Dale Kerstetter - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

greatgarrett2 · 08-31-2006, 09:45 PM

Greetings,

As you all know Dale Kerstetter is the man who disappeared from a Bradford, PA Platinum Plant in 1987. The events surrounding and the disappearance itself I'm split 50/50 on. This case has been discussed on the forum before.

What do you think? Was he himself abducted or was he a co-conspirator?

The way he looked at the security camera had me thinking this guy could be saying "Hey, look at me, I'm taking your platinum and there's not a thing you can do about it." But the other half of me thinks, why would he leave a secure job and all his social supports?

Abducted?

Or, Co-conspirator?

peachysquirt21 · 08-31-2006, 10:05 PM

I'm not sure about this one. If I remember right, it was brought up that he had gotten a pay cut & was not all too happy about it. I guess that could be a reason to get pissed at the company & come up with something like this then again not. I really cannot understand why anyone would wanna leave there family behind & stage something like this. I do wish we could have seen the original security tape.

Tighthead · 08-31-2006, 11:23 PM

I find this one fascinating. I go with co-conspirator, who was then killed for no longer being necessary - why cut the pie too many ways.

wiseguy182 · 09-01-2006, 03:00 AM

Tighthead has a good theory, that Dale was both in on it and abducted - distinctly possible. I voted for that I thought he was abducted, but I wouldn't be totally suprised if it was the other way around. This is one of the ones I'm kinda split 50/50 on, and it was one of the segments I mentioned in my 50/50 thread I started awhile back. In fact, this clip is one of the ones tied for first place in that thread, meaning that it was one of the segments that the most posters were tied 50/50 on. So this could be a close race. No doubt one of the classic cases and one that leaves you thinking.

The reason I voted for that I thought he was abducted was that he was a lifelong member of the community, and had worked for the plant for several decades I believe. He was also instrumental in saving somebody's life and some equipment I believe the segment stated. I just find it a little hard to believe that the man would build up a reputation his whole life and then shatter it one night out of the blue, leaving his family, job and community behind.

Awsi Dooger · 09-01-2006, 03:40 AM

Well, I don't even remember what I posted regarding this case previously.

crystaldawn, you may be right about me.

At least this time I understand why it says I already voted.

He seemed like a simple guy who wouldn't have been clever or ambitious or desperate enough to pull a stunt like this, even as a cohort. But I wouldn't be surprised if he talked too much or answered too many questions, from people who were looking to rob the place and correctly identified Kerstetter as a vulnerable target.

kadrmas15 · 09-13-2006, 05:02 PM

I honestly dont know what to think about this case either. There are so many unanswered questions. As far as Kerstetter not being clever enough a lot of small town people and factory workers seem this way but in fact are a lot smarter and saavy than they appear. One thing is for sure, Kerstetter would have had the motive to steal the platinum. As they said in the interview, Kerstetter was not a happy man at the time he disappeared. Kerstetter had been transferred from the shop section of the plant to security which caused him to take a 5 to 7 thousand dollar a year pay cut. Kerstetter also might have felt a lot of personal pressure and might have been desperate to escape from his life because not only had he taken a paycut but was 30 to 40 grand in debt on various bills that he could not pay. What also got me was how Kerstetter's son whom lived with Kerstetter still said that he didnt think his dad would have been involved in the theft but then in the same sentence did an about face and said if he did it that he would come back in 7 years when the statute of limitations expired and they wouldnt be able to touch him. That stuck with me and told me perhaps the son knows more about this than what he is saying. Also the unusual locations where Kerstetter's son said that Kerstetter would have fled to had he been involved. How we have any way of knowing that unless Kerstetter had talked about it previously? It seemed the bosses at the plant didnt think too highly of Kerstetter. Usually after someone has disappeared the person could be a total scumbag and people will talk pretty highly of them. I was surprised to hear one of the bosses at the plant refer to Kerstetter as a marginal employee. About how they had problems with him in the past. I doubt very much that Kerstetter was surprised by an intruder and was abducted. I do however think it is also possible that Kerstetter could have been in on it and then after the heist was murdered when his co conspirator or co conspirators got greedy and figured why share when they could have the whole thing. I have also wondered if Kerstetters son could have been involved either indirectly or directly in this. His demeanor just told me he knows more than what he is saying. Maybe it just me being paranoid, who knows? Just a theory though.

wiseguy182 · 09-14-2006, 02:19 AM

Another reason I tend to lean that Dale was abducted and subsequently murdered was that he probably would have resurfaced by now for two reasons: the statute of limitations expiring and him missing his family. He definintely appeared to be a family man. Given that the intruder seemed to know where to go, I would imagine it was either a past or current employee. I do agree, however, that the son seemed a little shady. The rest of his family appeared legitimately concerned, unless they're doing a really good acting job.

