When Walter Weyrauch Sr. left for work on August 23, 1940, he had no idea it was the last day his life would ever be normal. When he arrived home after work that afternoon, he found his young children, 2-week-old Lela Mae and 7-year-old Walter Jr., drowned in the bathtub of their home. A note left on the table read:

“Walt,
They’ll find me in the water at Island Park. I couldn’t die and leave the children. At least they’ll never suffer.
Lou”

Family members searching Island Park found Lucille sitting on a curb in a daze. She was unable to recognize her relatives and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Police attempted to question Lucille, but she spoke unintelligibly and was unable to answer any questions. The Probate Court ordered her to be committed for an indefinite period. Walter Sr. later told police “she was nervous as hell and lost her mind, I guess. I should have never left her yesterday afternoon.” Acting Coroner A. P. McDonald said the children had been dead for about an hour when Walter Sr. discovered them.