Recent content by Bob1959

Also, the Sodder family has the four bones. They were returned in 1949. Jennie Sodder kept them in a safety deposit box for years and when she died they went to other members of the family. But, they are not going to turn them over and most will not even discuss the case.

This particular forum seems to be ignoring the fact that both pathologists determined that the four bones discovered in the 1949 excavation had never been exposed to the heat of a fire. Also it was determined that some of the bones had been chipped as if damaged in trying to separate them from...

it wasn't intended as an alibi. it was intended as a message. Now that everything you love is gone, you eat liver. also, it appears now that an excavation is very unlikely. the site of the original house has been paved over.

I found an early post from someone who actually interviewed Sylvia Sodder Paxton, the last living Sodder child. She said that the family did have coal burning stoves and they did store some coal on the property but she described it as being not more that usual.

Also, in terms of an excavation of the site, I was recently at the sight and the owner of the property had built a blacktop road OVER where the house once stood. I've attached a picture

In actuality, regardless of what others have said, the fire did not burn all night. It may have smoldered but the fuel was gone within 40 minutes. also, even if it did burn all night, it matters as to what was burning, wood, paper, coal, etc. that is what determines the heat of the fire, not...

George intended the billboard as a slap in the face to local officials who refused to help him.

I have an unconfirmed report from someone who actually knew Morris who said he would do basically anything for money. and the other guy, who was the one who cut the phone lines the night of the fire, this source said he was known as a notorious liar and thief .

I did hit one home run. back in the 60's this case was covered in two so-called "detective magazines". One of the articles has already been posted on Web sleuths several years ago. the other seemed lost to time. I finally found a copy of the other magazine in question on Ebay and bought it...

I' m afraid it was the State Fire Marshal. One possibility, at the time the fire happened in 1945, the Fire Marshal's office was headed under the WV Insurance Commission. (I actually found a newspaper article today from 1948 where the State Insurance Commissioner at the time appointed Mr...

Bad new today. I contacted the Fire Marshall's office and asked how to get copies of their records. the guy told me to just tell him what I wanted and he would see if they had it. I told him about the case briefly and he said they had FOIA request back at this past Christmas from the...

Also, there was an insurance payout. but it didn't go to any of the Sodders. when George bought the house, he had his employer at the time co-sign the mortgage for him, Cleate Janutolo. Janutolo was paid $1,750 from the insurance company. But, newspaper stories of the time say that Janutolo...

I did some research on the fire chief and I found some of his relatives on Ancestry.com still living in Ohio. I found some pictures of him and everything. I also found that he was very active in the Masons (along with about 25 others who are part of this case) and the American Legion. If he...

Yes, this is it. But in a very small nutshell. I would suggest to anyone coming into this forum to search in Websleuths for the Sodder Children. over the past eight years, there have been some very seasoned investigators looking over this case and there has been some really good information...

Mrs. Sodder was the one who took the call and it was not until later,( not sure how long) that when she started thinking about the circumstances, and the fact that the call came within a half hour, or so of the strange noise she heard on the roof, and then a few minutes later the fire, that she...