Happy holidays everyone. Can you believe twenty twenty is almost over? Thank goodness?
Am I right? To say this year has been wild is an extreme
understatement, but let's not dwell on that. Instead, let's go back to
a simpler time like twenty twelve to twenty fifteen aka Skylar's college years. Now,
those who know me will already know that I loved college and my college
town. I finally had the freedom to be who I wanted to be,
learn what I wanted to learn, and eat what I wanted to eat,
and then work it off at the gym after regretting those extra fifteen pounds.
As much as I loved being away from my hometown, oh sorry, home
suburb, as I've been corrected in the past, it was nice to be
home again for a bit in my own bed and visit with my family.
When I bought my first car my sophomore year, I finally didn't have to
rely on anyone else picking me up. The hour and a halfish drive home
could get lonely, though, after belting the same five songs on the radio
and getting board carrying on pointless conversations with myself, I took to reading billboards
as I passed them. One of my favorites was there's no excuse for elder
abuse. Though an absolutely true statement, the piss poor photoshop job took away
from the whole meaning I can still see the woman with her wild gray perm
and black eye that looked like someone threw a blueberry at her face, and
her missing teeth that were clearly created with black sharpie marker. Again, I
agree we shouldn't abuse anyone, but definitely abuse your bank account to learn better
photoshop and or makeup skills. When I saw that billboard, though I knew
I was closer to home than campus, and it was a good sign unintended.
Another personal favorite billboard of mine dates back to nineteen ninety six when I
was just three years old. It was in Columbus, Ohio, by a
bowling alley and this Mexican restaurant we frequented. Having not been able to read
at the time, I have absolutely no idea what this billboard was for,
but I remember it was of a wealthy older man holding a cigar and looking
at this smiling, blonde, busty woman out of the blue, I said
loud and clear to my family, Yeah means looking at her in saying oooh
sexy, as if I'd been speaking that way my whole life. My sisters
giggled and my parents were confused as to how I knew that word, and
I believe my response to them was something along the lines of, I don't
know, but that's what he's thinking, right, I'd say, you're right,
Skyler. One of these billboards was depressing and the other sexual. I'll
let you decide which was which, but both caught the eye. The billboard
that takes the cake, however, belongs to Fayetteville, West Virginia. Welcome
to Deadtime Stories. Christmas Eve is usually a memorable day for people because of
all the excitement in the air. In Fayetteville, Christmas Eve nineteen forty five
is perhaps one of the most memorable ones. It was very frigid that night,
and I don't picture there being any snow on the ground. This night
would be too wicked for there to be something as nice as snow. Jenny
Sawder found herself restless as her husband George slept soundly. Her oldest son,
Joe, had just served in World War Two, so that may have been
weighing heavily on her mind. It could have also been the strange and somewhat
scary noises that kept away making her up. This time about one thirty.
She wanted to be able to get back to sleep. Her face scrunched up
as she sniffed the air, and then, oh goodness, George, George,
wake up, my small smoke. Jenny leapt out of bed and ran
to the next room. This was her husband's office and where they kept the
phone. We have to get out, boys, come down. Jenny frantically
screamed up the stairs, where she assumed her eight children were sleeping, before
running back into her bedroom, where the ninth child, baby Sylvia, was
waking up. Confused by the commotion. Out hurt, complain about it later,
and get out, dumb, dumb. Oh goodness, son, your
hair is burning. Come on now, get outside, Seohan. What about
the other I ran into the rooms and told him to get up. Oh
what's going on? Papa? A good grief? Marian? Did you fall
asleep on the couch? Yes, sir, Sorry, did I do something?
Come on, dear, get out of the house. No time for
idle chat. Where are the other kids? George sought. He turned back
to the staircase, which he now saw to his horror was completely a light.
He sprinted outside in his bare feet, grabbed a bucket and tried to
get water out of a rain barrels frozen solid. He looked up at the
second story, then over to the few family members who had escaped Marian.
Run to the neighbors and call the fire department. John helped me get up
to that window. The twenty three year old John looked at his father in
shock. You can't climb that wall, Dad, Well, I can give
it a damn good try, George grunted as he scaled the house like a
ninja. He reached the children's window, and, with the strength of a
desperate Papa Bear, smashed through the glass with his fist. He ignored the
blood slowly starting to ooze from his injuries, and peered through the smoke.
