This happened in the early 80's I believe. Did UM ever do a segment about this? The mother was just in the news recently claiming someone left a photo at her doorstep of her son and 2 other boys bound and gagged on a bed. I saw the photo on her website, it's pretty chilling if it's legit. The photo was obviously taken shortly after the kidnapping, as Gosch would be a grown man now.

Some people have connected him to an alleged pedophile ring in D.C. that provided sex slaves to high profile politicians and dignitaries. There is a book by former Nebraska state senator John DeCamp called the Franklin Cover Up that deals with this. Apparently there is court testimony by one of the victims supposedly caught up in this ring confirming its existence, and he claimed he knew Johnny Gosch and was forced to participate in a snuff film with him. Very weird stuff.

This happened in the early 80's I believe. Did UM ever do a segment about this?

They most likely didn't, because I don't recall such a story being on the show. However, it was featured on America's Most Wanted in the early 1990s.

Johnny Gosch disappeared in 1982.

There is a thread about this case located here

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=181869

Many of us are at the very least skeptical about Mrs. Gosch's claims regarding many aspects of her son's case.

From what I understand the pedophile ring story did not originate with the mother but with independent researchers looking into the Franklin Cover-Up scandal, and Gosch's name came up in Paul Bonacci's testimony, who claims to have been a victim of this ring led by Larry King, head of a S&L in Nebraska. King is serving time for theft from the company and Bonacci won a civil judgment against him. Bonacci claimed to have taken part in the kidnapping of Gosch, and the judge found him to be credible.

The Washington Times did a whole series of articles in the late 80s about the King scandal and it's connection to prominent politicians and Bush I administration officials

Well I know Johnny's dad has said that he doesnt believe his ex-wife. He said he didnt believe her claim that Johnny visited her in 1997 and he doesnt really find this picture that was found by her to be credible either. It sounds like Johnny's dad thinks his ex-wife is just a total nutcase. I know they divorced back in the early 1990's and Johnny's disapperance and his mom's reaction to it had a lot to do with the divorce.

I know they divorced back in the early 1990's and Johnny's disapperance and his mom's reaction to it had a lot to do with the divorce.

That's not surprising. A tragedy involving a child (disappearance, murder, death from an illness, etc.) can easily put a strain on a marriage, especially a marriage that goes through the murder of a child. In fact, John Walsh once said that 80 percent of the parents who lose a child to homicide get divorced. :(

he was maybe sold possibly to the black market

Okay, opening up an old thread here, and to be honest I never paid attention to the Gosch case until now. I have watched footage the last hour to figure things out. It is one of the strangest cases I have ever seen.

It starts out normal. Johnny is delivering his paper route in 1982 on Sunday morning. He is seen being dragged into a car by two men. So far so good. But the twists only begin. Johnny always was required to go with either one of his parents on the route but didn't this morning. That is a fantastic coincidence or just terrible, terrible luck. If it is the former then it might tie into a theory that his parents, or his dad, was in on it.

There are those mysterious pictures that pop up. There is the sighting of Johnny 6 months after his abduction at a gas station pleading with a woman to help him but he is dragged away by two men. There is the admission of a man who claims he was involved in the abduction of Johnny because he was "forced" to do it based on his own experience as an abused child in a pornography ring. Then in 1997 Johnny's mother claims he comes to the door and talks to her for three hours. Very, very strange. He says he can't stay long, he is in danger but that he is alive. She never reports it until a few years later.

Even stranger, Johnny's dad and mom split up in the early 1990s. Johnny's dad is the exact opposite of Noreen. He is skeptical of every single lead. He didn't believe the inmate who claims he helped abduct Johnny. He didn't think the picture looked like Johnny at all because his "ankles" look different. Really? That is bizarre. I have no clue how to even describe my own ankle's let alone my son's. Maybe he just wants to disagree with everything his ex-wife says but either way, he seems far to dismissive for my liking.

Lastly, the former White House reporter Jeff Gannon. Look, I have no idea where he is now. It seems to me that he vanished after all this stuff came out that claims he is Johnny Gosch. Just on the surface he does seem to look like Johnny as an adult, just saying. In the interview I saw him in, the host conducts a very bizarre interview barely even letting him talk to say his side. Basically the host is trying to persuade everyone that it isn't Johnny without "Jeff" even saying anything. Jeff speaks weird, almost robotic, in the interview too. He could have easily squashed the story right there if he was persuasive during the interview but while he claims he would take a DNA test he never did as far as I know. Why is that? Why not give the Gosch family peace of mind? Why not go out of your way to put the story to bed?

So much of this case is very, very weird. Is Johnny actually Jeff Gannon the mysterious reporter that know one knows too much about?

This is a VERY VERY weird case indeed. First off all, I have to wonder, if Johnny was sold into a sex ring, how come they claimed all these sightings of him in the USA? Was it a traveling sex ring? Then the mom (Noreen Gosch) claims that 2 men (one was supposedly Johnny) visited her apartment at 2:30 in the morning in 1997. She claims that he told her he could never make contact with her again because his life was in danger. If I was a parent, I would have done everything in my power to keep him there the night he visited. I would have called the police immediately. I would NOT have let him leave again like that (especially when there is a 15 year gap involved here). I dont know why Noreen would let 2 strangers in her apartment at 2:30am. Im not shure if Noreen is telling the truth or not. She may have been so grief stricken over this that it affected her mental health. They recently had a special on Johnny Gosch on Nancy Grace: Missing America. The one phychologist said that there probably was not much more law enforcement could do because most likely he died very soon after he was abducted and buried in a remote location. She also went on to state that parents in this situation are ripe to be used and abused by private investigators and/or phychics because they know the parents are in a terrible emotional state and they will search every expert in the book until someone tells them what they want to hear. I feel bad for Johnny's parents. No one should have to go through something tragic. If I had magical powers, I would reunite Johnny with his parents (and every missing kid with their parents). Then for the evil perpetrators, I would throw them into a HOT HOT fire pit and watch them suffer.

Quite honestly it's one of the stories that can keep me up at night. So bizarre and disturbing indeed... Maybe it's better not to know what happened.

This will sound odd, but I grew up on this case. I'm from Des Moines, IA. Johnny was taken from the suburb of West Des Moines when I was 2 (the day after my 2nd birthday to be exact). The disappearance of Johnny Gosch was the bedtime story we all heard to scare us about strangers growing up. "Don't talk to strangers or you'll get kidnapped like Johnny Gosch."

The case is steeped in mystery and surrounded by strange events. I remember adults in Des Moines, my familly and parents of friends, making remarks concerning Noreen being someone who wanted to keep herself and her son's case in the limelight. Many of these comments hinted and/or implied that she was doing so in a negative way or for her own benefit more than to see the case solved. I can't speak for any of that, it's only what I remember.

I agree with you, Clockworkhigh, that it is a remarkable coincidence that Johnny went missing the one time he tackled the paper route alone. Two years after Johnny went missing, another paperboy named Eugene Martin went missing in Des Moines (this time less than 6 blocks from my grandmother's home) under nearly identical circumstances. The only real difference in the two cases, is that Johnny made it to the spot to pick up his papers before being taken while Eugene was still on his way. In Eugene's case, as in Johnny's, the boy normally has someone with him. Eugene's older step-brother normally joined him but did not in this case. This similarity makes me think both boys may have been targeted ahead of time and stalked until they were alone.

It's an odd case, for sure, and one that has kept me thinking over the years.

I've spent a lot of time reading about the Johnny Gosch case and it's simultaneously one of the most fascinating and disturbing mysteries of all time. However, spending too much time studying it can make one's head explode, especially with all the crazy conspiracy theories.

