It's a horrible thing when bad things happen to people. It's even worse when it's never known exactly what happened. It's hard to put something behind you when you don't have any closure. In all of these cases, those related to the victims have never had closure. You can guess as to what happened, whether or not the person is dead or alive, or who the perpetrator was but the evidence isn't conclusive. These are sad stories to read, and while they may spark our interest, it is also important to spread the word so that maybe, just maybe, some closure can be given.
1. The Interstate 70 Killer
Composite drawing of the suspect
All killed in malls along I-70
In 1992 and 1993, all along Interstate 70 in the Midwest, there were a total possible 9 murders linked to the same suspect. However, the suspect has still not been identified, and evidence is sketchy. One witness saw a stranger enter his business, look around, and leave again. Another man watched a man cross the parking lot by his store, he heard a gunshot and reached his door just as the man disappeared around the corner. Then, the man was spotted again climbing an embankment toward Interstate 70. Nearby, Sarah Blessing had been working alone at a gift shop. The man who had heard the gunshots was investigating their origins when he came upon Sara lying dead in a pool of her own blood. Despite this and other evidence, and the proof that the 9 killings were connected, they still don't know the identity or location of the suspect.
2. The Disappearance of Angela Hammond.
Angela Hammond
Mural on the abductor's truck window
In 1991, four-months pregnant, then 20 year old Angela Hammond was talking on the phone with her boyfriend, Rob. She noticed a suspicious male and said something to Rob about it. Later, a truck pulled up next to her and Rob heard a scream over the phone. He started driving to her location to help her and was passed by a truck going suspiciously fast; he turned around to pursue it. Unfortunately, his car transmission was damaged, and the car failed. He saw the truck drive away, and noticed a fish mural in the back window. Angela has never been seen again, and her abductor and possible murderer are still unknown.
3. The Murder of Linda Sherman
Linda, Patty and Don Sherman
In 1985 Linda Sherman had been working at the U.S. Records Center in St. Louis. She was 27 years old, and married to Don Sherman, who worked as a gas station attendant. They had a stormy 10-year marriage, with possible abuse. In fact, in the spring of 1985, Linda was planning a divorce. After her disappearance, and a questionable account of her last hours by her husband, there were many theories as to what had happened. Had she gone voluntarily with another man? Had she been abducted? Killed? ...No one knew. Then, five years later, a skull was found in the bushes outside what had been Linda's favorite restaurant. Other than the fact that the skull was female and had been killed within the last couple of years, no crime was connected to it and it was put on a shelf in the evidence room. Over a year later, an envelope was sent to the police department. Inside was a note on the restaurant's flier saying, "THE BRIDGETON POLICE HAVE L. SHERMAN'S SKULL". The skull was then examined and the identity determined to in fact be Linda. Many facts of this case remain unknown. Who sent the note? Who killed Linda? and Where was the rest of the body?
4. A Man's Search For Answers in the Disappearance of Laurence Harding Jr.
Baby Laurence Harding Jr.
Geoffrey Harding
In 1944, 10-week old baby Laurence had been with his mother at the grocery store. Two teenage girls admired him, and then followed the mother and baby to their home. While a neighbor was watching the baby so the mother could put the groceries away, the two girls grabbed the baby and disappeared. Although three days later the parents received a call from a woman saying she had him and planned on returning him, the FBI and police never did find him and eventually called off the search. Geoffrey Harding was Laurence's younger brother and was not told of his brother's abduction until 1953. He started searching for him but had no leads until 1986 when the records were finally released due to the Freedom of Information Act. The facts of the investigation had been that five days after the abduction, the women and baby had been spotted at the train station when one of them asked an older woman to hold "her baby". The older woman ended up taking the baby on the train with her and when she arrived in St. Louis she told railroad porters about the baby, but decided to take the baby with her to Magnolia, Arkansas. The porters eventually told this information to the FBI and an investigator went to Magnolia but the case hit a dead end. Geoffrey still believes somehow, some day, he'll be reunited with his brother.
5. The Springfield Three
The missing women
In 1992, Stacy McCall and Suzanne Streeter graduated from high school. They showed up around 2:00 a.m the morning after graduation at Suzanne's mother Sherill Levitt's house. None of the three were seen again. Stacy's parents were worried when they could not locate their daughter and called the police. Over the next hours, several friends and family members were concerned about all three women. When authorities arrived at the scene nothing seemed to be disturbed other than a smashed porch light. Although an unknown transient had been seen near the residence shortly before the disappearance, and a shady green van had been seen in the vicinity that day, there is no evidence of who he was or whether he was connected to the case. The case is unsolved and the women have never been found, although Sherrill and Suzanne were declared legally dead in 1997.
If you have any information about any of these cases, please contact your local authorities. It is this author's hope that these mysteries will become solved. Do you know of any other such stories? Information is power. Share them in the comments below.
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