This story has always broken my heart. I am now 66 years old and I still have a sad heart when I hear this once again. God rest their precious souls. ✝️
This happened near my town i always saw the billboard and it used to have all the children's pictures in front of the place. I lived about 30 minutes away from there at route 61
I don't believe they perished in the fire. Too many 'coincidences' and no remains found. Thank you for covering this with respect and compassion. The end was especially poignant. May all those who passed rest in eternal peace. 🙏
This is just so sad. You did a wonderful job of telling their story. I don't believe the children died in that fire. From what I've heard, the case was not handled very well, if at all. Thank you for telling their tale with care and compassion.
Thank you for covering this and not adding more to the story as many seem to do. I've been subscribed to your channel for a few months now, due to your coverage of the Hatfield and McCoy history. Joseph Sodder Sr., brother to the missing children, was my grandfather. He passed away on January 6, 2010.
@@josephsodder1619I’m originally from WV, but lived in CA for the last 33 years. I used the Ancestry site for my DNA. I found it to be very accurate. My son has a different last name and lived in Maine at the time and he was identified as my son. My siblings were also identified and they live in various states. I’ve also had 3&4th generation cousins show up and I had no idea who they were. It’s something that has the potential to give you some answers. I wish you the best this is just a terribly sad story.
This story just breaks my heart. I was 2 years old when this tragic fire took place. I am 80 years old and still think about that tragic story of the Sodder children. God Bless these children. Thank you for this vital piece of history in WV. How could the children have gotten out of the house with the fire engulfing the stairwell? Why didn't the Fire Marshall or official find any sign that the fire caused cremation? Interesting questions??? Perhaps one of those people who threatened the family started the fire. Perhaps one of the Italian families kidnapped the children!! God only knows!!! This is one of the most unique mysteries in WV. Great story. Loved the music Heather. Again, thank you for all of the research that you have done on this story.
What an amazing story. You should try to dig deeper into it. My husband and I watch everyday to see if you and Leo have a new video up. We both believe those children were taken and never killed. Younger ones grew up thinking they were with family and probably told their family died in the fire. Any older kids may have been threatened. Thank you for this. God bless
I’ve heard this story on other true crime channels - this story breaks my heart - I appreciate how you tell these stories with such compassion and honour the deceased 💕
That is such a sad story. I heard about this from family of mine. My uncle and aunt and several cousins are buried in this cemetery. Thanks for sharing this and for your work on it
My favorite story I have always been intrigued by!! I never get tired of reading it and hearing about it. I'm always hoping for the truth of their whereabouts. Much love to them❤
Thank you for bringing the spirits to life even though we dont know, like you said, their all together in Gods garden...everyone does a different take on this story and yours is spot on....RIP Sodder children 🌹
@Yoland Kish I was thinking the same thing. DNA has matched up families that some never knew existed; children given away for what ever reason at birth, children given up to the state then adopted, children raised by other members of a family that don't live close, children separated at birth DNA through various internet/social media sites. If surviving children had children and grandchildren, its possible the missig children also had children and grandchildren. Cousins, second cousins could find each other.
What a sad story! There was judgement for those who did this. The Lord made a lovely,very warm place, for those who are evil. Y'll are presenting so many interesting stories. Some are fun,but others like this one,are so sad.
Great video :) such a sad but fascinating case. Here are a couple of additional interesting facts if you’re interested. In regards to the picture of Louis that was addressed to the mom, Jennie, she did had a brother named Frank Cipriani, who could be “brother Frankie”. The Sodder family had initially suspected him because he lived in Florida. There were witnesses who saw the children get into cars with Florida licence plates. Even the Sodders believed this theory that Jennie’s brother took them because it would’ve been someone they knew. Thank you again for a great video.
I’ve been so busy with Grandkids and family !! But I’m saving your beautiful videos for my down time which is coming very soon!! My darlings I cannot wait to catch up!! Love ❤️ from Maine..
