Then in July of last year, a third woman -- an "evidential clairvoyant" in Wyoming who helps police solve crimes -- was looking at photographs of the three Hannibal boys when "all of a sudden she was overwhelmed with these images" of John Wayne Gacy brutalizing and burying the boys, Wingate said. On May 10, 1967, Joey Hoag stepped off the school bus outside his parents' home in Hannibal's Southside neighborhood where he was greeted by his 16-year-old sister, Debra "DeDe" Hoag. You have permission to edit this article. Visitation will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the James O'Donnell Funeral Home. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Because nothing was ever found, there's speculation that the children weren't lost in the cave and something else caused their disappearances. He behind left three brothers. People came pouring in to look for them, DeDe said. In 1967, the cave was close to the construction site of Highway 79. Wingate said he realizes the psychic-driven theories about Gacy's involvement will sound far-fetched to many people. They began to pray that nothing bad would happen to the boys. He was into astrology and he was more grounded. Because the road construction work going on at the time had resulted in a cave-in at Murphys Cave on the day the three boys went missing, the most prominent theory of their demise is that they became stuck in the cave after some kind of blasting occurred. In the US state of Missouri, one of the local attractions is a vast network of caves that have thousands of passages, both above and below ground. The first was, Podcasters Franki Cambeletta and Chris Koetters. Nearly 55 years ago, two young brothers and their friend gathered shovels and flashlights on a spring afternoon to explore a cave in their hometown of Hannibal, Missouri. Just outside, Billy replied. City officials have been notified of the disappearance of the three children, who may have been lost in the cave. Its entirely possible that even the most meticulous of searches could fail to turn up human remains. Perhaps his brothers were wandering in the unknown areas underground. Or had something else happened to them? The openings leading to its tunnels were located very close to the houses of the city of Hannibal, one hundred miles northwest of St. Louis. Choose wisely! He went to Murphys Cave and saw some of the boys friends there, who said they saw Billy, Joey and Craig going into the cave earlier. At 3pm, they were spotted by a casual passer-by walking to the entrance of Murphys Cave. Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in. You think theyre going to close down that highway to build on a speculation? Adjacent to the deep muddy waters, its the perfect route for the countrys Great River Road. If they had, what would have happened? All suspicious passageways, narrow cracks and still unexplored tunnels were carefully checked. There's no evidence to support any other theories, however. On Monday, May 8, 1967, Billy and Joey were exploring the cave when they were spotted by a worker. http://www.hannibal.net/article/20120528/NEWS/305289977, http://khqa.com/news/local/a-hannibal-mystery-48-years-in-the-making, http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/h/hoag_joel.html. He believes the mayor and others involved in the search may not have wanted to find the boys for fear of lawsuits if it could be proven the boys died at a dangerous construction site. May 1967 - Hannibal, Missouri - three boys, brothers Bill Hoag, 11, and Joey Hoag, 13, and their friend Craig Dowell, 14, decided to go cave exploring. There was a serious rebuke. at [email protected]. At the time the boys went missing, machines being used to search the caves could go as far down as 39 feet but the town mayor ordered them to go no further than 37 feet. There are no plans to open up the cave system to the public, and the project is limited to skilled and experienced cavers, according to the post. There was also a strange message about a man in a black cloak who was not recognized as a city resident, police officer or anyone else. But now, in a new book, Wingate is advancing a different theory -- one that suggests the boys may have been victims of serial killer John Wayne Gacy, who was convicted of murdering 33 boys and men in the Chicago area between 1972 and 1978. Memorial contributions may be made to Community Loving Care Hospice. Billy Hoag, Joel Hoag, and Craig Dowell; Hannibals Lost Boys. (Courtesy: Hannibal Courier-Post). The content of this website does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of Soul:Ask and may contain 18+ material. DeDe recalls her mother, Helen Hoag, scolding the boys to wash their clothes and stay away from the construction zone they were in. Yet they were reportedly sighted near Murphys Cave as late as 5:15, likely with dirty shoes and clothes that they would have then had