Heres everything you need to know about The Grinch sequel, plus the best books your kid can check out now. Had they even returned to the cave after those last few sightings of them around town? Tim took off one way, I took off another way, DeDe said. The brothers asked another friend of theirs, 11-year-old Greg Henderson, to go with them to the cave, but he got called in for dinner so he couldnt. But a parental edict to stay in the yard the afternoon they disappeared wasnt enough to deter the young adventurers. Wingate expounds on the Gacy theory in his new book, "Souls Speak: Missing children reveal their serial killer from beyond," which became available Wednesday on Amazon.com. HANNIBAL Missouri's Route 79 is a beautiful roadway that cuts through the state's eastern hills and tiny, subtle towns. Because of the circumstances, authorities theorized the three boys were trapped inside the cave when it collapsed and weren't able to get out. Billy and Joey, as they were more commonly called, also had nine other siblings. That day, the construction work resulted in a cave-in at Murphys Cave. The first was, Podcasters Franki Cambeletta and Chris Koetters. More than likely they were buried. On May 9, 1967, the Hoags and Dowell went searching Murphys Cave on the southside of town, which had been exposed by construction for Highway 79. Hes very certain the boys are buried beneath the southbound lanes of Route 79 just before the Lovers Leap tourist sign. . They took shovels, lanterns and other necessary things. A pair of black tights are a necessity, rather than just an accessory, to stay stylish and comfortable when temperatures drop. About two years later, he was joined by younger brother William Francis. They feared crashes and other disasters. There was also a strange message about a man in a black cloak who was not recognized as a city resident, police officer or anyone else. So what do you think of this case? Send questions and comments about this story to feedback@stlpublicradio.org. Their parents, who were back from the meat market, said they werent there, but that if their friend saw him to tell them to hurry home. Debra "DeDe" Hoag, 67, of Hannibal, passed away at 5:37 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018, at her home. Don't knowingly lie about anyone 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. 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. They did not even find traces of the children. But in 1967, three boys went on their own adventure in the town and never returned. And the cold case, situated as it is in the boyhood home of Mark Twain and his cave-loving characters like Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher, has been the subject of attention and speculation in the decades since. "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." Partly cloudy skies. ", Several weeks later, Wingate said, he received a call from a sister of the Hoag brothers who told him she had just visited a psychic in Hannibal who told her: "I can tell you without a doubt the boys were killed by John Wayne Gacy.". that is degrading to another person. Share with Us. I walked outside and the girls were jumping rope. Wingate said he started investigating the theory a year ago -- around the same time he was making stops in Hannibal and Quincy, Ill., to sign copies of his first book. At the time the boys went missing, machines being used to search the caves could go as far down as 39 feet but the town mayor ordered them to go no further than 37 feet. He behind left three brothers. The show is now into its third season, and Cambeletta has also begun working on a documentary film about the case. Brothers Billy and Joey Hoag, ages 11 and 13, along with their friend Craig Dowell, 14, were last observed carrying shovels and flashlights around 5 p.m. May 10, 1967. But what quickly began as a neighborhood search expanded to a nation-wide effort. That evening, their parents forbade them from going back. person will not be tolerated. If you have any information about this case, you can contact the Hannibal Police Department at 573-221-0987. According to their sister Deborah, who went by DeDe, Billy was very mischievous while Joey was more serious and interested in science, especially astronomy. All rights reserved. Our house was so full of cave men coming in from out of town. Volunteers are still trying to find the remains of the missing boys or at least their belongings. Thats all there is to it.. I dont know if Ill be alive, but Im sure somebodys going to find them sometime, she said. But everything was in vain. The memory of this strange disappearance of these three boys is still commented on in Hannibal. Im having a big time still struggling with it. The boys have never been heard from again. 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. Went to school, seen Billy, and he said, Were going caving tonight, Henderson said. My own opinion is youre going to find Billy and Joey. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. On Wednesday, May 10, the boys left school, changed clothes, and went walking in the direction of Murphys Cave yet again. He says he has lived all over the world and calls Quincy home, though he resides in Hannibal now. 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. A Hannibal mystery 48 years in the making. 