Disappearance of Linda Stoltzfoos

[yuna628 9,700]

18 year old Linda Stoltzfoos was walking home from church and heading home to retrieve items for another meeting later that afternoon along a quiet stretch of road in Lancaster, PA. As a young Amish woman, she worked at a local market, she had already joined the church, was reportedly very shy and would never be one to approach or talk to strangers. Three weeks ago she vanished without any trace. This has began a multi-state search to find out what has happened to her - and this has been fruitless so far; the only thing the dogs could determine is that her scent vanishes at a fork in the road not far from her house. Local police were soon joined by the FBI that have been very quiet about the investigation. Nothing is being ruled out - from running away to kidnapping and murder... but they believe she is in danger. For those that speculate she may have just decided to run away, there is generally a protocol for doing this and it is highly unusual for the FBI to get involved.. 

 

The FBI has put up billboards and released composite photos of what she could potentially look like wearing 'street clothing'. Police have received thousands of tips, but mostly nothing of value.

Her family that consists of Amish, close English friends nearby, coworkers, and those that previously left the group say she was not the type of person to run away, that she was always a happy girl and content with choosing the church, and there was no indication of something amiss. They believe she was taken by someone, and there have been numerous sightings of strange out-of-state vehicles 'prowling' the area since the pandemic lockdowns. This is a quiet area I know well, typically there would be many tourists on the main hubs but not so much on these back roads. There has not been a disappearance like this that people can recall and her family is desperately trying to get the word out to people in other states, not just locally. https://www.ydr.com/story/news/2020/07/03/missing-amish-girl-lancaster-pa-what-we-know-linda-stoltzfoos-update/5371311002/

[yuna628 9,700]

To update: the FBI has put up $10,000 reward. They are using very specific language now:  

Quote

The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the recovery of Linda Stoltzfoos and the identification, arrest and conviction of the subject(s) responsible for her disappearance.

I wonder if they do indeed believe she has been murdered.

 

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/linda-stoltzfoos

[yuna628 9,700]

Linda's kidnapper was arrested yesterday and is being held without bail. Formerly sent away for 30yrs, he got out early. The FBI did indeed have a lot of cards close to the chest... seems an English neighbor had a security camera that captured the whole violent assault and kidnapping. That led them to his car, and ultimately.. him. Her clothes were found buried not far away. They have not yet recovered a body... and while the family is holding out hope, they do believe she has been harmed. This has been devastating for the community that hasn't seen something so horrific since the events at Nickle Mine. She really was such a sweet girl.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

Very sad.  Hope she's ok.  And he gets the electric chair.

[yuna628 9,700]

8 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

Very sad.  Hope she's ok.  And he gets the electric chair.

Unfortunately what I'm hearing from the search party today has them believing she is deceased. He buried her somewhere in the woods in a nearby town, and they are searching with dogs there now. I too hope they fry him... but he will probably take a plea deal somehow.

Edited July 12, 2020 by yuna628

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

12 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

Unfortunately what I'm hearing from the search party today has them believing she is deceased. He buried her somewhere in the woods in a nearby town, and they are searching with dogs there now. I too hope they fry him... but he will probably take a plea deal somehow.

I wonder why there haven't been riots and protests?

[yuna628 9,700]

1 minute ago, Voice of Reason said:

I wonder why there haven't been riots and protests?

Not in the Amish nature. They will forgive him, something most would be incapable of doing.

[Voice of Reason 10,298]

1 minute ago, yuna628 said:

Not in the Amish nature. They will forgive him, something most would be incapable of doing.

I don't recall very many Amish folk looting after Floyd died.  Wasn't really referring to them. I guess #WGLDM

[yuna628 9,700]

3 minutes ago, Voice of Reason said:

I don't recall very many Amish folk looting after Floyd died.  Wasn't really referring to them. I guess #WGLDM

There were some Amish/Mennonite sects that did join some protests and offer support. Can't recall the state at the time, but it was noted.

[laylalex 7,300]

Here's the Mennonite Church's stance on racial injustice and BLM. I thought it was clear and powerful. 

http://mennoniteusa.org/news/mc_usa-statement-on-racial-injustice/

 

The protest you might be thinking about was in Minneapolis. 

 

[yuna628 9,700]

Hoping to learn more today but this provides the latest. https://www.pennlive.com/crime/2020/07/old-order-community-witness-reports-latter-day-technology-leads-to-arrest-of-suspect-in-amish-teens-kidnapping.html

They've been searching a game preserve with some difficult terrain since the weekend.

[yuna628 9,700]

An update today to this case: Linda's abductor has been charged with murder. Her body has never been found but it seems as if they have a good deal of evidence - which seems to me will also eventually include charges of premeditated murder. In the days leading up to her disappearance, other young Amish women were interviewed that he had been observed stalking them along those same country roads, but that they had managed to flee. He also bought materials he would have used for the kidnapping and murder, prior to the attack. So Linda was taken because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He had set out and intended to kill someone, whatever Amish girl he could find. https://www.wgal.com/article/man-accused-of-kidnapping-missing-amish-teen-linda-stoltzfoos-now-charged-with-her-homicide/35032254

[Ban Hammer 13,485]

Quote

The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office announced Monday that Justo Smoker faces an additional charge of criminal homicide in the presumed death of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos, who remains missing

seems a perfect name for a BBQ grill or a weed toker.

[Burnt Reynolds 5,058]

Just brutal. If this is in fact the person on that video, a part of me hopes he doesn't ever make it to prison. I just think of those cases like Sierra LaMar, ridiculously close to an ex's house, all sorts of circumstantial like this but no body, nothing to say goodbye to. Must be tormenting the family, it's difficult for the brain with how we associate grieving. I can only hope with proper justice they move on.

[yuna628 9,700]

1 hour ago, Ban Hammer said:

seems a perfect name for a BBQ grill or a weed toker.

He did try and say that he was just 'innocently' wandering around back country roads smoking weed as his.. (alibi??!) during the times the FBI had discovered he was stalking girls. Smoker is his adopted name (local to the area). His brother may also be involved.

27 minutes ago, Burnt Reynolds said:

Just brutal. If this is in fact the person on that video, a part of me hopes he doesn't ever make it to prison. I just think of those cases like Sierra LaMar, ridiculously close to an ex's house, all sorts of circumstantial like this but no body, nothing to say goodbye to. Must be tormenting the family, it's difficult for the brain with how we associate grieving. I can only hope with proper justice they move on.

It has been extremely difficult for the family. Supposedly the guy boasted in prison that he put her somewhere they'd never find her. They have searched most surrounding areas, but the mountain is difficult terrain.