What Do You Think Happened to Linda Sohus?

[Janel "Jaycee" Miller]

You may recall that Linda Sohus is the woman who disappeared in 1984 from San Marino California along with her husband John. The pair lived with John's mother, and after they disappeared, John's mother told law enforcement that a "source" -- later identified as Christian Gerhartstreiter -- told her the pair was on a "secret mission."

The whereabouts of John and Linda remained a complete mystery until 1994, when the discovery of John's bones buried on the property where they once lived, solved at least one part of this mystery.

My question to all of you is, what do you think happened to Linda?

I have little doubt she is dead by this point. But has she been dead since 1984 and is buried in another part of San Marino? Or did she fall in love with Gerhartstreiter and accompany him as he headed east (remember, he tried to sell the Sohus's car in Connecticut) and Gerhartstreiter killed her later? Or Gerhartstreiter killed her on the way to Connecticut? Or perhaps, just perhaps, she is somehow still alive under a different name?

Please allow me to read/hear what you all think about this.

[Gelatinous Goo]

She had nothing more to offer CG, so she was killed very shortly before or after John. Where she ended up will remain known only to CG unless a DNA match is made to a Jane Doe at some point.

[1990 UM fan]

I'm sure that since Linda was bigger in stature than her husband, Gerhartsreiter rolled her body into the fireplace after killing her. That would explain the awful smell neighbors reported coming from the chimney of the Sohus residence.

[James T]

Sexual assault/rape, then murdered & as the above poster said likely burned the body.

[Gelatinous Goo]

Originally Posted by James T

Sexual assault/rape, then murdered & as the above poster said likely burned the body.

I don't think his crimes have ever been sexually motivated.

[Labonte18]

Now, I can't see any way that anyone could totally dispose of a body in a home fireplace.

There'd still be leavin's. And.. I'm thinking a hell of a mess in the fireplace.

[ogapogadots]

Yes. Agree. I think detectives would obviously check for bones and teeth in the fireplace. On one show, dateline or 48 hrs (or something from ID network) 1 single comment "made my jaw drop". One man said he saw Chichester AND Linda days After John's murder! But I later doubted this. Maybe Linda needed a ride from Chichester a few days prior to the double murder?

The only way I see this sighting as true is perhaps Linda was too scared and Chichester threatened her. Maybe killed her later....? He probably killed both on the same day but in different areas so he could bury Linda's body elsewhere to use as a cop out later on that she killed her husband which we know makes 0 sense, they loved each other and were Sci fy fans.

[James T]

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Goo

I don't think his crimes have ever been sexually motivated.

These sort usually are & he looks like a pervert.

[James T]

Originally Posted by ogapogadots

Yes. Agree. I think detectives would obviously check for bones and teeth in the fireplace. On one show, dateline or 48 hrs (or something from ID network) 1 single comment "made my jaw drop". One man said he saw Chichester AND Linda days After John's murder! But I later doubted this. Maybe Linda needed a ride from Chichester a few days prior to the double murder?

The only way I see this sighting as true is perhaps Linda was too scared and Chichester threatened her. Maybe killed her later....? He probably killed both on the same day but in different areas so he could bury Linda's body elsewhere to use as a cop out later on that she killed her husband which we know makes 0 sense, they loved each other and were Sci fy fans.

I wouldn't-seeing how badly many of them still botch basic stuff now, let alone in the 1980's.

Problem is that happens in every missing person case-people report seeing them everywhere. Either to upset the family, waste the cops time or because they are genuine misidentifications, trying to 'help' the family by inventing sightings, or wanting to be involved in an investigation, or as you say sightings on a prior date they insist was another date.

She was a fiery character & I really can't see her being with this clown in public for too long without escaping/raising the alarm. The handwriting experts while they believe the writing was hers also believe it was written under duress. I think he killed the husband first & then made her write those notes, then killed her & posted them himself. Apparently there was also another person's DNA on the stamp-so it seems somebody else was likely involved.

[Gelatinous Goo]

Originally Posted by James T

These sort usually are & he looks like a pervert.

Other than your assumption and what you think of his looks, what other proof do you have?

This is a high profile crime case which has been given lots of media attention. If his crimes had any sort of sexual component, don't you think that others would have gone public with accusations/allegations when this was getting heavy coverage?

[James T]

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Goo

Other than your assumption and what you think of his looks, what other proof do you have?

This is a high profile crime case which has been given lots of media attention. If his crimes had any sort of sexual component, don't you think that others would have gone public with accusations/allegations when this was getting heavy coverage?

The whole case is conjecture-without her body we have no idea.

[Clockwork]

It is a strange case. I still would be interested in knowing what this "government job" was that John apparently had. They were supposed to be gone for two weeks and the thing about this episode is that John's mother seems very unmoved that they are missing for several weeks, almost being uncooperative.

Here is my question, why didn't Christian admit to the whereabouts of Linda when he was caught for John's murder? Couldn't the police get it out of him, or even just give him a perk in jail in exchange for her whereabouts? It seems strange to me that her whereabouts were never discovered. Obviously Christian is behind it all, but why? And what was his motivation?

[Gelatinous Goo]

Originally Posted by Clockwork

Obviously Christian is behind it all, but why? And what was his motivation?

He's a sociopath and likely psychopath. The main motivation was a massive ego boost. I really don't think there was much behind it other than he wanted a thrill kill for the experience. He's his own biggest fan, especially when it comes to his intellect. In addition to the thrill of it, I think he wanted to prove to himself that he was soooo smart that he could get away with the crime.

It surely wasn't just for the sake of their truck. He was more than capable of learning how to hotwire a vehicle if that was his main motivation. I'm also guessing that John and Linda didn't have much money for that to be any sort of additional motivation, but he would have taken any he could get his hands on.

With all the recent talk in other threads as to how these criminals stay hidden in plain sight for so many years, this guy might take the cake. He was BSing his way through high society, all the while being profiled on TV shows with his photo constantly shown. Not to mention, he did absolutely nothing drastic to change his appearance other than change his glasses! Someone with a fairly unique face and a thick accent, too. It's baffling how absolutely nobody in his post-Sohus life put the pieces together for such a long time. I can only imagine how many times his UM segment aired in reruns on Lifetime.

[TheCars1986]

I've always wondered two things about this case:

1. How long was Linda alive after John was killed?

2. Who picked up Linda's cats from the kennel?

[Clockwork]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

I've always wondered two things about this case:

1. How long was Linda alive after John was killed?

2. Who picked up Linda's cats from the kennel?

I am taking a wild guess and saying that there was some sexual assault(s) against Linda before she died.

As for the cats, what sort of place just lets anyone pick up someone's cats from a kennel?