August 9, 2025 • 19 mins
Today we’re traveling to a historic Georgia city in the late 1970s, where the disappearance of a mother and her two teenage children shattered a community’s sense of security and sparked a search that has endured for nearly half a century. We’re exploring the 1977 disappearance of Susan Marie Rogers, aged 38, her daughter Lisa Marie Rogers, aged 16, and her son Michael David Rogers, aged 14, from Macon, Georgia, who vanished after a family outing, leaving behind a trail of fragmented clues and a case that remains proofless due to the absence of their bodies and unanswered questions about their fate. This is a story of a devoted family, a fleeting moment that changed everything, and a community’s unyielding quest for the truth. So, settle in for an exhaustive journey into a mystery that continues to haunt and compel.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:18):
Welcome to the thirty fifth episode of Proofless, where we
dive into the heart of America's unsolved mysteries, cases that
linger in the shadows, challenging investigators and leaving communities with
questions that reverberate across generations. I'm your host, Anna Burger,
and today we're traveling to a historic Georgia city in
the late nineteen seventies, where the disappearance of a mother
(00:39):
and her two teenage children shattered a community's sense of
security and sparked a search that has endured for nearly
half a century. We're exploring the nineteen seventy seven disappearance
of Susan Murray Rogers, age thirty eight, her daughter Lisa
Murray Rogers, age sixteen, and her son Michael David Rogers,
age fourteen, from Macon, Georgia, who vanished after a family outing,
(01:02):
leaving behind a trail of fragmented clues and a case
that remains proofless due to the absence of their bodies
and unanswered questions about their fate. This is a story
of a devoted family, a fleeting moment that changed everything,
and a community's unyielding quest for the truth. So settle
in for an exhaustive journey into a mystery that continues
(01:23):
to haunt and compel. Let's set the scene. It's May
nineteen seventy seven in Macon, Georgia, a vibrant city of
about one one hundred and twenty thousand people in Bibb County,
known for its rich musical heritage as the birthplace of
legends like Otis Redding and the Alman Brothers band. Nestled
along the Aucamelgee River, Macon is a blend of Southern
(01:45):
charm and industrial grit, with its antebellum homes, bustling downtown,
and cotton warehouses. The Vineville Neighborhood, a middle class enclave
of bungalows and oak lined streets, is a place where
families gather for church potlucks, kids bike to school, and
neighbors share front porch conversations. The Make and Mall, a
(02:06):
modern shopping center on Eisenhower Parkway, is a teen hot
spot with its record stores, arcade, and movie theater. Susan
Marie Rodgers thirty eight, a single mother, raises her children,
Lisa and Michael, in a cozy one story home on
Vineville Avenue. Susan born July twelfth, nineteen thirty eight to
a local farming family. Is a resilient woman with short
(02:29):
brown hair, hazel eyes, and a five five frame, known
for her warm smile, her work as a librarian at
the Washington Memorial Library, and her passion for gardening. Lisa
born March third, nineteen sixty one, with long blonde hair,
blue eyes, and a five three frame is a junior
at Southwest High School, a talented flutist and an aspiring
(02:50):
music teacher who dreams of attending the University of Georgia.
Michael born June twentieth, nineteen sixty two, with brown hair,
brown eyes and a lanky five seven frame is a freshman,
a baseball player with a knack for history, and hopes
to become a museum curator. The Rogers family is a
cornerstone of Vineville, Susan, widowed since her husband David, a
(03:13):
truck driver, died in a nineteen seventy three accident, raises
her children with love and structure, balancing her librarian job
with volunteering at the Ochmalgy National Monument, where she leads tours. Lisa,
nicknamed Lulu by Michael, is outgoing, often seen practicing her
flute in the backyard or writing poetry for the school
(03:34):
literary magazine. Michael, reserved but curious, is a pitcher on
the school baseball team, collects Civil War artifacts, and spends
hours reading history books. The family attends First Presbyterian Church,
where Susan teaches Sunday School, and their home is a
hub for neighbors, with Lisa's friends playing records by James Taylor,
and Michael hosting teammates for pizza knights. Susan is protective,
(03:58):
enforcing a nine pm curfew, but encourages her children's ambitions.
