*if anyone wants to know more about this case, a 2014 documentary starring his mother is on Netflix telling the story. It is called "Who Took Johnny".
5/25/20: UPDATE: No longer on Netflix in the US, but I'm sure you can find it elsewhere.
This case is probably one of the most famous kidnapping cases of the 1980's. The disappearance of Johnny Gosch is what caused parents to watch their children more and not allow them to run around the neighborhood all day. So, let us begin with this story.
The year is 1982. Johnny is a 12 year old paperboy doing his early morning route. Usually, Johnny's father, John, accompanies him on his route, but not today. This morning, he only brought his dog, Gretchen, and a red wagon.
The date is September 5th. As previously stated, Johnny was out alone. After completing some of his route, he was spotted by a neighbor named Mike, talking to someone in a blue Ford Fairmont. Mike say they thought the man in the car was possibly asking for directions, because he left soon after stopping. He noticed that another car soon began to follow Johnny.
Soon enough, Johnny was gone. The only traces left of him were his red wagon and his abandoned dog.
The FBI raised the question of whether or not this could have been a runaway child rather than a kidnapped one. The Gosch family discarded help from the FBI soon after, realizing how little help they were going to get from the authorities. It was up to the media to help them get the word out.
Years after his kidnapping, his mother, Noreen, describes an incident when she had disturbing polaroids of a child mailed to her. She teared up just looking at them, knowing that these were photos of her missing son. She was convinced that her son was abducted by pedophiles and sold into a nationwide child sex ring.
In 1982, Noreen founded the Johnny Gosch Foundation. The website says the purpose is "to educate others as to the reality and seriousness of kidnapping, pornography, and how it could happen to our family! The dangers of pedophiles and how cunningly they operate in our country."
But Johnny is not believed to be dead. In the documentary "Who Took Johnny?", Johnny's mother recounts a time when Johnny came to her door once as an adult in 1997. She said he didn't stay long and came to ask for help. He told her everything that he had suffered for the past 15 years. Noreen's suspicion of a pedophile ring was quickly confirmed. Johnny left a few hours later, before dawn, and has not been seen since. This is probably one of the most mysterious parts of the case.
Many fingers were pointed toward Johnny's father, John, being as this was the only day he did not accompany his son on his usual route. Though this was big at the time, it seems it was nothing but a tragic coincidence.
Years later in 2000, Noreen wrote a book called "Why Johnny Can't Come Home", describing in detail what she had put together from her own findings, victim accounts, and Johnny's own words. His story has been featured on several radio and tv shows, including "America's Most Wanted," "Vanished," and more.
If we do not keep Johnny's story alive, there is a chance we may never see him again. It's time to bring these evil ring leaders to justice so Johnny and others just like him no longer have to live in fear, and can live their life in peace. Sadly, even if Johnny were to return, I doubt he would find peace.
But that doesn't mean we can't try to help him.
if you have any information, or know anyone who might, please contact:
Polk County Sheriff's Office: (515) 286-3333
or
submit Crime Tips to Police at: wdm.iowa.gov/government/police/crime-tips
Note: wow, sorry, this chapter is 2 years in the making. my last update was in 2018. so sorry about that... time flies, huh?
YOU ARE READING
Cold As Ice
Non-FictionThis is a 100% non-fiction story. My passion is to share the stories of those who cannot share their own. Here, I will be researching and perfecting the stories of true cold cases. Some haven't been solved in years, some have not been solved in deca...
