Forensic Files 11x28 If I Were You

Summary

In rural Idaho, the mysterious disappearance of retired schoolteacher Paul Gruber baffled investigators when his bills were paid and family correspondence continued, despite his absence. After Gruber's daughter noticed discrepancies in his handwriting, a forensic analysis and DNA evidence eventually linked local handyman Darryl Kuehl to Gruber's murder, revealing a complex plot of identity theft and financial fraud. Kuehl was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Takeaways

• 🏡 Paul Gruber, a retired schoolteacher and popular teacher at Incline High School, moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, after inheriting some money.
• 🎉 His daughter noticed a significant difference in a birthday card he sent, raising suspicion about his well-being.
• 🚔 Local police found his house empty but with no signs of a break-in, and all personal items were missing.
• 💳 Paul's bills were still being paid on time, and he was using his ATM card, but no cameras captured his image.
• 💌 Shellie, his daughter, set a trap by leaving a fake message on his answering machine, which led to a suspicious birthday card and check.
• 📜 A forensic document examiner initially thought the handwriting on the check matched Paul's, but his family disagreed.
• 🏢 Darryl Kuehl, a local handyman, admitted to picking up Paul's mail and handling his finances, but claimed Paul had asked him to do so before a trip.
• 🔍 Investigators found evidence of blood and a bullet mark in Paul's house, suggesting foul play.
• 🔎 A second forensic document examiner concluded that the handwriting on the birthday cards was not Paul's, implicating Darryl Kuehl.
• 🔪 Investigators found incriminating items at Kuehl's property, including camouflage clothing, throwing stars, a katana, and a 22 caliber handgun with a silencer.
• 💔 Paul Gruber's body was eventually found in a crawlspace under his house, shot four times, but the bullets did not match Kuehl's gun.

Q & A

Who was Paul Gruber and what was his profession?

Paul Gruber was a retired schoolteacher who was passionate about travel and foreign languages. He was the most popular teacher at Incline High School near Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

Why did Paul Gruber retire early?

Paul Gruber retired early in his 50s after inheriting some money, which allowed him to move to Sand Point, Idaho, and enjoy a slower pace of life.

What was unusual about the birthday card Paul Gruber sent to his grandson after Christmas in 1993?

The birthday card was unusually brief and lacked affection, which was not characteristic of Paul. It raised suspicions for his daughter, Shellie, who noticed differences in the handwriting compared to previous cards.

Why did Shellie contact the local police about her father?

Shellie contacted the local police because her father did not return her phone messages, which was uncharacteristic of him, and she was concerned for his welfare.

What did the police find when they checked Paul Gruber's home?

The police found that Paul Gruber's home was virtually empty of personal items, with no evidence of a break-in. Valuable items like TVs and stereos were still there, but all personal items like clothing and toothbrushes were gone.

How did Shellie attempt to confirm her suspicions about her father's disappearance?

Shellie set a trap by leaving a bogus message on her father's answering machine about her husband's birthday, hoping for a response that would indicate whether her father was indeed missing.

What was the significance of the handwriting analysis on the birthday card and check sent to Shellie's husband?

The handwriting analysis was initially inconclusive, with some believing it was Paul's handwriting and others, including his family, believing it was not. This discrepancy led to further investigation.

How did the police discover that someone was using Paul Gruber's ATM card?

The police checked Paul's financial transactions and found that his bills were being paid on time and his ATM card was being used for cash withdrawals around town.

What role did Darryl Kuehl play in the case, and what was his initial claim?

Darryl Kuehl was a local handyman who had been doing work for Paul. He was suspected of picking up Paul's mail and was later found to have deposited a large sum of money into his account from Paul's account. Kuehl initially claimed that Paul had asked him to take care of his mail and finances before leaving for a trip.

What evidence eventually led to Darryl Kuehl being charged with the murder of Paul Gruber?

Investigators found incriminating evidence at Kuehl's property, including items belonging to Paul Gruber, a 22 caliber handgun with a homemade silencer, and a DNA match on a stamp from the birthday cards to Kuehl's saliva. Additionally, a forensic document examiner concluded that Kuehl was the writer of the forged checks and birthday cards.

