Once again, I apologize for extending the msg. board's bounds beyond that of the original show, but does anyone have any theories regarding missing Pennsylvania Centre County District Attorney Ray Gricar? This would definately been a missing persons case that would have made UM if it was currently in production. Ray Gricar was a long-time Pennsylvania Centre County District Attorney who disappeared after taking off one Friday over a year ago to go "antiquing" in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. His mini Cooper was found several days later near a bridge over the Susquehanna River in central Penna. His labtop and hard-drive washed up many months later on the banks of the river. The river has a history of "producing" drowning vicitims very suddenly, but such has not been the case with DA Gricar. Although suicide was initially thought, foul play is gaining more weight as time passes. If he jumped into the river to his death, why hasn't the body been discovered. Certainly, UM has featured at lease 2 cases that I'm aware of that featured people who may have faked their deaths jumping into a river. Sightings of Gricar have been rampant, including, my favorite, last year at a Cleveland Indians game at Jacob's Field. Your thoughts?

Hmmmm... let me know if he was married or not. here are my theories:

1. Suicide
2. May have been lured by someone who he helped put away and was murdered
3. Had an alterantive lifestyle and may have been murdered or died while in the gay lifestyle ( he did go antiquing after all)
4. Was eliminated by the police or law enforcement because he knew about something that was illegal ( thats my inkling)

hmmm, just a thought, but who knows

I think it was suicide.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y77/BigTMan/m881_Beetlejuice.jpg

In reply . . . 2 eyewitnesses did spot him at an antique shop in Lewisburg in the company of an unidentified woman (I believe he was either married or in a committed relationship). Interestingly, the one eyewitness mentioned that while he appeared to be with the woman, it did not seem as if they were involved in a romantic way. I believe the last eyewitness to see him spotted him walking toward the bridge over the Susquehanna. At first, the speculation was that he commited suicide. His brother committed suicide many years earlier in a similar fashion, by jumping into a river. His girlfriend/wife did mention that he appeared more withdrawn in the last 2 weeks before his disappearance, and that he was napping more. The last real evidence in the case was the finding of his laptop, sans hard-drive. The hard-drive was uncovered several weeks later. The authorities were unable to recover anything, however, they did mention that it was unusual because he almost never took it with him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Gricar

Figured I'd bring this up given all the media attention the Penn State Sexual Abuse scandal is getting this week.

What do you all think?

I immediately thought that Gricar's dissapearance had a very UM feel to it. I don't really know what happened, but it seems plausible that he would have committed suicide, maybe out of guilt stemming from not charging Sandusky (maybe he was paid off or just did it as a favor). Seems odd that his body wouldn't have been found yet though. I guess he could have killed himself out in the middle of some woods somewhere and was never found.

I agree with Angel in that it's completely possible Gricar committed suicide in the middle of nowhere, most likely out of guilt for accepting a payoff from PSU. I could be wrong here, but I believe I've actually seen episodes of UM where that exact scenario took place, with the body being found at a later date.

The thing that I can't figure out concerning Gricar is that if his possible suicide had been out of guilt, why did he try to erase whatever was on his hard drive? I assume it had to have held damning evidence against the guilty parties, so if he was trying to make amends for his wrongdoings why would he have done such a thing? One possible explanation for this is that he may have been told that if the evidence he held ever saw the light of day, he AND/OR members of his family may be harmed. This would make perfect sense, but of course it's just speculation on my part.

Just for the sake of throwing it out there, one other rumor I have read is that Gricar was placed in the witness protection program at the time of his disappearance, though I feel this is highly unlikely.

One thing is for sure -- with the evidence mounting up and rumors surrounding the scandal at PSU growing more bizarre by the day, I wouldn't rule anything out.

This is a very fascinating case. I was in Pennsylvania recently on a business trip, and my hotel was very close to the Susquehanna River. At least near where I was (in Harrisburg), the river is huge. I could see how a body would not turn up for a while.

What I don't get about this case is that Gricar really didn't seem like had anything to hide -- so what was he so intent about hiding on his computer? It was either something shady to do w/ work, or something shady w/ his personal life...yet (I think?) there's very little evidence either way!

I agree with Angel in that it's completely possible Gricar committed suicide in the middle of nowhere, most likely out of guilt for accepting a payoff from PSU. I could be wrong here, but I believe I've actually seen episodes of UM where that exact scenario took place, with the body being found at a later date.

The thing that I can't figure out concerning Gricar is that if his possible suicide had been out of guilt, why did he try to erase whatever was on his hard drive? I assume it had to have held damning evidence against the guilty parties, so if he was trying to make amends for his wrongdoings why would he have done such a thing? One possible explanation for this is that he may have been told that if the evidence he held ever saw the light of day, he AND/OR members of his family may be harmed. This would make perfect sense, but of course it's just speculation on my part.

