In December of 1962, just days before Christmas, 35-year-old Virginia Wagner left her Lancaster, Ohio home to pick up her son from basketball practice — and never returned.

When her car was found abandoned later that night, strange details quickly raised concern. Mud on the vehicle. A bloodstain that didn’t match her blood type. And no sign of Virginia herself. What followed was a weeks-long search that gripped the community, unfolding in the pages of the Columbus Dispatch as winter weather, unanswered questions, and fading hope complicated the investigation.

On January 6, 1963, the search ended in tragedy when Virginia’s body was discovered beneath the ice of Raccoon Creek. But finding her did not bring immediate answers. The case went cold, suspects were questioned and cleared, and the Wagner family endured loss upon loss — including another mysterious death connected to their inner circle.

Months later, a chilling confession would finally expose the truth, revealing a violent pattern that should never have been missed — and raising haunting questions about warning signs, parole failures, and how many chances are too many.

In this episode of Headlines and Tidbits, we trace Virginia Wagner’s story from devoted mother to tragic headline, following the investigation as it unfolded in real time and examining the disturbing history of the man responsible.

Plus, in the second half of the episode, we lighten the mood with holiday-themed newspaper tidbits — bizarre vintage Christmas ads, strange marketing choices, and reminders that even in dark times, the past is full of unexpected details.

This is a story about loss, justice delayed, and the question that was never fully answered: why?