Don't worry, kids, we'll get you out. But how what about the
ladder? Dad? Good idea son. George ran to the side of the
house where he always kept his trusty ladder, but to his surprise, it
was missing. Who has seen my ladder? It was there earlier, Dad,
We put it back after our chores and never mind, will use the
pickups? They could jump into my arms. George and his sons quickly made
their way to George's two trucks, which he used to haul cole for his
business. They worked yesterday. What's going on here? A frustrated George ran
back over to his huddled, shivering family. Were you at least able to
reach the fire department? No, Papa, Missus Smith wasn't able to wake
up the operator, so she's running into town, she said. It must
have been because someone's using their party line. Yet another reason why I will
never understand why our forefathers thought a party line was a good idea. Worn
out and unable to do anything else but wait for the fire department to arrive,
George and Jenny huddled with John, George Junior, Marian and Sylvia,
trying not to wail too loudly as five year old Betty, eight year old
Jenny, nine year old Lewis, twelve year old Martha, and fourteen year
old Maurice perished in the home as the ten roof collapsed under the flames,
child oh fanshoderm sweeping Pace sevenven. After forty five minutes, nothing was left
but a pile of ash and what was once the family's basement Finally, at
eight that morning, Fire Chief F. J. Morris showed up with his
crew. Where the hell were you? Chief? The station's only two and
a half miles away, for heaven's sake. We oh, sure, George,
but uh, I can't exactly drive the truck, so we had to
wait for a guy who could. I was a little surprised by this at
first, but you also have to remember that in a small town in nineteen
forty five, there was no solid alert system, and essentially you had to
call a guy who'd call a guy who'd call a guy until the crew was
assembled. We'll take a dig and see what we can find. George,
your wife and kids should probably not stay too close in case we find The
Chief couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence and turned back to his crew.
George paced impatiently as they dug through the ashes, and then at ten,
Chief Morris rubbed the back of his head as he walked back up to George.
Well are they It's the strangest thing. There's absolutely nothing there. A
few animal bones and some appliances, but no sign of your children. Do
you think they ran out a different door and got scared? I don't know,
Dad. I screamed upstairs for them to get up. Then George and
I skittered out because we were catching fire. A fire couldn't totally destroy their
bones, though, could it. Chief Morris don't know my sawder, but
let's it's Christmas Day and my fellows are exhausted. We'll contact the fire marshal
and have him do more thorough search. Until then leave the sight beat.
George nodded, but after staring at the depressing spot for four days, Bulldos
dirt over it so his wife could plant a memorial garden for their lost children.
A corner's jury determined the children perish and of fire caused by faulty wiring,
and on December thirtieth, nineteen forty five, five death certificates were issued.
Joyful Typh Saughderhouse Rules was written and narrated by me Skyler Fast Now just
kidding. This is the original Dead Time stories where our episodes are never that
straightforward. God God married gentlemen, dimber christ Christmas Day, that spray after
the ground had thawed, Jenny, clad in a black dress for morning,
tearfully planted flowers where her children had died. Here the rest of the flowers
Mama. This color was was Betty's favorite. Thank you, Marian. I
also took this away from Sylvia. I wasn't sure where she found such a
strange rubber ball. Marian handed the dark green ball to her mother, who
examined it with surprise. George, come here, yes, darling, what
does this look like to you? Marian? Where did you find this?
Sylvia pulled it out of some brush? Why? What is it? I
might be wrong, but this looks like a pineapple grenade to me, Marian.
Go watch your sister, please. George, do you think the fire
truly was faulty wiring. I've been suspicious of arson for a while. We
just had an electrician check out our wiring when we install the new electric stove.
He said, everything was fine, and the Christmas lights were still on
as the fire was burning. That wouldn't happen if the electricity was out,
it certainly wouldn't. Let's think back now what happened that night? Falla La
La La. In October nineteen forty five, two months before the fire,
George and Jenny were enjoying a quiet afternoon. As George read the paper,
there was a knock on the door. Good afternoon, Sir, my name
is Michael Witherbee. Have you ever considered life insurance? Why? With our
policies you could, sorry, sir, but we're not interested. I have
no need for life insurance. The man's demeanor did a one eighty as a
shadow grew over his face. Are you sure about that? Mister Sada?
