PA LINDA STOLTZFOOS: Missing from Lancaster County, PA - 21 June 2020 - Age 18 *Found Deceased**GUILTY PLEA*

Amish teen goes missing after church event in Lancaster County: Police
Police in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania are searching for an Amish teen who did not return home from a church event.

"We don't know specifically that there was any foul play involved at this point in time," East Lampeter Township Police Lt. Matthew Hess said.

Police said the family of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos reported her missing Monday, after she didn't return to her family's home in the rural village of Bird-in-Hand following the church event the day before.


"There was no indications that she intentionally was leaving, meaning no one is giving us any of that information," Hess said.

On Monday afternoon, dozens of agencies teamed up blocking off roads, giving Amish residents rides to and from staging areas. Community members signed up at the local fire department to search fields, barns and buildings.

Amish teen who vanished after church event still missing in Lancaster County: Police

An Amish teen has been missing for nearly a week after police say she vanished following a church event in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

6abc.com

LINDA STOLTZFOOS is still missing from Lancaster County, PA since 21 June 2020, even though there's been an arrest in her disappearance!

Police said the family of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos reported her missing Monday, after she didn't return to her family's home in the rural village of Bird-in-Hand following the church event the day before.

www.crimewatchers.net

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Search for Stoltzfoos continues, draws comparison to 40-year-old crime

As investigators continue to comb parts of Lancaster County looking for missing teen Linda Stoltzfoos, for the first time, we are hearing from the man who helped to break the case wide open. “It’s horrible, absolutely heartbreaking,” said Scott Bocian. On the surface, no active searches or...

local21news.com

Search for Stoltzfoos continues, draws comparison to 40-year-old crime

As investigators continue to comb parts of Lancaster County looking for missing teen Linda Stoltzfoos, for the first time, we are hearing from the man who helped to break the case wide open.

“It’s horrible, absolutely heartbreaking,” said Scott Bocian.

On the surface, no active searches or people sweeping fields near Bird-in-Hand. But behind the scenes, investigators are pouring through over two hours of drone video and another 5,000 images to try and locate 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos. It’s a crime, if committed two weeks prior, may never have been solved.

“I’ve always had cameras, everywhere we have lived,” Bocian said.

Just two weeks prior to the disappearance of Amish teen Linda Stoltzfoos on June 21, Bocian installed new surveillance cameras on his East Lampeter Township property.

“When we put the cameras up, we never thought anything like this would ever happen,” he said.

After hours of IT work, police developed and enhanced a series of photos, along with video, showing Stoltzfoos’ abduction. Court documents say that vital information links suspect Justo Smoker to the crime.

“They were able to track the video and were able to actually see what happened and review the video and be able to get pictures and a positive ID,” Bocian said.




It’s a crime weighing heavy on a community that tends to shy away from the limelight and making many people remember a 40-year-old incident that carries similar resemblance.

Flash back 40 years to 1980. Some in the community are drawing similarities to the Evelyn Fisher case. In July of 1980, 14-year-old Evelyn Fisher went missing from her New Holland home.

Skeletal remains were eventually found over two months later in thick brush about four miles from her house. Twenty-nine year-old Gerald Zimmerman was eventually convicted of her murder. A jury finding that the suspect had lured the young girl into his house, attacked her, carried her to a secluded place where he bound, assaulted and eventually killed the young lady

“Stranger abductions are very rare. Lancaster County is a very safe county. But, they do happen from time to time and when it does it’s devastating and scary,” Parsons said.

This afternoon, we checked in with the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office who is headmanning the investigation but they said no “major updates today.”

 

[kdg411]

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

New search underway in Lancaster County for missing Amish woman

One day after asking the public for more tips in the search for Linda Stoltzfoos, a new search is underway in Lancaster county. Friday’s search headquarters were staged on Airport Road in New Holland, about 10 miles from where the 18-year-old Amish woman was thought to be abducted, on June 21...

local21news.com

New search underway in Lancaster County for missing Amish woman

One day after asking the public for more tips in the search for Linda Stoltzfoos, a new search is underway in Lancaster county.

Friday’s search headquarters were staged on Airport Road in New Holland, about 10 miles from where the 18-year-old Amish woman was thought to be abducted, on June 21.

