Resolved OH - Mary Jane Croft VanGilder, 43, Plymouth, 1945

[Blurgle]

That said, I certainly don't blame the children for feeling abandoned!

 

[imstilla.grandma]

A "civilian sleuth" as Turner calls her had been following the case. In November of 2023, the woman came across the name "Percy L. Sebren." When Vangilder was promoted to high-lift fork operator, she took the position from Sebren and likely received training from him.

"This name was among dozens of others located throughout Mary Jane's military file, but it would be this one alone that would prove crucial," Turner said.

Mystery solved: Shelby police detective tracks down woman who went missing in 1945

Mary Jane Croft Vangilder went missing in 1945 after quitting her job in Shelby. Detective Adam Turner has been on case for more than five years.

www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com

 

[dotr]

' Feb 12, 2024 SHELBY
What ever happened to Mary Jane? Shelby detective solves 1945 cold case mystery'

 

[lightofmine99]

...and she has been added to Doe Network's 2024 list of closed cases.

Mary Jane Vangilder (3950DFOH) missing since March 8, 1945. She was found to have left voluntarily and died from natural causes.

I feel for the kids from her first marriage.

 

[SimsGuy67]

Oh wow! I really expected Mary Jane to have died shortly after her disappearance, but I'm so glad I was wrong!

Find a Grave shows some photos of Mary Jane later in her life.

Mary Jane Croft Vangilder Sebren (1911-1990) -...

www.findagrave.com

Rest in peace Mary Jane Vanglider Sebren (1911 - 1990)

 

[branmuffin]

A "civilian sleuth" as Turner calls her had been following the case. In November of 2023, the woman came across the name "Percy L. Sebren." When Vangilder was promoted to high-lift fork operator, she took the position from Sebren and likely received training from him.

"This name was among dozens of others located throughout Mary Jane's military file, but it would be this one alone that would prove crucial," Turner said.

Mystery solved: Shelby police detective tracks down woman who went missing in 1945

Mary Jane Croft Vangilder went missing in 1945 after quitting her job in Shelby. Detective Adam Turner has been on case for more than five years.

www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com

Did the civilian sleuth want to remain anonymous?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

“I was able to locate Mary Jane’s military service file and letters that Anna Mae (eldest daughter) wrote in the 1940s and 1950s to the FBI,” Turner said.

“This was a huge lead that would be pivotal to the investigation.”

After receiving Vangilder’s military file, Turner said he published the document online.

Turner said a “civilian sleuth,” who wished to remain anonymous, reviewed the military file with a “fine-tooth comb” and directed him to page 17 of the document.

“When Mary Jane was promoted to high lift fork operator, she took the position from Mr. (Percy) Sebren and he likely trained her,” he said.

“This name was among the dozens of others located throughout Mary Jane’s military file, but it would be this one alone that would prove crucial.”

Shelby Police bring decades-old disappearance case to conclusion

Adam Turner has brought a conclusion to the 1945 disappearance of Mary Jane Croft Vangilder after investigating for nearly six years.

www.richlandsource.com

 

[Susikatze]

Wow. That is wild.
I am happy that the family members have found some answers but I guess the answers hurt and open up more questions.
Nevertheless the bitter feeling for both, her family from the first marriage and the family from the second, this is the perfect outcome of decades of dedicated family members, sleuths and LE professionals working together and never giving up on Mary.

 

[dotr]

By Sara Goldenberg Apr. 2, 2024

Cold case solve puts spotlight on the need for detectives in small towns

Big cases may get a lot of attention, but it’s the everyday cases that are a crucial part of what detectives do.

www.cleveland19.com

'CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - In small towns, police officers wear a lot of hats, trying to keep you and your family safe.

One city in Richland County has found the payoff is big to have a detective on the team, even during staffing challenges and budget crunches.

Just over a month ago, Detective Adam Turner with Shelby Police solved one of Ohio’s oldest missing persons mysteries, the case of Mary Jane Vangilder.

During a news conference, the detective revealed that Vangilder, who was in her 30s when she went missing in 1945, left Ohio to start a new life and a new family.'

Apr 2, 2024 CLEVELAND
Cold case solve puts spotlight on the need for detectives in small towns

 

[Bounceycat]

I just stumbled across this case and it's resolution on YouTube the other day, so came to find the thread on here, of course. Did anyone else notice that her sister's Find A Grave also says SHE is a missing person, too? Any further info on that?

Rose Brownsfield “Ashcraft” Croft Leeson Cherry ...

Married James Reed Cherry on 12-14-1953 ****Missing Person*******

www.findagrave.com

 

[sallye818]

I just stumbled across this case and it's resolution on YouTube the other day, so came to find the thread on here, of course. Did anyone else notice that her sister's Find A Grave also says SHE is a missing person, too? Any further info on that?

Rose Brownsfield “Ashcraft” Croft Leeson Cherry ...

Married James Reed Cherry on 12-14-1953 ****Missing Person*******

www.findagrave.com

I just went down a rabbit hole looking for Rose. Wow, have you seen the genealogy/records on her Husband "James Cherry" and his wives? (I do a lot of genealogical research.) This man had six wives! And it looks like the wives and other women in the trees were all "married" multiple times. Wondering if these were all legal marriages?

I'm still hunting for Rose, Mary Jane's sister. I haven't found much yet, though.

 

[Bounceycat]

I just went down a rabbit hole looking for Rose. Wow, have you seen the genealogy/records on her Husband "James Cherry" and his wives? (I do a lot of genealogical research.) This man had six wives! And it looks like the wives and other women in the trees were all "married" multiple times. Wondering if these were all legal marriages?

I'm still hunting for Rose, Mary Jane's sister. I haven't found much yet, though.

I noticed on his Find A Grave that he has an extensive list! I'd be so interested to know what you find. I'm typically on Ancestry during my slow season at work, but during busy season like now, I suspend my subscription for frugality's sake.

 

[sallye818]

So, I've looked on NAMUS and the West Virginia Missing Persons Database, including old and cold cases. I don't see Rose Brownsfield Croft Leeson Cherry on either of these.

She is listed in the 1930 census living with her parents, age 14. By 1940, she's married to Harold LEESON and has children. According to the Find a Grave site. she married James CHERRY in 1953. By 1961, however, he has remarried (Della BEASLEY). However, I found no record of divorce for Rose and James, and no death record for Rose. James died in Oklahoma in 1968.

Without finding any missing info for Rose, I couldn't proceed any further. I checked under all her last names, maiden and married, but was unable to find any further info on Google or Ancestry.

 

[sallye818]

One interesting footnote on Rose (Mary Jane Croft Vangilder's sister)...the detective who found out what happened to Mary Jane is the same detective who has her sister, Rose, and one other lady from West Virginia, listed as missing persons and he submitted their info to the Find a Grave site. Things that make you go hmmmmm...His name is Adam Turner.

 

[Bounceycat]

One interesting footnote on Rose (Mary Jane Croft Vangilder's sister)...the detective who found out what happened to Mary Jane is the same detective who has her sister, Rose, and one other lady from West Virginia, listed as missing persons and he submitted their info to the Find a Grave site. Things that make you go hmmmmm...His name is Adam Turner.

Ohh wow a Turner connection here too? This is so interesting! I wish we knew more! Thanks for your search efforts!