On a spring evening in May of 1971, Claude and Martha 'Sue' Shelton put their three young children to bed in their home at Gerry's Trailer Park in Corbin, Kentucky. The family had spent the day visiting relatives in nearby Williamsburg and returned home late. Their oldest daughter, who was 11 at the time, later recalled hearing her father say to her mother, 'are you going to go with me, or stay here?' before they both left.
It is believed they were headed to King's Truck Stop, a local establishment about five miles from their home. They departed in their white 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 and were never seen or heard from again. Their car has also never been located.
The circumstances surrounding the couple's disappearance quickly raised concerns among those who knew them. Claude had been a steady employee at the same job for a decade, and by all accounts, both he and Sue were devoted and loving parents. The idea that they would abandon their children was considered highly unlikely by friends and family. Adding to the mystery was the discovery that approximately $600 the couple had been saving, which was kept in a bowl in the kitchen, was missing from the home. However, Claude's recent paycheck and his wife's purse were left behind. Investigators at the time found very few leads to pursue; employees at the truck stop did not recall seeing the Sheltons that night, and searches of the surrounding areas yielded no trace of the couple or their vehicle.
Decades have passed since Claude and Sue Shelton vanished, leaving their three children to be raised by their grandmother. The case has grown cold, but the mystery endures, with authorities suspecting foul play from early in the investigation. Over the years, law enforcement has revisited the case, including collecting DNA from the Shelton's children for comparison against unidentified remains, but no matches have been made. The disappearance of Claude and Sue Shelton remains an unsolved case, a painful and lingering question for their family who continue to hope for answers. The lack of evidence, the missing vehicle, and the uncharacteristic nature of their departure have left a void in the community and a story without an ending.Last Seen: May 28, 1971