Awesome job just watch a video of yours for the first time your so great and very respectful they deserve that ive been obsessed with this case for years u have the best video about the missing sodder children i agree they were definitely taken and it makes me think a lot of the town was may have been in on it i was a teenager in the 90s when i first herd about them missing its always bothered so much that they were never and nobody but there parents seem worried about finding its just so horrible what happened to them and their parents died without out ever knowing God bless all of them ❤
The biggest issue with looking into historical incidents we tend to arm chair it with our modern perspective. It helps but also henders. Remember this is 1945 America.
Fascinating and lovely presentation.. I’m just In love because this is my vibe!! When you presented the Mary Infles story .. that slayed me!! That is the story that was actually taught in my American History class in Maine!! You guys have a true niche in history and videos could absolutely be used in schools .. Very impressive my loves!!!
This is a story that needed to be told, even though I'm certain that you didn't really want to. I don't believe that the children died in the fire. There would've been some remains left. Either way as terrible as this is, hopefully they know the truth now. Another hope is if others were involved, they have received their just rewards from God. Anyone that harms children should have a very special place in He'll. God bless ya'll for this story and keeping their names and story alive. Ya'll stay safe on your travels. God bless you for what your doing. Thank you.
What a strange case ! What gets me is that someone was able to get FIVE kids out of the house ? A child , maybe two young ones I'd understand . But FIVE ?! Almost for sure , sadly . They were all killed . Otherwise one of them would have called or went back home when they got older . R.I.P... kids .
Im just now finding this video. I heard about this tragedy last year. I believe the children perished in the fire. The reason I say that is is i have a friend who is a firefighter. And he once worked a house fire where someone perished. And he said that unless you were highly trained and knew exactly what you were looking for, you would have never known there were human remains there. The entire body was consumed by the fire. Only a few traces of the person remained., and if you didn't know specifically what you were looking for, you would not have noticed them.
My theory is this two armed people entered the house using the outside ladder that was missing when the father tried to get back into the house The Intruders Force the children down the ladder and into waiting vehicles, An the trucks were disabled so no one in the household could possibly pursue the get way vehicles, nothing is really known about George the father past n possible connections to organized crime, it was probably originally plan to Ransom the children back to the family either for money are using his possible local political connections, and then the kidnappers probably chickened out n killed them, and bear in mind the father was not a poor man and was very active in local coal commerce and local political connections,
And as far as the red object that was found in the yard are possibly trying to hint that it was an Italian grenade that was commonly known as a red devil from what I know of study of Italian military weapons in world war II this grenade was very very unstable even the soldiers that it was issued to would not even put the primer in it until that was immediate combat, there even a story of a Czechoslovakian freedom fighter that was very famous, that accidentally dropped one of these grenades and was immediately incinerated and the odds ever returning US returning soldier bringing one back as a souvenir or remote due to inherent danger of the item. It was not one of the Italian military's most effective weapons more or less a last-ditch weapon,
I've heard about that story before interesting. That one is a little bit before my time. But I do remember another fire over in West Virginia when I was a kid. But the daughter burnt the house down in the people in it in that fire.
frankieturner630 I think that one happened in Parkersburg some time in 1969. Bones of the people were found in the rubble and buried in a nearby cemetery.
sounds like a mol cocktail thrown on the roof..so sad that ppl would be so very evil over money!! conform or pay the price?? its so disgusting that children were done this way..when they were innocent where are ppls minds anymore?? i pray for peace and love to overcome all the evil but it will take actions as well please everyone if you know of any kid that needs help..please help them any way you can they dont deserve any of this
THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING STORY,, IT'S A SHAME IF THEY WERE TAKEN & KILLED LATER ON ‼️ GOD BLESS THEM ALL & PRAY THEY ARE TOGETHER WITH JESUS IN HEAVEN 🩸 AMEN 🩸🙏🏼✝️🙏🏼🩸
This is a very heartbreaking story 💔 😢 I do not believe that the children died in that fire, I believe that they were kidnapped, but 24:12 by whom? Did some of Louis's comments get back to a Mafia figure who was a big supporter of the former Italian dictator? ( Sorry, I have forgotten how to spell his name.) Like Heather pointed out, there are too many weird things about this case.I tend to agree with Heather, I believe the children were killed, shortly after the kidnapping. May the entire family, together rest in peace 🙏 Thank you very much Leo and Heather, for telling this very sad story.
