Find a Grave Trophy Wife: Dirigido por Christian Sesma. At the time, a request of this nature was hardly unusual. According to the man, whom Velling did not name, Jane Doe had more problems than he could deal with.. On Christmas Eve 2010, the body of 42-year-old Lori Erica Ruff was found in a car parked outside the Ruff family home in Longview, Texas. A 2013 Seattle Times feature article about the case was published in news outlets around the world and created enormous interest in the online "websleuth" community. And she may have even attempted to break into the family's home, according to the Seattle Times. At the time of this application, Lori quoted her age as 19. However, Perkins has no memory of the woman, and there were no matches for the woman in fingerprint and facial recognition databases. Using a DNA analysis from Ruffs daughter, investigators were able to trace Ruffs identity back to a family in Pennsylvania, whose daughter had disappeared in 1986, when she was 17. The two moved to Leonard, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas and roughly 125 miles from Ruffs parents in Longview. The other was for Blake. Investigation Discovery's ' Where Murder Lies: The Girl in the Lockbox' chronicles the story behind Lori Ruff's past. [5], From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core, "Three years after Texas woman's suicide, a question lingers: Who was she? Lori acquired Turner's birth certificate in 1988, a time when you could just send a letter requesting a birth certificate with little resistance. She was eventually identified as a native of suburban Philadelphia who left home at age 17, in the fall of 1986, because she did not get along with her mother and stepfather. This was very sophisticated, Velling said. Velling, a seasoned government sleuth, has been stumped in figuring out the true name and background of this Jane Doe, who took on aliases with spy-like sophistication. Image: http://reallifeishorror.blogspot.co.uk/. [6], Eventually, Ruff did not want her in-laws to have any contact with her daughter; as a result, the Ruffs began encouraging Blake to get out of the marriage. They then discovered the lockbox in a closet, pried it open with a screwdriver, and discovered the documentation of Ruff's past. Various identification cards of Lori Ruff (AKA: Kimberly McLean) retrieved from the Social Security Administration. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We now need to revise that list to seven, since one of those mysteries has now been solved. Although questions about the case remain, Lori Ruff's name has now been removed from the federal government's database for missing and unidentified persons. With little to no clues about who shemight actually be, the woman once known as Lori Erica Ruffwas registered in the federal governments database of missing and unidentified persons as a Jane Doe. In the box a number of documents were discovered which revealed that Ruff had stolen the identity of Becky Sue Turner, a 2-year-old girl killed in a fire in 1971 in Fife, Washington, in 1988, and then changed her name to Lori Erica Kennedy. Papers belonging to Ruff, who had been married with a child, surfaced after her suicide indicating she had once been known as Lori Kennedy, and prior to that, as Becky Sue Turner, the name of a young girl who had died in a Washington state fire in 1971. About a month afterward, the certificate was used to obtain legal identification in Idaho. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology, Learn more about your ad choices. The investigation into her suicide hit dead end after dead end. After the birth of their daughter, Lori's behavior became increasingly strange. Blake did learn that Lori was born somewhere in Arizona. [2], In the months between the separation and Lori's suicide, she behaved very erratically. [8] She would also obsessively track the Ruffs' family history and try to find out their family recipes, but she still refused to talk about her own past. All rights reserved. It wasnt until the Ruffs found a safebox hidden inside their daughter-in-laws bedroom closet that showed the woman wasnt who she had claimed to be. [3] The fact that Ruff was able to cover up her identity so well in a time before the Internet has led to speculation that she had visited an "identity broker".[3]. Interesting history topics are just a click away. He filed for divorce a short time later. It's not exactly clear why Kimberly McLean fled (most family accounts suggest it was due to a dislike of her new stepfather), but extended family immediately recognized the woman in the investigator's photo. And, as he flipped through multiple IDs with pictures of his wife at different ages, he realized they all had different names printed on them, according to the Daily Mail. Market data provided by Factset. Hosted on Acast. McLean requested the birth certificate in Bakersfield, California, Becky Sue Turner's birthplace. Some people can explain all of this with nothing more sinister than the Witness Protection Program. It outlined work that Lori had done for him until 1988. Shortly after marrying Ruff, Jane Doe tried repeatedly to conceive a child of her own with much difficulty, according to Velling. In the days that followed, Blake tried to make sense of how things had gone so wrong. Then, in September 2016, investigators believed they solved the case. And when he asked her to marry him in 2004, she said yes, but insisted on no announcement in the newspaper, and wanted a wedding where only the minister was present. ", "Texas woman's true identity baffles ex-husband, authorities years after her suicide", "Live chat with investigator, reporter about Jane Doe case", "Mystery woman: After 30 years and a suicide, Lori Ruff's real identity emerges", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lori_Erica_Ruff&oldid=1125479355, Articles