The Vanishing of Frances Sessions: A 1946 Ogden Mystery

A Family Outing Turns Tragic

On May 20, 1946, a seemingly ordinary family outing in Ogden, Utah, took a tragic turn that would leave a family shattered and a community searching for answers. Frances Taylor Shurtleff Sessions, a 26-year-old mother, set out on a hike with her six-year-old son, Lee Albert Sessions, and her six-year-old nephew to Bear Cave, located east of her father's farm in the 100 block above Harrison Boulevard. The trio embarked on their adventure around 2:00 p.m., unaware of the impending disaster that awaited them.

The Fatal Accident

As they ascended the mountain slope near the head of 2nd Street, the group encountered a treacherous section of loose shale. The unstable terrain gave way beneath them, causing all three to slide uncontrollably. Frances desperately tried to grasp the children, but both boys tumbled over the cliffs. She managed to reach her son, Lee, who was severely injured from the fall. Displaying immense strength and maternal instinct, Frances carried him down the mountain in a frantic attempt to seek medical assistance. Tragically, Lee succumbed to his injuries while in her arms. Meanwhile, her nephew survived the ordeal and, despite his injuries, managed to walk partway down the mountain before being found by Frances's father, Lee Shurtleff, who transported him to the hospital....Read More

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