You should really consider a good insurance policy. Your goddamn house is going up
and smoke and your children are going to be destroyed. You're gonna be paid
for the dirty remarks you've been making about moose Clini. Yes, you have
a good day too, sir. Who was that? He sounded angry?
Just some cock eyed insurance man, George. What did he say about Mussolini?
Have you been shouting about him in town again? No? More than
usual. That man was pure evil, and I don't want to be around
people who supported such a monster. They need to recognize he was executed for
good reasons. I know, dear, but just be careful about what you
say in town, please, Jenny, we live in an Italian neighborhood.
That doesn't mean everyone here is part of the Sicilian mafia Falla la la.
Not very long after this strange encounter, a man seeking work showed up at
George's home. George, I should mention, immigrated from Italy in nineteen o
eight, when he was just thirteen years old. He never talked about why
he chose to leave Italy and instead focused on growing a business. He delivers
applies to railroad workers in Pennsylvania before becoming a driver in Smithers, West Virginia.
Here he eventually started his very own truckey company hauling coal for miners.
Hello are you George Sodder? Yes, sir, May I help you?
I wanted some career advice. Can we take a walk? Yes, sir,
I've been seeking work for a while now, mister Sodder, and I
hear you run one of the best businesses in town. I'm glad that's what
people say about me when I'm not around. Ah. You seem like an
honest man, so let me be honest too. Unfortunately, I can't hire
anyone right now. I understand. The two men stood in the chilly air
in an awkward silence. The job seekers I have shifted around and landed on
two fuse boxes. You should be careful about those though, cause a fire
someday. Anyway, Thank you for speaking to me, mister Sodder, have
a blessed day. The man walked off with his hand shoved deep into his
pockets as George shook his head in confusion. You'll remember that the wiring had
just been redone and the electric company said that they were safella. Oh,
it is absolutely frigid out there. Welcome home, Marian. How's the old
dime store? Mister Jones let us close early today, and I was able
to save up enough money to now the children. What do we say to
Marian? May you're all very welcome. I've been saving since August. Mother,
you're a good girl, Marian. Now go wash up supper away,
George Junior John, did you finish feeding the chickens? Yes, Mother cows
her away. Chickens are fed, and I am going straight to sleep,
like father, like son. Don't forget to wash up, mommy. M
hmm. May we stay up, lady to play with the toys Marrying gave
us. I suppose tomorrow is a holiday, so as long as Maurice and
Lewis stay up, you may too, Marian. I'm going to put Sylvia
down and go to sleep myself. Can you watch them? Of course?
Mother? Good night, good night, dear Merry Christmas. What who would
call it half past mid night? Oh? Hi, yes, there's no
alonzo here. Miss, you have the wrong number, said I although this
time of night. As Jenny made her way back to bed, she realized
the lights were still on. Look now, who oh, Marian, The
poor thing worked so hard. She pulled a blanket over her daughter, who
had fallen asleep on the couch. Children, you left the curtains open and
the door unlocked. Anyone could march right inside with the curtains drawn and the
door secured. Jenny marched back to bed and fell asleep. About thirty minutes
later, at one, Jenny was startled awake again by what sounded like an
object hitting the roof and rolling off. She sat in silence to see if
anything followed. Believing the coast was clear, Jenny fell back asleep. Thirty
minutes later, the house was in flames. That rolling object do you think
it was this grenade? George, I'm scared. I don't think this fire
was an accident. Someone wanted to hurt us, And debatement was I'll wash
the dinner dishes, mother one minute, Dear hand me that chicken bone,
please, well gross it was in John's mouth. Thank you, mother,
Why are you putting bones in the stove fire? Well? Chief Morris said
the fire could have destroyed the bones. But I read about another fire where
the whole family perished. They found the bones, the skeletons of each of
them, and their fire burn longer. Mother, and a man at the
creamatory said, bones remain even after burning at two thousand degrees for two hours.