I often think there's at least some truth within the wild stories that Noreen Gosch has told, but I can never take anything she says 100 % seriously. My breaking point with her was when she posted "mysterious" photos that she claimed she received on her website which featured a bunch of guys in robes standing over a child. She asked for help identifying the men in the pictures, but the "photos" were clearly stills from a movie or TV show. I mean, my God, these so-called photos had a network logo in the right-hand corner! :confused:

Alright and Jeff Gannon? What is his story. He never took a DNA test as far as I know.

Look, it might be outlandish to think he is Johnny Gosch but in the interview I saw him in he had every opportunity to "humanize" his points but he didn't. Stuff like: "My Aunt (maybe even say her name) was in the delivery room when I was born, she could tell you." He just says some weird stuff. Even about the DNA test. "Yeah I can take one, but they could have gotten some the other day when I pricked my finger." Again, with the past tense. Or how about a picture of when he was young, where he grew up, etc. He did nothing in that interview that was anything but a teleprompter-type of response. It was robotic and lacked any genuine attribute.

How about a face to face with the mom? Or dad? Geez, you think you'd know your kid, even 30 years later. Do what you have to so you can go on with your life.

Maybe it isn't him, but he had every opportunity to persuade me he wasn't and he didn't in that interview.

Alright and Jeff Gannon? What is his story. He never took a DNA test as far as I know.

Gannon is twelve years older than Gosch. We know that Gannon graduated college in 1980. Gosch wasn't kidnapped until 1982. If they're the same person, your only options are that Gosch led a secret life as a ten year old college student or Gannon is a time traveler.

My personal view is that Noreen Gosch is either lying for some reason known only to her, or she has absolutely lost her mind. I lean toward the latter. I haven't been able to give her story any credence since she took the composite drawings of Michaela Garecht's kidnapper and tried to claim they were of a guy named "Tony" who kidnapped her son. And no, there isn't a single thing linking those two kidnappings in any way whatsoever.

Gannon is twelve years older than Gosch. We know that Gannon graduated college in 1980. Gosch wasn't kidnapped until 1982. If they're the same person, your only options are that Gosch led a secret life as a ten year old college student or Gannon is a time traveler.

My personal view is that Noreen Gosch is either lying for some reason known only to her, or she has absolutely lost her mind. I lean toward the latter. I haven't been able to give her story any credence since she took the composite drawings of Michaela Garecht's kidnapper and tried to claim they were of a guy named "Tony" who kidnapped her son. And no, there isn't a single thing linking those two kidnappings in any way whatsoever.

That's the thing, Gannon in an interview said he was 48 years old (in 2005). I don't care if you drank 20 bottles of water a day, there is no way you can look that young at 48 years old. He looked in his mid 30s back in 2005 which would be the same age as Gosch was. If Gannon was truthful you think he'd jump at the chance of a simple DNA test right? Something about him bothered me.

And Noreen? She is either the stupidest, sneakiest or most mentally ill person profiled on a case like this. Her son knocks on her door 15 years after he disappeared and she does nothing because he claims his life is "in danger"? Come on. I would tied my kid up with a rope and call the police so he couldn't leave. At that point you would have to kill me before I would let my son just walk out of my life again. So she either didn't call the cops and she is truthful, she is lying through her teeth intentionally which throws the investigators in limbo or she imagined everything and its a mirage which shows you how sick she is and is something I have sympathy for

Very puzzling dissapearence. Also if anyone already didn't know this, this case was featured on the show Disappeared, on ID.

Personally, no I don't think he'd jump at the chance for a DNA test. If someone was making wild accusations about me being a missing person, I wouldn't want to give them any response whatsoever. It gives their claims a feeling of validity which they honestly don't deserve. I don't think complete strangers should have the power to make me prove that I am not someone, nor do I think they should have the ability to do that to anyone else.

I don't think Gannon looked particularly young. Even if I thought he had, that wouldn't prove anything. It's uncommon for an adult male to look ten or more years younger than he actually is, but it certainly happens.

"I agree with you, Clockworkhigh, that it is a remarkable coincidence that Johnny went missing the one time he tackled the paper route alone. Two years after Johnny went missing, another paperboy named Eugene Martin went missing in Des Moines (this time less than 6 blocks from my grandmother's home) under nearly identical circumstances. The only real difference in the two cases, is that Johnny made it to the spot to pick up his papers before being taken while Eugene was still on his way. In Eugene's case, as in Johnny's, the boy normally has someone with him. Eugene's older step-brother normally joined him but did not in this case. This similarity makes me think both boys may have been targeted ahead of time and stalked until they were alone."


Maybe someone should have looked into who hired Johnny and Eugene as the paperboys for those routes. It seems like that would be the type of person that would have known they were alone on their routes that early in the morning (or at least in Johnny's case: I read that Johnny had a morning route).

Personally, no I don't think he'd jump at the chance for a DNA test. If someone was making wild accusations about me being a missing person, I wouldn't want to give them any response whatsoever. It gives their claims a feeling of validity which they honestly don't deserve. I don't think complete strangers should have the power to make me prove that I am not someone, nor do I think they should have the ability to do that to anyone else.

I don't think Gannon looked particularly young. Even if I thought he had, that wouldn't prove anything. It's uncommon for an adult male to look ten or more years younger than he actually is, but it certainly happens.

You wouldn't want to put the issue to bed? I would. If anything wouldn't you want to give the claims these people are making to have ZERO credibility? It would only take a second to disprove them. And where is Gannon now? Nowhere to be found?

I just find it strange that in that interview he had such a softball question thrown at him: "Are you Johnny Gosch?" I don't know about you, but I could prove I wasn't him just simply with my words and be able to convince a jury of who I really am. That's the issue I had here. I believed Gannon was closer to being Gosch after I saw his interview than before. That should never be.

How did even the mere suspicion of him being Gosch come up in the beginning anyway?

Here's a photo of Johnny Gosch around the time of his disappearance in 1982 at the top and then a photo of "Jeff Gannon" from sometime in the '90's (I believe) at the bottom:

http://media.portland.indymedia.org/images/2005/03/313300.jpg

It does look like it could be the same person.

I always figured that he was just abducted and murdered but maybe there is something to this Franklin Cover Up/Washington D.C. Sex Slave theory.

Here's a photo of Johnny Gosch around the time of his disappearance in 1982 at the top and then a photo of "Jeff Gannon" from sometime in the '90's (I believe) at the bottom:

http://media.portland.indymedia.org/images/2005/03/313300.jpg

It does look like it could be the same person.

I always figured that he was just abducted and murdered but maybe there is something to this Franklin Cover Up/Washington D.C. Sex Slave theory.

Wow..................

You wouldn't want to put the issue to bed? I would. If anything wouldn't you want to give the claims these people are making to have ZERO credibility? It would only take a second to disprove them. And where is Gannon now? Nowhere to be found?

Conspiracy theories seldom work that way. One needs only to look at the Barack Obama birth certificate saga to see that. People insisted that he must have been born outside of the United States, so he produced a birth certificate. The conspiracy theorists said that wasn't good enough, so he produced his "long form" birth certificate. The conspiracy theorists still say that isn't good enough, and they're insistent that everything is actually an extremely elaborate hoax. From their perspective, Obama was born in Kenya and that's that.

If someone believes there is already a conspiracy, it's not very difficult for them to justify that the evidence against their conspiracy is actually just proof that their ideas are right.

