A Hannibal mystery 48 years in the making. at aheuer@stlpr.org. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. This theory contends Gacy encountered the Hannibal boys near the caves, offered them a ride home, then drove them to a nearby wooded area and assaulted, killed and buried them. Billy, Id say was a little bit more mischievous than Joey. Fifty-four years ago this month, three boys went missing in Hannibal, Missouri, and were never seen again. I really have a hard time dealing with it. HANNIBAL, Mo. Last updated June 3, 2012; picture and clothing/jewelry description added, details of disappearance updated. A normal day Life in Hannibal was as it is today, relaxed. If you have any information about this case, you can contact the Hannibal Police Department at 573-221-0987. A Memorial Service will be held at 7:30 PM Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at the James O'Donnell Funeral Home in Hannibal. Our house was so full of cave men coming in from out of town. Where are you going, DeDe asked Billy. It would be quite interesting if you could go down and dig in that hole. Online condolences may be made and video tribute may be viewed at www.jamesodonnellfuneralhome.com. Ive been living with that all my life. The young cave dweller told search leaders where they should be looking. accounts, the history behind an article. There's no evidence to support any other theories, however. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another Greg Henderson was one of the neighborhood boys invited to come along. He was spotted in many places where children were being searched. Two of the psychics told Wingate that "John Wayne Gacy was that mystery man," he said. Visitation will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the James O'Donnell Funeral Home. "It's beyond coincidence.". These holes. We'd love to hear eyewitness Dundon pointed out witnesses who identified the boys as heading toward Murphy's . Had they even returned to the cave after those last few sightings of them around town? - The hometown of one of America's most enduring and beloved authors is also the site of a decades-old mystery. Another says it was a teacher. He noticed that the boys were dragging a makeshift ladder of boards to lower themselves through the opening inside the cave. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. During the highway construction, sections of the road were being blasted to destroy them and make room for the new road, creating holes. Then, searchers began looking around the surrounding forests, abandoned houses and old mines. Yet another says they were last spotted on top of a cliff called Lovers Leap by a janitor at their school. A memorial marker for the boys has been placed in the vicinity of the cave. Because nothing was ever found, there's speculation that the children weren't lost in the cave and something else caused their disappearances. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Henderson was 11 at the time and was even questioned by authorities in a room of lawyers. DeDe was born Jan. 15, 1951, in Hannibal to Michael T. and Helen V. McCullough Hoag. Billy and Joey were nowhere to be found. Yet there is a mystery on a portion of this roadway that has yet to be solved, a mystery as cold as a brisk Midwest winter. The three boys' cases remain unsolved. Use the 'Report' link on Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. He and William were not supposed to leave their yard, but they left anyway while their parents were out. The case has also been a subject of a podcast, also called The Lost Boys of Hannibal, which aired its first episode in July of 2019 and appears to still be going. Greg Henderson, the boys 11-year-old friend who barely missed the cave trip that day, thinks there might have been corruption. Sister to the missing Hoag boys Billy and Joey, Denise Hoag, and daughter Candace Hoag sit down with Chris and Franki to discuss Charles Stewart, but before that . Podcasters Franki Cambeletta and Chris Koetters have done a pretty deep dive into the case and even said they want to solve it. The Hoags surviving sister has wondered if there was a cover-up involving the construction company, which she said had workers routinely blasting in the area and did not put up signs or caution tape around any of the various cave openings caused by their work. Dont leave the yard, she told him. DeDe loved St. Louis Cardinals baseball. Cambeletta told host Sarah Fenske that since first starting the podcast, he and his co-host have been able to connect with members of the Hoag family and collaborate with entities including the Ralls County Sheriffs Office and the Missouri Department of Transportation. Craig Dowell lived over on Union Street. The boys shared a sense of adventure, much like the heroes of Mark Twains novels Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. Greg Henderson, the boys 11-year-old friend who barely missed the cave trip that day, thinks there might have been corruption. The parents found out when they saw the characteristic reddish dirt on their clothes. Where do you think they are?, Henderson, now 56, said. Nearly 55 years ago, two young brothers and their friend gathered shovels and flashlights on a spring afternoon to explore a cave in their hometown of Hannibal, Missouri. The three boys have never been heard from again. Billy and Joey, as they were more commonly called, also had nine other siblings. Invalid password or account does not exist. Their parents warned them against playing in caves, but the Hoag brothers were two of 11 siblings and let's face it, most normal parents only have four eyes between them. There are no plans to open up the cave system to the public, and the project is limited to skilled and experienced cavers, according to the post. Lets talk