PA PA - District Attorney Ray Gricar Mysteriously Disappeared - Bellefonte 15 April 2005 #18

[Kell1]

I recall discussing this case with Bellfonte and PSU police in person, and the consensus at the time (2008) was that Gricar, left on his own, for reasons unknown, but felt it had nothing to do with his job.

Oddly Gricar's brother disappeared under similar circumstances in 1996, his body would later be recovered from the Miami (OH) river it was listed as a suicide.

If I recall a search of the computer at his home included searches for how to wreck a hard drive, and water damage to a computer, low and behold both wound up in a river.

Allegations against Sandusky were reported to have been investigated by Gricars office as early as 1998, however Sandusky was not charged at the time, it was later discovered that the administration at the university were involved in a cover up of Sandusky's crimes, and in doing so went on to commit numerous further crimes..

Gricar disappeared in 2005,

At the time 2008-2009 however both agencies were in the state of compiling evidence against Sandusk'y to bring before a grand jury and due to the Universities involvement could not disclose anything regarding the Sandusky case.

No one Ive ever spoken to following Sandusky's conviction felt there was any connection between the 2 cases however.

I've heard several theories however none have any real credibility

 

[Black Diamond]

Rest in Peace, Ray Gricar.
Just before Ray disappeared, he was investigating the sex trafficking of high school athletes in PA. Re: The Sandusky Cult.
I wonder what he had found out?

there has been no evidence made public that Ray was investigating Sandusky just before he disappeared. Ray briefly investigated Sandusky 6 years prior, in 1998 and dropped the investigation presumably due to lack of evidence and the Seasock evaluation of Sandusky. (though possibly for some other reason.)

 

[acutename]

I recall discussing this case with Bellfonte and PSU police in person, and the consensus at the time (2008) was that Gricar, left on his own, for reasons unknown, but felt it had nothing to do with his job.

Oddly Gricar's brother disappeared under similar circumstances in 1996, his body would later be recovered from the Miami (OH) river it was listed as a suicide.

If I recall a search of the computer at his home included searches for how to wreck a hard drive, and water damage to a computer, low and behold both wound up in a river.

Allegations against Sandusky were reported to have been investigated by Gricars office as early as 1998, however Sandusky was not charged at the time, it was later discovered that the administration at the university were involved in a cover up of Sandusky's crimes, and in doing so went on to commit numerous further crimes..

Gricar disappeared in 2005,

At the time 2008-2009 however both agencies were in the state of compiling evidence against Sandusk'y to bring before a grand jury and due to the Universities involvement could not disclose anything regarding the Sandusky case.

No one Ive ever spoken to following Sandusky's conviction felt there was any connection between the 2 cases however.

I've heard several theories however none have any real credibility

so did they think a walk away or suicide?

the smoke in the car does not match suicide and the car wipe down does not either. I think a person could drown in chest high water but they would have to really work at it (believe that some people weigh themselves down, take a drug, etc.). the destroyed laptop speaks to something hidden that had to be destroyed. the snippets do not hang together to back any one theory well.

 

[Valiant]

The foul play angle has some serious holes.
How could they be sure he’d bring the laptop? How could they be sure the information they wanted to destroy was on the laptop only? What agency was investigating as the DA doesn’t really initiate investigations?

That’s not to say any other theories are perfect.

 

[Kell1]

so did they think a walk away or suicide?

the smoke in the car does not match suicide and the car wipe down does not either. I think a person could drown in chest high water but they would have to really work at it (believe that some people weigh themselves down, take a drug, etc.). the destroyed laptop speaks to something hidden that had to be destroyed. the snippets do not hang together to back any one theory well.

Their feeling at the time was that Gricar planned his own disappearance, there were several theories as to why, I wont comment on the suspected motives, however there were only a few who felt he may have drowned himself in the river, but most think he just left possibly to another country .

With no leads almost no evidence, they declared him legally dead, though some doubt it to this day.

