I posted this at IC and TB, and wanted those of you that don't hit all the boards to seeit....

I want to thank you all once again for the love, concern, and prayers you gave while my dad was missing. I am not online much, I need to do things in real life, and also to keep busy, I need to adjust to the reality of the last few weeks.I am not able to keep up with world events, or much else, but I AM A SURVIVOR...I'll be back more in a little while. I wanted to give you all some of what I have found out, twice I went to explain the facts as I knew them to be, and the "facts" keep changing. so I will tell you the best I know at this time. It appears that Dad had breakfast with the guys as usually at the American Legion. (He often would cook the breakfast, but I think these last few yrs, he just "helped".) Then the "guys" would clean up there and usually go to the Eagles...another club, where they would usually watch sports all afternoon, unless they had a project they were working on. Of Course they'd be thirsty......and have a few beers....more or less. About 5 pm Dad said he was going home and going to bed. (this is verified by most that were sitting there) also, this is something dad did, his "sleep" scheldule was very early, but he was up early. he said his good bye, and they waved at him. No one was outside to see him enter his van. And he never came home alive. I want to share with you all, because I know the concern you had, I personally went to where he was found. It is the opinion of ...the Leetonia Police, all family members that had also gone there, all friends that drove up there, and myself, Dan and my daughter...all that knew him....that my dad DID NOT make the drive up to the Newton Falls area. it is NOW the assumption that SOMEONE asked or insisted...(there lies the hold up in this case) that they were given a ride up there somewhere. this SOMEONE according to the police, and the family all agree, HAD to have driven the van up there...Dad would have been stopped as soon as he was on a main rd. The Police knew how my dad drove and know with no uncertainty that HE did not drive up there. So they believe someone drove the van up, and then left, and Dad was left to find his way home. this is so hard to write, but I am hoping it is theraputic.....My dad's street is Robinson....when they finally found the van, the street he had turned on was.....Robinson. only it was not in Leetonia....and it had no outlet. he continued on this rd that turned into a graveled then dirt, then access rd to a gas well...which then turned in to nothing more that a deer path. there was no place at all to turn his van around.....(as we drove the path, I just couldn't imagine the thoughts, or confusion he must have felt.) that is, unless he was unconscience as SOMEONE else drove the van down the path because they KNEW where they were going. there was cornfields on one side, and woods on the other. Remember he was missing since the 20th according to dates when the van was seen and not seen and then again seen..and the weather reports documenting the rainfall in 2 days in that area. and the nights a flashlight was seen in that area, ..well for every thing that gets an answer....then there are 2 more questions....this whole case is like this. So for now I will leave out the days, dates, who saw what, when the van was there, when it was not....and get to the day the van was seen. they had search dogs, and people and searched the area on horseback turning up nothing, they found a pair of shoes in the van, and his jack under the van, and a pillow he'd tried to use for traction. the van could have been driven out of the rut, and contiued on the way he was headen about 300 feet ...he WOULD HAVE BEEN in someone driveway! His body was found immediately with the helicoptor. the rain and wind storm on the 23-4 blew treetops and partially covered him. He was found with his wallet, and 100.00. (it is thought he had close to 400.00 when he left) he DID have shoes on..and a "blow" or bump" on his head. 2 different cornerors gave 2 different cause of death. One was a blow to the head..one was heart problems. It is surmised he got upset, got his flashlight and headed to the light on a house across the field. his body was found 20 ft. from their property, flashlight on "on". It is now almost over, we have buried his earthly shell, and I will say the priest say a beautiful homily in rememberance. I say almost...they still have not released the van, and are still looking at some "clues". they wanted the family to be able to get on with the burial, but they are not "closing" this case. I will say here, I am still mourning his passing, the way he passed, and that he was not with family as he passed. But I also know, what kind of man he was, and I will also say..this would have been "his call" as far as "checking out." He always told the story of how the best "dogs" just go off to die, and you never know, so you never mourn. I am happy because I KNOW he is where he wanted so much to be, beside his wife, friend, and partner. I hope, for closure, I find out the WHOLE story....but I realize I may never know. I just wanted to share this with you, as you shared my pain and heart ache. again...thank you all. SAR01

-- Anonymous, November 08, 2001

Answers

(((((SAR!!)))))))

What a horrible ordeal. I'm so sorry that he had to go like that. I hope they catch the perp(s) who were responsible for this insanity.

Yes, keeping busy helps. Don't worry about your presence online. There are plenty of good people on IC who'll take care of things.

Please know that prayers continue for you and your family. Please also keep your aunt or whomever is administering the estate in mind. This individual is going to have a lot of extra paperwork and phone calls to make in settling the estate, and that's going to add a lot of stress and frustration to her life. She'll need extra prayers, too!

Best to you, SAR.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2001

Sorry you had to go through all this, SAR. One of the reasons we left New Orleans is because I knew three people who had been murdered, one of them a good friend who was murdered for his shoes. A suspicious death isn't easy to accept, I know, but I also know what a strong person you are.

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2001

SAR,

Words cannot express sorrow very well. Please know that my heart is heavy for you. I have learned that sometimes karma is a good thing, and sometimes karma is a bad thing. The perps will have bad karma, of that you can rest assured.

It still does nothing for your and your family's pain. Hopefully someday soon, you will have the answers that you seek. If you don't get the answers, maybe it is God's way of saying that you really don't want to know. But hopefully, you will get those answers quickly and they won't be as bad as imaginations sometimes make them.

Please know that we are holding you in the middle of the largest group hug. We love ya Girl! Keep your chin up!

apoc

-- Anonymous, November 09, 2001