Monday, August 18, 2014

Old Person Monday Mystery...!

This is the kind of mystery that saddens me the most. Losing a loved one, but not knowing their fate.

I can only imagine what a terrible time the wife went through, never knowing for sure what happened.

Leo Widicker

Even though he was 86 years old, Leo Widicker still lived a very active life. Leo had been married to his wife, Virginia, for 55 years, and they both belonged to a Christian organization called Maranatha Volunteers International. By 2001, the Widickers had worked with Maranatha on 40 humanitarian trips.

For their 41st trip, the couple left their home in Bowdon, North Dakota to accompany the organization to Tabacon Hot Springs, Costa Rica. On November 8, Leo rested on a bench while his wife went off to wade in the hot springs. When Virginia returned about half an hour later, her husband was gone.

It’s theorized that Leo may have fallen asleep on the bench and become disoriented after waking up. Before he disappeared, Leo had been seen asking people if they knew where his wife was. He walked to the resort gate and asked the guards if it was okay to leave, so they opened the gate and watched him walk off down the main road.

Only 15 minutes later, one of Leo’s friends drove that same stretch of road for 10 straight miles but did not see any sign of him. Since Leo did not move very fast, and there were very few places he could have gone, the only logical explanation was that someone might have picked him up. However, an extensive search of the area turned up no trace of Leo Widicker, and he has never been found.

So, what do you think really happened to the old man? Did he wander off? Was he picked up? These are the kinds of mysteries that can drive a family crazy, I think!

Coffee out on the patio this morning.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

This story really saddens my heart for his wife and for him, and scares me at the same time.

That's a mystery indeed.

I think we are one hour difference from where you live and I live, because I have around 1:23 AM here in Minneapolis, MN.

It seems I may be joining you with some coffee seeing I'm sipping on some in between typing this.

Mamahen said...

Oh how sad! I wonder if he might have been having a stroke and wondered of the road n passed away tho you think his body would have been found...I have lost pets that just never came back and that left so many questions n so much pain...I can't imagine what it would be like if it were a loved one...

Chickenmom said...

He probably had s stroke like Mamahen suggested. At their age, they never should have gone to a country like Costa Rica and not have stayed with their group. So sad.
Chilly here at 52 I'll bring some warm corn muffins.

linda m said...

I feel so sad for his wife. My grandfather used to wander off when he lived with us. We were lucky we had neighbor who was home and would always find grandpa and return him. Losing one memory is so sad and dangerous. The fact that he was never found is spooky.

Dizzy-Dick said...

Maybe the aliens got him and flew him off in a saucer. . There is no closure for the loved ones when something like that happens. Yes it is so sad.

JO said...

How very sad for his family and that it happened out of country. Like Momahen said he may have had a stroke and just didn't know who he was. And finally passed on somewhere and just was never found.

Pass the pot please

HermitJim said...

Hey Lon...
Glad to have you join us for a cup.

Always sad to have a loved one just disappear like that. Not knowing is probably the worse part.

Thanks for dropping by today!



Hey Mamahen...
Probably that's what happened. The mystery is why no trace was ever found. Downright scary to me.

Thanks for coming over today!



Hey Phyllis...
You have to wonder why they didn't stay with the group, if there was one.

Thanks for the visit this morning!



Hey Linda M...
Having a loved one wander off is a scary thing, for sure.

Thank you for coming by today!



Hey Dizzy...
I think the not knowing what happened would be the nightmare that would linger for a long time.

Thanks, buddy, for coming over today!



Hey Jo...
It is indeed sad that it happened out of the country. Bad enough when it happens at home.

Thanks for coming by, sweetie!

Bob Mc said...

There is an ongoing mystery in Nevada right now. Several people have disappeared on the highway between Winnemucca and Reno. It is a lonely stretch of road out in the middle of nowhere. Their cars have been found, but no sign of the people. One old man had a big dog with him, but no sign of the dog either.

HermitJim said...

Hey Bob Mc...
Now that would be a mystery worth looking into! I'll have to see what I dig up!

Thanks for the info and for coming over today!