What was the outcome of Darryl Kuehl's trial, and what sentence did he receive?

Darryl Kuehl was convicted of first-degree murder, grand theft, and forgery. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

Outlines

00:00

🕵️‍♂️ Mysterious Disappearance of Paul Gruber

The script details the perplexing case of Paul Gruber, a retired schoolteacher from Idaho, who vanished without a trace. Despite his disappearance, Gruber's bills were paid on time, and he continued to send correspondence to his family, albeit with a notably different tone. His daughter, Shellie, became suspicious when a birthday card from Paul lacked his usual warmth. After failing to reach him, she alerted the police who found his home devoid of personal items but with no signs of forced entry. Shellie's suspicions were confirmed when a handwriting analysis suggested the birthday card was not from her father, and financial transactions indicated someone was impersonating him. The lack of ATM camera footage and the absence of a body added to the mystery.

05:08

🔍 The Investigation and the Handyman Connection

The investigation into Gruber's disappearance led to the discovery that someone resembling local handyman Darryl Kuehl had been picking up Gruber's mail. Kuehl, who had been working for Gruber, claimed Gruber had asked him to collect mail before a trip to Canada. However, Kuehl failed to recognize Gruber in a photograph, suggesting an imposter was involved. A police sketch based on Kuehl's description was released, but no leads emerged. Later, a small drug rug glued to the floor in Gruber's home led to the discovery of a bullet mark and traces of blood, confirming a violent event had occurred there. Financial discrepancies between Kuehl and Gruber were also noted, raising further suspicions.

10:11

🔎 Unraveling the Truth: Forensic Evidence and Gruber's Fate

Forensic analysis of handwriting on birthday cards and checks sent by Gruber during his absence revealed inconsistencies with his known writing style, suggesting forgery. Expert handwriting analysis eventually confirmed that the documents were not written by Gruber. A search of Kuehl's property uncovered items belonging to Gruber, including a 22 caliber handgun with a homemade silencer, which is illegal and could alter ballistic evidence. Eighteen months after Gruber's disappearance, a body, identified as Gruber's, was found in a crawlspace under an air mattress. He had been shot four times, but the bullets did not match those test-fired from Kuehl's gun or his silencer.

15:12

🏡 The Imposter's Plan and Gruber's Tragic End

The narrative suggests that Darryl Kuehl executed a plan to murder Paul Gruber and assume his identity to access his money. After killing Gruber, Kuehl is believed to have buried him under the house, cleaned up the crime scene, and then used Gruber's personal information to impersonate him financially. The discovery of a plot by Kuehl to bribe prison transport officers indicated his intention to escape. However, the plan was foiled, and DNA evidence from saliva on a stamp on the birthday cards linked Kuehl to the forgery, corroborating the findings of the handwriting analysis.

20:12

🏛️ Justice Served: Kuehl's Conviction and the Role of DNA Evidence

Darryl Kuehl's trial for the murder of Paul Gruber, grand theft, and forgery concluded with his conviction after three weeks. The prosecution's case was strengthened by the DNA evidence from the stamp on the birthday cards, which matched Kuehl's DNA, making it statistically impossible for anyone else in Idaho to be the source. This evidence, combined with the handwriting analysis and other forensic findings, led to Kuehl's sentencing to 25 years to life in prison. The case highlights the importance of perseverance in investigations and the crucial role of forensic science in solving crimes.

Keywords

💡Missing Persons

Missing persons refer to individuals who have disappeared and whose whereabouts are unknown. In the video, the theme revolves around the mysterious disappearance of Paul Gruber, a retired schoolteacher in rural Idaho. His continued payment of bills and correspondence with his family while being uncontactable adds a layer of intrigue to the case.

💡Foreign Languages

Foreign languages are languages other than one's native language. The video highlights Paul Gruber's passion for foreign languages, which he believed were essential for traveling and interacting with people from different cultures. His love for languages is shown through his teaching career and his personal travels.