Just for the sake of throwing it out there, one other rumor I have read is that Gricar was placed in the witness protection program at the time of his disappearance, though I feel this is highly unlikely.

One thing is for sure -- with the evidence mounting up and rumors surrounding the scandal at PSU growing more bizarre by the day, I wouldn't rule anything out.

Certainly a possibility that he had lots of evidence of what what going on/had gone on. Will be interesting to see what comes up with this case. So sad all around.

Disappearances like this always make me think of the Gail Delano case and wonder how many other missing persons out there decided to commit suicide in a deliberately bizarre fashion in order to create an air of mystery surrounding what happened to them.

One of the most bizarre aspects of Ray Gricar's disappearance is that the fact cigarette ashes were found in his car despite the fact that he disliked smoking. This is the biggest piece of evidence pointing to the possibility that someone else was involved, but what if he deliberately planted those there in order to leave the impression that he met with foul play? It's completely irrational, but those who decide to commit suicide aren't in the most rational state of mind.

As soon as I heard about Ray Gricar, I immediately thought this is the kind of case that would be featured on Unsolved Mysteries.

As a huge college football fan (and lifelong Michigan Wolverine fan) I have been following the Penn State scandal all week with great interest. I read the entire 23 page report from the Grand Jury and it's a fascinating yet disturbing, chilling and awful reminder of what school officials on all levels did to cover this up. I'm afraid we're going to find out new horrible details in regards to this coverup in the near future that will make the whole country even more sick to the their stomachs.

Jerry Sandusky started 'The Second Mile' in 1977. I highly doubt he waited 18 years before starting to molest those boys. There's already two investigations going on right now that involve the possibility of Sandusky pimping out boys through the Second Mile to rich donors of the school. If that's true, God help us.

Because of these new story angles, I'm taking a wait and see approach in regards to Ray Gricar's disappearance. New information from the Sandusky/PSU drama could shed some light here. But I already think it sounds fishy. He was getting ready to retire shortly before he vanished and he had no personal loyalties to Penn State or the football program. According to those who knew him, Gricar was a matter of fact guy who worked hard and always wanted straight answers. Could he have accepted hush money from PSU? I suppose it's possible but not likely given what his loved ones have said about him. He already had plenty of money. The reason he was declared dead was so that his children could divide up his estate. This just doesn't sound like the kind of guy who would accept money to cover up a massive sexual abuse scandal at a major university only to suddenly feel guilt, drive out in the middle of nowhere, throw his hard drive in the river and walk away on foot to kill himself where his body still hasn't turned up after 6 years.

Completely agree with you Dynoguy. I think there's way more to this that is yet to be revealed to the public.

IIRC, the wiki article says this man's brother committed suicide a few years ago by drowning himself in a river. Is that correct?

Makes me wonder if Gricar decided to die in the same manner his brother chose, or if he orchestrated his disappearance by making it look like he'd ended his life the same way his brother did.

The wiki article does say that Gricar and his wife moved to PA in 1980 because his wife took a job at Penn State. So there was a possible loyalty.

It's an interesting theory to think about now that this Penn State scandal has become public. I see one of two things with Gricar (if the Penn State scandal is involved in his disappearance):

-He was killed to keep quiet. This is very unlikely.
-He killed himself because he was ashamed at not doing something sooner, knowing it was going on the entire time.

He killed himself because he was ashamed at not doing something sooner, knowing it was going on the entire time.

The "how to destroy your hard drive" aspect could be as a result of the above theory combined with not wanting his family subjected to ostracism after his disappearance.

They are finally covering this aspect of the case on HLN:
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2011/11/10/sadusky-case-and-missing-da-investigation

Any of you have any interest in this case? He was a PA District Attorney who put away some pretty bad people in his time and ended up missing one day never to be found (to this day).

His name also came up during the Jerry Sandusky stuff as he had dealt with a complaint about Sandusky molesting kids well before it went public.

There are other threads on him. This was never on UM.

Any of you have any interest in this case? He was a PA District Attorney who put away some pretty bad people in his time and ended up missing one day never to be found (to this day).

His name also came up during the Jerry Sandusky stuff as he had dealt with a complaint about Sandusky molesting kids well before it went public.

I have seen his case featured on "Disappeared". Honestly the more I think about it I think he committed suicide. It seems more plausible that his computer being stolen and him being abducted from his car. Plus there was a search on his computer about destroying a hard drive which could mean suicide was on his mind. I think it's very possible he was in the water where his laptop was discovered and probably will never be found.

i tend to agree with suicide. the shopping of the antiques mall with a woman as reported by several witnesses does not fit suicide though. so that part has me confused.