kadrmas15 · 09-14-2006, 05:49 PM

Well I agree with you there that the guy with the mask either was a current or former employee of the plant. He simply knew where everything was and moved around so fast he had been in that building many times before. The reason why I think Kerstetter might have been in on it is because I am sure over night they locked the doors of the plant so someone could not get in from the outside. That leads me to believe that Kersetter possibly let the person in. However that is also troubling that if he did participate and it and wasnt killed why he didnt come back when the statue of limitations was up? However I do find that really odd how is son seemed to know what his dad would do had he done it, how he would know about the statue of limitations and other things. I just have that feeling from the son that he knows more about all of this than he is letting on. I have the feeling the chances are better than not that Kersetter was involved. Just the way he talked to the masked man. About how they seemed to be conversing like they knew each other more than the masked man shouting demands. It didnt look like there was any evidence that the masked man had a weapon.

ForeverPluto · 10-30-2006, 05:55 PM

I saw this seggie too. I don't see Dale being killed because to me that would be too much work...too much work to deal with taking al the platinum and a dead body. I think Dale and maybe some other ticked off employee were in on all of it. As for him still being alive, I'm not sure. I think maybe the accomplice might have turned on Dale and killed him after the fact. That would probably explain why no one has heard from him since????

mikem7715 · 12-10-2006, 11:00 PM

i think if alive,he would have come back after statute of limitations was up,unless he was to ashamed to face his family

ForeverPluto · 12-11-2006, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikem7715

i think if alive,he would have come back after statute of limitations was up,unless he was to ashamed to face his family

well maybe not his son. I always thought it was a little strange that his son made that quip about him going to Australia or Canada and coming back after the statute of limitations are up???????? very weird...

wiseguy182 · 02-07-2007, 08:03 AM

The more time passes, the more I think Dale is innocent. I got a bad vibe off of the employer guy. Why would he call Dale a marginal employee? A person that is a marginal employee doesn't last 27 years at a job, nor do they get put in a security guard position. At least they shouldn't. Plus, this was the guy that saved lives on the job, and a high amount in merchandise, and risked his life in the process.

SP4CE INV4DERZ · 02-07-2007, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

The more time passes, the more I think Dale is innocent. I got a bad vibe off of the employer guy. Why would he call Dale a marginal employee? A person that is a marginal employee doesn't last 27 years at a job, nor do they get put in a security guard position. At least they shouldn't. Plus, this was the guy that saved lives on the job, and a high amount in merchandise, and risked his life in the process.

lol again of course I perhaps lean the other way. Still I'm really not sure what exactly happened to Dale. His actions on the videotape are questionable of an innocent person but if he was in on it, why hasn't he returned or contacted his family that we know of. So one question I'd really like answered is where is Dale Kerstetter?

Also I guess during the 27 years he worked I assume it was easy to get hired and fired from a job in those days so it's a good point you raise there about a marginal employee lasting that long. Then again, maybe he had a aweful lot of time to think about things... who knows?

One thing for sure, it's definately one of the best UM cases!

JacopoBelbo · 07-05-2007, 12:08 AM

I was Dale's son-in-law, and while I have not had any contact with anyone in the family since his daughter I separated shortly before the incident occurred, I often think about Dale and the family and wonder what did, in fact, occur that day.

Dale was an outdoorsman. He camped and fished, and probably preferred isolation over kinship (unless there was drink involved). That was just my impression. When his daughter and I would visit from the D.C. area we would often meet at his favorite watering hole south of Bradford. On at least one occasion he joked about leaving everything behind and moving to a remote, uninhabited region of Canada. I have not seen the episode since it originally aired but apparently Al (his son) mentioned something about this also, but their discussion would have occurred at another time as ours took place in a bar. Very interesting. I remember thinking that that was an odd comment but I neglected to discuss it further. But perhaps germane to my recollection of what occurred is the fact that he did have at least one friend who was involved in ventures unknown. He appeared to be financially secure, yet he could not reasonably account (perhaps because he did not feel compelled to do so) for how he came about his financial success. This friend wore a Rolex and supported a young woman and her daughter in his fairly large house with an elevator while Dale lived in a trailer with little heat in the frigid Pennsylvania winters. This brush with success while not his own may have been causal in leading Dale down the path of felonious activity, but I cannot say for sure. It’s just something I’ve always comfortably pondered as I’ve always preferred to think of him as a “co-conspirator” and not as a victim.

I’m fairly certain that his son has no knowledge of the details of what occurred, nor would any of his family members.