Anyway, I think it's silly to ask where Gannon is now. He was a news story seven years ago, and nothing about him is relevant to anyone except those who still believe he must be Johnny Gosch. Asking why he's "nowhere to be found" is like asking why Elian Gonzalez is "nowhere to be found". Neither of them have been a news story in years.

Oh, and here are the origins of the conspiracy as far as I can tell: A user on Democratic Underground noted, not very seriously, that Gosch and Gannon looked a bit alike. Other posters took it very seriously, and they came up with "evidence" that the two were actually the same person. Among their evidence was that Gosch and Gannon have the same initials. This same standard would imply that there's a very good chance they're both actually Janeane Garofalo. Anyway, the conspiracy spread throughout blogs, and a writer for the Des Moines Register wrote about it. Other sources then complained about the absurdity of publishing such things, but that only served to give it more attention. A larger group of people heard about it and decided it must be true, so we ended up where we are now.

"I agree with you, Clockworkhigh, that it is a remarkable coincidence that Johnny went missing the one time he tackled the paper route alone. Two years after Johnny went missing, another paperboy named Eugene Martin went missing in Des Moines (this time less than 6 blocks from my grandmother's home) under nearly identical circumstances. The only real difference in the two cases, is that Johnny made it to the spot to pick up his papers before being taken while Eugene was still on his way. In Eugene's case, as in Johnny's, the boy normally has someone with him. Eugene's older step-brother normally joined him but did not in this case. This similarity makes me think both boys may have been targeted ahead of time and stalked until they were alone."


Maybe someone should have looked into who hired Johnny and Eugene as the paperboys for those routes. It seems like that would be the type of person that would have known they were alone on their routes that early in the morning (or at least in Johnny's case: I read that Johnny had a morning route).

Both boys had morning paper routes and went missing very early in the morning. The details of Eugene Martin's case can be found here:

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/martin_eugene.html

He was seen at approximately 5:15am at 12th and Highview streets talking to an unidentified man. He never made it to the spot to pick up his papers at 14th and Highview two blocks away. My grandmother lived on Payton (one block over from Highview) halfway between 12th and 14th (there was no 13th through that part of town). I've always felt that these two cases were related due to the similarities of the circumstances. The Eugene Martin case received very little media attention as his parents did not push to publicize the case. I wouldn't know about Eugene Martin if I hadn't lived in the neighborhood. I think some sicko was finding victims by targeting paperboys in the Des Moines area. Eugene and Johnny were taken from different sides of town, so I doubt that the same person would have hired them. Young paperboys were very common in Des Moines in those days.

Conspiracy theories seldom work that way. One needs only to look at the Barack Obama birth certificate saga to see that. People insisted that he must have been born outside of the United States, so he produced a birth certificate. The conspiracy theorists said that wasn't good enough, so he produced his "long form" birth certificate. The conspiracy theorists still say that isn't good enough, and they're insistent that everything is actually an extremely elaborate hoax. From their perspective, Obama was born in Kenya and that's that.

If someone believes there is already a conspiracy, it's not very difficult for them to justify that the evidence against their conspiracy is actually just proof that their ideas are right.

Anyway, I think it's silly to ask where Gannon is now. He was a news story seven years ago, and nothing about him is relevant to anyone except those who still believe he must be Johnny Gosch. Asking why he's "nowhere to be found" is like asking why Elian Gonzalez is "nowhere to be found". Neither of them have been a news story in years.

Oh, and here are the origins of the conspiracy as far as I can tell: A user on Democratic Underground noted, not very seriously, that Gosch and Gannon looked a bit alike. Other posters took it very seriously, and they came up with "evidence" that the two were actually the same person. Among their evidence was that Gosch and Gannon have the same initials. This same standard would imply that there's a very good chance they're both actually Janeane Garofalo. Anyway, the conspiracy spread throughout blogs, and a writer for the Des Moines Register wrote about it. Other sources then complained about the absurdity of publishing such things, but that only served to give it more attention. A larger group of people heard about it and decided it must be true, so we ended up where we are now.

I see.................

Still strange for someone to come up with something like that even as a joke. Its like saying Scarlett Johansson looks like Michaela Galbrecht (please don't take that seriously). I mean why would someone even have that on their mind.

I don't know, just the things about Gannon, the mystery behind his past and his very poor and inability to convince me in that interview beyond a shadow of a doubt that he isn't Johnny Gosch makes me wonder, if only a bit

"I wouldn't know about Eugene Martin if I hadn't lived in the neighborhood. I think some sicko was finding victims by targeting paperboys in the Des Moines area. Eugene and Johnny were taken from different sides of town, so I doubt that the same person would have hired them. Young paperboys were very common in Des Moines in those days."

Tha link you provided to Eugene Martin's case stated that they were taken from the same vicinity and both (Gosch's Charley Project page) had the West Des Moines police department listed at the bottom of the page as where to send/provide any information. That doesn't make it seem like they were taken from different sides of town.

Now that I think about it, I agree it probably couldn't be the person that hired them, especially since Johnny didn't tell anyone that he was going to leave that morning without waking up his father (who normally went with him). But I do think it could have been the same random stranger that took both of them.

In both cases, it appears that a man in a vehicle was pretending to ask for directions from each boy (basing this off of the eyewitness descriptions). I'm guessing he just slowly followed them for a minute or two afterwards and then just grabbed them, threw them in his vehicle, and sped off.

Conspiracy theories seldom work that way. One needs only to look at the Barack Obama birth certificate saga to see that. People insisted that he must have been born outside of the United States, so he produced a birth certificate. The conspiracy theorists said that wasn't good enough, so he produced his "long form" birth certificate. The conspiracy theorists still say that isn't good enough, and they're insistent that everything is actually an extremely elaborate hoax. From their perspective, Obama was born in Kenya and that's that.

If someone believes there is already a conspiracy, it's not very difficult for them to justify that the evidence against their conspiracy is actually just proof that their ideas are right.

Anyway, I think it's silly to ask where Gannon is now. He was a news story seven years ago, and nothing about him is relevant to anyone except those who still believe he must be Johnny Gosch. Asking why he's "nowhere to be found" is like asking why Elian Gonzalez is "nowhere to be found". Neither of them have been a news story in years.

Oh, and here are the origins of the conspiracy as far as I can tell: A user on Democratic Underground noted, not very seriously, that Gosch and Gannon looked a bit alike. Other posters took it very seriously, and they came up with "evidence" that the two were actually the same person. Among their evidence was that Gosch and Gannon have the same initials. This same standard would imply that there's a very good chance they're both actually Janeane Garofalo. Anyway, the conspiracy spread throughout blogs, and a writer for the Des Moines Register wrote about it. Other sources then complained about the absurdity of publishing such things, but that only served to give it more attention. A larger group of people heard about it and decided it must be true, so we ended up where we are now.

I agree with all of this.

Let's say that Gannon were to agree to a DNA test, boom, the results come in and he is not Johnny. The conspiracy theorists are just going to say that someone in the lab was paid off to mess with the test results. You can't win with people who have a conspiracy answer for everything.

Okay, opening up an old thread here, and to be honest I never paid attention to the Gosch case until now. I have watched footage the last hour to figure things out. It is one of the strangest cases I have ever seen.

It starts out normal. Johnny is delivering his paper route in 1982 on Sunday morning. He is seen being dragged into a car by two men. So far so good. But the twists only begin. Johnny always was required to go with either one of his parents on the route but didn't this morning. That is a fantastic coincidence or just terrible, terrible luck. If it is the former then it might tie into a theory that his parents, or his dad, was in on it.