 

[DeeperSecrets]

there has been no evidence made public that Ray was investigating Sandusky just before he disappeared. Ray briefly investigated Sandusky 6 years prior, in 1998 and dropped the investigation presumably due to lack of evidence and the Seasock evaluation of Sandusky. (though possibly for some other reason.)

Who commissioned Seasock's report?

 

[Black Diamond]

Who commissioned Seasock's report?

This says Penn State Police.

https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/penn-state/jerry-sandusky/article42808443.html

 

[DeeperSecrets]

This says Penn State Police.

https://www.centredaily.com/news/local/education/penn-state/jerry-sandusky/article42808443.html

The chief investigator Schreffler stated in court he did not want Seasock involved. He stated that child welfare authorities did. The State (DPW) did want a psychologist to interview the victim...but a psych from their office...not Seasock. Seasock was brought in by the County child welfare (CYS).

This was discussed in Old Main on the evening of May 4, 1998. A number of people were present. Was Gricar? It's very likely.

 

[DeeperSecrets]

Whether or not his disappearance is linked with Sandusky in any way...it is vital to assess whether Gricar was acting in that investigation in 1998 as an impartial DA. I think the evidence strongly suggests not.

 

[Black Diamond]

The chief investigator Schreffler stated in court he did not want Seasock involved. He stated that child welfare authorities did. The State (DPW) did want a psychologist to interview the victim...but a psych from their office...not Seasock. Seasock was brought in by the County child welfare (CYS).

This was discussed in Old Main on the evening of May 4, 1998. A number of people were present. Was Gricar? It's very likely.

I’m not 100% familiar with the Sandusky timeline. So are you saying Schreffler or someone else told the brass at the university that date about the wet hair boy and they immediately convened a meeting at old main that night? May 4 is the same night the boy with the wet hair was interviewed I believe. Who else do you believe were present?

 

[DeeperSecrets]

I’m not 100% familiar with the Sandusky timeline. So are you saying Schreffler or someone else told the brass at the university that date about the wet hair boy and they immediately convened a meeting at old main that night? May 4 is the same night the boy with the wet hair was interviewed I believe. Who else do you believe were present?

The shower incident occurred Sunday May 3. On the morning of the 4th the mother reported it to PSU police and Schreffler. Schreffler then notified CYS and the DA office by mid-afternoon. The boy was interviewed by Schreffler that morning but was interviewed again that night by the CYS caseworker (which is improper protocol).

Spanier, Curley and Schultz were present at the meeting but there are hints by the DOE and Freeh report that others were there. I suspect Gricar and possibly the Director of CYS but authorities don't want that public.

Prior to the boy being interviewed a second time (and the second victim being interviewed at all)...someone in this meeting determined the actions were "not criminal". I don't think any of the three we know were there had the ability to make that determination...but Gricar could.

 

[minazoe]

honestly Ray has been gone a long time...even though Sandusky is still alive, he is in prison and I think someone would have come out and leaked something about Ray by now...like maybe information that makes the rounds in the cop bars and mob haunts..what really went down..or what someone heard..
you know..2 people can't keep a secret or whatever...but it doesn't seem like there is a rumor regarding Ray getting deep sixed by Sandusky 'connections or associates" and maybe it was very tight and no one will ever talk.

today I have this vibe of Ray being followed, approached by his car and removed from the area.

maybe he went to Lewisb to avoid someone...but that someone found him. there is no reason for the car to be wiped clean that doesn't point to foul play. why would Ray wipe down the car in a walkaway? maybe he recently had the car detailed and washed..this could explain the appearance of being wiped down..it's a maddening detail that seems very important but not verifiable. kind of like the smoke..the window could have been down and someone was randomly smoking near the car and smoke drifted inside..the ash has been verified and debunked, so was there an ash?

maybe it's simple ..he dumped the laptop and hard drive ..he had a bag packed in the boot.. a friend who smokes comes picks him up by the car and takes Ray to an airport or something..I also don't rule out witness protection...I mean no matter what you say..the whole idea is to keep someones whereabouts a secret and no one is going to come out and say he's in protection...also maybe as DA he is not going to be eligible for that but we don't know what extra curricular things Ray could have been involved in... so it's all very dodgy...mOO

