How would a person go about setting up a false identity in the 1970s? I'm sure it was easier then than it would be today. It seems like, if they did just run away and are still alive, they would have to be living under other names, unless they left the country.
If they are still alive and have chosen not to contact their families, are there any thoughts as to why they would want to cut their families off? Were there problems we are not aware of in the families that would lead to that much bitterness? This is a very long time not to contact anyone. The only reason I can imagine doing that myself is if there were very serious problems in the home, abuse, neglect, or some other factor that would cause me to have no desire to see or contact my family again.
My other thought is perhaps the Navy vet and/or the bus driver supplied drugs to Mitch and Bonnie on their way back and something went horribly wrong and they died. Example: the Navy vet making up the story about the river and possible drowning so that the families would know the kids were dead, but not wanting to admit he contributed to their deaths in any way. If they died of an overdose/drug reaction he and the bus driver may have feared manslaughter charges or something of that nature at the time. This is only conjecture of course, and I'm not accusing either of these men of doing anything wrong, just throwing out ideas.
The thing I would also like to know the answer to is what did Bonnie do with the money she took from her house? If she took $80 where did it go? What did they plan to do with the money? How far could you get on $80 in 1973?
I think setting up a new identity would have been much easier then. One way, and, I remember reading this in a book back in the 70's, My cousin had it for a school paper and let me borrow it. Can't recall the name of the book but it was fascinating. One way, was to go to a cemetery, and find a baby who died who was about your age.
Copy all the info, and maybe you had the parents info off the tombstone. And then go to local paper and find obit, would give you parents info. Write to the state or county for birth certificate. This cost a few bucks and they didn't require much info. Then could get a social security in that name. It was common then to get a social when you went to work or college. I know I got mine as a 6th grade class project, but, I know several people my age who went to different schools, LOL who didn't. Another cousin got his at 22!!! He worked for the family business for cash and when he decided to go to work elsewhere he got one.
A woman could get one in 20s or 30s, just claim got married and didn't work. They didn't check. Times were really different before 9/11 and all. I think the Socials for babies started in the mid to late 80s. Once you have a birth cert and social you could get a driver's license. And a bank account and then credit.
Not sure on the money. It sure went further, but, I didn't personally pay rent or motel bills so not sure. My husband is always telling me about a building in our town - a very cool looking old two story house. He said forever in the 60s and 70s it was a boarding house, which as a lad fascinated him, and had a sign up saying 25.00 a week, Clean, with hot water, a hot breakfast and dinner. LOL At some point someone redid it back to a lovely single family home, but, he never fails to tell me that when we go by it. I live in a fair sized small city in the metro area of a major Midwestern City.
I do recall staying in a Super 8 in Kansas in about 84 or 85 and recall it being 17.00 per night!!!! And it was actually a fairly decent room. It was one of maybe two or three in a small town. I can recall small motels around the Midwest and Upper South being 20 - 30 a night in that time, and not dives.
So 80 might have lasted till either or both got a job - easier to get, and day labor paid cash daily, restaurant work paid cash in many cases. And I have always wondered if either or both of them had some more money no one knew about.