There are those mysterious pictures that pop up. There is the sighting of Johnny 6 months after his abduction at a gas station pleading with a woman to help him but he is dragged away by two men. There is the admission of a man who claims he was involved in the abduction of Johnny because he was "forced" to do it based on his own experience as an abused child in a pornography ring. Then in 1997 Johnny's mother claims he comes to the door and talks to her for three hours. Very, very strange. He says he can't stay long, he is in danger but that he is alive. She never reports it until a few years later.

Even stranger, Johnny's dad and mom split up in the early 1990s. Johnny's dad is the exact opposite of Noreen. He is skeptical of every single lead. He didn't believe the inmate who claims he helped abduct Johnny. He didn't think the picture looked like Johnny at all because his "ankles" look different. Really? That is bizarre. I have no clue how to even describe my own ankle's let alone my son's. Maybe he just wants to disagree with everything his ex-wife says but either way, he seems far to dismissive for my liking.

Lastly, the former White House reporter Jeff Gannon. Look, I have no idea where he is now. It seems to me that he vanished after all this stuff came out that claims he is Johnny Gosch. Just on the surface he does seem to look like Johnny as an adult, just saying. In the interview I saw him in, the host conducts a very bizarre interview barely even letting him talk to say his side. Basically the host is trying to persuade everyone that it isn't Johnny without "Jeff" even saying anything. Jeff speaks weird, almost robotic, in the interview too. He could have easily squashed the story right there if he was persuasive during the interview but while he claims he would take a DNA test he never did as far as I know. Why is that? Why not give the Gosch family peace of mind? Why not go out of your way to put the story to bed?

So much of this case is very, very weird. Is Johnny actually Jeff Gannon the mysterious reporter that know one knows too much about?


WHAT IF the father kidnapped him... the photos were all found at the mother's house it is possible he dropped them there.. for her to spot...

But even if the Dad did theoretically kidnap him surely Johnny would've contacted his Mother years ago. Sorry I don't buy it. I realize it could happen. (Look at poor J.C.) But I think Johnny would've turned up if his Dad had nabbed him. *something* would've surfaced. Sadly I think the man claiming he is Johnny is just a con artist preying on people's emotions.

But even if the Dad did theoretically kidnap him surely Johnny would've contacted his Mother years ago. Sorry I don't buy it. I realize it could happen. (Look at poor J.C.) But I think Johnny would've turned up if his Dad had nabbed him. *something* would've surfaced. Sadly I think the man claiming he is Johnny is just a con artist preying on people's emotions.

He (Jeff Gannon) isn't claiming that he's Johnny: other people are claiming that he is.

But why won't he take a DNA test and debunk this whole thing? I've watched the interview. (If you could call it that.) To my knowledge he has never had a DNA test. He claimed to be a male model and gay male Escort. I wonder if he has made profit from this whole strange case. Like I said I don't think it's Johnny.

I'm sorry to say I think Noreen is a certified Bird. Claiming Johnny and other kids were kidnapped and programmed to be sex slave Zombies by the C.I.A. and given multiple personalities. But good for her for managing to write a ludicrous book about Johnny's diassappearence and making $ off of it. Not a legit book. But one filled with wild theories.

"But why won't he take a DNA test and debunk this whole thing?"

I agree.

I know someone above mentioned that it won't satisfy conspiracy-theorists, but to people who can be rational (and I think that goes for all of us in this thread who think Gannon should just take the DNA test and get it over with) it would be enough to satisfy us once we could learn the test results.

bumping it up again.

Alright, that MSNBC interview is weird. Why is the host answering all of the questions for "Jeff"? You have see an interview where you hope the person talking is rational and can put to bed any doubts you have and then they just made you even MORE suspicious? That's what it is with this one.

Jeff is constantly looking to the side of the camera. He is shifty eyed. He is never looking into the camera. His answers are robotic. He had absolutely no right to be one of the most prestigious reporters in the country who has the ability to ask the President daily questions. That is a hard job to get, you know? Plus, let's face one thing, if Johnny was kidnapped and is truly Jeff Gannon then it isn't hard to do a little plastic surgery. Heck we now have Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner in the news and we can't imagine a nose job or something like that? You can completely make a person look different.

Where is Jeff Gannon now? I am not convinced he is NOT Gosch. He didn't do that in the interview. I could be very convincing with common sense and rational talk alone in an interview just by talking about my past openly. He didn't.

I put as much stock into Johnny visiting his Mom randomly at 3 a.m. as I do with Jeff being Johnny. Stranger things have happened but I don't really believe it. Where is Jeff now I wonder? What has he been doing all these years?

She has zero credibility.

She has zero credibility.

So then who the heck was it who visited her? If she is lying and it was no one at all then why do it? Your son is missing - for real - and you make up this lie to throw the case off. If she is just simply mentally ill and THINKS this happened but it didn't, then why isn't this mentioned? She badly needs a doctor.

I would imagine nobody visited her, if they did it was a prankster-like sending her those photos years later which led to her making a fool of herself on her website, among other embarrassing statements. There was no real investigation-he was abducted & murdered, she never accepted it.

I don't believe Johnny is alive, either. Sadly, he's been gone a long time. Noreen just desperately WANTS to believe Johnny survived, and came to visit her, but currently lives in hiding. For awhile, she was even blaming her ex, Johnny's father, for having a hand in his disappearance. I do believe that Johnny, Eugene Martin, and Marc Allen's cases are all related though in the sense it was the same person/people behind it. I read "Why Johnny Can't Come Home" a few years ago. It was a real disjointed, rambling book, but I think there is truth behind the pedophile ring, etc. I feel for the Gosch family, what a horrible tragedy they have had to survive, but I just can't believe the visit of Johnny in 1997, or the whole Jeff Gannon thing.

So then who the heck was it who visited her? If she is lying and it was no one at all then why do it? Your son is missing - for real - and you make up this lie to throw the case off. If she is just simply mentally ill and THINKS this happened but it didn't, then why isn't this mentioned? She badly needs a doctor.

Who says anyone actually visited her? I mean, she is the only witness to this supposed meeting. Maybe she imagined it. Or as someone else said, maybe someone did visit her, but it was just a cruel prank. Really, though, we only have her word to take for it.

I don't believe Johnny is alive, either. Sadly, he's been gone a long time. Noreen just desperately WANTS to believe Johnny survived, and came to visit her, but currently lives in hiding. For awhile, she was even blaming her ex, Johnny's father, for having a hand in his disappearance. I do believe that Johnny, Eugene Martin, and Marc Allen's cases are all related though in the sense it was the same person/people behind it. I read "Why Johnny Can't Come Home" a few years ago. It was a real disjointed, rambling book, but I think there is truth behind the pedophile ring, etc. I feel for the Gosch family, what a horrible tragedy they have had to survive, but I just can't believe the visit of Johnny in 1997, or the whole Jeff Gannon thing.
I agree entirely. Watching Beth Holloway's segment on Johnny, I believe Noreen is a good person, but her desperation either caused her to hallucinate the visit (or it was a dream) or fall susceptible to a prank by someone posing as Johnny. I think the ring is real, to an extent, but I don't think Johnny is alive. I think he was either murdered shortly after his disappearance or within a year or two (if he was forced to be part of that ring).

Wow, I just read the Jeff Gannon wikipedia page and it is completely bizarre without ever even mentioning Gosch.

Wow, I just read the Jeff Gannon wikipedia page and it is completely bizarre without ever even mentioning Gosch.

