Hello, everyone
This is my first post here at websleuths, although I've spent the last few days reading every post on this thread, taking notes, and printing as many of the articles, pictures, and linked information as is still available.
I first started reading about this case a couple of years ago and somehow got away from it. Needless to say, my interest has been renewed with a passion.
I am extremely disappointed the Sodder children website is no longer available. I understand it had quite a bit more information, articles, pictures, etc. than these threads do. If any of you can point me in the direction where these things can still be found, happen to have them and wouldn't mind emailing them to me, ANYTHING, I would greatly appreciate it.
As I said, since going through these threads and reading all the posts, there are a few things I have questions about, and some things that stand out to me that no one seems to have addressed on here before. Here are a few things I have questions about and hope to research further.
1. In the first article listed in the first thread, a Charleston Gazette article dated Dec. 22, 1968, George states about the letter they received with the picture of the supposed Louis Sodder, "That letter, like all our others, had been opened and then resealed." I would love to know who delivered their mail, who the postmaster of the area was, and any more information about this that any of you may know.
2. The "pineapple." I believe it was Fox who first said it couldn't be a pineapple because he/she had witnessed it burning through an engine block and that they were made of metal. I talked this over with my husband (who is in the military) and he stated the same. Between talking with him, we've come to the conclusion the soldier who told the Sodder's this was a military device called a pineapple may not have been/probably was not a soldier at all, but someone who was in on the plot and wanted to keep the Sodder's from discovering exactly what the device was. An excellent idea my husband had (which I plan to research further as well), could this have been some sort of firework? After all, being 5 days from New Year's they would be readily available.
3. I've seen many of you make reference to the weather that night, but I haven't seen any article or definitive answer from the family about it. Some have said it was rainy, some said there was snow on the ground. Most accounts have stated it was very cold and very windy. If there was snow on the ground, did anyone happen to check for footprints leading in any direction away from the home? If so, where did they lead?
Those are just a few of the things that have occurred to me and that I hope to find some answers to. Again, any information, other than what is listed in these threads, I would love to have access to. Also, I have heard George Bragg may possibly be writing a book on this. Does anyone happen to have his email address?
Thank you guys so much for your time. By the way, I think it's amazing and heartwarming how much time and effort so many of you have put into this case. I know if this had happened to my family, I would greatly appreciate a group like this taking such an interest and active role in helping find the answers.