And Friend

Elsie Etling was a perfect example of one of the greatest American generations. Mrs. Etling was born in Ohio in 1901. She was a hard worker who earned her degree from Ohio Wesleyan University at a time when it was not easy or common for a woman to get a higher education. Mrs. Etling wanted to help people and became a dietician at Barberton (Ohio) Citizens Hospital. Mrs. Etling married Ivory “Sky” Etling and the two lived a happy life until Mr. Etling’s death in 1970 at the age of 70. They had no children so Mrs. Etling, a fiercely independent woman, learned to live alone and take care of herself.

Mrs. Etling retired and remained in the duplex home she resided in for the past 40 years. Mrs. Etling lived in the upstairs unit and she rented out the downstairs unit for extra income. Her main source of income was her small social security checks and investment income. She loved to read and cared for her two cats as well as other stray cats in the neighborhood.

Mrs. Etling preferred to stay inside her home and would often talk with neighbors on the phone. “She would call because she was lonely and we would talk”, one neighbor said. “Often she would call to tell us our cat was outside and we should get him inside.”

Mrs. Etling’s desire to help others continued throughout her life. She belonged to a club that sent fruit each month to its members. She always got more than she needed and would offer the extra to friends and neighbors. A relative described Mrs. Etling as “A very, very kind person and not likely to have any enemies.”

Mounting Evidence Leads To A Killer

Police compiled a short list of people they wanted to talk to about Mrs. Etling’s murder. The first name on that list was 19-year-old Bert Bombe. Bombe, who lived down the block from Mrs. Etling, ran errands for her and removed snow from her driveway. Police were familiar with Bombe from problems they had with him in the past.

Police initially questioned Bombe when they saw him walking while they were canvassing the neighborhood shortly after the murder. Police stopped Bombe however he was released due to the fact “he was clean; there was no blood on his clothing.” Bombe then went and played cards at The American Legion post down the street.

A day after the murder Barberton Police Detective Claude Collins was in the neighborhood hoping to talk with possible suspects when he saw Bombe exit a bus. Bombe was wearing combat boots. Police had determined from footprints at the murder scene that Mrs. Etling’s killer had worn combat boots. Detective Collins asked Bombe to come into the police station for questioning and Bombe agreed to go with him.

Once they arrived at the police station Detective Collins immediately noticed that Bombe’s boot had a unique tread that matched ones found at the murder scene. Bombe allowed officers to take his finger and palm prints.

Detective Collins asked Bombe what he did the previous day. Bombe said he went to work at his cafeteria job from 10:30 AM until 4:30 PM and went to a bar after work and had a few drinks. He walked home and said he arrived around 7:45 PM. Bombe said he changed clothes and headed out to play cards at The American Legion. While walking he saw all the police cars near Mrs. Etling’s apartment and stopped to see what was going on. According to Bombe some officers questioned him and then he went to the card game. He said he got home around 11:00PM. Bombe told police the pants and boots he was wearing were the same ones from the day before however he changed his shirt and socks. Detective Collins asked Bombe if he would permit him to look at the shirt and socks Bombe had worn the day Mrs. Etling was killed. Bombe agreed and Detective Collins, Bombe, and two other officers went to Bombe’s parent’s home.

When they arrived at the residence Bombe’s mother Wanda let them in. She told them to go right ahead and take anything they wanted. Bombe took Detective Collins and the other two officers to his room. The dark blue jacket Bombe had worn the previous day was hanging on the closet door and appeared to have bloodstains on it. One of the officers went into the bathroom and opened the clothes hamper. He removed the blood-stained shirt and Army socks Bombe said he had worn the previous day. The officer also found a pair of green trousers covered in blood. Bombe claimed he had not worn those pants the previous day. He said he wore them months earlier while working on a car. Bombe claimed a friend named John, last name unknown, had cut himself and got blood on Bombe’s pants. On top of Bombe’s bed police found a pair of Jockey shorts Bombe said he took off that morning. The crotch area was covered with a yellow-reddish stain. Bombe’s explanation for that was that he had messed his shorts.

While searching Bombe’s room Detective Collins noticed a footlocker by Bombe’s bed. Inside he found a meat cleaver, three butcher knives, and a meat fork wrapped in a white apron. Bombe admitted he stole the items from his cafeteria job. Police also found a cut-off pair of white lady’s bloomers (a type of women’s underpants) with grayish black stains on them hidden in a tobacco can that was on the bed headboard. Police told Bombe what they were taking and Bombe had seen them find most of the items. Police left the house and took Bombe back to the police station.