Yes it is. That guy is extremely bizarre in his own way. The way he talks is as if he is programmed. I'm serious, it really looks that way in interviews. He is constantly looking away from the camera, looking and someone or something behind it, etc.

If he isn't Johnny Gosch, he did a TERRIBLE job convincing people of that. I mean, how hard is it to convince the public you are NOT someone? I could do that in a flash.

They could do DNA testing & whatever else & Noreen & her supporters would cry foul about it all being fake-it is a lose/lose situation.

They could do DNA testing & whatever else & Noreen & her supporters would cry foul about it all being fake-it is a lose/lose situation.

I consider myself to be a supporter of Noreen, even if I'm not sure I believe her story about Johnny visiting her in her apartment, but she still suffered a lot of hardships in her life and for that she deserves support.

I consider myself to be a supporter of Noreen, even if I'm not sure I believe her story about Johnny visiting her in her apartment, but she still suffered a lot of hardships in her life and for that she deserves support.

So do many other people who lose kids-but they don't start inventing pedo rings involving presidents etc & drag people like Gannon into it interfering with his life/causing him damage. What about her husband? He lost the same child & went through the same grief. Yes I feel sorry for anybody whose child was abducted & murdered, but that doesn't extend to all the trouble she has caused because she cannot accept reality & move on & making a fool of herself on her website for years.

I consider myself to be a supporter of Noreen, even if I'm not sure I believe her story about Johnny visiting her in her apartment, but she still suffered a lot of hardships in her life and for that she deserves support.

I agree. I don't believe the vast majority of Noreen's assertions, but I think it gets lost in that mix that ultimately this is a woman whose child was abruptly taken away from her and three decades later, she still has no idea where he is. I cannot imagine the immense brokenness and pain she has had to endure all this time--it must be a living hell. She does deserve support, which is totally different from unquestioning acceptance of some of the theories she puts forth.

So do many other people who lose kids-but they don't start inventing pedo rings involving presidents etc & drag people like Gannon into it interfering with his life/causing him damage. What about her husband? He lost the same child & went through the same grief. Yes I feel sorry for anybody whose child was abducted & murdered, but that doesn't extend to all the trouble she has caused because she cannot accept reality & move on & making a fool of herself on her website for years.

Yeah, but there is something very bizarre about Jeff Gannon. The guy STILL hasn't taken a DNA test to this day. He was unable to make any kind of convincing argument that he is NOT Johnny Gosch. I mean, how hard is it in an interview to convince the public that you are not another person? It should be easy, but he did things so confusing that you aren't sure anymore.

Yeah, but there is something very bizarre about Jeff Gannon. The guy STILL hasn't taken a DNA test to this day. He was unable to make any kind of convincing argument that he is NOT Johnny Gosch. I mean, how hard is it in an interview to convince the public that you are not another person? It should be easy, but he did things so confusing that you aren't sure anymore.

Jeff Gannon and Johnny Gosch are absolutely 100% the same person. This is one of the creepiest, weirdest cases ever because the missing kid is in the public eye but there are still so many questions.

Yeah, but there is something very bizarre about Jeff Gannon. The guy STILL hasn't taken a DNA test to this day. He was unable to make any kind of convincing argument that he is NOT Johnny Gosch. I mean, how hard is it in an interview to convince the public that you are not another person? It should be easy, but he did things so confusing that you aren't sure anymore.

Being bizarre/weird isn't a crime-if it was many people would be locked up. I don't believe the majority of the public believe he is JG-just a minority & whatever you do will fail to convince them, just look at the Oklahoma bombing & 9/11 conspiracies still running & will be until the end of time. You don't need to take a DNA test unless you have committed a crime-being accused of being somebody else by a woman who has shown her level of delusion over decades isn't that.

Jeff Gannon and Johnny Gosch are absolutely 100% the same person. This is one of the creepiest, weirdest cases ever because the missing kid is in the public eye but there are still so many questions.

Britney Spears & Michaela Garecht are 100% the same person, she was abducted by a political pedo ring, then when she was fully trained was put on the Mickey Mouse Club with all its pedo imagery & then projected onto the masses as an 18 year old sex object being controlled by the elite. I have zero evidence for any of this baseless speculation but it is true.

Britney Spears & Michaela Garecht are 100% the same person, she was abducted by a political pedo ring, then when she was fully trained was put on the Mickey Mouse Club with all its pedo imagery & then projected onto the masses as an 18 year old sex object being controlled by the elite. I have zero evidence for any of this baseless speculation but it is true.

You're entitled to your beliefs and I'm entitled to mine. I'm 1000% convinced that Jeff is Johnny. Say what you like, but you will not convince me otherwise. You can quit it with the snarky, condescending attitude, though.

You're entitled to your beliefs and I'm entitled to mine. I'm 1000% convinced that Jeff is Johnny. Say what you like, but you will not convince me otherwise. You can quit it with the snarky, condescending attitude, though.

It was to point out how irrational it is. Just accept the kid met a horrible end at the hands of a sick person.

Interesting. You obviously have something to gain from denying that Gannon is Gosch.

I don't do skeptics, so you may not want to continue this line of discussion with me.

Being bizarre/weird isn't a crime-if it was many people would be locked up. I don't believe the majority of the public believe he is JG-just a minority & whatever you do will fail to convince them, just look at the Oklahoma bombing & 9/11 conspiracies still running & will be until the end of time. You don't need to take a DNA test unless you have committed a crime-being accused of being somebody else by a woman who has shown her level of delusion over decades isn't that.

It goes beyond that though. It is a baffling mystery on how Gannon even got what you would think is a pretty impossible job of asking questions to the President of the United States everyday. How many do this? 30? You can spend your whole life in journalism and never get a shot, but this guy gets in and no one knows where he is even from? In fact, he can't even convince us in his own interview that he ISN'T Johnny. How hard is that? I'll say again, this was an interview that made you far more suspicious than you were going in. How is that possible? How hard is it to make a convincing argument that you aren't another human being?

I'd like to know where the guy is now.

For some reason this thread reminded me of the movie The Imposter (doc from 2012). I recommend it if you haven't seen it. I often wonder if a lot of abductions are carried out by people the victims know.

Interesting. You obviously have something to gain from denying that Gannon is Gosch.

Oh boy am I part of the conspiracy now? I was also part of Amy Bradley's disappearance a while back-not bad for a UK citizen who was 6 years old when Gosch went missing & 21 when Bradley vanished & has never been overseas.

It goes beyond that though. It is a baffling mystery on how Gannon even got what you would think is a pretty impossible job of asking questions to the President of the United States everyday. How many do this? 30? You can spend your whole life in journalism and never get a shot, but this guy gets in and no one knows where he is even from? In fact, he can't even convince us in his own interview that he ISN'T Johnny. How hard is that? I'll say again, this was an interview that made you far more suspicious than you were going in. How is that possible? How hard is it to make a convincing argument that you aren't another human being?

I'd like to know where the guy is now.

Not that surprising-how were people able to convince people they were concentration camp survivors for decades & sell books on it? How was that woman able to convince people she was in the twin towers & escaped for 7 odd years? Usually rather than conspiracies most things just boil down to good old incompetence.

I haven't been able to find this interview online-is there any link to it?

Not that surprising-how were people able to convince people they were concentration camp survivors for decades & sell books on it? How was that woman able to convince people she was in the twin towers & escaped for 7 odd years? Usually rather than conspiracies most things just boil down to good old incompetence.

He was definitely allowed to bypass the normal background check needed for access (and was even allowed to use an alias??) and didn't have any background as a journalist. You should read his wiki page, it's quite interesting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Gannon

I don't know anything about why he would be this missing kid though. It sounds as if he was a press plant for the Bush administration to ask W. easy, softball questions.