I believe the children were kidnapped but considering the number of children one person didn't do this on their own, there had to be others who helped commit the crime.
Just found your Sodder video! Makes me wonder if someday someone will do a 23andme DNA test only to find out their grandparent is one of the Sodder kids. Something makes me think the kids didn't die in the fire. I dunno. Heartbreaking.
Wow! At 20:38 I hear a male voice say "what happened?". Then another male voice immediately responded and said "he did it!" This was while you were at George's grave. OMG! Did George go down and kill his children? If so, there had to be blood all over that room. Was that why it was set on fire? To hide all of the blood? He could have easily carried the kids outside and buried them in a mass grave. And then he used that dirt from the grave fill up the crime site (that spine belonged to one of his children). He didn't want the detectives to find any evidence in that house. He was the one who told the cops about men saying things about his house catching fire. He could have been planning on killing his family and made up those stories to deflect from himself setting the fire. Did he plan on killing the entire family, but his wife and four of the kids escaped? I used to wonder about this case. Now I know. Thanks to the spirits!
The story is suspicious. 1: Feeding chickens. The sun goes down about 5:30, so the chickens would have already roosted for the night. So no, there was no way they would have done that. 2: Milking the cow Again, the sun goes down about 5:30. None of the kids would have been out late. 3: The oldest daughter had "fallen to sleep" with the lights on and the window open. The mother turned off the light and closed the window. It is the dead of winter, so it would be too cold to keep the window open. 4: It was the holidays. People traveled with their children. Kidnapers would not have the kids out in public the very next morning. 5: They were Catholics. They didn't go to Midnight Mass like other Catholics. 6: The five and dime store open late on Christmas Eve. Most stores in those days not in large cities, would close early on holidays.
Most likely if the kids did get to grow up they were told their arents were dead. I had 3 boys, their father stole them while I was in the Army 40 plus years ago & he probably told them I'm dead or who knows what. 'It' ( husband) was 12 yrs older than me & if still alive would be 83 now. I hope to get out of the crap Hud building & buy a home & truck soon, then maybe I can really see if I can find them & they'll learn the truth. So I can really know what those parents went through.💔 God tells us we need to forgive -- but I'll never forget what & how it happened. The investigater was eighter killed, or badly threatened to keep quiet or paid off to drop the case, I think he was killed. Maybe the young man we saw in the picture ran away-- then killed ? if they'd ever found him again & it's all too easy to hide bodies in wooded areas. Just so sad all around. Thanks to you guys-- they will be remembered & we can pray for them. Whomever did it-- we can only leave it up to our Heavenly Father --
1945 it was still possible to disappear without dying. Florida California or other west state's you could move across this country without being noticed. Or shipped out of the country in 45 we didn't pay much attention who was leaving. If they were shipped to Italy and told their parents died . You had to go out of your way to get news especially global. Look where Italians were going in 45 and check their immigration records. Hell Cuba wouldn't ask many questions.
The youngest missing girl would be 85 right now, and the youngest boy (Louis) would be 89 in 2024. Still possible for both of them to be alive. That begs the question, if they are, why haven't they contacted anyone? Even Louis, who was 9 at the time, should have some memories of the event and his family, but again, no phone call or email anywhere between the 90s and up
It sure feels iike this was done in retribution for the family's position against Mussolini. Those responsible will pay the price in the heavenly realms; may the victims rest in peace.
