George Jares – 6 of Clubs, Wisconsin

From the outside, 43-year-old George was a family man: a former greeting card salesman turned restaurant owner who loved his kids, the outdoors, and working hard. But after George was shot three times and left for dead in his restaurant’s parking lot, details of his life began to emerge that painted a rather different picture… And the surprising twists that detectives uncovered led them to suspect that George had been targeted by a hitman. For nearly forty years they’ve been looking for the shooter and, more importantly, the person who hired them.

George Jares - 6 of Clubs - Wisconsin Playing Card

Courtesy of Wisconsin Associates of Homicide Investigations

Episode Info

If you have any information about the murder of George Jares in Eagle River, Wisconsin, on August 3rd, 1986, please come forward. You can call the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office at (715) 479-4441 and ask for any officer or detective on duty. Or, if you’d prefer to remain anonymous, you can call the Vilas County Sheriff’s anonymous tip line at 1-800-472-7290.

George, his wife Linda, and their youngest son, Michael, at the family’s home in Eagle River, Wisconsin.

George, his wife Linda, and their youngest son, Michael, at the family’s home in Eagle River, Wisconsin. Courtesy: Lynore Pinne Vleck, George’s sister.
From left to right: George’s sons (Michael and George III), George, George’s parents, George’s wife (Linda), George’s sister’s ex-husband, George’s sister & her daughter.

From left to right: George’s sons (Michael and George III), George, George’s parents, George’s wife (Linda), George’s sister’s ex-husband, George’s sister & her daughter. Courtesy: Lynore Pinne Vleck, George’s sister.
George and his wife, Linda.

George and his wife, Linda. Courtesy: Lynore Pinne Vleck, George’s sister.
George with his parents, Elynore and George Sr.

George with his parents, Elynore and George Sr. Courtesy: Lynore Pinne Vleck, George’s sister.
George fishing on vacation.

George fishing on vacation. Courtesy: Lynore Pinne Vleck, George’s sister.
George and Linda Jares at their wedding in 1964.

George and Linda Jares at their wedding in 1964. Courtesy: Lynore Pinne Vleck, George’s sister.
The revolver used in George’s murder.

The revolver used in George’s murder. Courtesy: Audiochuck staff.
Investigators analyzing George’s truck after his murder.

Investigators analyzing George’s truck after his murder. Courtesy: Vilas County Sheriff’s Office.
The photograph of the grease thumbprint on the revolver used in George’s murder.

The photograph of the grease thumbprint on the revolver used in George’s murder. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.
The aviator sunglasses left behind by George’s killer on the night of the murder.

The aviator sunglasses left behind by George’s killer on the night of the murder. Photo taken by Audiochuck staff.
A composite sketch of the man thought to have shot George on August 3rd, 1986.

A composite sketch of the man thought to have shot George on August 3rd, 1986. Courtesy: Vilas County Sheriff’s Office.

Episode Source Material

Original reporting by Nicole Kagan