After arriving back at the station police questioned Bombe about all the items they collected from his parent’s house and asked him again if he had been in Mrs. Etling’s apartment the previous night. Bombe continued to deny any involvement in the murder.

Another detective found the home phone number of John Olenick who worked at the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The detective called Mr. Olenick who agreed to meet with police at BCI to see if Bombe’s prints matched the palm print on the cupboard door in Mrs. Etling’s apartment.

Detective Collins asked Bombe if he wanted to speak with his parents. Bombe said yes and Detective Collins found a room where Bombe and his parents could talk privately. A few minutes later Bombe’s mother came out of the room to talk to Detective Collins. She told Detective Collins she saw Bert come home at 8:00 PM the night before. He got a piece of chicken and went upstairs. She said the lighting was bad however she did see Bert wearing the green trousers he denied wearing. Mrs. Bombe said Bert came back downstairs dressed in the same clothes he was currently wearing. She said he went out the door and came back in almost immediately and asked why police were down the street. She told him she did not know and Bert left to play cards. Mrs. Bombe learned a short time later Mrs. Etling was murdered. Bombe’s mother said after Bert left, she went into his room to straighten up because Bert is very messy. Mrs. Bombe told Detective Collins she hung up Bert’s wet jacket. She said she picked up the shirt and green trousers and noticed blood all over them. Mrs. Bombe screamed and her husband came upstairs. He told her not to do anything with the clothes and she put them back down. Bombe’s mother said she thought Bert may have killed Mrs. Etling and she was scared of him. Mrs. Bombe called Bert at the American Legion to tell him Mrs. Etling had been killed. She said that Bert acted like he was shocked. Bert came home around 11:00 PM, watched some TV, and went to bed. His mother said she did not sleep all night because she was afraid of him. At some point Mrs. Bombe heard Bert get up to get something to eat and then he went back to bed. Mrs. Bombe told Detective Collins she did not know what to do about what she knew, so she didn’t tell them. Bombe’s mother then went back into the room with her husband and son.

Bombe’s parents talked with him a while longer and his mother came out and said he was hungry. Detective Collins ordered Burger King which Bombe later ate.

While Bombe was eating and talking with his parents Detective Collins received a call from Mr. Olenik at BCI. He confirmed that the prints from Bombe matched the prints on the cupboard door. Detective Collins told Bombe’s parents about the matching prints and they left.

A Partial Admission Leads to A Murder Charge

Bombe was brought back to the detective bureau office. He was advised of the palm print match. Detective Collins asked Bombe again if he was at Mrs. Etling’s apartment the previous night. Bombe shook his head “Yes.” He said he blacked out and did not remember what happened inside the apartment. Bombe stated the night Mrs. Etling was killed he went to the garage behind his parent’s house and got a knife he had hidden there. He said he walked around for a while but could not remember any details. Bombe said he went to Mrs. Etling’s apartment and walked up the stairs. The front door was unlocked and he entered the apartment. He replied he didn’t remember to all further questions and eventually said, “I don’t want to talk anymore.”

Bombe was arrested and later charged with aggravated murder for killing Mrs. Etling and aggravated robbery for stealing the bloomers (underwear) from her home.

A Disturbed Killer Gets Life

After his arrest those who knew Bombe painted a very disturbing picture of him. School officials said Bombe was known for his “trigger-like temper.” They said he would fight anyone who bushed against him in the halls and one time he poured a carton of milk over another student’s head when he made Bombe angry. Another school official said that Bombe seemed to be “mentally retarded and didn’t have the mentality to think things through.”

Former classmates said Bombe would kiss girls on a dare and he would run the length of the junior high school gym and crash into the wall to get attention.

A couple who gave Bombe a ride home from his job a month before the murder told police that when Bombe got out of their truck a large knife dropped from his boot. The woman said, “My God Bert, what are you going to do with that big knife?” Bombe did not reply. When the woman got home she called Bombe’s mother and told her about Bert having the large knife.

Mrs. Etling’s neighbors were also concerned about Bombe. One neighbor stated, “I was a bit leery of the kid because he always wanted to play with younger children.” Other neighbors said they would see Bombe playing with young children at the American Legion Post that was 10 minutes from his home.

Bombe initially pled innocent to the charges against him however he switched his plea to no contest right before jury selection was to begin. The no contest plea meant Bombe did not admit or deny guilt, however he admitted the truth of the facts alleged in the indictment. Judge Theodore Price found there was enough evidence to convict Bombe of Aggravated Murder and Aggravated Robbery. Bombe received a life sentence for killing Mrs. Etling plus an additional 7-25 years for the aggravated robbery conviction. The sentences were to run concurrently (at the same time).

