Found Deceased IN - Ralph Stutzman, 46, LaGrange, 17 Aug 1952

[Richard]

Ralph Stutzman missing since 1952

 

[Jake479]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[spartanx]

it is very likely that ralph has fallen into a well or hole in the ground then covered with earth grass the action of the wind the animals etc.
rest in peace Ralph

 

[Richard]

Bumping case up.

 

[Harleyman555]

I am Ralph's Granddaughter. Several years ago we (several family members) met with the LaGrange County (Indiana) Sheriff's office and hit a brick wall with our search for information. We were shown the Indiana State Police report ( most of it was blacked out) but obtained no new information. My grandmother used to receive letters from the FBI every year inquiring if she had heard from my grandfather. Yet they have no record of even investigating his disappearance and state they can not look for him without HIS permission...??? He would be dead by now.

There has been many scenarios of his demise stated through out the years, one that seems plausible, even though several family members disagree, is that he went to live among the Amish. I know that the Amish in LaGrange County still talk about his disappearance.

We are still looking for answers, hope someone out there can help us find them.

Nancy

Hi Nancy,
I am an amateur genetic genealogist. If you would like to hear the results of my review on Ralph Stutzman, please feel free to contact me. I think I know what happened to him and you can prove it to yourself.

Regards,
Randy

 

[Richard]

Ralph Stutzman disappeared over 70 years ago.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

70-year-old cold case in LaGrange finally comes to an end

LAGRANGE — A 70-year-old cold case has been closed thanks to DNA testing through the family history site Ancestry.com.

www.goshennews.com

 

[Richard]

Ralph Stutzman, age 46, Went missing on 17 August 1952

Case solved 2023 through DNA testing:

71-year-old cold case solved in LaGrange County

Ralph Stutzman mysteriously went missing 71 years ago, leaving without a trace.

www.wndu.com

70-year-old LaGrange County cold case solved, uncovers secret family

For decades a family wondered what happened to their father. Now 70-year-old cold case has been solved.

www.21alivenews.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1669825125649199104

 

[dotr]

70-year-old LaGrange County cold case solved, uncovers secret family

For decades a family wondered what happened to their father. Now 70-year-old cold case has been solved.

www.21alivenews.com

''Delbert Schrock or Ralph Stutzman as his Indiana family knew him, died in Florida in 1968. His long-kept secret finally revealed to his two families 70 years after he left his LaGrange County home. However, why he left his Indiana family and started a new life will remain a mystery.''

 

[cenazoic]

Wow! “Only God knows the hearts of men”, I suppose.

I follow a lot of pre-1960 missing person cases, and have an internal running joke that they all either a) ran away to start a new life or b) got “amnesia”, but this is a good reminder that sometimes, that’s actually what happened!

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Genealogy linked the Stutzman family to a family named Schrock, in Florida. Officials said Stutzman became Delbert Schrock and started a new family. He died in 1968.

Ben Boyd, his grandson, spoke to WSBT in South Bend.

“It's a relief for my mother,” said Boyd. “For years and years, she's always said that she'd like to know what happened to her dad before she died, and she's 92 years old.”

Why Stutzman left might always be a mystery to the family, but members of both of his families have met.

Case of Indiana man who went missing 71 years ago solved

A missing persons case in Indiana’s LaGrange County has been solved after more than 70 years. The LaGrange County Sheriff’s Office said it was a genealogist who connected the dots and solved a case that has troubled a family for generations.

www.audacy.com

 

[Richard]

Ralph Stutzman's Missing Person thread was started here on Websleuths in 2006. He was located and the thread was moved to the Identified topic area in 2023.

 

[FrostedGlass]

Ralph Stutzman's Missing Person thread was started here on Websleuths in 2006. He was located and the thread was moved to the Identified topic area in 2023.

You and others did a great job!

 

[azure]

Hi Nancy,
I am an amateur genetic genealogist. If you would like to hear the results of my review on Ralph Stutzman, please feel free to contact me. I think I know what happened to him and you can prove it to yourself.

Regards,
Randy

It sounds like you solved the case! I'd be very interested in your methodology, if you care to share.

 

[Meitsyeah]

Nice to see an old case solved and closure found on an old case. Don't see to many run away start a new life endings ..makes you wonder if the gamblers were gunning for him and he scooted towm?

 

[Richard]

Bumping thread up...

MSN