He was definitely allowed to bypass the normal background check needed for access (and was even allowed to use an alias??) and didn't have any background as a journalist. You should read his wiki page, it's quite interesting:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Gannon

I don't know anything about why he would be this missing kid though. It sounds as if he was a press plant for the Bush administration to ask W. easy, softball questions.

Quite possible-our house of commons every session have scripted softball comments from back benchers to the prime minister that elicit groans from the opposition party members there. Maybe he knew somebody in some position who made it possible for him.

I also find it incredibly tenuous-how did he even come to be accused of being JG? How did somebody think this guy looked like pictures of a chlld from 25 odd years earlier?

I think I found the video-some show with a guy who was like a cheerleader for him & a woman who was asking the questions, thought he came across very well with the guy constantly butting in & trying to answer for him. My guess is he had enough of all this stuff & wanted a quiet life so vanished.

There is a new documentary on this case called "Who Took Johnny" on Netflix. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet so I can't speak to its content, but I plan on watching soon. I've always found this case fascinating. I firmly believe Jeff Gannon is Johnny Gosch.

There is a new documentary on this case called "Who Took Johnny" on Netflix. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet so I can't speak to its content, but I plan on watching soon. I've always found this case fascinating. I firmly believe Jeff Gannon is Johnny Gosch.

Thanks for posting this.

I just watched "Who Took Johnny" on Netflix. Wow... What a messed up story. My heart goes out to his mom and dad. No matter what she did or what people think of her, I can't imagine what she went through. It's especially hard to learn that back then the cops would wait 72 hours (?!?) after a child went missing to investigate. I am thankful for all Johnny's parents did to get laws and procedures changed for all missing kids.

As for the case itself, I'm 100% convinced he was abducted, but after that... who knows. Paul Bonocci is damaged goods (I don't say that in a mean way) and it is so hard to tell if what he says is truthful or not. I do find it old that the West Des Moines Police never interviewed him. He seems to have a lot of info on this case, yet it is all still a bit vague. He also would have been very young when Johnny was abducted making me wonder if someone really would have invovled Paul in the kidnapping.

There is so much noise with this case that it is hard to separate the facts from the myths. The film was good but I wish they would have gone in to more detail on the $1 bill that had the message "I'm alive Johnny Gosh" on it. Was it ever proven to be authentic or not?

I'm also torn on whether Noreen Gosch was visited by Johnny or not. She wants to believe it and you'd think after all those years, a mom would still know her child. I also doubt she is making this up. So I really think she believes it, but whether he is Johnny or not remains in doubt.

Now that I have children I can't imagine how tough it must be to have a child go missing. Must be hell to live with every day.

I watched it too and was intrigued. I don't doubt that Noreen was visited by Johnny in 1997. I believe he is currently hiding, and hiding in plain sight as Gannon.

I thought Noreen came off quite likable in the documentary. Her child was missing---of course she was going to be assertive and "pushy" and do what it took to find him, so it's troubling to me that people/police had a problem with her.

Was it Johnny or some other boy kidnapped around the same time who temporarily broke free of his captors, ran up to two women on the street and yelled "Help" and his name, but before anyone could do anything he was recaptured and never seen again? It seems that if this happened the witnesses could at least describe the individuals and vehicle involved. I remember this being a 13-year-old paperboy but not when and where, thanks.

I don't believe that is Gosch. There was another paperboy who was kidnapped two years after Johnny, but he was never recovered. I know there was also a third, but I also don't believe he was ever seen again (to my knowledge).

Eugene Wade Martin in 1984 and Mark Allan in 1986. Eugene was delivering papers when he disappeared, Mark vanished in the afternoon/evening. Neither one was ever seen again.

OK maybe I am missing something here but why wouldn't Johnny just come forward and speak out and prove who he is at this point? Surely if he is for some reason still scared of someone or something he could get some kind of protection. That's what I find the strangest thing. If he really is living, he could clear this all up, and why wouldn't he contact his mother again? Why go on living a semi-public life as someone else, saying or hinting at who you really are, but not prove it? It makes no sense to me and sounds like someone else just playing some kind of sick game for attention, or something. There would be no reason to have not come forward and answered all unanswered questions at this point, imo, again, unless I said there is something I'm really missing here.

They explain in the film why he won't come forward.

If you want to know what long term sexual abuse of a young child can do, you needn't look any further that Paul Bonocci. That guy is all kinds of not right.

I pray that he is in a better place in his life now. Just watching that documentary, you could visibly see how messed up Paul was.

They explain in the film why he won't come forward.

Because he is dead is the real reason.

If you want to know what long term sexual abuse of a young child can do, you needn't look any further that Paul Bonocci. That guy is all kinds of not right.

I pray that he is in a better place in his life now. Just watching that documentary, you could visibly see how messed up Paul was.

That is if you believe a word he says, I have seen zero evidence that he was anything other than a convicted child molester & attempted fraudster who became a male escort to make money.

I wish the documentary had delved more into the Jeff Gannon connection. That's my only criticism. Otherwise, the film hit all the main points and explained itself very well.

That is if you believe a word he says, I have seen zero evidence that he was anything other than a convicted child molester & attempted fraudster who became a male escort to make money.

So you're discounting the fact that there are pedophile rings out there that abduct children for unspeakable reasons?

I'm kind of shocked that there's not more outrage about the Franklin Abuse case to this day. For some reason, people seem remarkably chill about the fact that there's powerful people who pay to have abducted children brought to them for sex.

It's ghastly and horrifying to be honest and I don't get why anyone would pretend to be a victim of that. What could possibly be a reason why a guy would do that?

So you're discounting the fact that there are pedophile rings out there that abduct children for unspeakable reasons?

I'm kind of shocked that there's not more outrage about the Franklin Abuse case to this day. For some reason, people seem remarkably chill about the fact that there's powerful people who pay to have abducted children brought to them for sex.

It's ghastly and horrifying to be honest and I don't get why anyone would pretend to be a victim of that. What could possibly be a reason why a guy would do that?

Not at all, although the vast majority of abuse is conducted by family members or people close to the family.

Well the only book written about it was by the guy representing Bonacci, Owen etc-I think that speaks volumes about the lack of actual evidence & the allegations have all the hallmarks of SRA which had been prevalent in the US for several years when these allegations were made & didn't hold up to any kind of scrutiny, nor did it in the UK when we had our own wave from the late 1980's/early 1990's, before an investigation concluded it didn't exist.

Why did somebody pretend they were in the Twin Towers on 9/11? Why have people pretended they were in concentration camps during WW2? Why do people come out & say they have been victims of sex trafficking & rape by all manner of people from Reagan to Boxcar Willie? Daddy/parental issues, attention seeking, monetary gain, mental illness & other reasons.

So you're discounting the fact that there are pedophile rings out there that abduct children for unspeakable reasons?

I'm kind of shocked that there's not more outrage about the Franklin Abuse case to this day. For some reason, people seem remarkably chill about the fact that there's powerful people who pay to have abducted children brought to them for sex.

It's ghastly and horrifying to be honest and I don't get why anyone would pretend to be a victim of that. What could possibly be a reason why a guy would do that?

I agree completely. I've noticed on this board that there are posters who won't accept any theory that's even slightly left of center. But there's so much evidence that this human trafficking ring exists, it boggles my mind that posters continue to deny it.

