In the small community of Corbin, Kentucky, the evening of May 28, 1971, marked the beginning of a lasting mystery for the family of Martha 'Sue' Shelton. After spending the day visiting family, Sue, aged 27, and her husband Claude, 37, returned to their home in Gerry's Trailer Park on 18th Street. They put their three young children to bed, an ordinary end to an ordinary day. However, what happened next was anything but ordinary. The children would never see their parents again.
Their oldest daughter, who was around 11 at the time, later recalled hearing her parents discussing a trip to King's Truck Stop, located about five miles from their home. She overheard her father ask her mother if she was going with him or staying home before they left. The couple departed in their white 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 and seemingly vanished without a trace.
The initial investigation into the disappearance of Sue and Claude Shelton yielded very few clues, leaving both law enforcement and their family grasping for answers. A search of their trailer revealed that Sue's purse and one of Claude's paychecks had been left behind, suggesting they had not planned to be gone for long. However, a bowl where the couple was known to keep cash, estimated to contain around $600, was empty. Despite the children's recollection of their parents' destination, no one at King's Truck Stop remembered seeing the Sheltons or their distinctive Ford Galaxie that night. The vehicle, which would have been a significant piece of evidence, has never been located. The lack of any substantial leads left the case to grow cold, deepening the anguish for their children, who were subsequently raised by their grandmother.
Over the decades, the case of Martha Sue Shelton and her husband has remained a painful open wound for their loved ones and the community. The prevailing belief among investigators is that the couple met with foul play, as abandoning their children was completely out of character for the devoted parents. Claude was a steady and dependable worker, having been employed at the same job for ten years. The mystery has prompted various efforts to uncover the truth, including a 2009 DNA test on an unidentified body found in Oregon, which ultimately confirmed it was not Sue. Despite the passage of time and the scarcity of information, the hope for answers persists. The disappearance of Martha and Claude Shelton is a haunting story of a family torn apart, leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions and a search for closure that has spanned more than half a century.Last Seen: May 28, 1971
