Linda Sue Dearth, a 13-year-old from Montgomery County, Ohio, was tragically murdered on January 25, 1973. Linda was at home that day because schools in her area were closed for the funeral of former President Lyndon B. Johnson. Her 17-year-old brother, Robert, had left the house for about two hours, and upon his return, he found Linda critically injured. Linda had been raped and shot three times in the head.
Despite her injuries, Robert reported that he thought she tried to respond when he called her name, but she succumbed shortly thereafter. The crime was both shocking and deeply distressing for the community, especially given Linda's young age and the violent nature of the attack.
Linda's murder has been linked to a separate, equally brutal crime that occurred just 12 days earlier. On January 13, 1973, Gloria Buck and her two children were found murdered in their home in Harrison Township, about 15 miles away. The children, aged 5 and 6, were stabbed to death, while Gloria had been beaten, stabbed, and shot. Investigators later connected Linda's murder with the Buck family killings through ballistic evidence—both crimes involved the same firearm, which was believed to have been stolen from the Buck household during the first attack. The investigation revealed that both families had advertised items for sale in the local "Tradin’ Post," a fact that investigators considered significant in linking the two cases.
Despite some leads and even the arrest of a suspect who had worked as a babysitter for the Buck family, no one has been successfully prosecuted for either crime. The investigation remains ongoing, and detectives continue to appeal to the public for information that could help solve these tragic cases. Linda’s family has sought closure for many years, expressing hope that someone may still come forward with critical information that could bring justice for Linda and the other victims of these heinous acts.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact local law enforcement to help bring closure to the Dearth family, who continue to seek answers even decades later. Linda is buried in Arlington Cemetery near Brookville, Ohio, close to where her family used to live. Her family still remembers her as a loving and vibrant young girl who loved animals and enjoyed participating in church and school activities.
