November 25, 2019

S1 E1 Missing Ludger Belanger

55 minutes

In our fist episode we've reached out to Linda Perkins to hear the details of the disappearance of her husband Ludger Belanger 44 years ago.

Details of Disappearance

Belanger lived in Washington, Maine with his wife of four years and their three daughters at the time of his disappearance. He worked as a heavy equipment mechanic and his wife had a job as a waitress. At 9:00 a.m. on November 25, 1975, his wife and brother dropped him off half a mile from their home on Route 105 so he could go deer hunting. He was carrying a .30-30 rifle. He said he'd be back by noon, but he never returned and an extensive search turned up no sign of him or his rifle. Authorities determined Belanger had shot a deer and dragged it to the roadside, where he was picked up by a passing motorist.

Belanger had a good home life and marriage at the time of his disappearance, and isn't believed to have left of his own accord. His wife thinks he was murdered, possibly over the deer he had shot. Authorities have two suspects in Belanger's disappearance. One of them died in an accident less than a year after Belanger went missing; the other is still alive and lives in Maine. The second suspect supposedly confessed the murder to a friend in 1977.

He said he and the first suspect were under the influence of drugs when they picked up Belanger, and ultimately shot him to death in the backseat of the car. The suspect's friend reported their conversation to the police. Authorities had examined the car shortly after Belanger's disappearance and noted the interior had been washed and the rear seat was missing. There was a single deer hair stuck to the hood ornament.

Both of Belanger's parents are dead, and his wife has remarried. All eight of his siblings are alive. His family still hopes for answers in his disappearance and hope his body will be recovered. His case remains unsolved.

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