ClassX Video Lessons Youtube Channel The Infographics Show World’s Most Mysterious Disappearance (The Sodder Children)
It was Christmas Eve in 1945 in West Virginia, and the Sodder family was getting ready for bed. Marion, the oldest daughter at 19, had just started her first job and was excited to give her younger sisters, Martha, Jennie, and Betty, the presents she had bought for them. The excitement was so high that the kids couldn’t fall asleep on time. Their mom, also named Jennie, decided to let them stay up a bit longer while she finished her chores. Exhausted, she finally went to bed with her 2-year-old daughter, Sylvia.
As Jennie lay in bed, she could hear the happy sounds of her children playing in the living room. Little did she know, this peaceful night was about to turn into a nightmare.
At 1:30 AM, Jennie woke up to the smell of smoke. It was coming through the cracks around her bedroom door. She quickly grabbed Sylvia and rushed to find out what was happening. She saw flames in her husband George’s office, where the telephone line and fuse boxes were located. Panicking, she woke George and called for their children.
As they escaped into the cold night, they realized only some of their children were with them: Sylvia, Marion, John, and George Jr. The younger ones were missing. Desperate, George tried to go back inside, but the stairs were engulfed in flames. He and his sons tried to find a ladder, but it was nowhere to be found. They even tried to use water to put out the fire, but the water was frozen solid. George attempted to climb the house but got hurt.
Meanwhile, Marion tried to call the fire department, but the phone line was dead. She ran to a neighbor’s house, but their phone wasn’t working either. As the fire raged on, George discovered that neither of his trucks would start, even though they were in good condition. For 45 minutes, the family could only watch as their home burned down with five of their children inside.
The fire department didn’t arrive until 8 AM, hours after the fire started. A passing motorist had to find a working phone to alert them. By the time they arrived, there was little left to do but search through the ashes.
After the fire, George and Jennie tried to figure out what had happened. They remembered strange things leading up to that night, like a mysterious phone call and a man watching their children. The official report blamed faulty wiring for the fire, and the missing children were declared dead. But George and Jennie didn’t believe this and started their own investigation.
They found out that the fire started near a new fuse box, which had been installed just weeks before. A workman had warned George that it could cause a fire. Also, an insurance salesman had threatened George, saying, “Your house is going to go up in smoke… and your children are going to be destroyed.”
Despite their efforts, local authorities showed little interest in reopening the case. They even wrote to President Truman, but the FBI said it was a local matter and didn’t get involved.
Years went by, and the Sodders never stopped looking for answers. They put up a billboard with pictures of their missing children and offered a reward for information. They received many tips, but none led to any solid answers.
In 1949, they found some bones where their house once stood, but they didn’t match the ages of their missing children. A man admitted to cutting the phone line but said he meant to cut the power line instead. A bus driver reported seeing a man throw a “ball of fire” at the house on the night of the fire, but this lead went nowhere.
Despite the lack of evidence, the family held onto hope. They received reports of sightings of their children over the years, but none were confirmed. As time passed, George and Jennie passed away, leaving Sylvia as the last surviving member of the family. Even in her later years, she engaged with online communities discussing the mystery of her siblings.
The fate of Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty remains a mystery. The Sodder family never found out what happened to the five missing children. All that remains is hope that they escaped the fire and lived full lives elsewhere. This tragic story serves as a reminder of the enduring pain of loss and the quest for truth.
Using the details from the article, create a timeline of events from Christmas Eve, 1945, to the conclusion of the investigation. Include key moments such as the fire breaking out, the investigation, and any significant leads. This will help you understand the sequence of events and the challenges faced by the Sodder family.
Divide into groups and role-play a debate between the Sodder family and the local authorities. One group will argue for reopening the investigation, while the other will defend the official report. Use evidence from the article to support your arguments. This activity will help you explore different perspectives on the case.
Imagine you are a journalist in 1945. Write a news report covering the mysterious disappearance of the Sodder children. Include quotes from family members and local authorities. This will help you practice writing skills and understand the impact of media on public perception.
Review the clues mentioned in the article, such as the mysterious phone call, the insurance salesman’s threat, and the bus driver’s report. Discuss in small groups how each clue could be interpreted and what further questions they raise. This will enhance your critical thinking and analytical skills.
Design a missing persons poster for the Sodder children, including their names, ages, and any distinguishing features. Use creativity to make the poster eye-catching and informative. This activity will help you empathize with the family’s ongoing search for answers and understand the importance of public awareness in missing persons cases.
**Christmas Eve, 1945. West Virginia. 10 PM.**
The Sodder family was preparing for bed. Marion, the oldest Sodder girl at 19, had recently started her first job and saved up to buy presents for her younger sisters: Martha, Jennie, and Betty. The excitement of the gifts made it impossible to get the children to bed on time. Their mother, also named Jennie, decided to let them stay up a little longer. Exhausted from the busy holiday preparations, she completed the last bits of housework before finally collapsing into bed with her 2-year-old daughter, Sylvia.