with minor POV problems from October 2022, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from October 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 December 2022, at 06:14. This site uses cookies to improve user experience. She obtained this identity via a girl named Becky Sue Turner, who died in 1971 in a house fire near Seattle, Washington. She died by suicide in the driveway of her former in-laws' home in Longview, Texas, on Christmas Eve 2010. During all of this, Blake continued in his efforts to pry more details from the mother of his baby. In 2010, after she took her own life, secrets were revealed and the truth about her past began to unravel. Ruff's true origins remained a mystery until 2016, when her identity was confirmed using a combination of public records and direct-to-consumer autosomal SNP analysis of her husband's and daughter's DNA, leading back to the McLeanCassidy family on Philadelphia's Main Line. See acast.com/privacy for more information. She wasn't Lori Erica Ruffshe was a Pennsylvania woman named Kimberly McLean. Her student loan applications listed three references, one of whom was a former classmate she had briefly dated. She didnt even allow the publication of the announcement of their nuptials in the local newspaper either. She told them her parents were dead and that she had no living siblings or extended family. She had told him she was from Arizona, that both her parents were dead, that she had had an unhappy childhood, and that she had no siblings; she also said her father had been a failed stockbroker. But, it didn't happen easily and it took the hard work of a number of people and a little Blake's mom, Nancy Ruff, described facing a stone wall. All rights reserved. But it wasn't until Lori ended her life on Christmas Eve that the Ruffs would get answers. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. Additionally, she displayed many asocial behaviors, such as leaving social gatherings to take naps. It is generally believed that a new identity was already being considered either for herself or others. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. She and her young daughter had visibly lost weight. [1] After two years, Fitzpatrick finally identified Ruff when she discovered a third cousin match who was related to the Cassidys. Lori attended the University of Texas regularly and graduated with a business administration degree in 1997. Early on Christmas Eve, Lori drove over to the Ruff house. Pic credit: Family pic. One of these had notes written and a collection of phone numbers and names. After her death, Lori's husband found a lockbox with papers inside that shed light on his wife's past. Loris behavior was highly erratic in the timebetween theseparationand her death; she sent threatening emails to Blake and his family, and might have even attempted a break-in at Blakes parents home. Blake was caught in the middle, and eventually he couldn't take it anymore. She was very private and didn't open to people about her past. Who was she? And, with the child, Lori's behavior became even more erratic. [1] Velling approached a relative, who immediately identified the deceased Lori Ruff as Kimberly McLean.[1]. Lori Erica Ruff was a secretive person. The writings on the paper found in the lock box included the scribblings "North Hollywood police," "402 months," and "Ben Perkins." They looked for signs of gambling addiction and sex trafficking. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Who was she? Lori Erica Ruff went by many names. Late in 2015, Velling received a call from a former nuclear physicist and forensic genealogist named Colleen Fitzpatrick, who had been following the case online. Market data provided by Factset. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices. [1], Fitzpatrick informed Joe Velling, who had in the meantime retired from the SSA. True Crime. For several years, nobody suspected anything. As far as the authorities were concerned, once Blake called them in, she was an identity thief now given the name "Jane Doe.". Nothing. After she died, her ex-husband's family discovered a lockbox in a closet in her home. She had told him she was from Arizona, that both her parents were dead, and that she had no siblings. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. The other had dates and the letters D and M on it. In 2010, after she took her own life, secrets were revealed and the truth about her past began to unravel. Blake Ruff thought he had found someone special. However, the Mclean family now has a granddaughter who offers a glimpse of their beloved Kimberly. Most of these discoveries came from talking to those that she had worked with previously. Anyone with credible tips on this case is urged to email this reporter at cristina.corbin@foxnews.com. [1] She eventually graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1997, with a degree in Business Administration. In May of 2016, several commentators on the internet noticed similarities to Ruff's story and to the plot of a 1987 crime drama called Positive I.D., which was directed by a professor of film at UT Arlington. She created a false identity for the sole purpose of getting lost in America, Velling told FoxNews.com. Accept Read More, Jeffrey Alan Lash: His Remarkable Mystery. And, why had she changed her identity and hid her past from those closest to her? When contacted, however, Perkins stated that he had never heard of Becky Sue Turner or Lori Kennedy. However, according to records, Becky Sue Turner asphyxiated in a house fire when she was just 2 years old. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. His wifewas not who she claimed to be. She must now fight to clear her name and figure out who betrayed her husband. In 2013, a nuclear-physicist-turned-forensic genealogist Collen Fitzpatrick worked on Ruffs case and new details emerged about her past. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. She was above average height at 5feet 10inches (1.78m) tall, and weighed 160 pounds (73kg). Blake, who was close with his parents, couldn't take it anymore. After marrying, the couple moved away from the senior Ruffs, who lived in eastern Texas, settling in Leonard, Texas, in the southwestern region. McLean used the child's birth certificate to obtain an Idaho state identification card, then moved to Texas and had her name legally changed to Lori Erica Kennedy. Although Blakes family was suspicious of Lori from the beginning, Blake himself was very much in love. Loris husband, Blake Ruff, was devastated. She was eventually identified as a native of suburban Philadelphia who left home at age 17, in the fall of 1986, because she did not get along with her mother and stepfather. DNA taken from the body might also help crack the case. After some failed marriage therapy meetings, Blake Ruff moved back to his parents' house in Longview and filed for divorce, leaving Lori with their daughter in Leonard. A week later, she obtained a Social Security number, removing traces of her true identity. [1] She eventually gave birth to a baby girl via in-vitro fertilization in 2008. To give you the best possible experience, this site uses cookies. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. After several months living as Becky Sue Turner, she legally changed her name to Lori Kennedy and moved to the Dallas area, where she met Blake Ruff. Unfortunately, it looks like Lori took all of her secrets to the grave. It must have been for some horrific reasoneither she was running away from a crime or an abusive family or relationship., She wanted a complete break from her past, said Velling. NY Daily News This page was last modified on 5 May 2016, at 17:33. The local police department began a routine investigation and quickly found a safe at the bottom of a closet. She enrolled at Dallas County Community College in the fall of 1990 and eventually graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a business administration degree in 1997. But all that he managed to discover was that Lori had something of a difficult upbringing. He noticed the car and called the police. I also want to get the Early Bird Books newsletter featuring great deals on ebooks. She had stolen the identity of deceased Becky Sue Turner in May 1988 before legally changing her name to "Lori Erica Kennedy ." Following her marriage in 2001, she assumed the surname "Ruff." Lori Ruffs handwritten notes. It was either she or his family, and he chose his family, Velling said. [3], In 2003, she met Blake Ruff, the son of a well-established family in East Texas,[2][3] in a Bible study class. After she died, her ex-husband's family discovered a lockbox in a closet in her home. Days later, she applied for and received a Social Security number a move that effectively erased her past. However, it was written on hotel stationery from Bangkok, Thailand. And she was aggressive about it, Velling said. Lori definitely was not who she portrayed herself to be, so who was she? They believed she fled because she did not like her mothers new husband. Lori Erica Ruff was a secretive person. 1,529 likes. The nature of these scribblings has led some to believe that Ruff was trying to avoid prison time, due to the references to police, a possible jail term length, and the name of an attorney. Four years filled with miscarriages and disappointments passed. Other commentators noted that Ruff briefly attended UT Arlington and may have become familiar with the film prior to changing her identity. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. The woman received breast implants in 1991 and claimed to have suffered from bulimia in 1990. In May 1988, McLean obtained the birth certificate of Becky Sue Turner, a two-year-old girl who had died, along with two of her siblings, in a house fire in Fife, Washington in 1971. [3], Ruff was incredibly overprotective of her daughter, often refusing to let anyone else hold her, which angered her husband's family. She then moved to Idaho and procured a drivers license using the deceased girls birth certificate. One was for her daughter. Sources Based on her own research, and a DNA sample the Ruff family submitted that indicated Lori had a first cousin named Michael Cassidy, Fitzpatrick suggested Velling contact the Cassidy family in Philadelphia. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. After several miscarriages, the couple finally had a daughter in 2008. Southern charm is attempted but southern sass is bountiful. Her father-in-law discovered her body inside Blakes car. But this could have simply been a number picked for convenience purposes only. 2009-2021 Historic Mysteries. They married and had a daughter together. Whatever the motivation behind one man entering wedlock to one woman, both parties usually do know each other intimately. She was very private and didn't open to people about her past. In 2010, he moved back across the state to live with his parents. In life, Lori hadwarnedhimto stay away from it. He describes her as being incredibly secretive, particularly regarding her past. [6], Ruff was "extremely protective" of her daughter, often refusing to let anyone else hold her and even taking the baby with her to use the bathroom. Ordinary people who do unthinkable thingsThe Minds of Madness is a True Crime Podcast that examines the most disturbing criminal minds and the impact violent crimes have on survivors of homicide. For example, Lori would often ramble to the minister on a variety of topics; mainly her perceived flaws, problems, and the failure of her marriage. She received a Texas