On today’s episode of Spooky B*tch Walk, Hannah tells Bob about the mysterious disappearance of the Sodder children. On Christmas Eve 1945, the Sodder family was gathered in their home spending a cozy night together. Six of the ten Sodder children asked their parents, George and Jennie, if they could stay up late because they were having such a good time together. Jennie and George allowed this; it was Christmas Eve, after all. 

Around midnight, the phone rang and Jennie answered it. She saw that only one of her children was still in the living room asleep on the couch. She assumed the other five must have gone up to bed. Around 1am, Jennie was awoken by the smell of smoke. Their home was on fire and the flames were spreading fast. George and Jennie along with 4 of their children were able to escape the flames, but five of their children were still inside. Or were they? 

The Sodder home burnt to the ground in 45 minutes. No remains were ever found indicating that there were no other bodies in the house when it burned. There are many theories about what could have possibly happened. Were the flames hot enough to cremate all five bodies? Had they been kidnapped and the house set on fire to hide evidence? Was an angry local banker to blame for the arson? Or did the children simply run away never to contact their family again?

Along the way, Hannah and Bob discuss black holes, Carole Baskin, and who can handle the most gore. 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains strong language. Listener discretion is advised.

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Sources:

Braden, B. (n.d.). 5 curious details about the missing Sodder children. ID Crimefeed. https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/mystery/5-curious-details-about-the-missing-sodder-children

History. (2022, April 18). The Sodder children disappearance [TV broadcast]. History’s Greatest Mysteries. 

Kahler, A. & Solly, M. (2024, August 21). What happened to the Sodder children, the siblings who went up in smoke in a West Virginia house fire? Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-happened-sodder-children-siblings-who-went-up-in-smoke-west-virginia-house-fire-172429802/

Rathore, S. J. (2021, October 2). The disappearance of the Sodder children. Medium. https://medium.com/@sarajrathore/the-disappearance-of-the-sodder-children-faaebb94c697

Stein, L. & Armitage, R. (2023, December 24). The mystery of the vanished Sodder children has never been solved, but the cold case has haunted this small town for decades. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-25/the-mystery-of-the-vanished-sodder-children/103245390

https://www.mywvhome.com/forties/sodder.html