 

[DeeperSecrets]

honestly Ray has been gone a long time...even though Sandusky is still alive, he is in prison and I think someone would have come out and leaked something about Ray by now...like maybe information that makes the rounds in the cop bars and mob haunts..what really went down..or what someone heard..
you know..2 people can't keep a secret or whatever...but it doesn't seem like there is a rumor regarding Ray getting deep sixed by Sandusky 'connections or associates" and maybe it was very tight and no one will ever talk.

today I have this vibe of Ray being followed, approached by his car and removed from the area.

maybe he went to Lewisb to avoid someone...but that someone found him. there is no reason for the car to be wiped clean that doesn't point to foul play. why would Ray wipe down the car in a walkaway? maybe he recently had the car detailed and washed..this could explain the appearance of being wiped down..it's a maddening detail that seems very important but not verifiable. kind of like the smoke..the window could have been down and someone was randomly smoking near the car and smoke drifted inside..the ash has been verified and debunked, so was there an ash?

maybe it's simple ..he dumped the laptop and hard drive ..he had a bag packed in the boot.. a friend who smokes comes picks him up by the car and takes Ray to an airport or something..I also don't rule out witness protection...I mean no matter what you say..the whole idea is to keep someones whereabouts a secret and no one is going to come out and say he's in protection...also maybe as DA he is not going to be eligible for that but we don't know what extra curricular things Ray could have been involved in... so it's all very dodgy...mOO

A Sandusky connection with his disappearance needn't imply foul play. There are plausible scenarios where it could have encouraged him to walk away. For instance, if he did cut Sandusky a break in 1998 and then later learned about other incidents it may have prompted him to disappear on his own volition.

 

[acutename]

A Sandusky connection with his disappearance needn't imply foul play. There are plausible scenarios where it could have encouraged him to walk away. For instance, if he did cut Sandusky a break in 1998 and then later learned about other incidents it may have prompted him to disappear on his own volition.

the descriptions of RG are of some one who was respected and dedicated- but LE is a trying job on any level- are you always right? are you really helping society? etc. it can wear a person down IMO. I think people want RG to be alive - through any odd circumstances, but I am not convinced that he is. IMO. it is the mystery- no body, no answers, that keeps everyone speculating.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Yes but it's not his personal data to destroy, it's work related. He shouldn't have the authority to destroy work related data on a work laptop. Not like his personal PC with Facebook stuff etc. I find it very odd and suspicious. As if covering up something, question is what. Very extreme behavior from a supposed proffesional.

Not necessarily. He used the laptop as a home computer for a year.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Don’t forget WIFI and laptops with WIFI capability wasn’t really a thing in 2005. To use the internet he would have needed to plug in somewhere, and doing that in 2005 was only common at home, at an office, or at a hotel. Between that almost certainty that he wasn’t taking it for internet access and the fact that the hard drive was removed and both parts tossed in the river, it narrows it down to those two good explanations.

Snipped for emphasis.

The laptop did not have WIFI. It would have needed to plug into the Internet. It could have been connected by wire, but the line was still in the case.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Who commissioned Seasock's report?

The psychologist, I think, made the report to Childline, which was run the Department of Public Welfare (as it was called). They forwarded it to Centre County Children and Youth Services. They dealt with Sandusky's TSM, so they had a conflict of interest and called in Seasock.

 

[Sweetluv]

Was it just smoke and ash found in the car..or were cigarette butts found outside of the car? If so, I would hope they were collected and tested for DNA..were findings released?

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Was it just smoke and ash found in the car..or were cigarette butts found outside of the car? If so, I would hope they were collected and tested for DNA..were findings released?

The reports from LE at the time was that, when opened, there was a slight sent of cigarette smoke and small flake of ash on passenger floor.

The impression was that it could have been caused by someone leaning into the vehicle while smoking. Note that the windows were closed and doors locked.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

We are about 6 weeks away from the 20th anniversary of RFG's disappearance.