On the afternoon of December 27, 1928 4-year-old Melvin Charles Horst was going to play with four neighborhood buddies in Orrville, Ohio. His friends say that they were playing in a vacant lot off of Chestnut St. near the railroad tracks. They said that Melvin walked home alone because he lived a block away. At the time he was carrying his small red toy truck, a recent Christmas Gift. The truck was found in his front yard.
By 4:30 his mother Zora called out to him for dinner. She sent her oldest son to search for him at neighbors houses, but he wasn't found. Zora got worried and waited for her husband Raymond to come home at 6 p.m.to start searching the neighborhood.
By 7 the authorities helped in the search and at 8:30 was when the search was initiated. Many residents of the town helped with the search of Melvin. The search was led by Raymond's brother Roy, who was the village marshal.
Police thought it may have been possible that Melvin was mistaken for a wealthy child who lived nearby. They were hoping someone would call for a ransom for Melvin. The theory was discarded when no ransom demands were made.
It could be possible that Melvin's disappearance had to do with his uncle Roy's job. As at the time, the prohibition was happening and he was zealous at getting bootleggers and enforcing liquor laws. Right before Melvin's disappearance, Roy was living with the family.
Bootlegger, Elias Arnold, and his children William Arnold, Arthur Arnold, and Dorthy McHenry, and Dorthy's husband Bascom McHenry were arrested on Jan. 2, 1929 for Melvin's disappearance. Elias had been in jail for the most part of 1928 for liquor related charges. It was known the family bore a grudge against Roy.
Charles "Junior" Hannah an 8-year-old a nephew of Elias told investigators he saw Melvin go into the house, and a 9-year-old neighbor corroborated his claims. Arnolds maintained their innocence though. They had alibis for the time he went missing. Elias and Author were convicted and spent three months in jail before authorities realized the children were lying. They couldn't have seen it happen from where they were at. A second trial happened shortly after.
Junior admitted he initially lied, but then he accused his own father Charles Hannah and neighbor Earl Conold in 1930. He claimed they killed Melvin and asked him to make up a story accusing the Arnolds. Both men confessed, but it was coerced from Law Enforcement.
Some people believe Melvin had been abducted and or murdered. Another theory is that he may have been hit by a car and the driver panicked and hid the body. It could be possible that Melvin was kidnapped to be raised as someone's child. None of these theories have been confirmed. It's unknown what really happened to Melvin.
Melvin was 4 years old at the time. He was 3'1" and 49 lbs. He had blue eyes and brown hair. He has a jagged burn scar on his hip. He was described as having an upturned nose and stocky build. He was wearing a checked sweater, a brown overcoat and a stocking cap.
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i have been researching this case any help would be greatly helpful.
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