If he killed himself, who left the cigarette butts on the outside of the passenger side of his car ?

What better time to start smoking than right before you're going to die?

I'm not sure if he offed himself or not.. But there's a case that we likely haven't heard about that is the key to everything. Some people thought it was the Penn State scandal, but.. I think that's small potatoes compared to what it really is.

What better time to start smoking than right before you're going to die?

I'm not sure if he offed himself or not.. But there's a case that we likely haven't heard about that is the key to everything. Some people thought it was the Penn State scandal, but.. I think that's small potatoes compared to what it really is.

What would larger potatoes in Centre County even be? It was a major story nationally and regionally. I can't recall anything from that area being such a huge case, not even the more recent hazing death.

Also, the first time you smoke, isn't it a lot of coughing and disgust? A taste to be acquired.

Given that he was searching for how to wreck a hard drive, I suspect it was suicide, and the motivation for that was either indeed a criminal case like Sandusky (which he apparently failed to pursue), or, something he had on a close person/loved one that somehow necessitated his suicide along with destruction of those files.

What would larger potatoes in Centre County even be? It was a major story nationally and regionally. I can't recall anything from that area being such a huge case, not even the more recent hazing death.

Also, the first time you smoke, isn't it a lot of coughing and disgust? A taste to be acquired.

Given that he was searching for how to wreck a hard drive, I suspect it was suicide, and the motivation for that was either indeed a criminal case like Sandusky (which he apparently failed to pursue), or, something he had on a close person/loved one that somehow necessitated his suicide along with destruction of those files.

He wouldn't have been criminally liable in the Sandusky case unless he had evidence that he ignored, and even then, I'm not sure. He might have been run out of office (Though wasn't he somewhat close to retirement age?) .. But, this has the feeling of having money involved.. Ties to the mob? Embezzlement?

And.. Smoking.. You never know. He could have been a 'closet' smoker for a time.

I don't believe it had anything to do with Sandusky - and I never will. He declined to prosecute some of the earlier accusations against Sandusky (before the proverbial bomb dropped), as he should have - there was not enough evidence at that time to secure a conviction.

He disappeared about 2 miles from where I currently live - I attended school in the town he disappeared from. At least once a week, I drive by the antique mall. The notoriety hasn't hurt them - they're packed every weekend.

His brother killed himself....by drowning. A few miles downriver is the Fabridam. He could have easily been sucked under there, and been "chewed up" in to oblivion.

I think he got tired of life, the male menopause, call it what you will. https://youtu.be/iLGhbfzDSRY

I think he got tired of life, the male menopause, call it what you will. https://youtu.be/iLGhbfzDSRY


Agreed. The only other reasonable alternative is that he was put in to some type of protection program. Consipracy theorists all say "But there's no record of that". Um....duh!!! There wouldn't be. That's kind-of the whole point....


Plus the whole family history of suicide and mental illness. Some people are very good at hiding it.

Has anyone ever heard the rumor that Gricar was a spy for Russia - or some other eastern European country? I've heard someone mention that possibility but never saw it mentioned again.

Has anyone ever heard the rumor that Gricar was a spy for Russia - or some other eastern European country? I've heard someone mention that possibility but never saw it mentioned again.

No, I've never heard that one. I've heard he was some sort of undercover thing for the Feds, but with him being DA, that's a lousy cover. Also rumos went around that he was offed by the mafia, and/or biker gangs, and he was dumped in an abandoned mine somewhere. As for the cigarette stuff, it could have innocent meaning, like someone asking him a question who was smoking. Like leaning in to his car window, or similar.

What I think is most likely is that Gricar, like his brother, committed suicide. I'm not totally sold on him jumping in the river yet, even though that's where the laptop was found. I would be interested in knowing water levels of the Susquehanna at that particular time, particularly how much flow-over the fabridam was seeing.

On the other hand, I wonder if a problematic case subject (not named Sandusky) would have had a motive. One would surmise that after this many years and police investigatio, the answer is probably not.

As for the cigarette piece, as a DA surely Gricar would've been aware that criminals sometimes leave their cigarette butts at the scene of a crime. I have wondered whether or not those were placed there by Gricar in a deliberate attempt to make it look as though he'd been the victim of foul play.

And again, as previously mentioned, he may just have been a closet or occasional smoker. I was myself several years ago.

I think he killed himself. And I do think it had something to do with his knowledge of the Sandusky situation at PSU.

This case was recently featured on the Criminology Podcast (https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/true-crime-all-the-time/criminology).