Theory #5: Bruce Bierbaum #joycelepage #crimejunkies #truecrimeinvestigation | Forensic Files

There are seven theories in the unsolved murder of Joyce Leage. This is theory number five. Bruce Beerbomb. When Joyce
Leage disappeared in July of 1971, her roommate Bruce wasn't treated like a suspect. Instead, he was treated like a
witness. He let investigators search their apartment. He helped identify Joyce's belongings. And he even wrote a
letter to Joyce's father after she disappeared. At first glance, it sounds thoughtful until you actually read the
letter that he sent. Most of the letter isn't about Joyce. It's about money. Bruce explains that because Joyce
disappeared, he would be left covering rent and utilities and the phone bill. And then he asked Joyce's grieving
father if he could reimburse him about $90. He even tells him where to leave the check. Now, asking for money doesn't
make someone a murderer. But that's not the part that eventually made investigators look closer. It was
Bruce's story about the last time he saw Joyce that raised his eyebrows. The first time police interviewed him, Bruce
said that the last time he saw Joyce was Friday morning. He told investigators Joyce was asleep on the couch when he
left for work. But later that changed. Now Bruce says the last time he saw Joyce was Thursday evening before she
left for her skydiving lesson. And that is a significant difference because investigators believe that Joyce
disappeared sometime Thursday night. Then more questions start surfacing. One of Joyce's closest friends went back to
the apartment that she shared with Bruce and noticed Joyce's favorite blue vase was shattered on top of the
refrigerator. And when she asked Bruce about it, he reportedly said that it broke during an argument. But there is
no indication that investigators ever followed up to learn what the argument was about or when it even happened. Now,
years passed, decades actually, and Bruce faded into the background. But investigators did uncover later
incidents in Bruce's life, including a domestic battery case and disciplinary action as a veterinarian unrelated to
Joyce's murder. Those incidents don't prove involvement in Joyce's case either, but they contributed to renewed
investigative interests today. Today, Whitman County Sheriff Brett Meyers has publicly acknowledged that Bruce is the
primary focus of the active investigation. Investigators have tried to interview him and again and even the
FBI approached him about taking another polygraph, but Bruce declined. We also reached out to him during our reporting
and he chose not to be interviewed. Bruce Beerbomb has never been charged in Joyce Leage's murder and has
consistently denied any involvement. However, it seems that investigators are looking at him more closely than ever
before. But there is still two more theories to

Theory #5 of 7

Bruce Bierbaum was initially treated as a witness after Joyce LePage disappeared. But over the years, investigators identified inconsistencies in his statements, revisited evidence, and took a closer look at his history.

Today, Whitman County investigators have publicly acknowledged that Bruce is the primary focus of the active investigation. Bruce Bierbaum has never been charged in Joyce LePage's murder and has consistently denied any involvement.

Watch the full investigation on @CrimeJunkie and tagged below. -------- Follow Crime Junkie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimejunkiepodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrimeJunkiePodcast/ Crime Junkie is created and hosted by Ashley Flowers.

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Brief Summary

Bruce Beerbomb's inconsistent statements raise suspicions in Joyce Leage's unsolved murder case.

Key points

Theories in Joyce Leage's Murder. There are seven theories surrounding the unsolved murder of Joyce Leage.
Bruce Beerbomb's Inconsistent Story. Bruce's changing account of the last time he saw Joyce raises suspicion.
Investigators Renew Interest in Bruce. Years later, Bruce Beerbomb is now the primary focus of the investigation.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

Asking for money doesn't make someone a murderer.

Discussing Bruce's request for reimbursement from Joyce's father.

0:41WatchJul 30, 2026

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