What a terribly sad story, is there no way that private detectives could find out what happened ,now as dna and everything is so developed? Is there any dna from this family in any data-base? Could it be matched with surviving children of the lost children IF there is any? I mean IF the five children were not murdered. That photo of the young man really looked so much like the Sodderboy that disappeared!! And the detective who never was heard of again, could he be traced? Do they have proofe that he is dead or missing, how much effort did they put in trying to find him? I feel there IS more to do and I hope and pray that someone will take it as his/hers life's task to try and find out the mystery of the missing children and their bodys or whereabouts. And also; thankyou for a very well-told story♥️
Very, very strange the ladder was missing, perhaps think kidnapped, then to not wake the others. Guess after the killing's of those college kids, anything is possible.
i think to solve some of the mystery if some of the children are still living they could submit dna tests for genealogy reasons that might find missing people
having read a bit about this story, i suspect the children were murdered in a fire by italian ex-pat fascists. mussolini supporters; NOT nice people. the search for remains (of small children) was relatively brief compared to modern approaches, and they could easily have missed burned bone fragments amidst a fire-gutted house. people love a mystery, and holding out hope the kids survived - i get it - but it seems far less likely than the remains being missed by amateur (by modern standards) searchers
This story has always broken my heart. I am now 66 years old and I still have a sad heart when I hear this once again. God rest their precious souls. ✝️
Me too. I grew up in oak hill. We would go visit my grandmother in fayetteville and would see that sign. Its embedded in my memory
back in the 60s,we would pass that sign going to my great aunts' in Fayetteville from Oak Hill,she believed that the Sodders' children were stolen
Thank you Leo and Heather for this sad story. 5 children gone! ❤😊❤ God bless!
This happened near my town i always saw the billboard and it used to have all the children's pictures in front of the place. I lived about 30 minutes away from there at route 61
I don't believe they perished in the fire. Too many 'coincidences' and no remains found.
Thank you for covering this with respect and compassion. The end was especially poignant.
May all those who passed rest in eternal peace. 🙏
This is just so sad. You did a wonderful job of telling their story. I don't believe the children died in that fire. From what I've heard, the case was not handled very well, if at all. Thank you for telling their tale with care and compassion.
Thanks so much!
What a Sad nightmarish thing that this family had to go through. Thank you for keeping this story alive.😢❤❤❤
Thank you for covering this and not adding more to the story as many seem to do. I've been subscribed to your channel for a few months now, due to your coverage of the Hatfield and McCoy history.
Joseph Sodder Sr., brother to the missing children, was my grandfather. He passed away on January 6, 2010.
Has anyone in your family done a DNA test?
I'm sorry for the pain this has caused your family.
@@seagoingcook I haven't personally done one, but I can't speak for any of the others because I don't really know.
@@josephsodder1619I’m originally from WV, but lived in CA for the last 33 years. I used the Ancestry site for my DNA. I found it to be very accurate. My son has a different last name and lived in Maine at the time and he was identified as my son. My siblings were also identified and they live in various states. I’ve also had 3&4th generation cousins show up and I had no idea who they were. It’s something that has the potential to give you some answers. I wish you the best this is just a terribly sad story.
hopefully like so many other child mysteries even the one in iowa for the moore family things will be solved one day
Heard this sad sad story before but not in this detail ty. God bless you and your family. R.I.P. to all Sodder family that have passed.
This story just breaks my heart. I was 2 years old when this tragic fire took place. I am 80 years old and still think about that tragic story of the Sodder children. God Bless these children. Thank you for this vital piece of history in WV. How could the children have gotten out of the house with the fire engulfing the stairwell? Why didn't the Fire Marshall or official find any sign that the fire caused cremation? Interesting questions??? Perhaps one of those people who threatened the family started the fire. Perhaps one of the Italian families kidnapped the children!! God only knows!!! This is one of the most unique mysteries in WV. Great story. Loved the music Heather. Again, thank you for all of the research that you have done on this story.