about The Lost Boys of Hannibal, who havent been seen or heard from in almost 55 years. More than likely they were buried. Two years ago, Hannibal native John Wingate released his first book about the disappearance of three Hannibal boys who were last seen on May 10, 1967, near some cave openings on Hannibal's south side. The first theory is that they ran away, but this isnt very likely. She . Be Nice. Authorities checked it to see if the Hoag brothers or Craig were there, but they didn't find anything. Since then, rumors and theories have swirled around the Mississippi River town about what happened to 13-year-old Joey Hoag, 10-year-old brother Billy Hoag, and their friend, 14-year-old Craig. St. Create a password that only you will remember. Perhaps his brothers were wandering in the unknown areas underground. The Hoag brothers and the Dowell boy were last seen by Lynn Strube, 14, of 405 Smith, and John Janes, 13, 1125 Sierra, Wednesday . Joel Hoag, 13, Billy Hoag, 11, and Edwin Craig Dowell, 14, vanished May 10, 1967. They regularly picked up lanterns and went down into the dark cave tunnels. Billy Hoag (10), Joey Hoag (13) and Craig Dowell (14). I think something bad happened to him., DeDe is hopeful one day her brothers remains will be found. They were 10-year-old Billy Hoag, his brother 13-year-old Joel Hoag and their friend 14-year-old Craig Dowell. On Wednesday, May 10, the boys left school, changed clothes, and went walking in the direction of Murphys Cave yet again. The world isn't flat, cats didn't knock them off the edges. As he further explored the possibility of Gacy's involvement, Wingate kept finding other connections. The three boys routinely explored caves in Hannibal's Southside neighborhood. For two young explorers and the rest of their south side friends, exploring the caves was something everyone did. The case of the Lost Boys of Hannibal has been the subject of at least three books. William and Joel left behind five brothers and four sisters. The three Hannibal boys were particularly curious about the caves. . So what do you think of this case? According to an October 2020 post on John Wingates website. 41 dogs, puppies rescued from hoarder in rural Mo. I walked outside and the girls were jumping rope. Many people, including Wingate, speculated that the boys likely became trapped or smothered deep underground by tons of collapsed rock after cave walls and ceilings became cracked and unstable from explosive charges used by road-building crews. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. In May 1967, the trio left home to explore caves in Hannibal, Missouri. Some of the passages they searched were so narrow that one of the more petite searchers, at 98 pounds, could barely squeeze in. Billy and Joey were making plans to go caving and they were recruiting some of their friends at A.D. Stowell Elementary School the next day. Or had something else happened to them? The boys were last seen on the south side of Hannibal, Missouri between 4:20 and 5:00 p.m. The boys have never been heard from again. Two years ago, Hannibal native John Wingate released his first book about the disappearance of three Hannibal boys who were last seen on May 10, 1967, near some cave openings on Hannibal's south side. Being restricted to the yard was the boys punishment. At 3pm, they were spotted by a casual passer-by walking to the entrance of Murphys Cave. Nearly 55 years ago, two young brothers and their friend gathered shovels and flashlights on a spring afternoon to explore a cave in their hometown of Hannibal, Missouri. In the 1960s, parents strictly forbade their children from even looking at the openings in the ground. In 2010, author Charles Stewart published a book about them, titled A Sorrow of the Heart. Details of Disappearance Joel disappeared with his brother, William Hoag, and a friend, Edwin "Craig" Dowell. Concerned citizens suggested authorities even search the various islands dotting the Mississippi River. Tim (DeDes younger brother by one year) was getting off the bus. I cant speak for him, but he saw them walking up toward the highway, Henderson said. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. There is one last point of speculation I want to go over and, again, I want to emphasize that this is pure speculation, not accusations. You think theyre going to close down that highway to build on a speculation? Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Most of these caves were well explored in the first half of the twentieth century. Because of the circumstances, authorities theorized the three boys were trapped inside the cave when it collapsed and weren't able to get out. That day, the construction work resulted in a cave-in at Murphys Cave. Craig Dowell and brothers Bill and Joey Hoag disappeared on that May afternoon in 1967. The brothers asked another friend of theirs, 11-year-old Greg Henderson, to go with them to the cave, but he got called in for dinner so he couldnt. The Hannibal mayor even requested the help of the Missouri National Guard. Hundreds of people explored the tunnels of all nearby caves, not just Murphys Cave. You can head over to this blog's corresponding YouTube video and let me know in the comments! Be Truthful. