Was this in Beatrice, 1949? Until Jessica, failed to realize the number of abandoned water wells that had been found across this country. They seem to be any and everywhere. Searching google with the info you gave, there were several instances in years past. Remember the old well on great grandmothers farm. In childhood years there were two places we were forbidden to play: her old storm cellar and near the old water well.
Lots of them in Texas. Were/are favorite body dump sites.