What an amazing story. You should try to dig deeper into it. My husband and I watch everyday to see if you and Leo have a new video up. We both believe those children were taken and never killed. Younger ones grew up thinking they were with family and probably told their family died in the fire. Any older kids may have been threatened. Thank you for this. God bless
I’ve heard this story on other true crime channels - this story breaks my heart - I appreciate how you tell these stories with such compassion and honour the deceased 💕
That is such a sad story. I heard about this from family of mine. My uncle and aunt and several cousins are buried in this cemetery. Thanks for sharing this and for your work on it
My favorite story I have always been intrigued by!! I never get tired of reading it and hearing about it. I'm always hoping for the truth of their whereabouts. Much love to them❤
Glad you enjoy it!
God Bless this Family. Such tragedy that no one should have to go through. May they all rest in peace
I heard of this story before and it's so sad about the kids. I like watching your history videos 👍
Thank you for bringing the spirits to life even though we dont know, like you said, their all together in Gods garden...everyone does a different take on this story and yours is spot on....RIP Sodder children 🌹
@Yoland Kish I was thinking the same thing. DNA has matched up families that some never knew existed; children given away for what ever reason at birth, children given up to the state then adopted, children raised by other members of a family that don't live close, children separated at birth DNA through various internet/social media sites. If surviving children had children and grandchildren, its possible the missig children also had children and grandchildren. Cousins, second cousins could find each other.
What a story! Confusing for sure. Guess we will never know. Thanks for all your hard work with these stories.
What a sad story! There was judgement for those who did this. The Lord made a lovely,very warm place, for those who are evil. Y'll are presenting so many interesting stories. Some are fun,but others like this one,are so sad.
if there was really a “lord” why would he/she/it do such terrible things to innocent people?
god is either a monster or totally fictitious.
Saw the sign many times, as a child & lived in Oak Hill when my son was a young boy...Very sad.
This was very sad. Thanks for showing them so much respect and compassion.
Thank you for covering this. ❤
This story always breaks my heart💔 thank you for telling it with such love and compassion❤
Such a weird yet heartbreaking story!❤
This is SOOOOOO sad. They are alive. I wish they could be found. Love your VIDEOS
Well-written narration. Very eerie and nostalgic. Inspiration, indeed, to never lose hope.
well thank you!
@@thehillbillyfiles You are quite welcome. I write for a living and sometimes reality trumps imagination. Love you guys, stay strong.
Great video :) such a sad but fascinating case. Here are a couple of additional interesting facts if you’re interested. In regards to the picture of Louis that was addressed to the mom, Jennie, she did had a brother named Frank Cipriani, who could be “brother Frankie”. The Sodder family had initially suspected him because he lived in Florida. There were witnesses who saw the children get into cars with Florida licence plates. Even the Sodders believed this theory that Jennie’s brother took them because it would’ve been someone they knew. Thank you again for a great video.
Thanks for watching
Wow, what a sad story! Those parents must have been distraught wondering where there children were! Thank you for sharing. Great video!
Thanks for watching
What a mystery I hope some day it will all be solved And peace and closure will be found for everyone involved
I’ve been so busy with Grandkids and family !! But I’m saving your beautiful videos for my down time which is coming very soon!! My darlings I cannot wait to catch up!! Love ❤️ from Maine..
Awesome job just watch a video of yours for the first time your so great and very respectful they deserve that ive been obsessed with this case for years u have the best video about the missing sodder children i agree they were definitely taken and it makes me think a lot of the town was may have been in on it i was a teenager in the 90s when i first herd about them missing its always bothered so much that they were never and nobody but there parents seem worried about finding its just so horrible what happened to them and their parents died without out ever knowing God bless all of them ❤
Thanks so much for the kind words 🙏
What a sad story. I can't imagine what the surviving family went through. They all will be reunited in Heaven with our Lord.
Such a sad story. 😢 It hard to be hard to gonon living with the thoughts in their head on what happened.
