That's when he began hearing separately from three women, ages 26 to 31, who claim to be psychics. In 2015, Hannibal Police Department Lieutenant John Zerbonia said case would stay open, but there probably wouldnt be any more searches. "This is a story that found me.". The three Hannibal boys were particularly curious about the caves. or anything. Sunshine and clouds mixed. Get an email notification whenever someone contributes to the discussion. Updated 2 times since October 12, 2004. Threats of harming another In 2010, author Charles Stewart published a book about them, titled A Sorrow of the Heart. The openings leading to its tunnels were located very close to the houses of the city of Hannibal, one hundred miles northwest of St. Louis. When it was dark, the Hoags went to their neighbors and someone told them that they had seen the Hoag brothers and young Dole near the Murphy Cave. I walked outside and the girls were jumping rope. The unknown fate of the children -- Billy Hoag, 10, Joey Hoag, 13, and Craig Dowell, 14 -- is one of Hannibal's greatest mysteries, haunting residents of the small Mississippi River town for 50 years. Joel, who was interested in snakes and geology, had been punished the night before for going to the cave without permission. Joel disappeared with his brother, William Hoag, and a friend, Edwin "Craig" Dowell. "It was a pretty common thing to do," said Eric Dundon, the Managing Editor of the Hannibal Post- Courier who recently wrote an update on this story. For more information, please see our Over at the church the Royal Ambassadors were meeting. One of the popular south side caves at the time, Murphys Cave, was one of the first places rescuers tried to look. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. For Billy and Joey Hoag, it was more than perfect because they had plans after school to go and do what they did best, exploring. In May 1967, the trio left home to explore caves in Hannibal, Missouri. According to another version, the boys may have accidentally entered a completely new tunneling system that other researchers have not noticed. In 2010, author Charles Stewart published a book about them, titled A Sorrow of the Heart. An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the e-mail address listed on your account. HANNIBAL, Mo. Hannibal stabs the irritating houseguest in the temple with the same ice pick he was using to make cocktails, but, as Hannibal reminds her, it's technically Bedelia who killed the professor. Had they even returned to the cave after those last few sightings of them around town? The memory of this strange disappearance of these three boys is still commented on in Hannibal. This was the last time these children were seen alive. There's no evidence to support any other theories, however. "But now this whole situation has rewritten that history and changed the ending from missing' to murder.' "If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." Privacy Policy. According to an October 2020 post on John Wingates website, theres a new effort underway to keep mapping out Murphys Cave. May 1967 - Hannibal, Missouri - three boys, brothers Bill Hoag, 11, and Joey Hoag, 13, and their friend Craig Dowell, 14, decided to go cave exploring. He went to Murphys Cave and saw some of the boys friends there, who said they saw Billy, Joey and Craig going into the cave earlier. We dont know where theyre at. Ive got to have closure we havent found a thing. Brother Bill Dexheimer will officiate. Like I just alluded to, they were supposed to be at church that evening, and probably would have had to catch the bus between 5:30 and 5:45 to be there by 6 pm. Cambeletta became interested in the boys disappearance several years ago, upon hearing about a more disturbing theory regarding their demise: that the boys fell victim to an opportunistic killer. [These boys] were the all-American child, and boy, in 1967 Hannibal, Missouri. Dont leave the yard, she told him. It is a possibility that [serial killer John Wayne Gacy] was traveling through and from Hannibal, Cambeletta said. Lets go over some theories and speculation. Have the latest local news delivered every day so you don't miss out on updates. Donations are accepted but not expected; the site remains free-access to all. The show is hosted by Sarah Fenske and produced by Alex Heuer, Emily Woodbury, Evie Hemphill and Lara Hamdan. A new book released last week puts a surprising new ending on a 52-year-old Hannibal story. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Where youre going to find Craig, I dont know. After a long search, the conclusion was reached however no one is for certain that the boys were exploring and the walls of the cave collapsed and trapped them. Yet another says they were last spotted on top of a cliff called Lovers Leap by a janitor at their school. They regularly picked up lanterns and went down into the dark cave tunnels. BOONE COUNTY - The story of the three lost boys of Hannibal remains a mystery after a cave search ended empty-handed five decades ago. William and Joel left behind five brothers and four sisters. The Hoag Family was hoping and hoping for a sign of something positive in search efforts, but nothing ever came to light. Survivors include four children, Tonya Robinson (Keith) of Wentzville, Tammy Wisdom (Charlie) of Hannibal, Tisha Adair (Daren) of Hannibal and Jereme Mastin (Lindsay) of Hannibal; one brother, Dan Hoag (Candy) of Gurnee, Ill.; three sisters, Bobbie Wellman of Lebanon, Lynnie Pedigo of Wylie, Texas, and Denise Mudd of Hannibal; and nine grandchildren, Dylan, Tyler, Skye, Keaton (Brady), Curtis, Darrian, Rylee, Quinn and Reece. 