to go home and clean up. I went home and planned on going. Hannibals south side sits at the base of many high hills and within those hills are caves, many, many caves connected in one way or another. But who could stop the curious children? And I said, Mom, maybe youll just have to find out on the other side if theyre there. DeDe herself still struggles with her brothers disappearance despite 45 years passing by. Most of these caves were well explored in the first half of the twentieth century. Or were they the victims of a notorious serial killer? She said keep an eye on the boys (Billy and Joey) because of what they had done the night before, DeDe said. "This is a story that found me.". Visitation will be from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM Tuesday. They were reportedly in Murphys Cave around 4:35 pm, but gone a few minutes later. You have permission to edit this article. When the parents of the Hoag brothers returned from the store and saw that their children had disappeared, they became very angry and intended to give them a good lesson. Joey Hoag, Billy Hoag, and Craig Dowell had simply vanished without a trace. The Hoag brothers were missing. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Everyone knew everyone on the south side of Hannibal and when the Hoag brothers decided go caving Dowell probably just happened to be near by and joined them. DeDe loved St. Louis Cardinals baseball. Henderson also remembers a few theories as well. Nonetheless, this tight-knit community came together to find the lost boys. Last updated June 3, 2012; picture and clothing/jewelry description added, details of disappearance updated. According to another version, the boys may have accidentally entered a completely new tunneling system that other researchers have not noticed. Be Nice. Night, DeDe said. But Dowells and the Hoags bodies have never been found. The first was A Sorrow of the Heart by Charles Stewart***, published in either 2009 or 2010. Henderson, along with Billy and other neighborhood boys, had Royal Ambassadors meetings at the local church Wednesday nights and there wasnt enough time to do both. These kids lived up to everything [in Twains books], from caves and from river travels [to] hiking and exploring, St. Charles-based filmmaker Franki Cambeletta, who has spent the last couple of years seeking answers about it all, said Wednesday on St. Louis on the Air. During the highway construction, sections of the road were being blasted to destroy them and make room for the new road, creating holes. Will says . They were 10-year-old Billy Hoag, his brother 13-year-old Joel Hoag and their friend 14-year-old Craig Dowell. A plaque and stone monument sits atop the Lovers Leap park overlooking the Mississippi River to honor the memory of the three boys. I dont know if it was the first day or the second day, but I was having dreams and everything; about Billy and Joey. "I wanted to see what they picked up on. On Wednesday, May 10, the boys left school, changed clothes, and went walking in the direction of Murphys Cave yet again. This website uses cookies for functionality, analytics and advertising purposes as described in our, 1967 Hoag, Bill and Joey + Dowell,Craig May 10 196, http://www.hannibal.net/stories/042206/ 2003.shtml, http://www.hannibal.net/stories/042706/ 0101.shtml, http://www.whig.com/story/news/RH-Scoop-Column-011910, http://z10.invisionfree.com/usedtobedoe =2450&st=0&, http://www.hannibal.net/features/x15264 written-it, http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/05/23/lo later.html. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. And unfortunately, its leaning right now toward more of a true crime opportunistic killer than it is a caving.. Spider-Man: Homecoming : Spider-Man: Homecoming is a 2017 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man, co-produced by Columbia Pictures and Marvel Studios, and distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing. They took shovels, lanterns and other necessary things. But, Within a few days, the boys still hadnt been found and people started to wonder if they really were in the cave. Volunteers are still trying to find the remains of the missing boys or at least their belongings. Wingate said he started investigating the theory a year ago -- around the same time he was making stops in Hannibal and Quincy, Ill., to sign copies of his first book. The case would be the subject of several books and even a true crime-style podcast. Extensive search-and-rescue efforts turned up no sign of any of them, however. It was as if he was trying to hide and secretly monitor the work of the search groups. Went to school, seen Billy, and he said, Were going caving tonight, Henderson said. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Online condolences may be made and video tribute may be viewed at www.jamesodonnellfuneralhome.com. Where are you going, DeDe asked Billy. She . Joey and Billy came home from school, they were there in the house, and Joey went through the hallway. HANNIBAL Missouri's Route 79 is a beautiful roadway that cuts through the state's eastern hills and tiny, subtle towns. However, on May 10, the three went to the same cave again, using the moment Hougs parents were in the store to shop. The boys made plans to go back to the cave after school the following day. Use the 'Report' link on Like I just alluded to, The next theory is that the boys were trapped somewhere and succumbed to the elements or died of injuries. DeDe was born Jan. 15, 1951, in Hannibal to Michael T. and Helen V. McCullough Hoag. Yet there is a mystery on a portion of this roadway that has yet to be solved, a mystery as cold as a brisk Midwest winter. In 1978, after Gacy was arrested "and all of his darkness was revealed," Wingate said, many rumors and questions surfaced in Hannibal about whether Gacy could have been in town when the three boys vanished in 1967. He informs Will of Freddie Lounds posting a pic of one of the girls online, which Will calls tasteless. Wingate expounds on the Gacy theory in his new book, "Souls Speak: Missing children reveal their serial killer from beyond," which became available Wednesday on Amazon.com. High 59F. Its not only horrific to think of how these boys ended, but also the idea that somebody would hunt these local kids that everybody loved. Most of all DeDe cherished the time she shared with her family and friends. Billy, Id say was a little bit more mischievous than Joey. That day, the construction work resulted in a cave-in at Murphys Cave. Billy has red hair and blue eyes and a scar under his right arm. Where youre going to find Craig, I dont know. "They had been seen darting down into those caves on May 8 and May 9," Wingate said. Just before 6:30 pm, Helen Hoag called the police. "But I decided just to lay it out and let people decide for themselves" if there's any merit to the story. [These boys] were the all-American child, and boy, in 1967 Hannibal, Missouri. In "Primavera," the second episode of the third season, their connection is tested in haunting ways. Lets go over some theories and speculation. Where do you think they are?, Henderson, now 56, said. Psychics and clairvoyants of the day reached out with claims the boys were locked in a train car with oranges. Missing Since: May 10, 1967 Missing From: Hannibal, Marion County, Missouri Classification: Endangered Missing Date Of Birth: circa, 1953 Age: 14 years old Height and Weight: 5'0 and 100 pounds Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Male, Edwin usually goes by his middle name "Craig" Details of Disappearance Then, on May 10, 1967, Joey along with brother Billy Hoag and friend Craig Dowell mysteriously disappeared, presumably somewhere under Hannibal in the labyrinthine cave system. The case has also been a subject of a podcast, also called The Lost Boys of Hannibal, which aired its first episode in July of 2019 and appears to still be going. But because of the intensive construction of Highway 79 in the 1960s, employees sometimes encounter new gaps that lead to unexplored parts of local caves. Craig Dowell, Joey Hoag and Billy Hoag went missing May 10, 1967. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Local 17 year old helps in City SCs debut win, Geekie ends drought with 2 goals, Kraken beat Blues, KC Chiefs honored by Pro Football Hall of Fame, Back-to-back jacks from Goldynado in Cardinals win, Comedian Kevin James is coming to Stifel Theatre, TOOTSIE the comedy musical coming to the Fox Theatre, Brewsday Tuesday: Saint Louis Hop Shop -find good, Troy Family Dental in Illinois addresses periodontal, The cure for foundation leaks from Woods Basement, There is a surgery-free option for E.D. He went to Murphys Cave and saw some of the boys friends there, who said they saw Billy, Joey and Craig going into the cave earlier. They were waiting for the moment when the construction workers at the site would go to rest. Choose wisely! They were all reportedly spotted in and around Murphys Cave on the day they disappeared, but some of these sightings were not of all three of them, meaning they separated at some point. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Tim told his mother to call the Mark Twain Emergency Squad and she did. We'll send breaking news and news alerts to you as they happen! Lost Boys of Hannibal on Apple Podcasts 44 episodes This Podcast sets out to solve one of Hannibal Missouri's biggest mystery, The Lost boys of Hannibal Missouri snd the events surrounding their disappearance in 1967. To close down that Highway to build on a speculation //khqa.com/news/local/a-hannibal-mystery-48-years-in-the-making, http: //khqa.com/news/local/a-hannibal-mystery-48-years-in-the-making,:... 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