Police say Justo Smoker, the kidnapping suspect’s vehicle may have been seen in the area, making it an area of interest.

EMS crews, firefighters, and rescue crews started combing nearly 4,000 acres around 7:00 this morning. Crews want to keep the search to strictly officials only, in case of a crime scene.
The conditions in the area are not easy to navigate.
Randy Nields with Bird-In-Hand Fire Co. says its difficult due to the heat and the rugged terrain, but crews are still pushing through it, hoping to find answers.
“It's a vast land there's hills mountains and cornfields that come off the mountains so there's a lot of terrain to get over on top of that the weather is hot a lot of heat and humidity make a lot more challenging for the search efforts,” says PSP Trooper Kevin Kochman.

The search will continue until sundown or until they find Linda, or more evidence.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Linda Stoltzfoos: Man charged with kidnapping missing Amish teen claims he doesn’t know her, but police say they are related

A suspect behind bars and charged with the disappearance of Pennsylvania teen

www.crimeonline.com

 

[Guess Who]

Linda Stoltzfoos: Man charged with kidnapping missing Amish teen claims he doesn’t know her, but police say they are related

A suspect behind bars and charged with the disappearance of Pennsylvania teen

www.crimeonline.com

it sure would be nice if they would state if she appeared stressed or seemed to go willingly in those 34 seconds. 34 seconds would tell a lot.

 

[GrandmaBear]

it sure would be nice if they would state if she appeared stressed or seemed to go willingly in those 34 seconds. 34 seconds would tell a lot.

I have wondered that too. I guess it changes nothing in the sense of even if she went somewhat willingly or entirely willingly, she was played by this man at minimum if he killed her. I would like to hope she is alive but buried undergarments are a sign I truly don't like...

It sounds like he possibly pulled into what I picture as a field entrance, exit for tractors, trucks, etc. and got ahead of her?

I would like to know if they had had any contact, even through family or events, etc. I would like to know if she was aware of who he was... Or he of her...

I suspect they can see enough to have a sense of how willing she was to go with him but are not likely to tell us. At 18 unless they can show some coercion or a weapon, the kidnapping part may be tough to make stick... And that is what they are holding him on isn't it? I hope they can hold him and eventually charge him with more and/or find her. Also, if people saw her in the passenger seat, that may not help either.

Their best bet is to find her or a crime scene imo...

Crime Online's statement that they were related at some point in family history in some way means little to me. It does not mean they knew each other nor anything else.

Jmo...

 

[kdg411]

I have wondered that too. I guess it changes nothing in the sense of even if she went somewhat willingly or entirely willingly, she was played by this man at minimum if he killed her. I would like to hope she is alive but buried undergarments are a sign I truly don't like...

It sounds like he possibly pulled into what I picture as a field entrance, exit for tractors, trucks, etc. and got ahead of her?

I would like to know if they had had any contact, even through family or events, etc. I would like to know if she was aware of who he was... Or he of her...

I suspect they can see enough to have a sense of how willing she was to go with him but are not likely to tell us. At 18 unless they can show some coercion or a weapon, the kidnapping part may be tough to make stick... And that is what they are holding him on isn't it? I hope they can hold him and eventually charge him with more and/or find her. Also, if people saw her in the passenger seat, that may not help either.

Their best bet is to find her or a crime scene imo...

Crime Online's statement that they were related at some point in family history in some way means little to me. It does not mean they knew each other nor anything else.

Jmo...

I wish Crimeonline would quit taking other MSM articles and regurgitating them as their own .. sorry, needed to vent

 

[GrandmaBear]

I wish Crimeonline would quit taking other MSM articles and regurgitating them as their own .. sorry, needed to vent

Yeah, I have posted a few lately and they are not my "go to" as I hope you notice. I am not a People fan either nor Oxygen (don't hate don't love I guess I'd say) but I usually do updates from them not Crimeonline. I didn't like the "relative" thing in this one or as if that mean they should know each other, I felt they threw it in there on purpose just to try to add a little hmmmm.... Which I didn't fall for and didn't like...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

One month later: Everything we know about the disappearance of Amish teen Linda Stoltzfoos

Authorities believe Justo Smoker, 34, kidnapped and possibly harmed the 18-year-old.

www.pennlive.com

One month later: Everything we know about the disappearance of Amish teen Linda Stoltzfoos

It was Father’s Day, and Linda Stoltzfoos was on her way home from church.