As she lay there, she could hear the muffled sounds of laughter and play from the living room. Little did she know, her peaceful night was about to turn into a nightmare.
**1:30 AM.**
Jennie woke up suddenly to the smell of smoke. It was seeping through the gaps around her bedroom door. Instinctively, she grabbed Sylvia from the crib and rushed for the door. The clock ticked away, unaware that time had stopped for the Sodder family.
She sprinted toward the source of the smoke and saw flames engulfing the telephone line and fuse boxes in George’s office. She hurried to wake her husband, George, shouting for their children.
“Fire! Fire!”
As they stumbled outside into the cold night, they realized that only a few of their children were with them: Sylvia, Marion, John, and George Jr. Where were the little ones?
In desperation, George ran back into the house, but the staircase was blocked by flames. He quickly gathered his sons to find the ladder, but it was missing. They decided to fight the fire themselves, but the water butt was frozen solid. George attempted to climb the side of the house, injuring himself in the process.
Meanwhile, Marion tried to call the fire department, but the phone line was dead. She rushed to a neighbor’s house, but their phone was also out of service.
As the fire raged on, George realized that neither of his trucks would start, despite having fuel and being in good condition. The house collapsed, and for 45 minutes, the Sodder family watched helplessly as their home burned down with five of their children inside.
The fire department didn’t arrive until 8 AM, hours after the fire had started. A passing motorist had to find a working phone to alert them. When they finally arrived, there was little left to do but sift through the ashes.
After two hours of searching, Fire Chief Morris approached the family with a troubling report: there was no trace of the missing children. They couldn’t have been in the attic.
**The Investigation Begins**
In the days following the fire, George and Jennie tried to piece together what had happened. They recalled strange occurrences leading up to that night, including a mysterious phone call and a strange man watching their children.
The official report attributed the fire to faulty wiring, and the missing children were declared dead. But George and Jennie refused to accept this conclusion. They began their own investigation, uncovering unsettling coincidences and potential threats related to George’s outspoken views against Mussolini during World War II.
They discovered that the fire had started near the new fuse box, which had been installed just weeks prior. A workman had warned George that the fuse box could cause a fire. Additionally, a door-to-door insurance salesman had threatened George, saying, “Your house is going to go up in smoke… and your children are going to be destroyed.”
Despite their pleas for help, local authorities showed little interest in reopening the case. The couple even wrote to President Truman, but the FBI declined to intervene, stating it was a local matter.
**The Search for Answers**
Years passed, and the Sodders continued their search for answers. They put up a billboard with the faces of their missing children, offering a reward for information. They received numerous tips, but none led to any concrete answers.
In 1949, they found vertebrae in the area where their house once stood, but the bones did not match the ages of their missing children. A man who had been seen near their home admitted to cutting the phone line but claimed he had intended to cut the power line instead.
The mystery deepened when a bus driver reported seeing a man throwing a “ball of fire” at their house on the night of the fire. However, this lead went nowhere.
Despite the lack of evidence, the family held onto hope. They received reports of sightings of their children over the years, but none were confirmed.
As the years went by, George and Jennie passed away, leaving Sylvia as the last surviving member of the family. Even in her later years, she engaged with online communities discussing the mystery of her siblings.
**Conclusion**
The fate of Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty remains a mystery. The Sodder family never found out what happened to the five missing children. All that remains is hope that they escaped the fire and lived full lives elsewhere.
This tragic story serves as a reminder of the enduring pain of loss and the quest for truth.
Sodder – A surname of a family involved in a historical event in West Virginia during the 1940s. – The Sodder family experienced a tragic event on Christmas Eve in 1945 that remains a mystery to this day.
Fire – A rapid oxidation process that produces heat, light, and various reaction products; often a destructive event. – The fire that engulfed the Sodder family home led to a significant investigation into the mysterious circumstances surrounding it.
Investigation – A detailed inquiry or systematic examination, often conducted to uncover facts or gather information about a specific event. – The investigation into the Sodder family fire raised more questions than answers, leaving many aspects of the incident unresolved.
Children – Young human beings below the age of full physical development or below the legal age of majority. – The disappearance of the Sodder children during the fire became a focal point of the ongoing mystery.
Mystery – Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain. – The mystery of what happened to the missing Sodder children has intrigued historians and the public for decades.
Family – A group of individuals related by blood, marriage, or a feeling of closeness. – The Sodder family was deeply affected by the tragic events of the fire and the subsequent loss of their children.
Loss – The state of being deprived of or ceasing to have something that one once had. – The loss experienced by the Sodder family on that fateful Christmas Eve was profound and life-altering.
Hope – A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. – Despite the tragedy, the Sodder family held onto hope that their missing children might still be alive.
West Virginia – A state in the Appalachian region of the Southern United States, known for its mountains and diverse history. – The Sodder family tragedy took place in Fayetteville, West Virginia, and has become a part of the state’s local lore.
Christmas – An annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25th as a religious and cultural celebration. – The Sodder family fire occurred on Christmas Eve, adding a layer of poignancy to the already tragic event.
