IL - Rev. John Vraniak, 28, Venice, 5 March 1923

[DannyRichard2006!]

Full Name: John A. Vraniak
Sex: Male
Age: 28
Height: 5'6
Weight: 150 pounds
Hair: Strawberry/blond
Eye Color: Bluish/Grey
Clothing: pastoral vestments
Distinguishing features: Scar on back leg, just right below the knee.
Circumstances:
The Rev. John A. Vraniak was a Catholic priest associated with the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Virden, Illinois. On March 5th, 1923, he embarked on an 80-mile shopping trip to St. Louis, Illinois to gather supplies for an upcoming bazaar, but never returned to Virden. He was last seen alive in Venice by a garage owner who fixed up his car. His vehicle, a Buick Coupe was found a day later at Elm and Main Street in the Saint Louis business district near the Mississippi River. It is strongly believed; he was murdered somewhere on the route from Venice to St. Louis, but 4 years later rumors persisted, that he was seen in the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and other western states, appearing erratic & confused. Since March 5th, 1923. There has been no credible sightings of Rev. Vraniak and his case remains unsolved.

Sources:
Newspapers.com
Truecrimewriteups.com

 

[alb1on]

There are multiple trees on Ancestry which identify him with a man called Edward Anthony Kelsey who died in 1950 in Granville, Illinois. This man married and had 3 children. His date of birth of June 22 1894 is the same as that of the missing priest. So the question is whether this is true. One piece of supporting evidence is his WW2 registration card which gives the person to contact who will always know his address as Anthony Vraniak. John Vraniak did have a brother called Anton (or Anthony). The trees suggest he married (as Edward Kelsey) a Margaret Mayernick later in 1923.
I am not sure how strong this identification is but the trees include what seem to be relatives and, as noted, there are hints in some official records. I will have a deeper look when I have time.

 

[alb1on]

A further small piece of information consistent with the Vraniak/Kelsey change and his having chosen to leave the priesthood is that the wife he is shown as marrying in the Ancestry trees (Margaret Mayernick) lived in Virden, confirmed by 1910 and 1920 census records. Again not proof but it would explain the location of going missing.