In May nineteen seventy seven, as summer approaches, the Rogers
are planning a family trip to Savannah to explore its
historic sites, a treat for Michael's history passion and Lisa's
love of coastal scenery. On the evening of May fourteenth,
(04:18):
nineteen seventy seven, Macon is warm and humid, with temperatures
in the high seventies and a gentle breeze from the
Okmulgy River. Susan, Lisa, and Michael plan to attend a
free concert at the Macon Coliseum, a community event featuring
local bands, followed by dinner at a nearby diner on
Riverside Drive. Susan, dressed in a floral blouse, khaki skirt
(04:41):
and sandals, carries her purse with her wallet, keys, and
a library book. Lisa, in a blue sun dress, white
sneakers and a silver necklace, brings her journal to sketch
during the concert. Michael, in a green T shirt, jeans,
and baseball cap, carries a small backpack with his history notebook.
They leave home around five thirty p m in Susan's
(05:03):
nineteen seventy four Chevy I Paula, with Susan driving. A neighbor,
mister Thompson, sees them pulling out of their driveway, waving
as they head toward downtown. At six p m, a
concert volunteer confirms seeing the trio at the coliseum, enjoying
the music near the stage. Around seven thirty p m,
a diner waitress on Riverside Drive serves them fried chicken
(05:25):
and milkshakes, noting they seem cheerful. A final witness, a
parking lot attendant, reports seeing three people resembling the Rogers
near the diner's lot at eight fifteen p m, standing
by a dark blue pickup truck with a man described
as forty to fifty years old five ten with short
graying hair, a mustache, and a denim jacket, but dim
(05:47):
lighting obscures details. This is the last confirmed sighting of Susan, Lisa,
and Michael Rogers. When the family doesn't return by ten
p m. Susan's brother, Robert, who lives in Warner Robbins,
calls friends in the coliseum. Finding no trace. At eleven
p m. Robert reports them missing to the Macon Police
Department MPD. The next morning, May fifteenth, a jogger finds
(06:13):
Susan's Chevy and Paula parked at a rest stop off
Interstate sixteen, eight miles from downtown, locked with no signs
of a struggle. Inside. Police find Susan's purse containing her
wallet and keys, Lisa's journal, and Michael's backpack. Volunteers, neighbors,
church members, and students from Southwest high search downtown, Riverside
(06:36):
Drive and the Eckmulgy River banks while divers check the river.
On May sixteenth, a hiker finds Lisa's necklace pendant broken
in a ditch off Gray Highway, four miles from the
rest stop. The necklace identified by Robert is sent for analysis,
revealing a small blood stain later confirmed as Lisa's O
positive type, but insufficient for DNA profiling. In nineteen seventy seven,
(07:00):
on May seventeenth, a dog walker finds Michael's baseball cap
in a wooded lot off po No Avenue, five miles away.
The fines escalate the case to a suspected triple abduction,
and the MPD sets up a command post at the
Bibb County court House. The investigation zeros in on the
family's last movements. The waitress's seven thirty p m sighting
(07:22):
confirms they left the diner, likely heading to their car.
The parking lot attendant's account narrows the window to eight
fifteen to nine p m. The man in the denim
jacket becomes a focal point, with a sketch release depicting
a rugged man with glasses. A second witness, a gas
station clerk near Gray Highway, reports seeing a woman resembling
Susan around eight thirty p m standing near a blue
(07:45):
pickup truck with a man matching the description, but no
license plate was noted. A third witness, a trucker, saw
a boy resembling Michael near poon No Avenue at nine
p m. Walking with a man, but the sighting is
unconfirmed due to distance. The mpd D interviews concert staff
and diner patrons, finding no conflicts. Robert provides photos Susan
(08:06):
at the library, Lisa with her flute, Michael and his
baseball uniform, offering a five thousand dollars reward, later raised
to one hundred thousand with donations from the library and
local businesses. The case grips Macon, dominating the Macon Telegraph
and WMAZ TV. The Rogers Extended Family appears on Good
Morning America and The MERV Griffin Show, sparking national coverage
(08:29):
on ABC Nightly News. Tips fled in a motel clerk
reports seeing a family in Dublin, Georgia. A fisherman claims
the sighting in Savannah. None are verified. The FBI joins,
given the possibility of interstate kidnapping along I sixteen, setting
up a task force with the MPD. They analyze a
partial tire track near the necklace, matching a common goodyear tread,
(08:52):
but it's inconclusive. Cadaverdogs alert to assent in the Pionono
Avenue lot, but digging uncovers only debris investigation targets local
men with criminal histories. A drifter, William Bill Henry Carter
forty six, a former warehouse worker with a nineteen Psum
seventy four arrest for assault, becomes a suspect. Carter, matching
(09:15):
the Denham jacket man's description, was seen near Riverside Drive
that night. Questioned on May twentieth, he claims he was
at a bar in Forsyth, but his alibi lacks witnesses.