This story has always fascinated me! So sad for the parents & remaining children 😔
Ty for doing what u do
Lotsa conspiracy was required to pull this off. Who could do something that horrible? I hope and pray they are all together in the afterlife.
Such a sad turn of events. Not knowing has to be so intensely hard.
I hope somebody had their DNA tested. Very moving story, thank you.
The biggest issue with looking into historical incidents we tend to arm chair it with our modern perspective. It helps but also henders. Remember this is 1945 America.
Such a sad sad story- I feel for all of them
Very nicely done! Wouldn’t it be nice to fine the answers!
Thanks!
Fantastic voices .. just had to say!!
Oh those poor parents. To never know for sure. No place to go and visit or take flowers. I hope they're all together now and at peace.
Fascinating and lovely presentation.. I’m just In love because this is my vibe!! When you presented the Mary Infles story .. that slayed me!! That is the story that was actually taught in my American History class in Maine!! You guys have a true niche in history and videos could absolutely be used in schools .. Very impressive my loves!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
How heartbreaking ❤ may they RIP and all meet in heaven one day 🙏🏻❤️
Being a parent I couldn't imagine there grief
Sad story. My heart hurts for the parents of these precious children.
Loved the this story too! I found it was so sad but I wondered if they were taken and maybe loved another life.
well done
This is a story that needed to be told, even though I'm certain that you didn't really want to. I don't believe that the children died in the fire. There would've been some remains left.
Either way as terrible as this is, hopefully they know the truth now.
Another hope is if others were involved, they have received their just rewards from God.
Anyone that harms children should have a very special place in He'll.
God bless ya'll for this story and keeping their names and story alive.
Ya'll stay safe on your travels. God bless you for what your doing. Thank you.
You make incredible fun & always interesting videos -- Luv ya both !💖
Thank you so much!
I hope living daughter or grandchildren do ancestory dna maybe answers willl come
I loved this video. I wish yall had a drone to view over the site.
How sad 😢 they passed away without knowing what really happened to their children..they had no answers ..
May they all Rest in Peace 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
What a strange case ! What gets me is that someone was able to get FIVE kids out of the house ? A child , maybe two young ones I'd understand . But FIVE ?! Almost for sure , sadly . They were all killed . Otherwise one of them would have called or went back home when they got older . R.I.P... kids .
@@indycharlie Witnesses sarthe 5 kids kidnapped into a black car
Im just now finding this video. I heard about this tragedy last year.
I believe the children perished in the fire. The reason I say that is is i have a friend who is a firefighter. And he once worked a house fire where someone perished. And he said that unless you were highly trained and knew exactly what you were looking for, you would have never known there were human remains there. The entire body was consumed by the fire. Only a few traces of the person remained., and if you didn't know specifically what you were looking for, you would not have noticed them.
It would be amazing to see them alive
I believe one of the keys to solving this rest is in where was the dirt taken from that the human backbone was found in? Very puzzling mystery.
My theory is this two armed people entered the house using the outside ladder that was missing when the father tried to get back into the house The Intruders Force the children down the ladder and into waiting vehicles, An the trucks were disabled so no one in the household could possibly pursue the get way vehicles, nothing is really known about George the father past n possible connections to organized crime, it was probably originally plan to Ransom the children back to the family either for money are using his possible local political connections, and then the kidnappers probably chickened out n killed them, and bear in mind the father was not a poor man and was very active in local coal commerce and local political connections,
And as far as the red object that was found in the yard are possibly trying to hint that it was an Italian grenade that was commonly known as a red devil from what I know of study of Italian military weapons in world war II this grenade was very very unstable even the soldiers that it was issued to would not even put the primer in it until that was immediate combat, there even a story of a Czechoslovakian freedom fighter that was very famous, that accidentally dropped one of these grenades and was immediately incinerated and the odds ever returning US returning soldier bringing one back as a souvenir or remote due to inherent danger of the item. It was not one of the Italian military's most effective weapons more or less a last-ditch weapon,
How would you get 5 kids out of the house?
