The Disappearance of Alvin Matlock: A Cold Case Linked to the Infamous Klein Gang

The Disappearance of Alvin Matlock

• 🗓️ Alvin Matlock, a 21-year-old Army veteran, went missing from his cabin near Spokane, Washington, around March 1, 1951.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 His family, who called him Bud or Buddy, last expected to see him for Thanksgiving dinner on November 22, 1951, when he failed to show up.
• 🏠 Upon visiting his cabin, they found it empty and his vehicle missing, prompting his mother to report him missing.
• 🕵️ Police investigation yielded few leads, with rumors circulating that Alvin had moved to Alaska, a story his family eventually doubted.

Unraveling Rumors and Suspicions

• 💔 A prominent rumor suggested Alvin was having an affair with a married woman, leading to a confrontation with her husband.
• 🗣️ Some speculated the woman herself shot Alvin during an argument, though no evidence supported this.
• 💡 Decades later, in 2016, Alvin's brother Clyde submitted his DNA to the NamUs database, hoping for a resolution.
• 📰 In 2019, an article in The Spokesman Review linked the notorious Klein family gang to Alvin's disappearance.

The Klein Family Criminal Enterprise

• ⛓️ The Klein family was a multi-generational criminal enterprise in the Spokane region from the 1930s to the 1960s, involved in numerous thefts and burglaries.
• 💰 Jesse Klene, daughter of Leon and Lee Klein, was implicated by her brother Jay's wife, Phyllis, in both the murder of her ex-husband Don Folkman and the disappearance of Alvin Matlock.
• 🚗 Jay Klein, a prolific car thief, was arrested multiple times, with the family farm found to be a cache of stolen goods.
• 🏡 Laya Peterson, Jesse's daughter, grew up unaware of her family's criminal activities until later in life.

New Allegations and Potential Motives

• 💔 Phyllis Klene stated Jesse was involved in Don Folkman's murder and Alvin Matlock's disappearance.
• 💥 Laya's uncle, Jay Klein, claimed Bob Peterson (Laya's father and Jesse's ex-husband) and Jesse burned Alvin's body in their furnace.
• 🚗 Patricia Matlock, Alvin's sister, revealed that Jesse and Bob Peterson were reportedly the last people to see Alvin alive.
• 🗣️ Patricia also suggested Alvin was having an affair with Jesse, and Bob, the jealous husband, was involved in Alvin's death, with Jesse possibly being the shooter.
• 🤫 It's speculated that Alvin's car was buried with him, possibly with the help of someone with a tractor, or that his body was burned.

Unresolved Case and Lingering Questions

• ❓ Despite strong suspicions and allegations, no hard evidence has definitively implicated Jesse or Bob Peterson in Alvin's disappearance and presumed murder.
• ⏳ Alvin Matlock's case remains Spokane's oldest missing person's case, with police continuing to follow up on leads.
• 📞 Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Spokane County Sheriff's Office.