A search of his trailer finds a knife, a map
of bib County, and a pair of muddy boots, but
no link to the Rogers. He fails a polygraph sighting
stress but is released. Another suspect, James Jimmy Lee Thompson
(09:39):
thirty nine, a truck driver, was spotted near Gray Highway. Thompson,
with a nineteen seventy five arrest for theft, drives a
blue Ford pickup, but a search finds no evidence and
his alibi hauling freight is verified. A third lead points
to a transient Robert Bobby Earl Davis, known for loitering
(09:59):
near the Mai and mal Davis seen on Eisenhower Parkway,
provides no clear alibi. But is released. Theories about the
family's fate multiply, each shrouded in uncertainty. The primary hypothesis
is that they were abducted from the rest stop, possibly
assaulted and killed. The necklace, cap and bloodstains suggest a struggle,
(10:20):
with their bodies hidden, perhaps in the Ochmalgy River, a landfill,
or the Oconee National Forest forty miles away. A nineteen
seventy eight search of a bib County dump prompted by
a tip about suspicious bags, yields nothing. Another theory posits
a targeted attack by someone who knew their routine, possibly
a library patron or theater acquaintance. Susan's visibility as a
(10:44):
librarian made her recognizable, but no suspects emerge from her circles.
A third theory, fueled by Macon's role as a transportation hub,
suggests a trafficking ring, given reports of missing persons in Georgia.
A nineteen seventy seven FBI report notes trafficking activity in Atlanta,
but no evidence links the Rogers. A fourth theory speculates
(11:05):
they fled due to personal issues, but Susan's stable job
and the family's close ties dismiss this A fringe hypothesis
raised in a nineteen eighty Maken Telegraph article suggests a
connection to a cult, citing rumors of occult activity in
rural Georgia, but investigators find no evidence. The Rogers extended
family becomes relentless advocates. Robert, joined by Susan's sister Ellen,
(11:29):
coordinates searches, canvassing I sixteen rest stops and rural areas.
They distribute flyers at the Mac and Mall in Central
City Park, appearing on Unsolved Mysteries in America's Most Wanted,
sharing Susan's gardening journals, Lisa's flute, sheet music, and Michael's
baseball cards, offering a one hundred and fifty thousand dollars reward
by nineteen eighty. In nineteen seventy eight, they found the
(11:52):
Rogers Family Foundation, supporting missing persons cases and school safety programs.
The emotional toll is profound. Robert battle's depression. Ellen keeps
the Rogers home, intact with their belongings and their cousins
struggle with loss. Annual vigils at First Presbyterian Church draw hundreds,
lighting candles for Susan, Lisa, and Michael. The investigation sees
(12:15):
renewed efforts over the decades. In nineteen eighty five, detective
Sarah Mitchell reopens the case, reinterviewing Carter, Thompson and Davis. Carter,
now in jail for a nineteen eighty two robbery, denies
involvement but fails another polygraph. A nineteen ninety tip leads
to a search of the Achmulgy River after a boater
reports a submerged bag but divers fine debris. In two thousand,
(12:39):
the MPD uses DNA technology to retest the necklace's bloodstain,
confirming Lisa's type but yielding no new profiles. The cold
case unit, formed in nineteen ninety five, links the case
to other missing persons in Georgia, including a nineteen seventy
six case in Warner Robbins and a nineteen seventy eight
case in Augusta, suggesting a possible serial predator. The investigation
(13:02):
explores the theory of a regional killer operating along I sixteen,
analyzing patterns of abductions in the Southeast. Detailed interviews with
Diner staff reveal inconsistencies and timelines, prompting a two thousand
and five re canvas of riverside drive businesses, but no
new leads emerge. In twenty ten, a retired FBI profiler
(13:24):
suggests the crime mirrors the modus operandi of serial offenders
active in the nineteen and seventies, such as the Zodiac
Killer's suspected Southern travels, Though no direct link is established,
The case's psychological dimensions add complexity. Criminologists consulted by the
MPD suggests the perpetrator may have been a charismatic predator,
(13:45):
using familiarity to lure the family. As the parking lot
attendants account implies a non threatening interaction, the lack of
forced entry in the car suggests trust or coercion. The
accomplice theory, though unproven, aligns with patterns in nineteen seventies
abductions where groups exploited transient heavy areas like Macon's highways.