driver license in 1989 and qualified for a GED[8] the following year. She then received a Texas driver license in 1989, and the next year qualified for a GED[2] then enrolled in Dallas County Community College. A Net Inceptions project. They then discovered the lock box in a closet, pried it open with a screwdriver, and discovered the documentation of Ruff's past. Ruff gradually acquired more documents in her new name, including a Social Security number. Her Idaho identification card listed her as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and her Dallas drivers license had her at 5 feet, 10 inches, but she was really somewhere in-between, Velling said. Lori Erica Ruff was as evasive as she had always been but did reveal that both of her parents had passed away and that she had no living relatives. In September 2011 the Ruff family, with the help of a congressional aide, sought the help of Joe Velling, an investigator for the Social Security Administration (SSA). Signup to sync subscriptions across devices. In his spare time he enjoys astronomy and Xboxing. Yes! Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. [6] The fact that Ruff was able to cover up her identity so well in a time before the Internet has led to speculation that she had enlisted the services of a so-called identity broker.[6]. Image: Social Security Administration. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Last spring, we brought you 8 Mysterious People Without a Past, a list of individuals who seemed to have had much of their early existence wiped from history. [3], On Christmas Eve 2010, Ruff's body was discovered in her car in the Ruffs' driveway, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. Within the next two years, she . Lori Erica Ruff. Legal Statement. The news of Kimberlys death saddened her mother deeply. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. He found a birth certificate for one person that wasn't her. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theywalkamongus. Over time the pair grew closer and eventually, they eloped to Dallas. The only person in attendance was the preacher. Yes! Hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson guide you through the most interesting true crime stories. In the car were two suicide notes: One 11page note addressed to "my wonderful husband" and another addressed to her daughter, to be opened on her 18th birthday. The following people have been ruled out as possible identities for Ruff:[5], Ruff was a white female, who was approximately 41 to 50 years old when she committed suicide. The only person in attendance at their wedding ceremony, held in a church outside Dallas, was the officiating preacher. As with the birth certificate, it was relatively straight forward to acquire a new social security number. I think she was born sometime between 1960 and 1968., Records gathered by Velling provide tantalizing clues. Whilethe file on Lori Erica Ruff may be closed, her bizarre case continues to fascinate, and will forever raise thechillingquestion: Just how well do you know those closest to you? Among the various documents was a certificate indicating that Lori Kennedy had changed her name from Becky Sue Turner. She was sending deranged emails to the Ruffs. After several months living as Becky Sue Turner, she legally changed her name to Lori Kennedy. Photo Credit: Alchetron. She suffered a miscarriage before eventually giving birth to a baby girl in 2008. She also received breast implants during this time. Upon opening the container, Blakediscovered why: Inside was a birth certificate and IDs belonging to several different people. 2021 Wondery LLC. Within a few months of Blake moving out, Lori had completely deteriorated. Then, in September 2016, the case of Lori Erica Ruff was finally solved: her real name wasKimberly McLean. Hersuicide cameafter Blake had filed fordivorce and moved back in with his parents. Such things have happened in other cases, and are often traumatic events. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. On the West Coast, we generally dont have a discernible accent, said Velling, a Seattle native. On Christmas Eve in 2010, Lori Erica Ruff sat in her car outside her in-laws' Longview, Texas home, and ended her life with a gunshot to the head. El Caso de Lori Erica Ruff -Documental Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/HypnosMorfeoPaginaoficial/?fref=ts Sigueme en Twitter: https://twitter.com/hypnosmo. But to a dogged federal investigator, she is "Jane Doe," a Texas mother who killed herself three years ago in her famil. The Bizarre Truth About Lori Ruff, The Woman Without An Identity. The Ruff family declined to comment on the story, which was first reported by the Seattle Times on Saturday. McLean used the child's birth certificate to obtain an Idaho state identification card, then moved to Texas and had her name legally changed to Lori Erica Kennedy. Lori Erica Ruff was a secretive person. There were two other pieces of paper. She was eventually identified as a native of suburban Philadelphia who left home at age 18, in the fall of 1986, because she did not get along with her mother and stepfather. Lori Erica Ruff The Generation Why Podcast. However, several weeks after getting the new identification, Becky legally changed her identity to Lori Erica Kennedy in Dallas. Lori Erica Ruff (born Kimberly McLean, October 16, 1968 - December 24, 2010) was a woman who took her own life while living in Longview, Texas. It took hard work on the part of investigators and some unique forensic genealogy for the truth to come out. After some failed marriage therapy sessions, Blake Ruff moved back to his parents' house in Longview and filed for divorce, leaving Lori with their daughter in Leonard.
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