The Sodder children vanished without a trace at 1:00 AM on December 26, 1945, after a fire broke out in the family home that set the entire first floor of the house ablaze.

Four of the Sodder children living in the house at the time managed to escape and call for help while their father tried to evacuate their younger siblings.

No remains were found after the fire, leading the Sodder couple to suspect a kidnapping and/or foul play after recalling that an insurance salesman had previously threatened the lives of their children, specifically claiming that the house would go up in flames.