She told friends she’d meet them at a youth meeting after she went back to her family’s Bird-in-Hand farm to change her clothes. But she never made it, and she hasn’t been seen since.

The 18-year-old Amish girl’s disappearance on June 21 left authorities scrambling for answers. The FBI and Pennsylvania State Police soon joined the search, and earlier this month, 34-year-old Justo Smoker was charged with her kidnapping.

Smoker remains behind bars but hasn’t confessed to taking the teenager, let alone any details on where she may be, authorities said.

June 21, 2020: The last day friends and family saw Linda

Stoltzfoos’ parents told East Lampeter Township police the 18-year-old planned on coming home to change after a Sunday church service, then attend the youth gathering. But when they couldn’t find any church clothes in her room, her parents came to believe she never made it back.

Several members of the Amish community said they saw a red Kia Rio, later found to belong to Smoker, passing through the area that day with someone resembling Stoltzfoos in the passenger seat.

What happened to Stoltzfoos after that remains unclear. However, clothing found buried in a wooded area of Ronks match what authorities believe Stoltzfoos was wearing that day.

During a Thursday press briefing, Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams admitted the evidence doesn’t suggest a happy outcome. East Lampeter Township police said they believe Stoltzfoos could have been harmed after she was abducted.

Who is Justo Smoker?

Smoker was a Pequea Valley High School wrestling star who, in 2006, was charged and convicted in a string of armed robberies in Lancaster County and sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in state prison. However, it’s unclear why he’d want to kidnap an 18-year-old from a quiet Amish community.

Authorities said the 34-year-old hasn’t given any clues as to where Stoltzfoos could be, but he admitted to driving his beat-up 2007 Kia Rio through the Bird-in-Hand area around the time she went missing.

Two separate witness testimonies have since placed an Amish woman inside Smoker’s car on June 21 in that area.

Where does the investigation go from here?

Authorities want to know where Smoker’s car was right before, during and immediately after Stoltzfoos’ disappearance. They’re asking residents of East Earl, East Lampeter, Paradise and Salisbury townships to think about whether it looks familiar, and check their home security cameras for sightings.

The FBI is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to Stoltzfoos’ whereabouts.

“We will continue to work on this case until we find Linda,” East Lampeter Township Police Chief Stephen Zerbe vowed on Thursday.

 

[GrandmaBear]

One month later: Everything we know about the disappearance of Amish teen Linda Stoltzfoos

Authorities believe Justo Smoker, 34, kidnapped and possibly harmed the 18-year-old.

www.pennlive.com

One month later: Everything we know about the disappearance of Amish teen Linda Stoltzfoos

It was Father’s Day, and Linda Stoltzfoos was on her way home from church.

She told friends she’d meet them at a youth meeting after she went back to her family’s Bird-in-Hand farm to change her clothes. But she never made it, and she hasn’t been seen since.

The 18-year-old Amish girl’s disappearance on June 21 left authorities scrambling for answers. The FBI and Pennsylvania State Police soon joined the search, and earlier this month, 34-year-old Justo Smoker was charged with her kidnapping.

Smoker remains behind bars but hasn’t confessed to taking the teenager, let alone any details on where she may be, authorities said.

June 21, 2020: The last day friends and family saw Linda

Stoltzfoos’ parents told East Lampeter Township police the 18-year-old planned on coming home to change after a Sunday church service, then attend the youth gathering. But when they couldn’t find any church clothes in her room, her parents came to believe she never made it back.

Several members of the Amish community said they saw a red Kia Rio, later found to belong to Smoker, passing through the area that day with someone resembling Stoltzfoos in the passenger seat.

What happened to Stoltzfoos after that remains unclear. However, clothing found buried in a wooded area of Ronks match what authorities believe Stoltzfoos was wearing that day.

During a Thursday press briefing, Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams admitted the evidence doesn’t suggest a happy outcome. East Lampeter Township police said they believe Stoltzfoos could have been harmed after she was abducted.

