Buzz
Continuing from our earlier compilations, such as Top 10 Bizarre Disappearances and Top 10 Notable People Who Vanished, we now bring you another fascinating collection of mysterious and unusual disappearances. These stories never fail to captivate, as nothing adds more intrigue to life than a compelling mystery.
10. Joseph Crater
Joseph Crater, a New York City judge, vanished one evening in 1930. He had been on vacation with his wife in Maine when he received an unexpected phone call. Claiming he needed to return to New York for work, he assured his wife he would be back shortly. On August 6, he dined at a restaurant with his mistress and friends, who later saw him enter a taxi. From that point, his fate remains unknown. Interestingly, his disappearance wasn't reported until September 3, nearly a month later. His mistress, Sally Lou Ritz, a showgirl, also went missing that same September.
9. Richard John Bingham
On November 8, 1974, Lady Veronica Lucan, the wife of Richard, the 7th Earl of Lucan, rushed into a nearby pub, bloodied and hysterical, claiming her husband had attempted to murder her. Upon investigating the Lucan residence, police discovered the lifeless body of the children's nanny, Sandra Rivett, in the basement, along with a bloodied lead pipe. That same night, Lord Lucan made several frantic calls to friends, insisting he had arrived at the house only to interrupt the actual assailant. Days later, his Ford Corsair was found in Newhaven, stained with blood and containing a pipe identical to the one at the crime scene. Lord Lucan, however, was never seen again. If alive today, he would be 74 years old.
8. Dorothy Arnold
On December 12, 1910, the daughter of a prosperous perfume importer went out in New York to shop for a new dress. Witnesses reported she appeared cheerful as she visited multiple stores. Her affluent family initially thought she might have eloped with her boyfriend, but he denied any knowledge of her whereabouts when questioned. The final sighting of her was on the street, where she mentioned her intention to stroll through Central Park. Sadly, she never returned home. Her family waited six weeks before informing the police about her disappearance.
7. Benjamin Briggs
Benjamin Briggs is at the heart of one of the greatest maritime enigmas in history—the vanishing of the crew of the Mary Celeste in 1871. As the ship's captain, Briggs was aboard when the vessel was discovered deserted in the Atlantic Ocean under mysterious circumstances. Briggs, along with his wife, their two-year-old daughter, and the rest of the crew, were never located. His story has inspired numerous fictional works and fueled countless conspiracy theories surrounding this age-old mystery.
6. Etta Place
Etta Place, the companion of the infamous Harry Longabaugh, also known as The Sundance Kid, is shrouded in mystery. Her true name remains unknown, though it is speculated she encountered the Wild Bunch while working as a prostitute. She traveled with Butch Cassidy and Sundance to Argentina, where she became the first female landowner under a new 1884 law. Her last confirmed whereabouts were in San Francisco, where she attempted to secure a copy of Longabaugh’s death certificate to settle his estate. Afterward, it is believed she assumed a new identity and possibly returned to her former profession.
5. Oscar Zeta Acosta
Hunter S. Thompson famously depicted his friend Oscar Zeta Acosta as Dr. Gonzo, the Samoan attorney, in his novel “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” In May 1974, Marco Acosta spoke with his father over the phone before he boarded a boat in Mexico described as “full of white snow.” While his body was never recovered, his family suspects he fell victim to violence at the hands of those he was traveling with.
4. Jim Thompson
Jim Thompson was an entrepreneur who transformed the Thai silk industry by introducing color-fast dyes and modern weaving machinery to Bangkok. He maintained a cottage-based business model, enabling weavers to earn a living while caring for their families. On Easter Sunday in 1967, he left his house for a walk and vanished without a trace. His mysterious disappearance later inspired a book.
3. Everett Ruess
During the 1930s, parts of the American Southwest remained largely uncharted. Everett Ruess, an artist and writer, was among the first non-Native Americans to explore and document these areas. A contemporary of Dorothea Lange and Ansel Adams, Ruess was celebrated for his passion for nature and solitude. One day, he set out into the Utah desert with two burros and never came back, leaving only a corral he had constructed. He was just 20 years old. Update: In a historic development for Mytour, Everett Ruess's remains have been discovered, revealing he was murdered by Navajo Indians. A detailed report on the findings is available here.
Contributor: Nicosia
2. Jean Spangler
Jean Spangler was a minor actress in Hollywood. On October 7, 1949, she left her young daughter with her sister-in-law, stating she was meeting her ex-husband to discuss overdue child support and then heading to a movie set. Two days later, her purse was discovered near Griffith Park's entrance. Inside was an incomplete note addressed to a “Kirk,” which said, “Can’t wait any longer, Going to see Dr. Scott. It will work best this way while mother is away.” The identities of “Kirk” and “Dr. Scott” remain unknown, and her body was never found.
1. James William Tate
“Honest Dick” Tate, the Treasurer of Kentucky, disappeared in 1888, taking approximately $250,000 of state funds with him. He had an impeccable reputation until the 1887 gubernatorial race, when candidate William O. Bradley (pictured above) called for a treasury audit. Tate requested time to organize the books but instead fled to Louisville and boarded a train. Years later, his daughter revealed she had received letters from him sent from Canada, Japan, China, and San Francisco. His last known correspondence was in 1890.