(14:07):
The MPD profiles potential suspects, focusing on men with histories
of predatory behavior, but the absence of forensic evidence hampers progress.
A twenty fifteen psychological analysis posits the perpetrator may have
targeted families to maximize control, a rare but documented trait
in serial offenders. The case reshapes Make in social and
(14:29):
legal landscape. The Making Coliseum and River Market install security cameras,
a rarity for nineteen seventies venues. Southwest High School mandates
safety escorts and curfews, reflecting a broader shift in George's
approach to child safety. The Rogers Foundation supports thirty missing
persons cases by twenty twenty five, funding searches, advocacy, and
(14:50):
scholarships in the famili's names for library, science, music, and
history students. Robert testifies before George's legislature in nineteen seventy nine,
ad vocating for a state missing Person's database, enacted in
nineteen eighty two, one of the South's earliest. The case
influences national policy, contributing to the nineteen eighty two Missing
(15:10):
Children Act and the nineteen ninety National Child Search Assistance Act.
Community groups established neighborhood watches and parents form safety committees,
reflecting a cultural shift toward heightened vigilance in the post
nineteen seventies era. Media coverage plays a pivotal role. Local
outlets like the Macon Telegraph published daily updates in nineteen
(15:32):
sent them seven with editorials calling for better policing and
rural patrols. National programs like forty eight Hours two thousand
and five, Dateline NBC twenty twelve, and The Vanished Podcast
twenty eighteen revisit the case, keeping it in the public eye.
(15:53):
The podcast, with ten million downloads by twenty twenty five,
explores the psychological impact on Macon, noting how the case
fueled urban legends about family abductions and heightened parental fears.
Online reddits r are Unsolved Mysteries and ex posts debate theories,
with users analyzing the serial killer hypothesis and comparing the
(16:16):
case to other Georgia disappearances, such as the nineteen seventy
six Atlanta child murders, though no direct links are confirmed.
A twenty twenty thread on x garnering fifteen thousand engagements
speculates about a make In based trafficking ring, but investigators
dismiss it for lack of evidence. Social media amplifies tips,
(16:37):
but most are dead ends, reflecting the challenge of sifting
through public speculation. Forensic advancements offer hope but fall short.
In twenty seventeen, the MPD partners with a private lab
to retest the necklace and cap using advanced DNA techniques,
but environmental exposure renders samples unusable. Ground penetrating radar used
(16:59):
in a twenty twenty one search of the Ocone National
Forest detects anomalies, but excavations reveal only animal remains. A
twenty twenty four tip about a body in a bib
County landfill prompts a search, but no human remains are found.
The MPD's Cold Case Unit, under Detective Laura Evans, continues
to pursue leads, collaborating with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit
(17:22):
to refine suspect profiles. Evans's twenty twenty four report notes
the case's complexity, citing the lack of bodies, Macon's transient population,
and the nineteen seventy's limited forensic capabilities as barriers. The
nineteen seventy's context adds layers to the investigation's challenges. Macon's
(17:42):
growth as a music and transportation hub attracted drifters, complicating
suspect tracking. The era's pre DNA forensic limitations relied heavily
on witness accounts, which faded over time. Socioeconomic dynamics in
Macon shaped the case's early handling. Vine Bill's middle class
status drew intense media focus, but some critics in a
(18:04):
twenty twenty Macon Telegraph op ed argued similar cases in
underserved areas received less attention. The Vanished podcast explores the
psychological impact on Macon, noting how the case fueled distrust
in public spaces and reshaped community interactions. The Rogers relatives
remained steadfast. Ellen organizes annual searches combing rural Georgia with volunteers. Robert,
(18:28):
now in his seventies, maintains a scrap book of the
family's photos, Susan's gardening journals, Lisa's poems, and Michael's baseball cards.
The foundation funds scholarships and safety programs supporting Macon's youth.
Community support remained strong, with Macon's Cherry Blossom Festival dedicating
a float to the Rogers since nineteen seventy eight. A
(18:51):
twenty twenty five vigil at First Presbyterian Church draws seven
hundred attendees, Reflecting the cases enduring grip. The proof fliss
nature lies in the unknowns. Who took Susan, Lisa and Michael.
Was it a loan predator, a group or a trafficking ring?
Are their bodies in the river forest or beyond. Robert
(19:11):
tells the Macon Telegraph in twenty twenty five, our family
is out there waiting for us. The relatives keep Susan's books,
Lisa's flute, and Michael's artifacts a testament to a truth
still elusive. That's all for the thirty fifth episode of Proofless.
