Does anyone remember the segment about the radio Santa who was searching for his daughter? I remember it but haven't seen it in years. I was talking about the case with a veteran lurker on the board and she seemed to remember an update where he found out that his daughter had died years earlier. Does anyone else remember this or more details about the update?

I have only heard of this on here, never seen it and I have seen most of the segments. It would be great if someone has it.

Does anyone remember the segment about the radio Santa who was searching for his daughter? I remember it but haven't seen it in years. I was talking about the case with a veteran lurker on the board and she seemed to remember an update where he found out that his daughter had died years earlier. Does anyone else remember this or more details about the update?

The update provided was very concise. It said that the man's daughter had died in an explosion. If I remember correctly, it was mentioned that she was a teenager at the time of her death. Since she was born in the early 1940s, this would mean that she died sometime in the late '50s (or possibly in 1960). :(

This was the case of Joseph Schambier (not sure if the spelling of the last name is right). He lived in the Northeast in the late 30s, and his wife Garnet died hours after giving birth to Alberta Elaine. Garnet had herself been raised by a friend or relative (can't remember which) named Alice, and just after giving birth told Joe that if anything happened to her, he should let Alice raise Alberta Elaine.

Joe gave Alberta to Alice and then (I think) enlisted in the Army. At one point he called Alice while on leave and discovered that Alberta had been put up for adoption. Alberta died in the explosion (I believe in the Michigan area) thinking that both her parents were dead. She was 18.

One neat (although sad) thing about this story - Garnet gave birth at home, and the doctor didn't get there in time, so poor Joe had to deliver his own baby. When the doctor came, he checked over Garnet and Alberta and said that they were both fine.

Charli-Ann

This was the case of Joseph Schambier (not sure if the spelling of the last name is right). He lived in the Northeast in the late 30s, and his wife Garnet died hours after giving birth to Alberta Elaine. Garnet had herself been raised by a friend or relative (can't remember which) named Alice, and just after giving birth told Joe that if anything happened to her, he should let Alice raise Alberta Elaine.

Joe gave Alberta to Alice and then (I think) enlisted in the Army. At one point he called Alice while on leave and discovered that Alberta had been put up for adoption. Alberta died in the explosion (I believe in the Michigan area) thinking that both her parents were dead. She was 18.

One neat (although sad) thing about this story - Garnet gave birth at home, and the doctor didn't get there in time, so poor Joe had to deliver his own baby. When the doctor came, he checked over Garnet and Alberta and said that they were both fine.

Charli-Ann

Thanks, C.A.!

Now I remember that case. I even remember the update. That was one of the ones that really got to me, feeling so horrible for the guy in the story. That ranks up there with Victor "Simon" Shimone on the "tear at your heartstrings" scale.

Very, very sad case.

BUMP

Just watched this case, and looked more into Alberta Elaine and her death. I don't know if it's been mentioned on here before, but she was actually murdered by her new husband, Paul Depew, in a murder-suicide car explosion on February 13, 1957. Tragically, a young girl walking nearby was also killed.

Depew had rigged his car with dynamite and tried to reconcile with Alberta. He had apparently threatened to kill her in the past. He had even threatened to "blow her up" before. For some reason, nothing was done to protect her until it was too late.

Interestingly, some of the articles mention a William Gitschier, who is identified as Alberta's brother. The article states that he was with them on the day of the explosion, and actually sat in the car with Depew just minutes before the explosion occurred. I'm assuming William is her adoptive brother. I'm wondering if Joseph ever met with William to learn more about Alberta's life.

Another article noted that the case was solved because an amateur geneaologist had watched the broadcast and traced Alberta's life.

https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-daily-american-jul-26-1957-p-1/

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/141552296/

BUMP

Just watched this case, and looked more into Alberta Elaine and her death. I don't know if it's been mentioned on here before, but she was actually murdered by her new husband, Paul Depew, in a murder-suicide car explosion on February 13, 1957. Tragically, a young girl walking nearby was also killed.

Depew had rigged his car with dynamite and tried to reconcile with Alberta. He had apparently threatened to kill her in the past.

https://poptop12.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/kristin-wiig-disgust1.jpg