The Mysterious Disappearance of the Sodder Children

The Sodder family, who lived in the Appalachians, faced a tragedy that would haunt them for decades to come. George and Jennie Sodder’s quiet home became the scene of a devastating fire in the early hours of the morning of December 25, 1945. While four of their children survived, five others vanished without a trace, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions.

The Sodders, a well-respected Italian-American family, lived in a tight-knit community in West Virginia. George Soddu immigrated from Sardinia, Italy in 1908 and changed his last name to Sodder. By 50, he owned a truck-hauling business and was a vocal opponent of dictator Benito Mussolini fascist regime. Because of this, he’d made enemies within the Italian immigrant community.

The Sodder family consisted of ten children: John (23), Jospeh “Joe” (21), Marion (17), George Jr. (16), Maurice(14), Martha (12), Louis (9), Jennie (8), Betty (5), and Sylvia (3).

9 of the 10 Sodder Children

Joe was away in the Army at the time of this case.

In the months leading up to the fire, the Sodders experienced a series of strange encounters. Suspicious visits from strangers warning of impending danger, unexplained sightings of unfamiliar cars, and eerie phone calls added to the growing sense of unease surrounding the family.

One such issue was of a life insurance agent trying to sell George insurance. When George refused him, the sales man commented,

“Your goddamn house is going up in smoke, ​and your children are going to be destroyed. You are going to be paid for the dirty remarks you have been making about Mussolini.”

On that the eve of December 24, 1945, as the Sodder children played with their new toys late into the night, a series of events unfolded that would change their lives forever. A mysterious phone call, unlocked doors, and sightings of suspicious individuals near their home set the stage for the tragedy that would ensue.

In the early hours of the morning of December 25, at around 1am, the Sodder home was engulfed in flames. Despite their efforts to save their children, George and Jennie were unable to rescue Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie, and Betty from the inferno.

Firefighters arrived at the house at 7am, but by that time, all that was left was ash and rubble.

Although authorities attributed the fire to “faulty wiring,” George and Jennie didn’t believe that, and continuously thought that something else was at play. After all, how could five children simply disappear without a trace in the aftermath of a house fire?

A ​crematorium worker certified that even when bodies are burned at 2,000 degrees for two hours, it leaves charred bones. An electrical fire wouldn’t even get to the necessary temperature of 2,000 degrees and the Sodder fire only burned for 45 minutes.

Jennie Sodder’s words echo the sentiments of many who refuse to accept the official explanation: “You can’t tell me five children could burn up in a little old house like that and something wouldn’t be left. No, I’ll never believe it. Somebody stole them, that’s what. It’s been a long time but maybe I’ll be lucky enough to see them someday.”

As the investigation unfolded, more unsettling discoveries came to light. Reports of sightings of the missing children emerged from various sources, suggesting that they may have been alive after the fire.

Some sightings are as follows:

• A little girl said the saw the children in the back of a car driving away from the fire
• The next day, 50 miles outside of Fayetteville, a motel worker said they saw the children.
• In Charleston, a hotel worker reported to police that the Sodder children checked-into the hotel. With them were two men and two women of Italian heritage. ​

“The children were accompanied by two women and two men, all of Italian extraction. I tried to talk to the children in a friendly manner, but the men appeared hostile and refused to allow me to talk to these children. One of the men looked at me in a hostile manner; he turned around and began talking rapidly in Italian.”

• In Cortez, FL, a missionary who saw a picture of the children in the paper, said that he saw the children in a house in Cortez, Florida. A private detective who was investigating the children’s disappearance, ran this lead and reported back that they were definitely there but were gone by the time he arrived.
• Five different people reported seeing them in Cortez.

Despite these leads, the fate of the Sodder children remained a mystery.

Over the years, George and Jennie Sodder tirelessly pursued the truth, putting up billboards, hiring private investigators, and seeking answers wherever they could. The billboard they put up was on Route 16 and included pictures of their missing children. On the billboard, they also offered a reward for $10,000 (today would be $172,329) and the parents maintained the board until their death 37 years later. Despite their efforts, they never received closure on the fate of their missing children.

Picture of Louis Sodder when he was 9 years old and a photo that was anonymously taking in Kentucky in 1968

Despite these leads, the fate of the Sodder children remained a mystery.

Over the years, George and Jennie Sodder tirelessly pursued the truth, putting up billboards, hiring private investigators, and seeking answers wherever they could. The billboard they put up was on Route 16 and included pictures of their missing children. On the billboard, they also offered a reward for $10,000 (today would be $172,329) and the parents maintained the board until their death 37 years later. Despite their efforts, they never received closure on the fate of their missing children.

Missing Sodder Children Poster

In the end, they spent more than $15,000 in trying to get answers (about $255,621.67 today).

George and Jennie Sodder and the missing Sodder Children billboard

Today, Sylvia Sodder Praxton remains the sole survivor of the tragic events of that day; she would be 81 years old this year. Her parents’ unwavering determination to find their children serves as a testament to the enduring love of a grieving family. Though the Sodder children may never be found, their memory lives on in the hearts of those who refuse to forget.

What do you think happened to these children?

Give me 3 claps if you think they were abducted and 1 clap if you think they died in the fire.

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