The Rogers family's disappearance is a tragedy that shook a
music city and reshaped community safety. If you have information,
(19:34):
contact the Macon Police Department or visit Rogersfamilyfoundation dot org.
Share your thoughts on our website or social media, and
join us next time for another journey into the unknown.
Until then, keep searching for answers.
Welcome to the thirty fifth episode of Proofless, where we
dive into the heart of America's unsolved mysteries, cases that
linger in the shadows, challenging investigators and leaving communities with
questions that reverberate across generations. I'm your host, Anna Burger,
and today we're traveling to a historic Georgia city in
the late nineteen seventies, where the disappearance of a mother
(00:39):
and her two teenage children shattered a community's sense of
security and sparked a search that has endured for nearly
half a century. We're exploring the nineteen seventy seven disappearance
of Susan Murray Rogers, age thirty eight, her daughter Lisa
Murray Rogers, age sixteen, and her son Michael David Rogers,
age fourteen, from Macon, Georgia, who vanished after a family outing,
(01:02):
leaving behind a trail of fragmented clues and a case
that remains proofless due to the absence of their bodies
and unanswered questions about their fate. This is a story
of a devoted family, a fleeting moment that changed everything,
and a community's unyielding quest for the truth. So settle
in for an exhaustive journey into a mystery that continues
(01:23):
to haunt and compel. Let's set the scene. It's May
nineteen seventy seven in Macon, Georgia, a vibrant city of
about one one hundred and twenty thousand people in Bibb County,
known for its rich musical heritage as the birthplace of
legends like Otis Redding and the Alman Brothers band. Nestled
along the Aucamelgee River, Macon is a blend of Southern
(01:45):
charm and industrial grit, with its antebellum homes, bustling downtown,
and cotton warehouses. The Vineville Neighborhood, a middle class enclave
of bungalows and oak lined streets, is a place where
families gather for church potlucks, kids bike to school, and
neighbors share front porch conversations. The Make and Mall, a
(02:06):
modern shopping center on Eisenhower Parkway, is a teen hot
spot with its record stores, arcade, and movie theater. Susan
Marie Rodgers thirty eight, a single mother, raises her children,
Lisa and Michael, in a cozy one story home on
Vineville Avenue. Susan born July twelfth, nineteen thirty eight to
a local farming family. Is a resilient woman with short
(02:29):
brown hair, hazel eyes, and a five five frame, known
for her warm smile, her work as a librarian at
the Washington Memorial Library, and her passion for gardening. Lisa
born March third, nineteen sixty one, with long blonde hair,
blue eyes, and a five three frame is a junior
at Southwest High School, a talented flutist and an aspiring
(02:50):
music teacher who dreams of attending the University of Georgia.
Michael born June twentieth, nineteen sixty two, with brown hair,
brown eyes and a lanky five seven frame is a freshman,
a baseball player with a knack for history, and hopes
to become a museum curator. The Rogers family is a
cornerstone of Vineville, Susan, widowed since her husband David, a
(03:13):
truck driver, died in a nineteen seventy three accident, raises
her children with love and structure, balancing her librarian job
with volunteering at the Ochmalgy National Monument, where she leads tours. Lisa,
nicknamed Lulu by Michael, is outgoing, often seen practicing her
flute in the backyard or writing poetry for the school
(03:34):
literary magazine. Michael, reserved but curious, is a pitcher on
the school baseball team, collects Civil War artifacts, and spends
hours reading history books. The family attends First Presbyterian Church,
where Susan teaches Sunday School, and their home is a
hub for neighbors, with Lisa's friends playing records by James Taylor,
and Michael hosting teammates for pizza knights. Susan is protective,
(03:58):
enforcing a nine pm curfew, but encourages her children's ambitions.
In May nineteen seventy seven, as summer approaches, the Rogers
are planning a family trip to Savannah to explore its
historic sites, a treat for Michael's history passion and Lisa's
love of coastal scenery. On the evening of May fourteenth,
(04:18):
nineteen seventy seven, Macon is warm and humid, with temperatures
in the high seventies and a gentle breeze from the
Okmulgy River. Susan, Lisa, and Michael plan to attend a
free concert at the Macon Coliseum, a community event featuring
local bands, followed by dinner at a nearby diner on
Riverside Drive. Susan, dressed in a floral blouse, khaki skirt
(04:41):
and sandals, carries her purse with her wallet, keys, and
a library book. Lisa, in a blue sun dress, white
sneakers and a silver necklace, brings her journal to sketch
during the concert. Michael, in a green T shirt, jeans,
and baseball cap, carries a small backpack with his history notebook.