💡Inheritance

Inheritance refers to the act of receiving money or property from someone who has died. In the script, Paul Gruber inherited money in his early 50s, which allowed him to retire from teaching and move to San Point Idaho. This financial freedom is a significant factor in his life and subsequent disappearance.

💡Forensic Document Examiner

A forensic document examiner is a specialist who analyzes handwriting and documents to determine authenticity. In the video, the examiner's role is crucial in investigating the authenticity of the handwriting on checks and birthday cards sent by Paul Gruber, which helps in understanding whether Paul was still alive or if someone was impersonating him.

💡ATM Card

An ATM card is a card used to withdraw cash or check account balances at an automated teller machine. The script mentions that Paul Gruber's ATM card was used around town for cash withdrawals, suggesting that someone was impersonating him or that he was still alive, which is a key point in the investigation.

💡Silhouette

A silhouette is a dark shape or outline of something, often seen against a lighter background. In the video, a security camera captures a silhouette of someone picking up Paul Gruber's mail, which leads to the suspicion that someone other than Paul is involved in his disappearance.

💡Handyman

A handyman is a person skilled at various tasks, often in home repair or maintenance. Darryl Kuehl, a local handyman, is implicated in the video as someone who had been doing work for Paul and was later suspected of being involved in his disappearance and impersonation.

💡Imposter

An imposter is someone who falsely assumes the identity of another person. The video discusses the possibility that an imposter was living Paul Gruber's life, paying his bills, and corresponding with his family, which is a central mystery in the case.

💡Cadaver Dogs

Cadaver dogs are specially trained to detect the scent of human remains. In the script, cadaver dogs are used to search Paul Gruber's property, indicating a serious suspicion of foul play and the potential discovery of a body.

💡DNA

DNA is the genetic material that carries the instructions for the development and function of all living organisms. In the video, DNA evidence from saliva on the back of a stamp on a birthday card is used to link Darryl Kuehl to the forgery of Paul Gruber's handwriting, providing crucial evidence in the case.

💡Silencer

A silencer is a device attached to the barrel of a firearm to reduce the noise and muzzle flash produced by firing. The script mentions a 22 caliber handgun with a homemade silencer found at Darryl Kuehl's property, which is significant as it suggests premeditation and a possible method used in the crime.

Highlights

The mysterious disappearance of a retired schoolteacher in rural Idaho who continued to pay bills and correspond with family without any contact.

Paul Gruber, a beloved teacher with a passion for travel and foreign languages, retired early and moved to Idaho.

A birthday card sent by Gruber raised suspicions due to its impersonal tone and questionable signature.

Local police found Gruber's home vacant of personal items but with no signs of forced entry.

Shellie, Gruber's daughter, set a trap by leaving a fake message which led to the discovery of an imposter.

An Idaho State Police forensic document examiner initially matched the handwriting on a check to Gruber's, but family disagreed.

Financial transactions showed Gruber's bills were being paid on time, and ATM withdrawals were made, but without camera evidence.

A silhouette from a post office security camera suggested that handyman Darryl Kuehl was impersonating Gruber.

Kuehl admitted to picking up Gruber's mail and transferring large sums of money into his own account.

A second forensic document examiner found discrepancies in the handwriting on the questioned documents.

Investigators discovered Gruber's missing items, including furniture and a boat, at Kuehl's property.

A hidden door led to the discovery of military-style clothing, weapons, and a 22 caliber handgun with a homemade silencer.

A shallow depression in Gruber's basement crawlspace indicated a possible burial site.

Gruber's body was found with four gunshot wounds, but the bullets did not match Kuehl's gun.

DNA evidence from saliva on a birthday card's stamp linked Kuehl to the forgery.

Kuehl was convicted of first-degree murder, grand theft, and forgery, and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

The case highlights the importance of persistence in investigation, the value of forensic evidence, and the role of DNA in solving crimes.