Our home didn't burn that hot and certainly not that long. And you
want to see if the stove fire will destroy these bones, Yes, dear,
I've tried several times, but they never disintegrate. Well, be careful,
mother, don't burn yourself more dishes, Marian, Thanks, make sure
to give the bones to mother. Oh no, is she burning them again?
I'm afraid? So do you think they really were kidnapped? I don't
know. I want the others to be alive, But man, POP need
to accept what Chief Morris said. They perished, and that's that. I
don't know. It's a little odd. Daddy's ladder was so far away,
seventy five feet to be exact, in that ravine. Who put it there?
I don't know, Marian, But these dishes are heavy are you going
to take them or what? Oh? Sorry, evening Sotters. Hi,
daddy, mother's keeping your dinner warm? Hello, dear more bone burning?
Yes? And still nothing? How did things go on court? They're not
following up. Can you believe that neighbors saw a man stealing my block and
tackle and they don't care. He even admitted to cutting the phone lines the
night of the fire, but they're still saying arson wasn't the cause he cut
the phone line, Yes, said he thought he was cutting the power lines.
But why anyone would climb up a fourteen foot pole to cut any line
is beyond me. Praise the Lord. He didn't cut the power we never
would have gotten out of the fire. Yes, but why was he stealing
my block and tackle to begin with? Did he use it to take the
engines out of my truck so we couldn't get help? It's all suspicious to
say George Sotter became obsessive over the arson. I possible kidnapping would be a
gross understatement after learning his older son's witnessed a car park to the side of
the highway with occupants staring down his children. In the week leading up to
the fire, George became convinced that someone had planned to kidnap the children.
Both him and Jenny heard too many rumors about that night to settle with the
official story. A bus driver claimed he saw someone throwing fireballs at the roof
as he drove by. One woman was sure she saw some of the younger
Sawder children peering out at her from a car window as the fire burned,
and another woman working at a rest stop swore she served the children breakfast on
Christmas morning. The Sawders needed a private investigator, because obviously the fire department
wasn't going to be very helpful. P i CC Tinsley agreed to help out.
Thank you for getting back to us so quickly, mister Tinsley. Please
tell me you have good news. I certainly found some interesting news and even
stranger gossip. You remember the insurance man you told me about. Of course,
we can never forget his threats against the family. Huh Yeah, Well,
it turns out he was part of the coroner's jury which determined faulty wiring
caused the death of your children. I'll cover up. Yeah, possibly,
but I can't confirm. A minister also told me Chief Morris confessed to finding
a heart in the ashes. But why on earth would he not tell us
that? Couldn't say for sure, but he's agreed to take you and me
to the spot he buried it tomorrow. There it is still in the metal
box I security in. That's all heart. Yes, I believe so.
I was too afraid to tell you didn't want to upset the wife. Then
our children did perish. We'll take this for further examination. We did a
thorough test, mister Sawder. What you have here is our raw liver?
What? Chief Morris shuffled his feet nervously as he stared at the linoleum floor.
Okay, I confess I bought the liver and placed it there, hoping
you'd find it and get closure. That's a terrible thing to do, Chief.
My children are out there somewhere and you're delaying us. George, What
makes you so sure they're alive. They could have been shown a picture of
the burned house and told everyone was killed. In any case, we would
certainly know them if they ever came around. The younger ones might not know
us, but we would know them anywhere. The Otter case was beginning to
gain national attention, so in nineteen fifty the West Virginia Legislature held two hearings
to discuss it. Governor Okiel Patterson and State Police Superintendent W. E.
Burschett closed the case at the state level, though saying that it was hopeless.
The FBI wanted to take over the case after citing interstate kidnapping, but
with no solid leads in two years, they too dropped it. Sodder family
refused to give up, however, they passed out flyers operating five thousand dollar
reward for any info that led to closing the case, which eventually became a
ten thousand dollar reward and a whole billboard with their children's faces along Route sixteen.