Who is Justo Smoker?

Smoker was a Pequea Valley High School wrestling star who, in 2006, was charged and convicted in a string of armed robberies in Lancaster County and sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in state prison. However, it’s unclear why he’d want to kidnap an 18-year-old from a quiet Amish community.

Authorities said the 34-year-old hasn’t given any clues as to where Stoltzfoos could be, but he admitted to driving his beat-up 2007 Kia Rio through the Bird-in-Hand area around the time she went missing.

Two separate witness testimonies have since placed an Amish woman inside Smoker’s car on June 21 in that area.

Where does the investigation go from here?

Authorities want to know where Smoker’s car was right before, during and immediately after Stoltzfoos’ disappearance. They’re asking residents of East Earl, East Lampeter, Paradise and Salisbury townships to think about whether it looks familiar, and check their home security cameras for sightings.

The FBI is offering up to $10,000 for information leading to Stoltzfoos’ whereabouts.

“We will continue to work on this case until we find Linda,” East Lampeter Township Police Chief Stephen Zerbe vowed on Thursday.

I have to say that every time I read this, I hope they have enough to hold him if they don't find her or more evidence. Maybe they have more but just a short clip of two people getting in his car and maybe two witnesses who saw "an" Amish girl/woman in his car or one like his isn't exactly proof of much...

Not sticking up for him in any way, I just worry whether that will be enough to hold him on even these initial charges or convict him, and hoping they have more...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I have to say that every time I read this, I hope they have enough to hold him if they don't find her or more evidence. Maybe they have more but just a short clip of two people getting in his car and maybe two witnesses who saw "an" Amish girl/woman in his car or one like his isn't exactly proof of much...

Not sticking up for him in any way, I just worry whether that will be enough to hold him on even these initial charges or convict him, and hoping they have more...

My guess is that they will be testing the clothes that they found belonging to Linda for DNA. His DNA is likely all over her things.

I also think that they may have found blood. They keep saying that they believe she was harmed. Gotta be something, other than her being gone, to lead them to that. IMO.

 

[GrandmaBear]

My guess is that they will be testing the clothes that they found belonging to Linda for DNA. His DNA is likely all over her things.

I also think that they may have found blood. They keep saying that they believe she was harmed. Gotta be something, other than her being gone, to lead them to that. IMO.

Makes sense and testing takes some time. I imagine the car is impounded as well? I forget but would think so...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Searches resume for missing Amish teen Linda Stoltzfoos, believed kidnapped weeks ago

The 18-year-old hasn't been seen or heard from in more than a month.

www.pennlive.com

Searches resume for missing Amish teen Linda Stoltzfoos, believed kidnapped weeks ago

Authorities are continuing the search on Saturday for missing 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos, who is believed to have been kidnapped after leaving a church service on Father’s Day.

The Stoltzfoos family shared the news that an organized search would take place today on Facebook, alongside a photo of a foggy Saturday morning — likely in Lancaster County, where Stoltzfoos lived with her family on an Amish farm in Bird-in-Hand.

“When all seems unclear, the the sun breaks through the fog with promise,” the post said.

It’s unclear where Saturday’s search is being conducted..

However, it’s is one of many that has been organized by authorities or “dedicated, trained” volunteers. A variety of resources were dedicated to the investigation, including dogs, horses, ATVs and drones.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I keep wondering with this one what he did with her or more so, I mean where she is. Why would you bury her garments separately from where she is? While not unheard of, I wouldn't say it is common either... And in an area somewhat easily found or so it seems... I would have to refresh myself on the facts.

 

[GrandmaBear]

This prayer ride sounds as if it will be well attended and is growing and with bikers and others involved, I would bet the turn out will be stellar.

Prayers for Linda and her family.

Prayer ride planned for missing Amish teen Linda Stoltzfoos and her family

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Preliminary hearing to be held for man charged in kidnapping of Linda Stoltzfoos

A preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon for 34-year-old Justo Smoker, who has been charged with kidnapping in the disappearance of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos. Authorities believe Stoltzfoos, an Amish woman, was kidnapped while walking home from church on...

local21news.com

Preliminary hearing to be held for man charged in kidnapping of Linda Stoltzfoos

A preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon for 34-year-old Justo Smoker, who has been charged with kidnapping in the disappearance of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos.