I watched the documentary on Netflix last night and this is a fascinating case! I had heard about the case before but only had vague memories. One detail I remembered was that Noreen had come under suspicion over the years and people doubted that she had been visited by Johnny years later. As I as watching I thought she came across well until the part about Johnny visiting her in 1997. Noreen claims that Johnny said he was in danger and couldn't stay and wouldn't reveal too many details. Noreen surmised that Johnny didn't want to endanger her by revealing too much info about his captors and his ordeal. What I don't understand is why Noreen would make the media rounds and reveal that Johnny had visited her? Wouldn't that be putting Johnny and potentially herself in danger? She blew his cover and could have had him silenced forever. Why would she take that chance? It really didn't make any sense to me and made me question the other evidence that fell into her lap such as the dollar bill and the photos.

Noreen has even accused her ex husband of kidnapping Johnny (in an interview with Rollye James, on the forbidden site).

I don't think she is purposely misleading people but I do believe she is delusional and unable to decipher reality at this point. I am not saying that everything involved (Franklin scandal, sex rings, etc) did not happen, but it doesn't change the most believable option to me, that he is dead.

I was surprised when Jacob Wetterling's mother recently commented that she had believed until this point that her son could still be alive. I guess when you face these circumstances, you cling to any hope. And maybe that is what Noreen has done.

Noreen has even accused her ex husband of kidnapping Johnny (in an interview with Rollye James, on the forbidden site).

I don't think she is purposely misleading people but I do believe she is delusional and unable to decipher reality at this point. I am not saying that everything involved (Franklin scandal, sex rings, etc) did not happen, but it doesn't change the most believable option to me, that he is dead.

I was surprised when Jacob Wetterling's mother recently commented that she had believed until this point that her son could still be alive. I guess when you face these circumstances, you cling to any hope. And maybe that is what Noreen has done.

From memory weren't his parent highly religious? No doubt that can play a huge part in avoiding reality for many people.

Thin what you want about Noreen, but the other facts speak for themselves. She certainly didn't plant evidence at that deserted house where Johnny was being held.

People are way too critical/skeptical here.

I watched the documentary on Netflix last night and this is a fascinating case! I had heard about the case before but only had vague memories. One detail I remembered was that Noreen had come under suspicion over the years and people doubted that she had been visited by Johnny years later. As I as watching I thought she came across well until the part about Johnny visiting her in 1997. Noreen claims that Johnny said he was in danger and couldn't stay and wouldn't reveal too many details. Noreen surmised that Johnny didn't want to endanger her by revealing too much info about his captors and his ordeal. What I don't understand is why Noreen would make the media rounds and reveal that Johnny had visited her? Wouldn't that be putting Johnny and potentially herself in danger? She blew his cover and could have had him silenced forever. Why would she take that chance? It really didn't make any sense to me and made me question the other evidence that fell into her lap such as the dollar bill and the photos.

She didn't blow his cover. She has no idea where he went after he visited her.

Thin what you want about Noreen, but the other facts speak for themselves. She certainly didn't plant evidence at that deserted house where Johnny was being held.

People are way too critical/skeptical here.

She didn't, but it is highly likely that Bonacci did. You have to be critical/skeptical of this case-Noreen is obviously suffering from mental illness bought on by her son's disappearance & has created a bizarre fantasy world with the help of opportunist criminals like the kiddie fiddler PB & possibly sick hoaxers & pot stirrers.

Really the 'evidence' is sorely lacking, initially due to the police ineptitude & then due to the nature & unreliability of the characters involved who are producing this evidence, which despite being investigated has never amounted to anything. It reminds me of the Danny Casolaro case-where the star witness of the Octopus is an habitual liar residing in a jail cell.

I was most interested in the lack of cooperation from the local police and FBI. Especially the few seconds they had from a current FBI representative. Really? They agree to be on camera for a documentary about Johnny Gosch but won't talk about Johnny Gosch?

I was most interested in the lack of cooperation from the local police and FBI. Especially the few seconds they had from a current FBI representative. Really? They agree to be on camera for a documentary about Johnny Gosch but won't talk about Johnny Gosch?

Rather depends on what was agreed on beforehand & if the producers deviated from that script, if this is the case that may have been done for a reaction.

I was most interested in the lack of cooperation from the local police and FBI. Especially the few seconds they had from a current FBI representative. Really? They agree to be on camera for a documentary about Johnny Gosch but won't talk about Johnny Gosch?

I agree, but it is even more evidence that there is a conspiracy going on here.

There was a disregard by law enforcement to look into this case as a kidnapping. They were inclined to believe it was a runaway situation. Back then, these things were not handled the way they are now. Now, once a child is abducted, most of us are alerted with our phones.

Additionally, there were some conspiracies/ cover-up issues (Such as the Franklin cover up, and problems with the Sheriff in that area of Iowa). I believe the Franklin Scandal was only prosecuted as a white-collar crime. No other theories could be proven in a court.

But, in my opinion, this does not mean Johnny is still alive. Yes, he was kidnapped and the motivation was sexual (although this has not been proven either). And perhaps he was sold into sex slavery. But all of this information still does not make me believe that (a) he visited Noreen in 1998 at her apartment for an hour, and (b) he is alive and in hiding.

As mentioned in the documentary, Noreen's early life was not ideal. She lost her home and all possessions when she was in her twenties due to a tornado, and months later, her first husband died. She was left with two small kids to raise on her own. Years later, she loses Johnny. I think a lot of this has affected her personality and her reality. It is not to her own fault, she is only doing what she has to do to survive.

So, I believe some of what she says, and the other stuff, I just take it with a grain of salt. God bless her.

There was a disregard by law enforcement to look into this case as a kidnapping. They were inclined to believe it was a runaway situation. Back then, these things were not handled the way they are now. Now, once a child is abducted, most of us are alerted with our phones.

Additionally, there were some conspiracies/ cover-up issues (Such as the Franklin cover up, and problems with the Sheriff in that area of Iowa). I believe the Franklin Scandal was only prosecuted as a white-collar crime. No other theories could be proven in a court.

But, in my opinion, this does not mean Johnny is still alive. Yes, he was kidnapped and the motivation was sexual (although this has not been proven either). And perhaps he was sold into sex slavery. But all of this information still does not make me believe that (a) he visited Noreen in 1998 at her apartment for an hour, and (b) he is alive and in hiding.

As mentioned in the documentary, Noreen's early life was not ideal. She lost her home and all possessions when she was in her twenties due to a tornado, and months later, her first husband died. She was left with two small kids to raise on her own. Years later, she loses Johnny. I think a lot of this has affected her personality and her reality. It is not to her own fault, she is only doing what she has to do to survive.

So, I believe some of what she says, and the other stuff, I just take it with a grain of salt. God bless her.

I completely disagree with this. I believe Johnny is hiding in plain sight as Jeff Gannon.

There was a disregard by law enforcement to look into this case as a kidnapping. They were inclined to believe it was a runaway situation. Back then, these things were not handled the way they are now. Now, once a child is abducted, most of us are alerted with our phones.

Additionally, there were some conspiracies/ cover-up issues (Such as the Franklin cover up, and problems with the Sheriff in that area of Iowa). I believe the Franklin Scandal was only prosecuted as a white-collar crime. No other theories could be proven in a court.

But, in my opinion, this does not mean Johnny is still alive. Yes, he was kidnapped and the motivation was sexual (although this has not been proven either). And perhaps he was sold into sex slavery. But all of this information still does not make me believe that (a) he visited Noreen in 1998 at her apartment for an hour, and (b) he is alive and in hiding.