The court levied the maximum sentence it could at the time.The death penalty was not in effect in 1979 when Bombe committed the murder. It was brought back in 1981. Had Bombe killed Mrs. Etling two years later he very likely may have been executed by now. In addition, life without parole was not an option until 1996.

Bombe admitted nothing and expressed no remorse. It would be another 31 years before Bombe would finally admit to his horrific crime.

Despite Questionable Rehabilitation A Vicious Killer Is Granted Parole

We have reviewed Bombe’s parole file and since his first parole hearing in 1994 nothing in the records indicate that Bombe has ever expressed remorse for killing Mrs. Etling. It took Bombe 31 years to admit to his horrific crime. In 2010 the Ohio Parole Board records state, “Inmate admits befriending the victim to gain entrance into her home so he could rob her. He then slashed her neck and stabbed her multiple times.” The records also state several times the Bombe has taken “some” risk relevant programming.

Other points of interest from Bombe’s parole records:

– In 2015 (after almost 40 years in prison) the records state: “Inmate continues to engage in institutional misconduct”

– In 2017 the parole documents state: “The aggravating factors in this case, including the violent nature of the offense leading to the death of the victim, the age and vulnerability of the victim, and the lack of risk relevant programming to address criminogenic risk factors, results in the Board’s conclusion that release would demean seriousness of the offense and not further the interest of justice.”

– In 2019 the records note: “He [Bombe] has engaged in some risk relevant programming however he fails to share insight into such. His conduct has been acceptable. His reentry plan is under developed.” The records conclude by noting, “There is substantial reason to believe that due to the serious nature of the crime the release of the inmate into society would create undue risk to public safety, or that due the serious nature of the crime the release of the inmate would not further the interest of justice of be consistent with the welfare and security of society.”

A Murderer Looking For Love

While Bombe did not have time to fully commit to his rehabilitation, he did find time to post a personal ad on the Internet. The ad reads as follows:

“Ten-Hut, Ladies.

This lonely Scorpio, ex-Marine is looking to meet a few good friends who I can talk to and write. I would really like the opportunity to become your friend if given the chance. I’m loving, sincere, loyal, kind-hearted, and somewhat adventurous. I’m looking for someone who’s willing to get to know me mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

I enjoy nature, sports (Buckeyes, Steelers, Indians, NASCAR), mainly 60’s to 80’s Rock, though I do like some of today’s artists, Country and New Age. I draw (or try to) – smile. I’m an avid dog lover/trainer (the dog in the picture is named “Ivy”, a 4 ½ year old Lab mix.)

Give me a chance and I’ll treat you like royalty and with the care and respect you deserve. Your age/race doesn’t matter. I do have email available, as well as snail mail. Enough about me.

Tell me a little about yourself; your likes/dislikes, favorite foods, colors, movies, etc. I can be a good friend/companion if given the chance.

There may be snow on the roof, but, there’s still plenty of fire in the furnace. (smile)

Looking forward to hearing from you very soon.

A new friend,

Bert”

We find this ad both offensive and sickening. Not one time in the entire post does Bombe provide any information about his crime or express any remorse for killing Mrs. Etling. We believe this is another attempt by Bombe to prey on unsuspecting women. He calls himself, “loving, sincere, loyal, kind-hearted.” We call him a cold-blooded, ruthless murderer who killed a defenseless, vulnerable 77-year-old woman. This Internet ad, written in Bombe’s own words, confirms our belief that he is a remorseless sociopath who should never walk out of prison.

No Parole

Bert Bombe is a vicious, unremorseful killer who brutally murdered innocent, defenseless 77-year-old Elsie Etling. Based on the facts we have read and after talking with those involved in the case we also believe Bombe was in the process of sexually assaulting Mrs. Etling and stopped only because he heard police arrive. It took 31 years for Bombe to finally admit to killing Mrs. Etling however nothing in The Ohio Parole Board records indicate he has ever accepted responsibility for his actions or shown any remorse. While Bombe could only find time in prison to participate in “some” rehabilitative programming he did find time to post a personal ad on the Internet to find female companionship. Bombe’s commitment to rehabilitation is lackluster at best and we believe that if Bombe is paroled there is a high likelihood he will kill again.

Releasing Bert Bombe at any point would be a complete injustice to Elsie Etling and demean his cruelty to her. In addition, releasing Bombe would pose a tremendous risk to the community, especially elderly women. To further the interest of justice and protect society we urge The Ohio Parole Board to give Bert Bombe the maximum ten-year continuance at all future parole hearings.