Pretty easy with a fire roaring and if they knew them. Besides in 1945 kids generally listen to adults.
One of the Ghost Shows I think, did a show on the family.
Several have covered the story, a few even publicly broadcasted on tv.
What a sad story.
I've heard about that story before interesting. That one is a little bit before my time. But I do remember another fire over in West Virginia when I was a kid. But the daughter burnt the house down in the people in it in that fire.
frankieturner630 I think that one happened in Parkersburg some time in 1969. Bones of the people were found in the rubble and buried in a nearby cemetery.
Heartbreaking 💔. My uncle and cousin were murdered and house set on fire. No bones found but hardware from surgeries were
Interesting
Cant understand how the parents got out without the children. Parents’ first instinct is to collect the children and run. Save them first. !
Rest in peace.
sounds like a mol cocktail thrown on the roof..so sad that ppl would be so very evil over money!! conform or pay the price?? its so disgusting that children were done this way..when they were innocent where are ppls minds anymore?? i pray for peace and love to overcome all the evil but it will take actions as well please everyone if you know of any kid that needs help..please help them any way you can they dont deserve any of this
Heard this story before but not the way you told it thank you
THAT'S A VERY INTERESTING STORY,, IT'S A SHAME IF THEY WERE TAKEN & KILLED LATER ON ‼️ GOD BLESS THEM ALL & PRAY THEY ARE TOGETHER WITH JESUS IN HEAVEN 🩸 AMEN 🩸🙏🏼✝️🙏🏼🩸
This is a very heartbreaking story 💔 😢 I do not believe that the children died in that fire, I believe that they were kidnapped, but 24:12 by whom? Did some of Louis's comments get back to a Mafia figure who was a big supporter of the former Italian dictator? ( Sorry, I have forgotten how to spell his name.) Like Heather pointed out, there are too many weird things about this case.I tend to agree with Heather, I believe the children were killed, shortly after the kidnapping. May the entire family, together rest in peace 🙏 Thank you very much Leo and Heather, for telling this very sad story.
I’ve always wondered if Ancestry could find relatives with the family’s DNA.
I believe the children were kidnapped but considering the number of children one person didn't do this on their own, there had to be others who helped commit the crime.
Just found your Sodder video! Makes me wonder if someday someone will do a 23andme DNA test only to find out their grandparent is one of the Sodder kids. Something makes me think the kids didn't die in the fire. I dunno. Heartbreaking.
R.I.P 😔
Wow! At 20:38 I hear a male voice say "what happened?". Then another male voice immediately responded and said "he did it!" This was while you were at George's grave. OMG! Did George go down and kill his children? If so, there had to be blood all over that room. Was that why it was set on fire? To hide all of the blood? He could have easily carried the kids outside and buried them in a mass grave. And then he used that dirt from the grave fill up the crime site (that spine belonged to one of his children). He didn't want the detectives to find any evidence in that house. He was the one who told the cops about men saying things about his house catching fire. He could have been planning on killing his family and made up those stories to deflect from himself setting the fire. Did he plan on killing the entire family, but his wife and four of the kids escaped? I used to wonder about this case. Now I know. Thanks to the spirits!
awesome!
If descendants took an Ancestry test today, it's likely that some DNA would show up, should the children survived
I believe that they are alive somewhere but hope in one day DNA ancestry
The baby, who was 2 at the time would be in her 80's now if she's alive.
It’s possible that some could still be alive, but highly unlikely
The story is suspicious.
1: Feeding chickens.
The sun goes down about 5:30, so the chickens would have already roosted for the night. So no, there was no way they would have done that.
2: Milking the cow
Again, the sun goes down about 5:30. None of the kids would have been out late.
3: The oldest daughter had "fallen to sleep" with the lights on and the window open.
The mother turned off the light and closed the window. It is the dead of winter, so it would be too cold to keep the window open.
4: It was the holidays.
People traveled with their children. Kidnapers would not have the kids out in public the very next morning.
