In this episode of Murder: True Crime Stories, Carter Roy investigates the disappearance of the Sodder children, who vanished after a fire destroyed their West Virginia home on Christmas Eve in 1945. George and Jennie Sodder escaped with four of their children, but five were believed to have died in…In this episode of Murder: True Crime Stories, Carter Roy investigates the disappearance of the Sodder children, who vanished after a fire destroyed their West Virginia home on Christmas Eve in 1945. George and Jennie Sodder escaped with four of their children, but five were believed to have died inside. No remains were ever recovered, raising immediate doubts about the official ruling of accidental fire. As questions mounted, troubling details surfaced, including a cut phone line, a missing ladder, and reports of strangers near the home before the blaze. Convinced their children had been abducted, possibly linked to George Sodder’s outspoken views, the family spent decades searching for answers. This episode explores the fire, the inconsistencies, and the mystery that refuses to fade.
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In Fayetteville, West Virginia there once stood two billboards. Billboards announcing a mystery and asking for help. These billboards were up for decades, seeking answers. Passing motorists could easily see either as they wizzed by in their automobiles. This is the information from one of them. At t…In Fayetteville, West Virginia there once stood two billboards. Billboards announcing a mystery and asking for help. These billboards were up for decades, seeking answers. Passing motorists could easily see either as they wizzed by in their automobiles. This is the information from one of them. At the top was a simple announcement - “After thirty years it is not too late to investigate” Below this text, the billboard featured pictures of each of the five missing Sodder children - Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty.more
On Christmas Eve 1945, the Sodder family’s home burned to the ground — and five of their children vanished without a trace. No bodies were ever recovered, sparking decades of suspicion, strange sightings, and unanswered questions. Was it a tragic house fire, a deliberate act of arson, or something e…On Christmas Eve 1945, the Sodder family’s home burned to the ground — and five of their children vanished without a trace. No bodies were ever recovered, sparking decades of suspicion, strange sightings, and unanswered questions. Was it a tragic house fire, a deliberate act of arson, or something even more sinister? In this episode, Vanessa Richardson unpacks the mysterious events of that night, the baffling evidence left behind, and the many theories that have kept this case alive for nearly 80 years.
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In Fayetteville, West Virginia there once stood two billboards. Billboards announcing a mystery and asking for help. These billboards were up for decades, seeking answers. Passing motorists could easily see either as they wizzed by in their automobiles. This is the information from one of them. At t…In Fayetteville, West Virginia there once stood two billboards. Billboards announcing a mystery and asking for help. These billboards were up for decades, seeking answers. Passing motorists could easily see either as they wizzed by in their automobiles. This is the information from one of them. At the top was a simple announcement - “After thirty years it is not too late to investigate” Below this text, the billboard featured pictures of each of the five missing Sodder children - Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty.more
In 1945, a Christmas Eve fire destroyed the Sodder family’s home, allegedly killing five children—yet no remains were found. Believing they were kidnapped, the family spent decades seeking answers in a case full of mystery, theories, and haunting questions.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p…In 1945, a Christmas Eve fire destroyed the Sodder family’s home, allegedly killing five children—yet no remains were found. Believing they were kidnapped, the family spent decades seeking answers in a case full of mystery, theories, and haunting questions.
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This week, Karen and Georgia welcome back Phoebe Judge, the host of Criminal, to tell the story of the Sodder children's disappearance on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Eve 1945, while most citizens of the town of Fayetteville, West Virginia celebrated the end of World War Two, Italian immigrants - George and Jennie Sodder watched their house go up in flames...
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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Jessica Forsayeth
Creative direction –…On Christmas Eve 1945, while most citizens of the town of Fayetteville, West Virginia celebrated the end of World War Two, Italian immigrants - George and Jennie Sodder watched their house go up in flames...
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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Jessica Forsayeth
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn
For all credits and sources please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-192-the-sodder-children
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.more
Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty Sodder, known to their parents and siblings as loving additions to their large family, were sweet and innocent children of 1940’s Fayetteville, West Virginia. Their carefree benevolence and youthful wonder were cut short by unexplainable, unsolved disappeara…Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty Sodder, known to their parents and siblings as loving additions to their large family, were sweet and innocent children of 1940’s Fayetteville, West Virginia. Their carefree benevolence and youthful wonder were cut short by unexplainable, unsolved disappearances on Christmas Eve, 1945, leaving all who knew them across the United States’ Appalachia and West Virginia as a whole grasping for answers in a sea of evidence that drowned us all in doubt… As a...more
On the night of December 24, 1945, the Sodder family of Fayetteville, WV went to bed in preparation for Christmas the next morning. But as they closed their eyes, they never could have imagined the nightmare that was about to ensue. A fire would break out in the upper level of their home, which cont…On the night of December 24, 1945, the Sodder family of Fayetteville, WV went to bed in preparation for Christmas the next morning. But as they closed their eyes, they never could have imagined the nightmare that was about to ensue. A fire would break out in the upper level of their home, which contained two bedrooms thought to have held a total of five children at the time, ranging in ages from 5 to 14. Yet, as the remaining family members escaped, and the home burned to the ground, what seemed to be the imminent death of five young people as the result of a vicious arson soon proved to offer no evidence they succumbed in the fire. Despite an endless search for truth, their parents died never knowing what happened that fateful night. Did the kids perish in the fire, or were they already gone?
Join host Ryan Kraus for an examination of this enduring mystery in an effort to uncover the truth about the disappearance of the Sodder children.more
This one us so frustrating, guys! When George and Jennie Sodder's home burned downed on Christmas Eve in 1945, they were thrust into a lifelong battle to find 5 of their children who, despite leaving no remains, were never seen alive again. This case has inept authorities, conspiracy theories and a…This one us so frustrating, guys! When George and Jennie Sodder's home burned downed on Christmas Eve in 1945, they were thrust into a lifelong battle to find 5 of their children who, despite leaving no remains, were never seen alive again. This case has inept authorities, conspiracy theories and a tale of parental dedication that will thaw your cold, dead heart. This is, the Sodder children mystery.
Christmas Eve 1945. Fayetteville, West Virginia. George and Jenny Sodder are preparing to celebrate the holidays with nine of their children, but shortly after they go to bed, their home burns completely to the ground. When the smoke clears, five of the Sodder children – whose ages range from five t…Christmas Eve 1945. Fayetteville, West Virginia. George and Jenny Sodder are preparing to celebrate the holidays with nine of their children, but shortly after they go to bed, their home burns completely to the ground. When the smoke clears, five of the Sodder children – whose ages range from five to fourteen years old – are nowhere to be found and a search of the rubble fails to turn up any trace of their remains. Due to a number of suspicious events surrounding the fire, the Sodders begin to suspect their five missing children were the victims of a bizarre kidnapping. Did the Sodder children really die in the fire that night or did they somehow survive and remain hidden from their family for the rest of their lives? And if the children did perish in the fire, who was responsible for starting it? In this week’s special holiday-themed episode of “The Trail Went Cold”, we chronicle one of the most infamous Christmas mysteries of all time.
Additional Reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodder_children_disappearance
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-children-who-went-up-in-smoke-172429802/
http://charleyproject.org/case/jennie-irene-sodder
http://charleyproject.org/case/maurice-antonio-sodder
http://charleyproject.org/case/louis-erico-sodder
http://charleyproject.org/case/betty-dolly-sodder
http://charleyproject.org/case/martha-lee-sodder
The Trail Went Cold is produced and edited by Magill Foote.
All music is composed by Vince Nitro.more