They leave home around five thirty p m in Susan's
(05:03):
nineteen seventy four Chevy I Paula, with Susan driving. A neighbor,
mister Thompson, sees them pulling out of their driveway, waving
as they head toward downtown. At six p m, a
concert volunteer confirms seeing the trio at the coliseum, enjoying
the music near the stage. Around seven thirty p m,
a diner waitress on Riverside Drive serves them fried chicken
(05:25):
and milkshakes, noting they seem cheerful. A final witness, a
parking lot attendant, reports seeing three people resembling the Rogers
near the diner's lot at eight fifteen p m, standing
by a dark blue pickup truck with a man described
as forty to fifty years old five ten with short
graying hair, a mustache, and a denim jacket, but dim
(05:47):
lighting obscures details. This is the last confirmed sighting of Susan, Lisa,
and Michael Rogers. When the family doesn't return by ten
p m. Susan's brother, Robert, who lives in Warner Robbins,
calls friends in the coliseum. Finding no trace. At eleven
p m. Robert reports them missing to the Macon Police
Department MPD. The next morning, May fifteenth, a jogger finds
(06:13):
Susan's Chevy and Paula parked at a rest stop off
Interstate sixteen, eight miles from downtown, locked with no signs
of a struggle. Inside. Police find Susan's purse containing her
wallet and keys, Lisa's journal, and Michael's backpack. Volunteers, neighbors,
church members, and students from Southwest high search downtown, Riverside
(06:36):
Drive and the Eckmulgy River banks while divers check the river.
On May sixteenth, a hiker finds Lisa's necklace pendant broken
in a ditch off Gray Highway, four miles from the
rest stop. The necklace identified by Robert is sent for analysis,
revealing a small blood stain later confirmed as Lisa's O
positive type, but insufficient for DNA profiling. In nineteen seventy seven,
(07:00):
on May seventeenth, a dog walker finds Michael's baseball cap
in a wooded lot off po No Avenue, five miles away.
The fines escalate the case to a suspected triple abduction,
and the MPD sets up a command post at the
Bibb County court House. The investigation zeros in on the
family's last movements. The waitress's seven thirty p m sighting
(07:22):
confirms they left the diner, likely heading to their car.
The parking lot attendant's account narrows the window to eight
fifteen to nine p m. The man in the denim
jacket becomes a focal point, with a sketch release depicting
a rugged man with glasses. A second witness, a gas
station clerk near Gray Highway, reports seeing a woman resembling
Susan around eight thirty p m standing near a blue
(07:45):
pickup truck with a man matching the description, but no
license plate was noted. A third witness, a trucker, saw
a boy resembling Michael near poon No Avenue at nine
p m. Walking with a man, but the sighting is
unconfirmed due to distance. The mpd D interviews concert staff
and diner patrons, finding no conflicts. Robert provides photos Susan
(08:06):
at the library, Lisa with her flute, Michael and his
baseball uniform, offering a five thousand dollars reward, later raised
to one hundred thousand with donations from the library and
local businesses. The case grips Macon, dominating the Macon Telegraph
and WMAZ TV. The Rogers Extended Family appears on Good
Morning America and The MERV Griffin Show, sparking national coverage
(08:29):
on ABC Nightly News. Tips fled in a motel clerk
reports seeing a family in Dublin, Georgia. A fisherman claims
the sighting in Savannah. None are verified. The FBI joins,
given the possibility of interstate kidnapping along I sixteen, setting
up a task force with the MPD. They analyze a
partial tire track near the necklace, matching a common goodyear tread,
(08:52):
but it's inconclusive. Cadaverdogs alert to assent in the Pionono
Avenue lot, but digging uncovers only debris investigation targets local
men with criminal histories. A drifter, William Bill Henry Carter
forty six, a former warehouse worker with a nineteen Psum
seventy four arrest for assault, becomes a suspect. Carter, matching
(09:15):
the Denham jacket man's description, was seen near Riverside Drive
that night. Questioned on May twentieth, he claims he was
at a bar in Forsyth, but his alibi lacks witnesses.