Smoker is currently being held in Lancaster County Prison, where he was made ineligible for bail by District Judge Josh Keller due to the nature of the charges and the pending investigation.

The hearing is scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Preliminary hearing to be held for man charged in kidnapping of Linda Stoltzfoos

A preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon for 34-year-old Justo Smoker, who has been charged with kidnapping in the disappearance of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos. Authorities believe Stoltzfoos, an Amish woman, was kidnapped while walking home from church on...

local21news.com

Preliminary hearing to be held for man charged in kidnapping of Linda Stoltzfoos

A preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place on Wednesday afternoon for 34-year-old Justo Smoker, who has been charged with kidnapping in the disappearance of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos.

Smoker is currently being held in Lancaster County Prison, where he was made ineligible for bail by District Judge Josh Keller due to the nature of the charges and the pending investigation.

The hearing is scheduled for today at 1:30 p.m.

I wish they could MAKE him give up her whereabouts...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Justo Smoker will stand trial in Linda Stoltzfoos case

At a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Smoker was ordered to stand trial in Lancaster County Court on charges connected to Stoltzfoos' disappearance.

www.fox43.com

Justo Smoker will stand trial in Linda Stoltzfoos case

Justo Smoker was ordered at his preliminary hearing to stand trial in Lancaster County Court. He will have his formal arraignment there at a date to be determined.


In closing, prosecutors said circumstantial evidence is “certainly enough to convict of kidnapping.”

 

[GrandmaBear]

I am glad he was bound over for trial.

I am overthinking again I guess. This entire case is odd. I guess he is stupid, perps are, but why would you bury things near a business to begin with? So weird when in a rural neck of the woods. And where is she? And while I think when they put it all together he clearly did something to her, I think it is the continuing evidence they hope shows it because they did not show the video or any testimony showing any coercement of any kind of how he got her to get in the car.

And in my overthinking the words apparently her stockings and bra and allegedly the video, etc. bug me but I guess they are being careful until results come in.

I am anti-perp always and I am here for sure, but just looking at it, I hope it is enough for all jurors because so far I don't see how one could be sure. They always have more than we know though and are probably holding back evidence, they don't need to show their entire hand yet.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Preliminary hearing reveals new details on Stoltzfoos case, authorities still seeking tips

The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office says that new information about the disappearance of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos was revealed at a preliminary hearing this week. The hearing was held on Aug. 5 for 34-year-old Justo Smoker, who is charged with kidnapping Stoltzfoos, an Amish...

local21news.com

Preliminary hearing reveals new details on Stoltzfoos case, authorities still seeking tips

The Lancaster County District Attorney's Office says that new information about the disappearance of 18-year-old Linda Stoltzfoos was revealed at a preliminary hearing this week.

According to preliminary hearing testimony from East Lampeter Township police and Pennsylvania State Police:

• Linda “was content with her Amish lifestyle." Nobody authorities spoke with reported she was "unhappy in any capacity.”
• She was “timid in groups” and in public. She never had any boyfriends or non-Amish friends.
• Police searched Linda’s bedroom and found: her money was still there, along with her travel bag and all other belongings. The only things missing were her church clothes.
• Police checked for activity on Linda’ bank accounts as recently as Aug. 5 – there has been none.
• Witnesses saw an Amish female in a red car on the afternoon Linda disappeared. That was ‘extremely noteworthy’ because Amish females typically would not be alone in a vehicle wearing a head covering.
• One witness said, “she looked at me with pleading eyes.” -
• As for the red car, Justo Smoker was seen cleaning it a few hours after Linda was abducted. Smoker also sent a Facebook message stating he was cleaning his car.
• Smoker told police no one else drove his car around the time of the abduction, and that he was not in that area on June 21 – he hedged when police showed him surveillance images.
• On June 23, a witness saw Smoker’s car parked near a wooded area where police later found Linda’s stockings and bra buried. A plastic zip tie also was found in that area.
• The witness photographed the car - it matched Smoker's registration.

Police continue to ask the public for information, which can be provided through CrimeWatch, or by calling police at 717-291-4676 or 717-299-7650.