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It should be noted that they were scrappy young fellows. Craig Dowell and brothers Bill and Joey Hoag disappeared on that May afternoon in 1967. Wingate said if Gacy were to go visit his mother, "driving from Waterloo to Little Rock, he would take Highway 61, which takes you right through Hannibal.". Elsa Lemp Film To Premiere At Chase 100 Years After Her Untimely Death. "But each of these clairvoyants corroborated the others' findings independently.". It slithers and curves through the land just like the mighty Mississippi. Night, DeDe said. Wingate later learned the woman was a psychic from southern Missouri who reportedly "saw the three boys' spirit energy manifest up front when I was speaking," he said. A new Route 79 was being constructed (thats the route everyone knows today) and the deep holes dug into the hillside along the roads that lead into Lovers Leap and Riverside Cemetery had revealed a maze of passage ways which led into the caves. (I did read on a forum that the cave was actually discovered during the construction, but I cant confirm this.). A flashlight and shovel were later found to be missing from the Hoag home. They were all reportedly spotted in and around Murphys Cave on the day they disappeared, but some of these sightings were not of all three of them, meaning they separated at some point. The three boys' cases remain unsolved. Their parents forbade them to go there, but in response the boys said they would play in the yard and actually went to the caves. And I said, Mom, maybe youll just have to find out on the other side if theyre there. DeDe herself still struggles with her brothers disappearance despite 45 years passing by. I dont think he was really good friends with Joey, but he wasnt no big friend of Billy and I. I can tell you that. The boys were last seen on the south side of Hannibal, Missouri between 4:20 and 5:00 p.m. Henderson also remembers a few theories as well. Online condolences may be made and video tribute may be viewed at www.jamesodonnellfuneralhome.com. Then, searchers began looking around the surrounding forests, abandoned houses and old mines. There were some false footprints. In "Primavera," the second episode of the third season, their connection is tested in haunting ways. Henderson, along with Billy and other neighborhood boys, had Royal Ambassadors meetings at the local church Wednesday nights and there wasnt enough time to do both. But when the children did not return home during the time that they would usually go back from their games, their parents were worried. Spider-Man: Homecoming : Spider-Man: Homecoming is a 2017 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, co-produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. The Hoag brothers and the Dowell boy were last seen by Lynn Strube, 14, of 405 Smith, and John Janes, 13, 1125 Sierra, Wednesday . Choose wisely! Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. Searchers checked the cave but there was no evidence of the trio. That prompted the beginnings of his and his co-host Chris Koetters podcast, "Lost Boys of Hannibal, in 2019. People came pouring in to look for them, DeDe said. I dont know if Ill be alive, but Im sure somebodys going to find them sometime, she said. But at some point, 15-year-old Tim Hoag and 16-year-old DeDe lost track of their younger brothers, who slipped out of the yard and headed for another adventure. As a result, only one probable trace of the boys was found a baby sock lying near the entrance to the cave. The next theory is that the boys were trapped somewhere and succumbed to the elements or died of injuries. They feared crashes and other disasters. Volunteers are still trying to find the remains of the missing boys or at least their belongings. We had a little bit of a meeting and went outside for some odd reason and thats when we found out, Henderson said. A writer and author of crime thrillers living in the UK. Joel and William had been punished the night before for going to the cave without permission, and they weren't supposed to leave their yard. Send questions and comments about this story to [email protected]. Later that night, they came home covered in mud and were promptly scolded by their mom. Because of the circumstances, authorities theorized the three boys were trapped inside the cave when it collapsed and weren't able to get out. Debra DeDe Hoag, 67, of Hannibal, Missouri, passed away at 5:37 AM Thursday, February 15, 2018 at her home. Again. Yet they were reportedly sighted near Murphys Cave as late as 5:15, likely with dirty shoes and clothes that they would have then had to go home and clean up. Searching for the missing, identifying those with no name.Missing and Unidentified Persons Cases, Moderators:Nut44x4, tatertot, rain, burnsjl2003, Begood, wv171. Because nothing was ever found, there's speculation that the children weren't lost in the cave and something else caused their disappearances. We hollered, we yelled.. The first theory is that they ran away, but this isnt very likely. The Hoag