Transcripts

amid the rustic beauty of rural Idaho a

retired schoolteacher vanished but even

though he was missing his bills were

paid on time and he continued to

correspond with his family but they

couldn't contact him making this one of

the most bizarre missing-persons cases

in US history

for 22 years the most popular teacher at

incline high school near Lake Tahoe

Nevada was Paul Gruber it was his

passion for travel that fueled his love

of foreign languages he loved that he

could go to these places and speak their

language and he emphasized that very

much that that was really one of the

main benefit of learning a foreign

language is that traveling the world you

could take care of yourself I went to

Mexico with him and my junior year of

high school

that was fun we went dancing but anyway

we had a good time

when he was in his early 50s Paul Gruber

inherited some money and retired from

teaching he moved to San Point Idaho and

bought a home on the shores of muskrat

Lake he just liked that slow pace when I

actually saw Sandpoint I could see why

he liked it it is you know has the same

Lake Tahoe's feel shortly after

Christmas in 1993 Paul sent his

three-year-old grandson a birthday card

as was his custom

but his daughter noticed immediately

that this card was different from all

the others it was really briefing out

and wasn't very affectionate but it

wasn't sitting right with me it was just

red flag inside you know something

wasn't right

I pulled out old birthday cards and

started comparing writing and it didn't

look like a signature to me you know

Shellie left phone messages for her

father at his home in Idaho

uncharacteristically he didn't return

them so Shellie called the local police

department asking them to check on her

father's welfare the detectives found no

one home and no evidence of a break-in

but virtually everything inside was gone

there was a total absence of personal

items clothing toothbrush hairbrush

nothing just totally vacant like no one

had lived there or someone had rented

the house stereos

you know valuable stuff like that TVs

are all gone

Shellie decided to set a trap she left a

bogus message on her father's answering

machine reminding him not to forget her

husband's birthday

we have discussed I think it was just

something that she made up to see what

would happen

five days later her father sent

Shelley's husband a birthday card and a

$25 check she knew that her dad had

never promised to send a check for her

husband and I don't think it was even

his birthday and so that certainly let

her believe that something had happened

to her dad an Idaho State Police

forensic document examiner compared the

handwriting on the check and envelope to

Paul Gruber's known handwriting samples

when the handwriting analysis came back

the examiner felt that it was Gruber's

handwriting Paul's family however didn't

believe it didn't look like a signature

to me my husband agreed that it didn't

look like his writing so I think that's

when I start making some more calls

police checked Paul's financial

transactions and discovered that he had

been paying his monthly bills on time

and was using his ATM card around town

for cash strangely none of the ATM's got

a picture of the person using the card

none of the ATM's used had a camera not

one so we found that to be a little bit

hard

was this merely a coincidence and if

Paul was alright where was he living and

why didn't he return his family's

telephone calls Shellie Kepley was

convinced that something sinister had

happened to her father Paul Gruber on a

hunch Shellie called the post office in

Sandpoint Idaho and asked them who was

picking up her father's mail from his

post office box a security camera

provided a partial answer unfortunately

somebody probably knocked it askew so

that all we got was a silhouette of the

person who entered in and went into his

post-office box

the silhouette wasn't Paul Gruber to

some people in town it looked like 43

year old Darryl Kuehl a local handyman

who had been doing work for Paul a

comparison between the silhouette and

kuehl's picture confirmed it jool from a

wig atoh had lived in California and

possibly Washington had a large family

wife and six seven kids

Kuehl admitted he had been picking up

Paul's mail he said Paul asked him to

before leaving for a trip to Canada

investigators showed Kuehl a photograph

of Paul Gruber and incredibly Kuehl

didn't recognize him he said this wasn't

the Paul Gruber he knew somebody

pretended to be Paul Gruber to Darryl

Kuehl hired Darryl Kuehl to be a

caretaker so we asked him if he would

provide us with an artist sketch police

sketch of the person what side of the

person's face did you see the best

investigators took cules description and

keyed that information into a computer

program called comp you sketch I'm

entering the answers that they provide

to the question and so the computer with

those answers generates that sketch then

Kuehl provided feedback on the first

image to improve the likeness I want to

change one item at a time that way if