Another false lead, Yes, ma'am, a woman in Saint Louis said
Martha was in a convent, but it wasn't her. George looked into all
kinds of leads like this, from bar patrons in Texas over hearing someone talking
about starting a fire on Christmas, even West Virginia, to a hotel manager
believing she saw the children check in with an Italian family a week after the
fire. There were no shortage of Sodder sightings, and George followed up on
every single one. Some say he spent nearly fifteen thousand of his own dollars
checking in on these leads, and none of them gave him the answer he
wanted. Even j Edgar Hoover replied to their request for his help, but
unfortunately he said this was something for local authorities and not him. Well,
I received something interesting today. Look at this letter. Oh my goodness,
is that read the back Louis Soder I love brother Frankie, I little boys
A nine zero, one, three, two or thirty five. That certainly
looks like Louis. He's a man now. It was postmarked Central City,
Kentucky, but there wasn't a return address. Let's hire another investigator to look
into it. I already spoke with a printer and they're making two enlarged copies
of the photograph. We can put one on the billboard and the other over
the mantel. I think we found at least one this time. Yes,
I believe you're right. Unfortunately, they still want to receive answers. The
investigators sent to find who mailed them the photograph disappeared himself, and a year
later George passed away. Jenny continued what her and her husband had started teaching
her children to never give up the search. She passed away twenty years later
in nineteen eighty nine, and shortly after the billboard came down, her surviving
children did continue to believe their siblings were alive somewhere. Today, Baby Sylvia
is the only child still alive and the fire is her earliest memory. She
recalled staying up for hours with her father discussing what might have happened. Her
kin have kept the story alive, just like her parents did. As for
me, I constantly go back and forth about what actually happened that Christmas Eve.
It is strange that no bones were found and the children didn't run to
the sound of their father's voice as he tried to rescue them. Then again,
fire experts today have said that it's not uncommon for children to hide during
a fire, and the search of the property probably wasn't thorough enough. Do
I find it odd the insurance salesman predicted what would happen to George's family if
they didn't buy insurance. Yes. Do I also think this could have been
a scare tactic to get George to buy the insurance. Yes, Regardless of
if it was an accident kidnapping plan Darson or something else entirely. The story
of the Solder Children will forever be a tragic mystery. Come many hold him
born, King Ofnngels. Oh come let us do him. Oh, Come
let us do him. Oh come let us do Solder House Rules was written
and narrated by me Skyler Faston now An executive produced by Daniel Jones. Voice
talent was provided by Jeanette Zosh, Vince Perez, Matt Mcnellye, Jordan Catcher,
Marissapa, Stone Walker Barnes, Alan, Anthony Morion, Jeremy Staple,
Tamra Perry, and to Daniel Jones. Our Christmas music interludes were performed by
Vince Perez, Jordan Catcher and Jeanette Zosh, and our theme music was performed
by Tracy Zals. Thank you as always for joining us for our mid season
finale. If you want to learn more about the Souder Children and hear stories
that we just didn't have time to cover today, make sure to join our
Patreon, where I will share more rumors and dead ends that George investigated.
It's available exclusively to our Patreon followers, so make sure to check that out.
You can also follow, comment and share your thoughts about what happened to
the Souder Children on our Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok accounts by
searching for the original Deadtime stories or clicking the links in the episode description,
whether it's through a virtual holiday get together or COVID Safe Traveling, we hear
at the podcast want to wish you a very happy holidays. We will be
back in January twenty twenty one with a brand new episode for you to enjoy
until then. Hey, guys, it's so I wish you happy holidays and
a much better twenty twenty one. This is Vince Perez, Happy holidays and
see you soon. This is Jordan Catcher, keep smiling. This is Jeanette
stay safe, see you soon. Hi, guys. This is Maurissa pis
Stone and we will catch you on the flippity flip. This is Matt McNelly
saying audio. This is Alan Anthony Morion, see you next year. This
is Ariel Dale and I'll see you when twenty twenty is finally over. This
is Jeremy Staple and I'll see you next year. Hi, Taylor Shirty here,
Thank you everybody for listening. Hey everyone, this is Tamera. Stay
in your hearts Bewell. Hey guys, this is Walker. Thank you so
much for listening. I'll see you next year. Hey everyone, this is
Rainy Blake. I hope you have a beautiful Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
And I'm Skyler Fast now reminding you to stay safe out there. I
don't want you to become the next chapter's topic. On the original Dead Time
stories, people, people to get, decide to