5: They were Catholics.
They didn't go to Midnight Mass like other Catholics.
6: The five and dime store open late on Christmas Eve.
Most stores in those days not in large cities, would close early on holidays.
Those are some very interesting points that most wouldn't bring up. Thank you
Most likely if the kids did get to grow up they were told their arents were dead.
I had 3 boys, their father stole them while I was in the Army 40 plus years ago & he probably told them I'm dead or who knows what. 'It' ( husband) was 12 yrs older than me & if still alive would be 83 now. I hope to get out of the crap Hud building & buy a home & truck soon, then maybe I can really see if I can find them & they'll learn the truth.
So I can really know what those parents went through.💔
God tells us we need to forgive -- but I'll never forget what & how it happened.
The investigater was eighter killed, or badly threatened to keep quiet or paid off to drop the case, I think he was killed.
Maybe the young man we saw in the picture ran away-- then killed ? if they'd ever found him again & it's all too easy to hide bodies in wooded areas. Just so sad all around.
Thanks to you guys-- they will be remembered & we can pray for them. Whomever did it-- we can only leave it up to our Heavenly Father --
1945 it was still possible to disappear without dying. Florida California or other west state's you could move across this country without being noticed. Or shipped out of the country in 45 we didn't pay much attention who was leaving. If they were shipped to Italy and told their parents died . You had to go out of your way to get news especially global. Look where Italians were going in 45 and check their immigration records. Hell Cuba wouldn't ask many questions.
The youngest missing girl would be 85 right now, and the youngest boy (Louis) would be 89 in 2024. Still possible for both of them to be alive. That begs the question, if they are, why haven't they contacted anyone? Even Louis, who was 9 at the time, should have some memories of the event and his family, but again, no phone call or email anywhere between the 90s and up
It sure feels iike this was done in retribution for the family's position against Mussolini. Those responsible will pay the price in the heavenly realms; may the victims rest in peace.
What a terribly sad story, is there no way that private detectives could find out what happened ,now as dna and everything is so developed? Is there any dna from this family in any data-base? Could it be matched with surviving children of the lost children IF there is any? I mean IF the five children were not murdered. That photo of the young man really looked so much like the Sodderboy that disappeared!! And the detective who never was heard of again, could he be traced? Do they have proofe that he is dead or missing, how much effort did they put in trying to find him? I feel there IS more to do and I hope and pray that someone will take it as his/hers life's task to try and find out the mystery of the missing children and their bodys or whereabouts. And also; thankyou for a very well-told story♥️
So strange and we will never know what really happened
Where is the son that was in the military that could not be home for the Christmas holidays grave at?
Hes at that cemetery www.findagrave.com/memorial/219649842/joseph-samuel-sodder
It would be kinder for parents to think of them still alive than to have burned to death
I have never believed they died in the fire. I do believe they were killed shortly after. If not the kids would have returned home.
I agree
Very, very strange the ladder was missing, perhaps think kidnapped, then to not wake the others. Guess after the killing's of those college kids, anything is possible.
❤👍🏼👍🏼
So sad.
i think to solve some of the mystery if some of the children are still living they could submit dna tests for genealogy reasons that might find missing people
So sad
Seems like just maybe with all the new dna technology-that there might be answers
They had to have faked their own deaths,,, but why & who helped them??? Or who made them??? It’s just too strange!!!
The sister should DNA test just in case, One of their descendants may test.
interesting, I wonder if she did
I wonder if the kids that survived have thought of taking DNA test Incase the children were alive and had taken one.
having read a bit about this story, i suspect the children were murdered in a fire by italian ex-pat fascists. mussolini supporters; NOT nice people.
the search for remains (of small children) was relatively brief compared to modern approaches, and they could easily have missed burned bone fragments amidst a fire-gutted house.
people love a mystery, and holding out hope the kids survived - i get it - but it seems far less likely than the remains being missed by amateur (by modern standards) searchers