As mentioned in the documentary, Noreen's early life was not ideal. She lost her home and all possessions when she was in her twenties due to a tornado, and months later, her first husband died. She was left with two small kids to raise on her own. Years later, she loses Johnny. I think a lot of this has affected her personality and her reality. It is not to her own fault, she is only doing what she has to do to survive.

So, I believe some of what she says, and the other stuff, I just take it with a grain of salt. God bless her.

I really want to believe Noreen, but part of me believes that she has made up certain developments (the pictures left at her front door, Johnny visiting her years later) to keep the story alive. I think she's desperate for answers and resolutions and I can't blame her.

I completely disagree with this. I believe Johnny is hiding in plain sight as Jeff Gannon.

Only problem with this theory is that Gannon is patently a lot older than Gosch & there are pictures of him from the 1970's & 1980's. Also don't you think if Noreen met him in 1997 & sat talking to him for hours that she would recognise him?

Those "pictures" of Gannon are all part of the conspiracy.

As for Noreen, I don't believe she has met Gannon.

Those "pictures" of Gannon are all part of the conspiracy.

As for Noreen, I don't believe she has met Gannon.

It is a great conspiracy, they created an entire life for him spanning back before Johnny was even born & have created parents, teachers, schoolmates etc. Well if as she claims she met Johnny in 1997 then she must have met Gannon if he is Johnny?

I'm done with your condescending attitude, James.

Not condescending at all, just stating facts, an opinion.

I just saw the documentary. It was very well done. It also made me understand the mom more although I'm not sure at all what happened. There were key things that were astounding like how did Bonacci knew all that and how was he tied to that house. He definitely looks like he did get molested. That being said, I thought that they weren't talking a lot about the visit and suddenly when they did, I knew why they didn't. It kind of took most of the credibility off her and the story. Still it's a tough situation and it's maddening how bad the police were and how much time they wasted because of it.

Oh, you're absolutely condescending. Now keep your skepticism to yourself and let the grown-ups talk.

Very mature, I have never had a pop at you for your conspiracy mindset which you are as free to have as I am a non-conspiracy one. Rather than making personal attacks why don't you debate the points made like I have done with you? If you are unable to then just ignore my posts which I shall continue to make, whether you like it or not.

I just saw the documentary. It was very well done. It also made me understand the mom more although I'm not sure at all what happened. There were key things that were astounding like how did Bonacci knew all that and how was he tied to that house. He definitely looks like he did get molested. That being said, I thought that they weren't talking a lot about the visit and suddenly when they did, I knew why they didn't. It kind of took most of the credibility off her and the story. Still it's a tough situation and it's maddening how bad the police were and how much time they wasted because of it.

Sounds like the Avery thing-the makers have set out to prove some grand conspiracy & ignore all the evidence that points to it simply being a child abduction/murder by a pedophile & an inept investigation by the cops.

Oh, you're absolutely condescending. Now keep your skepticism to yourself and let the grown-ups talk.

So nobody is allowed to have an opinion on the case that deviates from your theory? Seems childish to me.

So nobody is allowed to have an opinion on the case that deviates from your theory? Seems childish to me.

What's funny is that nobody else is talking about that Gannon theory but him. Even the movie didn't mention it at all.

So nobody is allowed to have an opinion on the case that deviates from your theory? Seems childish to me.

Actually, the exact opposite is true. James T is attempting to silence anyone who believes Noreen or the Gannon theory.

I'm tired of skeptics. You all need to embrace the mysterious and intriguing elements of these cases.

What's funny is that nobody else is talking about that Gannon theory but him. Even the movie didn't mention it at all.

Why is that funny?

Why is that funny?

It appears to me that you will only be satisfied if everyone agrees to YOUR theory.

I do not think anyone has said anything negative to you, or condescending in anyway. People are free to have their own theory about the case. They don't have to believe things the way you do.

The Jeff Gannon connection to me is ridiculous. And I have followed this case for many years.

Yep. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion on the matter. You don't have to agree, I just ask that when someone may not share your respective opinion, you simply agree to disagree. If a poster is really ticking you off, you can always hit that "ignore function."

With that being said-- As far as the comments that perhaps Noreen is embellishing to keep her son's case in the news, I could actually see that happening. I know as James Renner has sunk his teeth into the Maura Murray disappearance, he's found that the family had been less than forthcoming about a lot of details from Maura's history. Which makes sense to me. They want to paint the picture of the "girl next door" so everyone will feel sympathetic and compelled to look for her. Had the public known certain details about her past, her case may not have gotten as much attention. Did Noreen do the same thing by embellishing details about her son in order to keep his case alive? I don't know, but I certainly see that within the realm of possibility.

As for the Gannon theory, I have no idea. Upon first blush, it seems like it would take a huge number of people to pull that off. And the little bit I know about Gannon suggests to me that he's not really "hiding in plain sight," if that were Gosch's intentions... My gut reaction is that Gannon is a con man who is using the Gosch connection to extend his 15 minutes of fame.

Maybe I'll feel differently after watching the documentary. I just added it to my queue.

Thanks. I've just added several posters to my ignore list.

Before I moderated, I used the "ignore" a few times and it's pretty sweet. :)

Actually, the exact opposite is true. James T is attempting to silence anyone who believes Noreen or the Gannon theory.

I'm tired of skeptics. You all need to embrace the mysterious and intriguing elements of these cases.

Absolutely not, I have never made any attempt to tell you or anybody else to stop posting in this or any other thread & never will. I will point out logical flaws in your or anybodies arguments & would appreciate it if those points would then be debated calmly rather than calling me names & telling me to stop posting just because you don't like my posts. The irony of you telling me to stop posting & then accusing me of trying to deter you from posting is hilarious.

Hey, if you can actually provide some solid evidence in this or any other case then I would be happy to embrace it. Personally the only intriguing part of this case is the behaviour of Noreen & others like Bonacci & what it shows us about the human psyche. The only mystery I can see is where his body is located & hopefully catching the person/persons responsible.

Basedon the above posts, he put you on "ignore", so he ain't gonna read your non embracing of his supernatural theories anyway, James

Basedon the above posts, he put you on "ignore", so he ain't gonna read your non embracing of his supernatural theories anyway, James

There's nothing "supernatural" about Gannon being Gosch.

Welcome to my ignore list.

Fell right into my trap, pal. Now i don't have to worry about you and your nonsense responding to my posts.

Basedon the above posts, he put you on "ignore", so he ain't gonna read your non embracing of his supernatural theories anyway, James

Yes, I didn't realise until I had posted it.

Thanks. I've just added several posters to my ignore list.Cool. Will you put me on ignore too please?

There’s an article on “The American Conservative” website now which claims Johnny Gosch was the victim of a massive conspiracy. I tried to post that the theory was bunk but I have been banned for a long time. But what is more likely - that Johnny was kidnapped (and likely murdered) by an individual who unfortunately got away with the crime, or that Johnny was the victim of a massive conspiracy that would need hundreds of people involved. And sadly, Johnny’s mother is unreliable, so we can’t take her word about what did or didn’t happen. Other people who have promoted the conspiracy are cranks and/or convicted sex offenders. Unfortunately, no one (as far as I know) has done extensive research attempting to debunk the conspiracy theories.

All we know for sure is that a boy named Johnny Gosch disappeared in 1982. What happened before or after is speculation. But I have a few questions.
1. What was Johnny’s home life like? Was he being abused? Is it plausible one of his parents mistakenly killed him, hid his body, and then staged a kidnapping scene?
2. Why has Johnny's father not spoken about the case?
3. Did any of the law enforcement who worked on the case have a theory?