Account
Jan 27, 2019
Jul 05, 2023
Ruth
Baumgardner
108
21
65 inches
110 lbs
White / Caucasian
Female
In the spring of 1937, Ruth Elizabeth Baumgardner was a 22-year-old senior art major at Ohio Wesleyan University, on the verge of graduation. A member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority, she was known to be a popular and good student. Engaged to be married to a young man from her hometown of Lakewood, Ohio, Ruth's future seemed bright. However, in the weeks leading up to her disappearance, she had expressed feelings of being overwhelmed and tired due to her studies and extracurricular activities. She was particularly concerned about having enough credits to graduate on time. On the evening of May 4, 1937, Ruth, affectionately known as "Ruthie," practiced for a singing competition before studying for a test in her dormitory, Austin Hall. Her sorority sisters saw her shortly after 11:00 p.m.; she had her hair in curlers and seemed to be in normal spirits. Sometime before midnight, she said goodnight to her friends and was never seen or heard from again. The following day, when Ruth failed to attend any of her classes, her sorority sisters became concerned and alerted campus authorities that evening. An investigation into her dorm room, number 319, revealed a scene of unusual orderliness for the typically messy student. Her bed appeared untouched, her pajamas and robe were hanging in the closet, and her hairpins had been put away. Her alarm clock was set for 6:00 a.m. and had run down. Her watch, sorority pin, and some change were left on her dresser. Strangely, her dormitory room key was found on a staircase between the second and third floors. Her new red Dodge, an early graduation gift from her father, was discovered undisturbed in its usual garage with the key in the ignition. It appeared she had taken only an old handbag, about $5, a brown suit, a sport hat, and brown suede shoes. The investigation into Ruth's disappearance was fraught with conflicting theories and a lack of concrete evidence. Initially, authorities and her family considered the possibility of amnesia, a theory bolstered by several unconfirmed sightings in the Delaware area in the days that followed. The idea that she may have left voluntarily, perhaps with an unknown man, was also explored, as she had received several calls from an unidentified man with a high-pitched voice on the day she vanished. However, her friends and family found this unlikely, given her happy engagement. The possibility of foul play was also a significant concern, especially after a local resident reported hearing screams between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m. on the morning she disappeared. This led to searches of the nearby Olentangy River and a local quarry, but no clues were found. A few months later, a man arrested for the murder of a state trooper confessed to kidnapping and trafficking Ruth, but this confession was considered shaky and never led to her recovery. Over the years, numerous other sightings were reported from various locations, and even a woman in Boston claimed to be Ruth, but all leads proved to be dead ends. The case took another strange turn when it was rumored that her family had her committed to a psychiatric hospital, though no evidence ever substantiated this claim. Ultimately, the active investigation into Ruth Baumgardner's disappearance waned due to the passage of time and the lack of credible evidence. Her parents requested that the police close her case in 1939. What happened to the bright young art student remains a mystery, a haunting and unresolved story from a spring long ago.
May 04, 1937
Delaware
Ohio
Delaware County
43015
No
46898
Delaware Police Department
Delaware
Ohio
Delaware County
43015
70 North Union Street, Ohio
7402031111
Local
Law Enforcement
2023-30012350
Delaware Police Department
9867
Blond/Strawberry
Blue
Blue
No
05/23/2026