it's the nose that's the problem we can

pinpoint the nose or if the eyes don't

match the nose we can pinpoint that

could be average hour to two hours to go

through when finished police released

this composite sketch to the media

hoping to find the man who had assumed

Paul Gruber's identity

but no one called months went by and

there was still no sign of the real Paul

Gruber either we still didn't know where

Gruber was that we hadn't located him we

weren't even sure did anything had

happened to us ma'am

police continued to keep a close eye on

Paul's house and searched the property

repeatedly even using cadaver dogs but

something inside the house bothered

Detective Sergeant Valdez a small drug

in the foyer had been glued to the floor

that just drove me crazy I couldn't

figure out why anybody was glue plug to

a hardwood floor that's great my wife

would kill me if I did something like

that

so we tore it up under the rug

investigators found a small gouge in the

wooden floor it looked like a bullet at

ricocheted and hit the floor tests of

the wood were positive for the presence

of lead police used luminol and

discovered there had been blood on the

floor near the bullet mark and elsewhere

we heard spraying up the door and you

can see white marks about halfway up the

door I mean they stand out if you use

bleach or anything else they stick out

real well

DNA testing proved that the blood was

Paul Gruber's but where was the body we

don't know Gruber we don't have a body

we don't we can't prove the man's dead

Darryl Kuehl a 43 year-old handyman said

this man identified himself as Paul

Gruber and hired him to take care of the

grouper property while he went away on

vacation this man was obviously an

imposter and no one had heard from the

real Paul Gruber for months they

continued on with the investigation the

number one thing that they're looking

for is a body trying to figure out where

the body of Paul Gruber is as for Darryl

Kuehl he was well-respected in the

community and had no criminal record

however a search of his finances showed

he recently deposited over $20,000 into

his checking account at the same time

there were similar withdrawals from Paul

Gruber's account

Kuehl admitted transferring Paul's money

into his checking account so that he

could pay Paul's bills none of that to

me rang true I have a lot of friends I

don't have any friends that are you know

I'm gonna go out and pay their bills for

him at five six hundred dollars a whack

that I just met the only evidence

detectives had were the birthday cards

and checks Paul Gruber sent to his

family while missing a forensic document

examiner concluded that

handwriting on those birthday cards was

consistent with the real Paul Gruber's

known handwriting samples Paul's family

disagreed

I was absolutely persuaded that it

wasn't so it's hard when you got experts

saying no it's not so the materials were

sent to another forensic examiner for a

second opinion once I knew what his

signature looked like what his

subconscious characteristics were then I

took some of the questioned material

looked at it and it didn't take long to

see if it was counterfeit or if it was

valid the most striking part of the

examination was the writing of the

letter P Paul Gruber consistently had a

large loop in this letter yet in the

questioned documents the peas were

different the loops weren't as

well-formed they were completely missing

or they were elongated floberg also

noticed that Paul Gruber wrote his aims

and ends much differently than those in

the questioned document he concluded

that Paul Gruber did not write these

documents the signatures did look pretty

close to the victims I believe a lot of

practice had gone into duplicating the

victims signatures his downfall however

was that there was a lot more writing

that goes into a birthday card in an

address

next floberg analyzed Darryl kuehl's

handwriting to see if he had written the

checks and birthday cards he noticed

that kill used the same closed-loop on

the capital P and other capital letters

and Kuehl wrote his s in virtually the

same way as the questioned document no

matter how much time you have to

practice writing it's so hard to

duplicate the writing of another that

mr. Kuehl was conclusively the writer of

the forged checks and birthday cards and

addressed the envelopes investigators

searched Darryl kuehl's property and

found some incriminating evidence we

found a hidden door upstairs and found

military-type dark camouflage type

clothing throwing stars a catana

which is a big sword it just didn't fit

with Darryl Kuehl e family man father

Mormon good Mormon type person

they also found power tools furniture

even a boat which were all identified as

belonging to Paul Gruber we found a

small suitcase or briefcase that he had

his sunday-go-to-meeting clothes in it

and a large butcher knife and that

really seemed strange and in the middle

of it all was called one of Paul

Gruber's power bills

but most alarming was a 22 caliber

handgun with a homemade silencer