A search of his trailer finds a knife, a map
of bib County, and a pair of muddy boots, but
no link to the Rogers. He fails a polygraph sighting
stress but is released. Another suspect, James Jimmy Lee Thompson
(09:39):
thirty nine, a truck driver, was spotted near Gray Highway. Thompson,
with a nineteen seventy five arrest for theft, drives a
blue Ford pickup, but a search finds no evidence and
his alibi hauling freight is verified. A third lead points
to a transient Robert Bobby Earl Davis, known for loitering
(09:59):
near the Mai and mal Davis seen on Eisenhower Parkway,
provides no clear alibi. But is released. Theories about the
family's fate multiply, each shrouded in uncertainty. The primary hypothesis
is that they were abducted from the rest stop, possibly
assaulted and killed. The necklace, cap and bloodstains suggest a struggle,
(10:20):
with their bodies hidden, perhaps in the Ochmalgy River, a landfill,
or the Oconee National Forest forty miles away. A nineteen
seventy eight search of a bib County dump prompted by
a tip about suspicious bags, yields nothing. Another theory posits
a targeted attack by someone who knew their routine, possibly
a library patron or theater acquaintance. Susan's visibility as a
(10:44):
librarian made her recognizable, but no suspects emerge from her circles.
A third theory, fueled by Macon's role as a transportation hub,
suggests a trafficking ring, given reports of missing persons in Georgia.
A nineteen seventy seven FBI report notes trafficking activity in Atlanta,
but no evidence links the Rogers. A fourth theory speculates
(11:05):
they fled due to personal issues, but Susan's stable job
and the family's close ties dismiss this A fringe hypothesis
raised in a nineteen eighty Maken Telegraph article suggests a
connection to a cult, citing rumors of occult activity in
rural Georgia, but investigators find no evidence. The Rogers extended
family becomes relentless advocates. Robert, joined by Susan's sister Ellen,
(11:29):
coordinates searches, canvassing I sixteen rest stops and rural areas.
They distribute flyers at the Mac and Mall in Central
City Park, appearing on Unsolved Mysteries in America's Most Wanted,
sharing Susan's gardening journals, Lisa's flute, sheet music, and Michael's
baseball cards, offering a one hundred and fifty thousand dollars reward
by nineteen eighty. In nineteen seventy eight, they found the
(11:52):
Rogers Family Foundation, supporting missing persons cases and school safety programs.
The emotional toll is profound. Robert battle's depression. Ellen keeps
the Rogers home, intact with their belongings and their cousins
struggle with loss. Annual vigils at First Presbyterian Church draw hundreds,
lighting candles for Susan, Lisa, and Michael. The investigation sees
(12:15):
renewed efforts over the decades. In nineteen eighty five, detective
Sarah Mitchell reopens the case, reinterviewing Carter, Thompson and Davis. Carter,
now in jail for a nineteen eighty two robbery, denies
involvement but fails another polygraph. A nineteen ninety tip leads
to a search of the Achmulgy River after a boater
reports a submerged bag but divers fine debris. In two thousand,
(12:39):
the MPD uses DNA technology to retest the necklace's bloodstain,
confirming Lisa's type but yielding no new profiles. The cold
case unit, formed in nineteen ninety five, links the case
to other missing persons in Georgia, including a nineteen seventy
six case in Warner Robbins and a nineteen seventy eight
case in Augusta, suggesting a possible serial predator. The investigation
(13:02):
explores the theory of a regional killer operating along I sixteen,
analyzing patterns of abductions in the Southeast. Detailed interviews with
Diner staff reveal inconsistencies and timelines, prompting a two thousand
and five re canvas of riverside drive businesses, but no
new leads emerge. In twenty ten, a retired FBI profiler
(13:24):
suggests the crime mirrors the modus operandi of serial offenders
active in the nineteen and seventies, such as the Zodiac
Killer's suspected Southern travels, Though no direct link is established,
The case's psychological dimensions add complexity. Criminologists consulted by the
MPD suggests the perpetrator may have been a charismatic predator,
(13:45):
using familiarity to lure the family. As the parking lot
attendants account implies a non threatening interaction, the lack of
forced entry in the car suggests trust or coercion. The
accomplice theory, though unproven, aligns with patterns in nineteen seventies
abductions where groups exploited transient heavy areas like Macon's highways.
(14:07):
The MPD profiles potential suspects, focusing on men with histories
of predatory behavior, but the absence of forensic evidence hampers progress.