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.. Two of the psychics told Wingate that "John Wayne Gacy was that mystery man," he said. Low 31F. that is degrading to another person. Authorities checked it to see if the Hoag brothers or Craig were there, but they didn't find anything. And without exception, all three of them picked the same locations" where the boys were ostensibly killed and buried. He and William were not supposed to leave their yard, but they left anyway while their parents were out. The case of the Lost Boys of Hannibal has been the subject of at least three books. We dont know where theyre at. Lets go over some theories and speculation. After that, they disappear and even traces of them, much less their bodies, were found. Nearly 55 years ago, two young brothers and their friend gathered. And nowadays, near Hannibal, sometimes new tunnels are found in the local caves, which are caused by expansion, rainfall and other reasons. Joel and Craig were both eighth-graders at Hannibal Junior High at the time of their disappearances. Copyright 2010 - 2023 Soul:Ask | Unlock your Mind and Soul. The last theory is that the boys didnt actually all go missing at once. Theyre not sleeping, Im not sleeping till they get home. At one point, FBI experts got involved in the process. My kids cant understand it and I cant understand it, other than we all think and feel different, DeDe said. Franki Cambeletta Talks About Hannibal's Unsolved Mystery From 1967. HANNIBAL, Mo. Missouri's recreational marijuana law is in full effect in area, Continental Cement employees begin strike early Wednesday morning, Hannibal junior Cody Culp places second in state, Quintet of Hannibal wrestlers move on to Saturday at state meet. William and Joel left behind five brothers and four sisters. For more information, please see our There wasnt much evidence I could find that they would want to do this, and they all had plans for that evening that they never showed up for. Joel, who was interested in snakes and geology, had been punished the night before for going to the cave without permission. Over the course of the afternoon, just like the previous days, the boys were spotted with several of their peers. The show is hosted by Sarah Fenske and produced by Alex Heuer, Emily Woodbury, Evie Hemphill and Lara Hamdan. The case has also been a subject of a podcast, also called The Lost Boys of Hannibal, which aired its first episode in July of 2019 and appears to still be going. 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. Billy Hoag, Joel Hoag, and Craig Dowell; Hannibals Lost Boys. (Courtesy: Hannibal Courier-Post). 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. A flashlight and shovel were later found to be missing from the Hoag home. "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. Extensive search-and-rescue efforts turned up no sign of any of them, however. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism He noticed that the boys were dragging a makeshift ladder of boards to lower themselves through the opening inside the cave. The boys' disappearance triggered a massive search. Nearly 55 years ago, two young brothers and their friend gathered shovels and flashlights on a spring afternoon to explore a cave in their hometown of Hannibal, Missouri. He and Billy were close friends. Investigators searched trains that had left Hannibal around the time the boys were last seen, perhaps wondering if they had been snatched without anyone noticing. by Jack Pluta. Were they trapped underground by a cave-in? It was Wednesday, May 10, 1967. each comment to let us know of abusive posts. What would have been the ramifications? Joey [Hoag] was even a really big astronomer labeled himself as an amateur astronomer, if you look through his writings. It slithers and curves through the land just like the Mighty Mississippi River. The weeks and weeks of searching turned up absolutely nothing. Every. Over at the church the Royal Ambassadors were meeting. Ive been to psychiatrists, neurologists, counselors. Obituary: Debra 'DeDe' Hoag, 67, of Hannibal, Online condolences may be made and video tribute may be viewed at. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Had they even returned to the cave after those last few sightings of them around town? But Dowells and the Hoags bodies have never been found. 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. HANNIBAL, Mo. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. But now, in a new book, Wingate is advancing a different theory -- one that suggests the boys may have been victims of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who was convicted of murdering 33 boys and men in the Chicago area between 1972 and 1978. It would be quite interesting if you could go down and dig in that hole. or anything. 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!] Wingate said his first encounter with one of the psychics came last spring while he was doing a book signing at the Mark Twain Museum in Hannibal for "Lost Boys." Joey and Billy came home from school, they were there in the house, and Joey went through the hallway. Sunshine and clouds mixed. 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. Then in July of last year, a third woman -- an "evidential clairvoyant" in Wyoming who helps police solve crimes -- was looking at photographs of the three Hannibal boys when "all of a sudden she was overwhelmed with these images" of John Wayne Gacy brutalizing and burying the boys, Wingate said. Don't Threaten. I dont think a lot of that was made public.. He was into astrology and he was more grounded. A new book released last week puts a surprising new ending on a 52-year-old Hannibal story. In the 1960s, parents strictly forbade their children from even looking at the openings in the ground. Before Mom left, she hollered at Tim. A writer and author of crime thrillers living in the UK. Since then, rumors and theories have swirled around the Mississippi River town about what happened to 13-year-old Joey Hoag, 10-year-old brother Billy Hoag, and their friend, 14-year-old Craig. This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. 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. There are a few contradictory accounts of exactly what happened between now and the time anyone realized Billy, Joey and Craig were missing. 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