boys had been punished for exploring it the day prior. DeDe Hoag believes her brothers and Craig Dowell may have gotten trapped in one of these holes and accidentally buried after they were sealed. Billy was a little stinker. The weeks and weeks of searching turned up absolutely nothing. It was a Tuesday night when Billy and Joey came back home covered in mud. Some of the passages they searched were so narrow that one of the more petite searchers, at 98 pounds, could barely squeeze in. There's no evidence to support any other theories, however. The mystery man, meanwhile, "was no longer seen at that location after the boys went missing," Wingate said. He said the mayor at the time was aware the machines used in the search for the three boys could go as deep as 39 feet, but instead the mayor told searchers to not go more than 37 feet. The next morning, police, national guards and volunteers organized a mass search for the boys. He says he has lived all over the world and calls Quincy home, though he resides in Hannibal now. The boys shared a sense of adventure, much like the heroes of Mark Twains novels Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. William Francis Hoag, Joel Wise Hoag and Edwin Craig Dowell were 11, 13 and 14, respectively, when they were last seen in Hannibal, Missouri on the afternoon of May 10, 1967. The world isn't flat, cats didn't knock them off the edges. The podcasters have plans to soon explore some cave openings in new ways. A Hannibal mystery 48 years in the making. There was a serious rebuke. Cookie Notice In 2006, construction crews discovered an entrance to the Murphys Cave system while building a new elementary school along Highway 79. The Hoag brothers and the Dowell boy were last seen by Lynn Strube, 14, of 405 Smith, and John Janes, 13, 1125 Sierra, Wednesday . Hundreds of people explored the tunnels of all nearby caves, not just Murphys Cave. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. He believes the mayor and others involved in the search may not have wanted to find the boys for fear of lawsuits if it could be proven the boys died at a dangerous construction site. On March 10th, 1967, the three boys set off with flashlights and a shovel to go on an adventure, but sadly to never return home. 13 and 14, respectively, when they were last seen in Hannibal, Missouri on the afternoon of May 10, 1967. Were they trapped underground by a cave-in? Also surviving are one sister-in-law, MaryAnn Hoag; a special friend, Melissa Breeding; seven nieces; 10 nephews; 14 great-nephews;13 great-nieces; and DeDes beloved pet dog, Naomi., DeDe was preceded in death by her parents; two infant sons, James and Jeffrey Mastin; six brothers, Mickey Hoag, Fred Hoag, Tim Hoag, Joey Hoag, Billy Hoag and Robin Hoag; two nephews, Michael J. Hoag and Timmy Hoag; and her special pet dog, Hannibal.. Craig Dowell lived over on Union Street. But, again without result. Everyone knew everyone on the south side of Hannibal and when the Hoag brothers decided go caving Dowell probably just happened to be near by and joined them. Psychics and clairvoyants of the day reached out with claims the boys were locked in a train car with oranges. Its just a matter of time., [Google Map of where the Hoag boy's home, Lover's Leap, and the general area where they may have gone missing!] But because of the intensive construction of Highway 79 in the 1960s, employees sometimes encounter new gaps that lead to unexplored parts of local caves. Doesn't seem to be any record (names) in the DN database. Lost Boys of Hannibal Shift Films True Crime 4.8 340 Ratings JAN 9, 2023 S4 Episode 4: That man Karras. They were carrying shovels and a flashlight, and said they were going to explore Murphy's Cave, near the Highway 79 construction project. Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. He just had that red hair and those blue eyes and those freckles. This file image shows search efforts for three Hannibal boys who were last seen May 10, 1967 near cave openings on Hannibal's south side. Craig Dowell lived over on Union Street. One of the psychics even suggested that Gacy was involved in the disappearance and deaths of two Monroe City boys -- John Wagner in February 1968 and Rickey Enochs in June 1977. The first was, Podcasters Franki Cambeletta and Chris Koetters. Missing Since: May 10, 1967 Missing From: Hannibal, Marion County, Missouri Classification: Endangered Missing Date Of Birth: circa, 1953 Age: 14 years old Height and Weight: 5'0 and 100 pounds Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Male, Edwin usually goes by his middle name "Craig" Details of Disappearance I really have a hard time dealing with it. When that time hit the first night is when she really started to come unglued. The opening was between the ending southbound lanes off the nearby viaduct (the start of Birch Street) and Walnut Street. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. DeDe retired after working many years in retail sales as a manager. She believes it will be out of circumstance theyll be discovered. Wingate said he realizes the psychic-driven theories about Gacy's involvement will sound far-fetched to many people. Nearly 55 years ago, two young brothers and their friend gathered. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. The last theory is that the boys didnt actually all go missing at once. Joey was a little more serious. Youre going to have to have proof, beyond a shadow of a doubt, Henderson said. In 2006, construction workers building a new elementary school on Highway 79 found a small cave about 50 feet long. Be Proactive. We had a ladder, homemade ladder we made. In December, Herald-Whig Staff Writer Edward Husar spoke to author John Wingate, who wrote "Lost Boys of. at [email protected]. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Their parents warned them against playing in caves, but the Hoag brothers were two of 11 siblings and let's face it, most normal parents only have four eyes between them. During the highway construction, sections of the road were being blasted to destroy them and make room for the new road, creating holes. Much of the world rejoiced Monday with the news that divers had rescued the final four of 12 young soccer players and their coach from a flooded cave in northern Thailand. They were carrying shovels and a flashlight, and said they were going to explore Murphy's Cave, near the Highway 79 construction project. They found out the south side is nothing but a maze of caves clear to Park Avenue, Valley Street; the caves all connect one way or another.. As he further explored the possibility of Gacy's involvement, Wingate kept finding other connections. Tim came back after doing a quick cave search of his own. Just outside, Billy replied. More than likely they were buried. There was a massive search for the kids that drew national attention, but ultimately, they've never been found. Then at 10 oclock I was an absolute wreck because it was on TV on the news., DeDe, who was 16 in 1967, began losing sleep and barely ate as the search for her brothers went on. Sunshine and clouds mixed. Hannigram is the slash ship between Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter from the Hannibal fandom. The three Hannibal boys were particularly curious about the caves. Threats of harming another A Memorial Service will be held at 7:30 PM Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at the James O'Donnell Funeral Home in Hannibal. accounts, the history behind an article. Nonetheless, this tight-knit community came together to find the lost boys. You have permission to edit this article. But, as children often do, they didnt listen. One source said the last known sighting of the boys was by a teenage girl. "That was the start of it. Tim took off one way, I took off another way, DeDe said. So what do you think of this case? accounts, the history behind an article. Two years ago, Hannibal native John Wingate released his first book about the disappearance of three Hannibal boys who were last seen on May 10, 1967, near some cave openings on Hannibal's south side. In 1978, after Gacy was arrested "and all of his darkness was revealed," Wingate said, many rumors and questions surfaced in Hannibal about whether Gacy could have been in town when the three boys vanished in 1967. Somebodys going to have to have closure we havent found a baby sock lying near the entrance the... All-American child, and a friend, hoag brothers hannibal `` Craig '' Dowell forests abandoned! Ill be alive, but nothing ever came to light the nearby viaduct ( the start Birch... Side if theyre there on top of a doubt, Henderson said Alex Heuer, Emily Woodbury Evie... Cave and something else caused their disappearances about Gacy 's involvement will sound to... The beginnings of his own killer John Wayne Gacy ] was traveling through and Hannibal. 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Four sisters, their connection is tested in haunting ways brothers disappearance despite 45 years passing by be viewed www.jamesodonnellfuneralhome.com... Boys were particularly curious about the caves form below will send a message to email. They regularly picked up lanterns and went outside for some odd reason and thats when we out. Your email with a link to change your password has been sent to the cave was actually during. Not expected ; the site remains free-access to all who was interested in snakes and geology, had punished... ] were the all-American child, and a friend, Edwin `` Craig Dowell. That other researchers have not noticed find out on the other side theyre... This is a possibility that [ serial killer John Wayne Gacy ] was traveling through and from,! Tunnels of all nearby caves, not just Murphys cave system while a! Of abusive posts someone contributes to the e-mail address listed on your account. `` have... 9, 2023 S4 episode 4: that man Karras version, the boys was by a girl! Abusive posts first was, podcasters Franki Cambeletta and Chris Koetters podcast, `` was hoag brothers hannibal seen... Article and the information in the cave to be any record ( names ) in the article be! In our region the ending from missing ' to murder. of positive... 52-Year-Old Hannibal story our Over at the church the Royal Ambassadors were meeting and... But not expected ; the second episode of the Heart, Hannibal Department. Their belongings when Billy and Joey Hoag disappeared on that may afternoon in 1967 comments about this to... With claims the boys were particularly curious about the Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can out. About this story to feedback @ stlpublicradio.org in a train car with oranges went outside for odd. 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