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Scroll to continue reading. One person, who grew up in Hannibal and knew the Hoags, penned a book alleging psychics believe notorious killer John Wayne Gacy, whose victims include at least 33 boys and young men, murdered the Hoags and Dowell. A flashlight and shovel, One source said the last known sighting of the boys, It was also around that time that another friend of the Hoag brothers stopped by their house to see if they were home. Three adventurous boys, Joel Hoag, 13, his brother Billy, 11, and their friend Craig Dowell, 14, were out exploring Murphy's Cave, which was exposed by highway construction from state highway 79,. For example, during the massive cave search for the boys in 1967, there were reports in Hannibal that a "mystery man" had been hanging around for a couple days near the cave openings where road construction was occurring -- a place where the three boys had been playing in the days prior to their disappearance. I went home and planned on going. The preliminary search was called off 10 days later, though another source said, The case of the Lost Boys of Hannibal has been the subject of at least three books. He went to Murphys Cave and saw some of the boys friends there, who said they saw Billy, Joey and Craig going into the cave earlier. And unfortunately, its leaning right now toward more of a true crime opportunistic killer than it is a caving.. Extensive search-and-rescue efforts turned up no sign of any of them, however. He says he has lived all over the world and calls Quincy home, though he resides in Hannibal now. But, so far, they havent found anything , Other theories say that the children fled to another city or were abducted. This city is known as the birthplace of Mark Twain and in particular the Mark Twain Cave where Tom Sawyer films were made. He eventually showed and couldnt account for his younger brothers, so Helen sent him and DeDe out in the neighborhood to find them. They got forensic and all that stuff, they could probably get it solved. Henderson found it odd that Billy wasnt there. Because of these caves, Missouri is often referred to as the state of the caves, and it is not surprising that they attract many explorers as well as adventurers. About two years later, he was joined by younger brother William Francis. They were allegedly chased away by construction workers. I cant tell you for a fact why they did it. And I said, Mom, maybe youll just have to find out on the other side if theyre there. DeDe herself still struggles with her brothers disappearance despite 45 years passing by. I dont know if Ill be alive, but Im sure somebodys going to find them sometime, she said. The perfect weather for being outside. or anything. It slithers and curves through the land just like the mighty Mississippi. Cambeletta became interested in the boys disappearance several years ago, upon hearing about a more disturbing theory regarding their demise: that the boys fell victim to an opportunistic killer. The memory of this strange disappearance of these three boys is still commented on in Hannibal. He just had that red hair and those blue eyes and those freckles. Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in. My kids cant understand it and I cant understand it, other than we all think and feel different, DeDe said. Wed, 20 May 2015 04:21:51 GMT Joey, Billy, and the Hoag kids had many hobbies while growing up in Hannibal. The next morning, police, national guards and volunteers organized a mass search for the boys. Jack calls in Hannibal to work on the psychological profile of the Minnesota Shrike, and the two go to his office where he meets Will Graham. Survivors include four children, Tonya Robinson (Keith) of Wentzville, Tammy Wisdom (Charlie) of Hannibal, Tisha Adair (Daren) of Hannibal and Jereme Mastin (Lindsay) of Hannibal; one brother, Dan Hoag (Candy) of Gurnee, Ill.; three sisters, Bobbie Wellman of Lebanon, Lynnie Pedigo of Wylie, Texas, and Denise Mudd of Hannibal; and nine grandchildren, Dylan, Tyler, Skye, Keaton (Brady), Curtis, Darrian, Rylee, Quinn and Reece. They were carrying shovels and a flashlight, and said they were going to explore Murphy's Cave, near the Highway 79 construction project. But a quick search of the cave by Tim turned up nothing. The show is now into its third season, and Cambeletta has also begun working on a documentary film about the case. The Hoag brothers and Craig Dowell were never found. When the parents of the Hoag brothers returned from the store and saw that their children had disappeared, they became very angry and intended to give them a good lesson. According to another version, the boys may have accidentally entered a completely new tunneling system that other researchers have not noticed. Advertisement. All of these cavers came in from Washington, D.C., from California, Virginia, Mississippi. According to their sister Deborah, who went by DeDe, Billy was very mischievous while Joey was more serious and interested in science, especially astronomy. Have the latest local news delivered every day so you don't miss out on updates. Nonetheless, this tight-knit community came together to find the lost boys. We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen! Theories and rumors emerged in the aftermath of their disappearance, some seeming more likely than others. He believes the mayor and others involved in the search may not have wanted to find the boys for fear of lawsuits if it could be proven the boys died at a dangerous construction site. No human remains have been found during this exploration. At the time the boys went missing, machines being used to search the caves could go as far down as 39 feet but the town mayor ordered them to go no further than 37 feet. But at some point, 15-year-old Tim Hoag and 16-year-old DeDe lost track of their younger brothers, who slipped out of the yard and headed for another adventure. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Joel Wise Hoag was born on July 25, 1954 to mom Helen and dad Mike. or anything. Joey [Hoag] was even a really big astronomer labeled himself as an amateur astronomer, if you look through his writings. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Hart: Hannibal boys' disappearance brought back to life in book. It was as if he was trying to hide and secretly monitor the work of the search groups. Youre going to have to have proof, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Henderson said. Local panic quickly brought national attention to the tiny river town in northern Missouri. Yet they were reportedly sighted near Murphys Cave as late as 5:15, likely with dirty shoes and clothes that they would have then had to go home and clean up. Spider-Man: Homecoming : Spider-Man: Homecoming is a 2017 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, co-produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. At the time the boys went missing, machines being used to search the caves could go as far down as 39 feet but the town mayor ordered them to go no further than 37 feet. The aforementioned book Souls Speak also explores the possibility that they were early victims of John Wayne Gacy. City officials have been notified of the disappearance of the three children, who may have been lost in the cave. By June, other searches ended with no clues as to the boys whereabouts. But because of the intensive construction of Highway 79 in the 1960s, employees sometimes encounter new gaps that lead to unexplored parts of local caves. In the US state of Missouri, one of the local attractions is a vast network of caves that have thousands of passages, both above and below ground. Billy was a little stinker. Then in July of last year, a third woman -- an "evidential clairvoyant" in Wyoming who helps police solve crimes -- was looking at photographs of the three Hannibal boys when "all of a sudden she was overwhelmed with these images" of John Wayne Gacy brutalizing and burying the boys, Wingate said. Use the 'Report' link on I was 11-years-old and I heard this was happening, Henderson said. "When this happened it was really devastating," Wingate remembered. It should be noted that they were scrappy young fellows. They began to pray that nothing bad would happen to the boys. All three suggested they had similar visions that Gacy was to blame for the disappearance and deaths of the Hannibal boys. The tunnels of Murphys Cave are very complex and winding. They were carrying shovels and a flashlight, and said they were going to explore Murphy's Cave, near the Highway 79 construction project. Partly cloudy skies. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. Henderson, along with Billy and other neighborhood boys, had Royal Ambassadors meetings at the local church Wednesday nights and there wasnt enough time to do both. The Charley Project is NOT a registered non-profit organization and any donations will NOT be tax-deductible. Tim went in there to a certain degree, and once he got in there, there were so many mazes, DeDe said. The worker told them to get out because it was dangerous, but no known precautions were taken after that to keep other explorers away. Keep it Clean. racist or sexually-oriented language. and our Most of all DeDe cherished the time she shared with her family and friends. New book suggests serial killer's involvement in missing boys case, Edward Husar Special to the Courier-Post ehusar@whig.com. Do you think the boys were kidnapped, or did they die of injury on the construction site and their bodies weren't able to be recovered? In addition to police, groups like the Mark Twain Emergency Squad and National Speleological Society were brought in to help look for the boys. Or were they met with a sinister fate?" Wingate's book, "Lost Boys of Hannibal: Inside America's Largest Cave Search," noted that the boys -- Edwin Craig Dowell, 14, and brothers Joel Hoag, 13, and Billy Hoag, 11 -- were never found despite month-long search efforts. Appears these boys has still not been found.. "Hey Beavis, we need a chick that doesn't suck. There were seven girls on my street and I was the only guy. Craig Dowell and brothers Bill and Joey Hoag disappeared on that May afternoon in 1967. Two years ago, Hannibal native John Wingate released his first book about the disappearance of three Hannibal boys who were last seen on May 10, 1967, near some cave openings on Hannibal's south side. But, as children often do, they didnt listen. The next theory is that the boys were kidnapped and possibly killed. But, again without result. He behind left three brothers. As a result, only one probable trace of the boys was found a baby sock lying near the entrance to the cave. that is degrading to another person. People came pouring in to look for them, DeDe said. "They had been seen darting down into those caves on May 8 and May 9," Wingate said. But now, in a new book, Wingate is advancing a different theory -- one that suggests the boys may have been victims of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who was convicted of murdering 33 boys and men in the Chicago area between 1972 and 1978. When that time hit the first night is when she really started to come unglued. Wingate later learned the woman was a psychic from southern Missouri who reportedly "saw the three boys' spirit energy manifest up front when I was speaking," he said. They were all well researched. Cookie Notice 14, and brothers Joel Hoag, 13, and Billy Hoag, 11 were never found despite month-long search efforts. Wingate is scheduled to sign copies of his new book from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 2, at Quincy Books and Toys, 3800 Broadway, and will sign books and give a presentation from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 3, at the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal. Hannibal & # x27 ; s caves was something everyone did dad Mike O'Donnell Funeral home restricted. That Gacy was that mystery man, '' he said had nine other siblings have. Friend who barely missed the cave at www.jamesodonnellfuneralhome.com know in the ground land just like heroes... 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