A twenty fifteen psychological analysis posits the perpetrator may have
targeted families to maximize control, a rare but documented trait
in serial offenders. The case reshapes Make in social and
(14:29):
legal landscape. The Making Coliseum and River Market install security cameras,
a rarity for nineteen seventies venues. Southwest High School mandates
safety escorts and curfews, reflecting a broader shift in George's
approach to child safety. The Rogers Foundation supports thirty missing
persons cases by twenty twenty five, funding searches, advocacy, and
(14:50):
scholarships in the famili's names for library, science, music, and
history students. Robert testifies before George's legislature in nineteen seventy nine,
ad vocating for a state missing Person's database, enacted in
nineteen eighty two, one of the South's earliest. The case
influences national policy, contributing to the nineteen eighty two Missing
(15:10):
Children Act and the nineteen ninety National Child Search Assistance Act.
Community groups established neighborhood watches and parents form safety committees,
reflecting a cultural shift toward heightened vigilance in the post
nineteen seventies era. Media coverage plays a pivotal role. Local
outlets like the Macon Telegraph published daily updates in nineteen
(15:32):
sent them seven with editorials calling for better policing and
rural patrols. National programs like forty eight Hours two thousand
and five, Dateline NBC twenty twelve, and The Vanished Podcast
twenty eighteen revisit the case, keeping it in the public eye.
(15:53):
The podcast, with ten million downloads by twenty twenty five,
explores the psychological impact on Macon, noting how the case
fueled urban legends about family abductions and heightened parental fears.
Online reddits r are Unsolved Mysteries and ex posts debate theories,
with users analyzing the serial killer hypothesis and comparing the
(16:16):
case to other Georgia disappearances, such as the nineteen seventy
six Atlanta child murders, though no direct links are confirmed.
A twenty twenty thread on x garnering fifteen thousand engagements
speculates about a make In based trafficking ring, but investigators
dismiss it for lack of evidence. Social media amplifies tips,
(16:37):
but most are dead ends, reflecting the challenge of sifting
through public speculation. Forensic advancements offer hope but fall short.
In twenty seventeen, the MPD partners with a private lab
to retest the necklace and cap using advanced DNA techniques,
but environmental exposure renders samples unusable. Ground penetrating radar used
(16:59):
in a twenty twenty one search of the Ocone National
Forest detects anomalies, but excavations reveal only animal remains. A
twenty twenty four tip about a body in a bib
County landfill prompts a search, but no human remains are found.
The MPD's Cold Case Unit, under Detective Laura Evans, continues
to pursue leads, collaborating with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit
(17:22):
to refine suspect profiles. Evans's twenty twenty four report notes
the case's complexity, citing the lack of bodies, Macon's transient population,
and the nineteen seventy's limited forensic capabilities as barriers. The
nineteen seventy's context adds layers to the investigation's challenges. Macon's
(17:42):
growth as a music and transportation hub attracted drifters, complicating
suspect tracking. The era's pre DNA forensic limitations relied heavily
on witness accounts, which faded over time. Socioeconomic dynamics in
Macon shaped the case's early handling. Vine Bill's middle class
status drew intense media focus, but some critics in a
(18:04):
twenty twenty Macon Telegraph op ed argued similar cases in
underserved areas received less attention. The Vanished podcast explores the
psychological impact on Macon, noting how the case fueled distrust
in public spaces and reshaped community interactions. The Rogers relatives
remained steadfast. Ellen organizes annual searches combing rural Georgia with volunteers. Robert,
(18:28):
now in his seventies, maintains a scrap book of the
family's photos, Susan's gardening journals, Lisa's poems, and Michael's baseball cards.
The foundation funds scholarships and safety programs supporting Macon's youth.
Community support remained strong, with Macon's Cherry Blossom Festival dedicating
a float to the Rogers since nineteen seventy eight. A
(18:51):
twenty twenty five vigil at First Presbyterian Church draws seven
hundred attendees, Reflecting the cases enduring grip. The proof fliss
nature lies in the unknowns. Who took Susan, Lisa and Michael.
Was it a loan predator, a group or a trafficking ring?
Are their bodies in the river forest or beyond. Robert
(19:11):
tells the Macon Telegraph in twenty twenty five, our family
is out there waiting for us. The relatives keep Susan's books,
Lisa's flute, and Michael's artifacts a testament to a truth
still elusive. That's all for the thirty fifth episode of Proofless.
The Rogers family's disappearance is a tragedy that shook a
music city and reshaped community safety. If you have information,
(19:34):
contact the Macon Police Department or visit Rogersfamilyfoundation dot org.
Share your thoughts on our website or social media, and
join us next time for another journey into the unknown.
Until then, keep searching for answers.
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