UMfan0682 · 07-05-2007, 09:09 AM

Wow, thanks for posting JacopoBelbo! Yes, this is a popular UM segments here on the boards. I've always been 50/50 on this case. Dale seemed like a really good person, and as his kids had said in the interviews that money would not be a motive, I've always thought of how tempting a crate of platinum would be. When UM created the security camera footage, and Dale looks right into the camera, it always looked like to me he was sending a message that he was going to be rich in a few hours...

View Poll Results: Was Dale Kerstetter abducted or a co-conspirator?
Abducted	181	79.74%
In on it	46	20.26%
Voters: 227. You may not vote on this poll

08-31-2006, 09:45 PM	#1
greatgarrett2 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 11, 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 544	Dale Kerstetter Greetings, As you all know Dale Kerstetter is the man who disappeared from a Bradford, PA Platinum Plant in 1987. The events surrounding and the disappearance itself I'm split 50/50 on. This case has been discussed on the forum before. What do you think? Was he himself abducted or was he a co-conspirator? The way he looked at the security camera had me thinking this guy could be saying "Hey, look at me, I'm taking your platinum and there's not a thing you can do about it." But the other half of me thinks, why would he leave a secure job and all his social supports? Abducted? Or, Co-conspirator?
	__________________ "To thyne own self, be true........." "If we don't know something, then our model of reality is inadequate" Start making money today: http://tasks4job.com/?refer=55797 http://www.amazon.com/Garrett-Campbe...8662355&sr=8-5 Plus, follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/greatgarrett2

07-05-2007, 12:08 AM	#14
JacopoBelbo Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Jul 04, 2007 Location: florida Posts: 3	I’m amazed to see people still interested in this case. I was Dale's son-in-law, and while I have not had any contact with anyone in the family since his daughter I separated shortly before the incident occurred, I often think about Dale and the family and wonder what did, in fact, occur that day. Dale was an outdoorsman. He camped and fished, and probably preferred isolation over kinship (unless there was drink involved). That was just my impression. When his daughter and I would visit from the D.C. area we would often meet at his favorite watering hole south of Bradford. On at least one occasion he joked about leaving everything behind and moving to a remote, uninhabited region of Canada. I have not seen the episode since it originally aired but apparently Al (his son) mentioned something about this also, but their discussion would have occurred at another time as ours took place in a bar. Very interesting. I remember thinking that that was an odd comment but I neglected to discuss it further. But perhaps germane to my recollection of what occurred is the fact that he did have at least one friend who was involved in ventures unknown. He appeared to be financially secure, yet he could not reasonably account (perhaps because he did not feel compelled to do so) for how he came about his financial success. This friend wore a Rolex and supported a young woman and her daughter in his fairly large house with an elevator while Dale lived in a trailer with little heat in the frigid Pennsylvania winters. This brush with success while not his own may have been causal in leading Dale down the path of felonious activity, but I cannot say for sure. It’s just something I’ve always comfortably pondered as I’ve always preferred to think of him as a “co-conspirator” and not as a victim. I’m fairly certain that his son has no knowledge of the details of what occurred, nor would any of his family members.

08-31-2006, 10:05 PM	#2
peachysquirt21 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 27, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 462	I'm not sure about this one. If I remember right, it was brought up that he had gotten a pay cut & was not all too happy about it. I guess that could be a reason to get pissed at the company & come up with something like this then again not. I really cannot understand why anyone would wanna leave there family behind & stage something like this. I do wish we could have seen the original security tape.

08-31-2006, 11:23 PM	#3
Tighthead Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 15, 2006 Posts: 199	I find this one fascinating. I go with co-conspirator, who was then killed for no longer being necessary - why cut the pie too many ways.

09-01-2006, 03:00 AM	#4
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	Tighthead has a good theory, that Dale was both in on it and abducted - distinctly possible. I voted for that I thought he was abducted, but I wouldn't be totally suprised if it was the other way around. This is one of the ones I'm kinda split 50/50 on, and it was one of the segments I mentioned in my 50/50 thread I started awhile back. In fact, this clip is one of the ones tied for first place in that thread, meaning that it was one of the segments that the most posters were tied 50/50 on. So this could be a close race. No doubt one of the classic cases and one that leaves you thinking. The reason I voted for that I thought he was abducted was that he was a lifelong member of the community, and had worked for the plant for several decades I believe. He was also instrumental in saving somebody's life and some equipment I believe the segment stated. I just find it a little hard to believe that the man would build up a reputation his whole life and then shatter it one night out of the blue, leaving his family, job and community behind.

09-01-2006, 03:40 AM	#5
Awsi Dooger Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2003 Location: Miami Posts: 1,537	Well, I don't even remember what I posted regarding this case previously. crystaldawn, you may be right about me. At least this time I understand why it says I already voted. He seemed like a simple guy who wouldn't have been clever or ambitious or desperate enough to pull a stunt like this, even as a cohort. But I wouldn't be surprised if he talked too much or answered too many questions, from people who were looking to rob the place and correctly identified Kerstetter as a vulnerable target.

