The Unsolved Northeast Ohio Teenager Murders: A 1960s Cold Case

The Disappearances and Murders

• 💔 In 1962 and 1963, three teenagers—Marian Brewbaker, Thomas Summers, and Ruth Guthrie—disappeared and were later found murdered in Northeast Ohio.
• 🔍 Investigators believe at least two, and possibly all three, victims were connected to a single predator.

Victim Profiles

• 👧 Marian Brewbaker, 12, was last seen leaving the library and a five-and-dime store. Her body was found in the woods, showing signs of strangulation and a likely attempted sexual assault.
• 👦 Thomas Summers, a freshman, disappeared after going to a shopping plaza to buy shoes. His skeletal remains were found nearly a year later, showing signs of strangulation and bound hands.
• 👧 Ruth Guthrie, 12, vanished after attending a fair. Her skeletal remains were discovered about 20 miles from her home, also showing signs of strangulation, with her hands tied.

Investigation Challenges

• ❓ Ralph Becker, a 15-year-old who found Marian's body, had scratches and disheveled clothing, failed polygraphs, and was released after evaluation, remaining a person of interest.
• 🗣️ A man named William Lewis confessed to Marian's murder, but his details were public knowledge, and he was deemed mentally insane.
• 🗺️ The victims were from different towns and did not know each other, complicating the investigation, especially with false sightings of Thomas and Ruth together.
• 🔬 Advances in DNA technology in 2012 and 2014 allowed for exhumation and DNA collection from Marian's remains, but the primary suspect at the time had no DNA in databases.

Unresolved Cases

• ⏳ As of today, no one has been convicted in the murders of Marian, Thomas, or Ruth, and the cases remain unsolved, approaching 60 years old.
• 🕵️ The delayed discovery of Thomas and Ruth's bodies makes their cases particularly challenging, while Marian's case, being a fresh crime scene, might have yielded more evidence with modern techniques.
• 🚨 Local law enforcement in the early 1960s may have lacked experience with murder investigations, potentially leading to missed evidence, though the possibility of a well-executed investigation also exists.