silencers are illegal because they can

alter the ballistic evidence the

microscopic characteristics which are

imparted to the bullet by the barrel

itself are usually obliterated by a

misaligned silencer very very difficult

and rare to identify a bullet with the

barrel of a weapon who has had a which

has had a silencer device attached and

detectives still didn't have Paul

Gruber's body 18 months after Paul

Gruber disappeared investigators

searched his house yet again this time

in a basement crawlspace they found a

shallow depression that wasn't there

before the ground had apparently settled

we worked for two days we sifted every

five-gallon bucket full of dirt we went

square by square a couple of feet at

each square in a pattern we finally

exposed what appeared to be an air

mattress and eventually confirmed that

there was a body inside

the body was identified as Paul Gruber

he had been shot four times

the medical examiner removed several 22

caliber bullets from Gruber's body but

they didn't match test fires from Darryl

kuehl's 22 caliber handgun or his

silencer which can impart its own

characteristics on the bullet any slight

change in the position of that silencer

relative to the weapon will cause the

bullet to strike different parts of the

silencer from shot to shot and once that

occurs you're not going to make an

identification

nevertheless investigators had more than

enough evidence to charge Darryl Kuehl

with murder

fuels first order of business was to

plan his escape and then may testify

that Darryl Kuehl had offered him money

and a car to kill the prison transport

officers who are taking Darryl back this

person was getting out of jail before

Darryl was going to be transported five

thousand dollars for me and five

thousand for Harvey and five thousand

for Howard we thought we were going

pretty cheap there Kuehl thought he'd

soon be a free man but the investigators

knew better the two officers were

actually doing the transport they said

Darryl we know about your plot that

you're gonna have us killed those guys

turn state's evidence and they said that

he was just crushed at that point

prosecutors believe Darryl Kuehl

orchestrated an elaborate plan to kill

Paul Gruber and steal his money this was

a crime motivated by greed Paul Gruber

had things that Darryl Kuehl wanted

needed more money six kids seven kids

everybody had that's a lot of groceries

apparently Paul Gruber hired Darryl

Kuehl for handyman work around the house

and soon gained his confidence

sometime after Christmas

prosecutors believe Kuehl went to Paul's

home armed with his 22 caliber handgun

and shot him four times

one bullet missed ricocheted off the

floor leaving a gouge in the wood

luminol tests show that he dragged

Paul's body into the crawlspace wrapped

him in plastic and buried him underneath

his own house

kyoool cleaned the blood from the floor

and glued the rug over the gouge created

when the bullet ricocheted with Paul

dead

kill now had unfettered access to Paul's

records his ATM card his pin number his

checks his social security number he had

everything he needed to assume Paul's

identity he started writing checks in

Paul's name and withdrawing money from

his accounts his handwriting may have

fooled one document examiner but it

didn't fool Paul's daughter who knew

right away it wasn't her father's

handwriting she set a trap by leaving

some inaccurate information about her

husband's birthday on her father's

answering machine kyoool fell right into

the trap sending the birthday card on

the wrong date it was a takeover

homicide where wasn't just a homicide

but afterwards the suspect took over the

life of the victim financial matters

paid bills paid the mortgage wrote out

checks and birthday cards their

grandkids tried to keep the persona of

the victim alive so that he could

extract more funds from the victim

at his trial Darryl Kuehl insisted he

was innocent he denied signing Paul's

name on his checks and sending the

birthday cards to Paul's family he

pointed to the opinion of the first

forensic document examiner as proof so

what did prosecutors do they asked

scientists to swab the back of the stamp

on the birthday cards and they found

saliva its DNA matched Darryl Kuehl

there was roughly a million people in

Idaho so when you have a one in a

million on a DNA that tells you that if

everybody in Idaho is in the same room

this is still the only person it could

be I felt a lot happier to know that I

wasn't going to be the only one

testifying to the identity of the writer

but also the DNA was going to

corroborate my findings after a

three-week trial

Huell was convicted of first-degree

murder grand theft and forgery he was

sentenced to 25 years to life in prison

at first was skeptical the handwriting

tells us don't be skeptical keep digging

later on we find evidence of blood have

confirmed for us that yes you have blood

here yes you probably have a crime scene

putting us on the right track

and lastly

the DNA I think that's the nail in the

coffin right here

you