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The Dramatic Enigma of the Sodders: What Happened to the 5 Children?
Five children vanished into thin air without apparent reasons: this is the case of the Sodder family (of Sardinian origins, indeed the original surname was Soddu) that caused a lot of stir in 1945, the year in which the mysterious and dramatic events occurred.
The case of the Sodder family begins on the night of December 24, 1945, when a fire broke out while everyone was sleeping, and quickly spread throughout the house; that was the night that forever changed the life of the Sodder family. George, Jennie, and four of their children managed to escape, but the five younger children, Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty, were never found.
The circumstances surrounding the children’s disappearance are very strange. Despite the swift arrival of rescuers, the children’s bodies were not found in the rubble. Additionally, there were no human remains or bones, usually present in such a violent fire. This raised suspicion that the children might still be alive.
The Sodder family always believed that their children had been kidnapped and that the fire had been set to conceal the evidence of the crime. Over the years, the family conducted independent investigations and gathered evidence that seems to support this theory. For example, eyewitnesses reported seeing the children in the company of suspicious individuals after their disappearance.
Furthermore, once the Sodder parents began digging through the debris of their burned home, they found items that had not been destroyed by the fire. This further fueled the family’s suspicions, as it seemed strange that the children’s personal belongings had not been burned.
Despite the efforts of the Sodder family and authorities, the case has never been solved. No definitive evidence has ever emerged to confirm the kidnapping theory. Some suggest that the children may have died in the fire and that their bodies were completely destroyed, but this hypothesis does not convince the Sodder family.
The disappearance of the Sodder family’s children remains an unsolved mystery, and the case has become a symbol of hope and struggle for the family. Despite many years passing, they continue to hope that their children are still alive and that they may one day be found.
The main hypothesis regarding the disappearance of the Sodder family’s children is that they were kidnapped. The family maintains that their children did not die in the fire as initially believed but were taken by someone. They believe that the children may have been victims of a planned crime and that there were suspicious circumstances indicating possible involvement of third parties. This hypothesis is based on the lack of concrete evidence of the children’s bodies in the fire and eyewitness testimonies suggesting that the children may have been seen after their disappearance. However, there is no definitive evidence to confirm this hypothesis, and the case remains unsolved.
There are several strange and suspicious circumstances that have fueled theories of a possible kidnapping of the Sodder children. Here are some of the main ones:
The missing ladder: The Sodder family claimed that the safety ladder that was usually leaned against the house mysteriously disappeared that night. This made it difficult for the children to escape through a second-story window.
Non-functioning phones: During the fire, the Sodder family tried to call the firefighters but found that their phones were not working properly. Even neighbors who attempted to call the operator failed to get a response.
Witnesses of sightings: After the children’s disappearance, several people claimed to have seen them in various locations. Some witnesses said they saw them in a truck on the night of the fire, while others claimed to have seen them in different cities in the years following. Although these reports were never confirmed, they fueled kidnapping theories.
Lack of remains: Despite the fire being intense enough to destroy the house, no remains of the children were found. Usually, in a fire, even if the bodies are burned, there are bones or other signs indicating the presence of victims. The lack of remains raised doubts about the children’s death in the fire.
Hearing the children: George and Jennie Sodder claimed to have heard their children in the house after the fire had already started. According to their testimony, the children were screaming and asking for help. However, they were unable to reach them or save them.
Sad epilogue
The Sodder couple and their children never found peace, but their torment was in vain, as the children were never found. The adults died without ever knowing what happened to the children, George Sodder in 1969 and Jennie in 1989. The case remains one of the strangest unsolved mysteries of post-World War II America.]