09-13-2006, 05:02 PM	#6
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	I honestly dont know what to think about this case either. There are so many unanswered questions. As far as Kerstetter not being clever enough a lot of small town people and factory workers seem this way but in fact are a lot smarter and saavy than they appear. One thing is for sure, Kerstetter would have had the motive to steal the platinum. As they said in the interview, Kerstetter was not a happy man at the time he disappeared. Kerstetter had been transferred from the shop section of the plant to security which caused him to take a 5 to 7 thousand dollar a year pay cut. Kerstetter also might have felt a lot of personal pressure and might have been desperate to escape from his life because not only had he taken a paycut but was 30 to 40 grand in debt on various bills that he could not pay. What also got me was how Kerstetter's son whom lived with Kerstetter still said that he didnt think his dad would have been involved in the theft but then in the same sentence did an about face and said if he did it that he would come back in 7 years when the statute of limitations expired and they wouldnt be able to touch him. That stuck with me and told me perhaps the son knows more about this than what he is saying. Also the unusual locations where Kerstetter's son said that Kerstetter would have fled to had he been involved. How we have any way of knowing that unless Kerstetter had talked about it previously? It seemed the bosses at the plant didnt think too highly of Kerstetter. Usually after someone has disappeared the person could be a total scumbag and people will talk pretty highly of them. I was surprised to hear one of the bosses at the plant refer to Kerstetter as a marginal employee. About how they had problems with him in the past. I doubt very much that Kerstetter was surprised by an intruder and was abducted. I do however think it is also possible that Kerstetter could have been in on it and then after the heist was murdered when his co conspirator or co conspirators got greedy and figured why share when they could have the whole thing. I have also wondered if Kerstetters son could have been involved either indirectly or directly in this. His demeanor just told me he knows more than what he is saying. Maybe it just me being paranoid, who knows? Just a theory though.

09-14-2006, 02:19 AM	#7
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	Another reason I tend to lean that Dale was abducted and subsequently murdered was that he probably would have resurfaced by now for two reasons: the statute of limitations expiring and him missing his family. He definintely appeared to be a family man. Given that the intruder seemed to know where to go, I would imagine it was either a past or current employee. I do agree, however, that the son seemed a little shady. The rest of his family appeared legitimately concerned, unless they're doing a really good acting job.

09-14-2006, 05:49 PM	#8
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Well I agree with you there that the guy with the mask either was a current or former employee of the plant. He simply knew where everything was and moved around so fast he had been in that building many times before. The reason why I think Kerstetter might have been in on it is because I am sure over night they locked the doors of the plant so someone could not get in from the outside. That leads me to believe that Kersetter possibly let the person in. However that is also troubling that if he did participate and it and wasnt killed why he didnt come back when the statue of limitations was up? However I do find that really odd how is son seemed to know what his dad would do had he done it, how he would know about the statue of limitations and other things. I just have that feeling from the son that he knows more about all of this than he is letting on. I have the feeling the chances are better than not that Kersetter was involved. Just the way he talked to the masked man. About how they seemed to be conversing like they knew each other more than the masked man shouting demands. It didnt look like there was any evidence that the masked man had a weapon.

10-30-2006, 05:55 PM	#9
ForeverPluto Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 22, 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 71	I saw this seggie too. I don't see Dale being killed because to me that would be too much work...too much work to deal with taking al the platinum and a dead body. I think Dale and maybe some other ticked off employee were in on all of it. As for him still being alive, I'm not sure. I think maybe the accomplice might have turned on Dale and killed him after the fact. That would probably explain why no one has heard from him since????

12-10-2006, 11:00 PM	#10
mikem7715 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 30, 2005 Posts: 87	i think if alive,he would have come back after statute of limitations was up,unless he was to ashamed to face his family

02-07-2007, 08:03 AM	#12
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	The more time passes, the more I think Dale is innocent. I got a bad vibe off of the employer guy. Why would he call Dale a marginal employee? A person that is a marginal employee doesn't last 27 years at a job, nor do they get put in a security guard position. At least they shouldn't. Plus, this was the guy that saved lives on the job, and a high amount in merchandise, and risked his life in the process.

07-05-2007, 09:09 AM	#15
UMfan0682 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 11, 2004 Posts: 124	Wow, thanks for posting JacopoBelbo! Yes, this is a popular UM segments here on the boards. I've always been 50/50 on this case. Dale seemed like a really good person, and as his kids had said in the interviews that money would not be a motive, I've always thought of how tempting a crate of platinum would be. When UM created the security camera footage, and Dale looks right into the camera, it always looked like to me he was sending a message that he was going to be rich in a few hours...