The Sodder Children | They Vanished in a Fire But No Bodies Were Ever Found

The phone lines were cut, the ladder was stolen, the trucks wouldn't start — and by morning, five children had vanished without a trace.IN THIS EPISODE: One of the most haunting mysteries to ever occur in West Virginia – and perhaps even in America – began during the predawn hours of December 25, 1945. The fire that occurred at the Sodder home that night was the key to the mystery, but whether it was a vanishing, a kidnapping, or a mass murder has never been determined. *** Plus, even though a young man was tried, convicted, and died in prison for the murder – along with two others – there are many who believe that Suzanne Degnan’s murder was never actually solved. And that may be the reason that Suzanne’s spirit has never rested in peace. CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:35.682 = The Christmas Disappearance of the Sodder Children, Part 100:15:30.498 = The Christmas Disappearance of the Sodder Children Part 2 ***00:32:47.039 = Waite For Word: The Bloody Murder and Ghost of Suzanne Degnan, Part 1 ***01:04:08.345 = Waite For Word: The Bloody Murder and Ghost of Suzanne Degnan, Part 2 ***01:25:48.050 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakSOURCES and RESOURCES:“1945: The Missing Children” (The Christmas Disappearance of the Sodder Children) and “1946: Waite For Word” (The Bloody Murder and Ghost of Suzanne Degnan) written by Troy Taylor from the book “Suffer the Children: American Horrors, Homicides and Hauntings”: https://amzn.to/3SszFMA=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: December 28, 2017EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/SodderChildrenABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness #UnsolvedMysteries #TrueCrime #ColdCase #MissingChildren #MysteryStory #TrueCrimeCommunity #UnexplainedMysteries #CrimePodcast #DarkHistory