Such things have happened in other cases, and are often traumatic events. Before 1988, Lori Erica Kennedy simply did not exist. On December 24, 2010, the body of Lori Erica Ruff was found in her car parked in the driveway of the Ruff family's Texas home. Blake did learn that Lori was born somewhere in Arizona. Blake and Lori married in 2004the only witness to their marriage was the priest. The only person in attendance was the preacher. Sometime later, Blake's father left the house to pick up the paper. Investigators then began to search of hertrue identitya process that would take six years to complete. On Christmas Eve 2010, the body of 42-year-old Lori Erica Ruff was found in a car parked outside the Ruff family home in Longview, Texas. Velling traveled to the city and approached a member of the Cassidy family, who saw Loris drivers license photo. Lori Erica Kennedy / Lori Ruff - Identified. For the next couple of years, Blake worked on all aspects of the marriage. NY Daily News To her husband, she was Lori Kennedy. McLean used the child's birth certificate to obtain an Idaho state identification card, then moved to Texas and had her name legally changed to Lori Erica Kennedy . She was very private and didn't open to people about her past. It had the instructions to open on her 18th birthday. It did. Lori and Blake tried to have a child almost immediately after they were married, but found themselves experiencing fertility issues. (Perkins, who was black and who marketed his legal services to LA's African-American community, had never taken on a white client during his career.) Follow along with 48 Hours every week as award-winning CBS News correspondents investigate the most intriguing crime and justice cases that touch on all areas of the human experience. In the box, which she told her husband never to touch, were all the documents exposing her elaborate ruse the paperwork showing the name change and the application for a Social Security number, among other receipts. The tall and slender brunette met Ruff at a bible study group and introduced herself as Lori Kennedy. And when asked about her days in high school, she said she skipped it and went straight to college. DNA taken from the body might also help crack the case. Investigators wondered if she had been a KGB agent, or if she had been in the military and gone AWOL. They married and had a daughter together. But, it didn't happen easily and it took the hard work of a number of people and a little bit of luck to learn the truth.Join Mike and . By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. I think she was born sometime between 1960 and 1968., Records gathered by Velling provide tantalizing clues. Investigation Discovery's ' Where Murder Lies: The Girl in the Lockbox' chronicles the story behind Lori Ruff's past. She had ended her life with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. It was signed by a man called Roger Steinbeck. Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher. Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff, was an American identity thief who remained unidentified for nearly six years after her death. The letter failed to mention crucial details such what was her role and responsibilities. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. Papers belonging to Ruff, who had been married with a child, surfaced after her suicide indicating she had once been known as Lori Kennedy, and prior to that, as Becky Sue Turner, the name of a young girl who had died in a Washington state fire in 1971. This site uses cookies to improve user experience. The request was made in Bakersfield, California. When a woman known as Lori Erica Ruff died in Texas three years ago, she left behind a mystery that has investigators baffled. Police also found a curious letter within the safe. A friend of the family verified that Becky Sue Turner had died in a house fire at the age of 2. The house was discovered in disarray, with piles of dirty dishes, laundry, and trash stacked up around the house, as well as shredded documents and papers with incoherent scribblings on them. For two years, Social Security investigator Joseph Velling has been working to uncover the real identity of Lori Erica Ruff, who was Lori Erica Kennedy before marrying into an East Texas family in 2004. Both fingerprints and DNA testing turned up nothing to help get to the bottom of her true identity. Sign up for The Lineup's newsletter, and receive our eeriest cases delivered straight to your inbox. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [2], In the months between the separation and Lori's suicide, she behaved very erratically. Using a DNA analysis from Ruffs daughter, investigators were able to trace Ruffs identity back to a family in Pennsylvania, whose daughter had disappeared in 1986, when she was 17. IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Crimelines walks you through true crime events, pairing captivating tales with clear storytelling. Marriage is a sacred act between two people that care deeply for one another. After several months living as Becky Sue Turner, she legally changed her name to Lori Kennedy. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. It was either she or his family, and he chose his family, Velling said. Shewas an accomplished identity thief. The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories. And she did it all pre-InternetShe may have done this on her own, but its possible she sought out one of these identity brokers.. She created a false identity for the sole purpose of getting lost in America, Velling told FoxNews.com. To give you the best possible experience, this site uses cookies. Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff, was an American identity thief who remained unidentified for nearly six years after her death. But, it didn't happen easily and it took the hard work of a number of people and a little The nature of these scribblings has led some to believe that Ruff was trying to avoid prison time, due to the references to police, a possible jail term length, and the name of an attorney. She must now fight to clear her name and figure out who betrayed her husband. Last spring, we brought you 8 Mysterious People Without a Past, a list of individuals who seemed to have had much of their early existence wiped from history. The new Mrs. Ruff was an unusually private person, particularly around her in-laws, according to Velling, special agent in charge of the Social Security Office of the Inspector General in Seattle, Wash. When people made small talk with her like asking where she went to high school she would say, 'Its none of your business.' Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff (October 16, 1968 December 24, 2010), was an American identity thief[3] whose true identity remained unknown for nearly six years after her death. All of that work by the investigators traced several links back in the history of Lori Ruff's false identities, but they still didn't know who she really was. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The writings on the paper found in the lock box included the scribblings "North Hollywood police," "402 months," and "Ben Perkins." By the time she married Jon Blakely Blake Ruff, of Longview, Texas, in January 2004, her phony identification was as solid as her real past was distant. Mother and child spent a lot of time together, which is normal for such a doting mother. The contents of this safe put into sharp focus everything that Blake thought he knew about Lori Kennedy. Market data provided by Factset. Numerous theories regarding her identity can be found on various internet websites. Prior to marrying Blake, Loriwas known as Lori Erica Kennedy. But Blake was in love. Every day, stories unfold that have no resolution. Four years filled with miscarriages and disappointments passed. Due to her off-putting[opinion][clarification needed], secretive[citation needed] behavior, she clashed with her husband's family, and her marriage eventually collapsed. In 2010, he moved back across the state to live with his parents. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, [6] The article was subsequently republished in numerous newspapers around the world. Lori Erica Ruff was the alias of an unidentified American woman and identity thief who committed suicide on December 24, 2010 in Longview, Texas. Other commentators noted that Ruff briefly attended UT Arlington and may have become familiar with the film prior to changing her identity. In life, Lori hadwarnedhimto stay away from it. However, the Mclean family now has a granddaughter who offers a glimpse of their beloved Kimberly. Follows Toni, who has a complete breakdown and ends up in a mental facility after the unexpected news that her husband was murdered, and even she is a suspect. Legal Statement. In July 1988, she moved to Dallas, where, according to court documents, she legally changed her name to Lori Erica Kennedy. With the help of investigator Joe Velling, he traced the DNA to a family in Pennsylvania. "True identity of Lori Ruff revealed six years after she committed suicide", "After 30 Years, Lori Ruff's True Identity Finally Revealed", "5 Creepy-As-Hell Stories Of Real People With No Identity", "She stole another's identity, and took her secret to the grave. Some people can explain all of this with nothing more sinister than the Witness Protection Program. [6], Eventually, Ruff did not want her in-laws to have any contact with her daughter; as a result, the Ruffs began encouraging Blake to get out of the marriage. So, it was granted without question. Join her as she shows you just how southern fried the justice system can be in the Deep South. Synopsis [citation needed], After Lori's funeral, some of the Ruffs drove to Leonard to see if they could find out more about her in her house. McLean assumed a series of aliases before marrying Blake Ruff in 2004 and settling downleaving no trace of Kimberly McLean, at least until Fitzpatrick began researching her family tree. The family members identified the picture of the mystery woman as Kimberly Mclean. In the box a number of documents were discovered which revealed that Ruff had stolen the identity of Becky Sue Turner, a 2-year-old girl killed in a fire in 1971 in Fife, Washington, in 1988, and then changed her name to Lori Erica Kennedy. [3] The fact that Ruff was able to cover up her identity so well in a time before the Internet has led to speculation that she had visited an "identity broker".[3]. After the birth of their daughter, Lori's behavior became increasingly strange. Ruff's true origins remained a mystery until 2016, when her identity was confirmed using a combination of public records and direct-to-consumer autosomal SNP analysis of her husband's and daughter's DNA, leading back to the McLeanCassidy family on Philadelphia's Main Line. They separated, but on Christmas Eve, 2010, the woman everyone knew as Lori Erica Ruff pulled into the driveway of the Ruff family home and shot herself. Lori Erica Ruff was a secretive person. A Net Inceptions project. Perhaps Lori was creating parents for the benefit of Blake. It's a big Universe full of wonders. We cover everything from big time serial killers (and those you may never have heard of), to hauntings, possessions, disturbing mysteries, bizarre whodunits and basically anything that tickles our creepy fancy. They Walk Among Us is an award-winning weekly UK true crime podcast covering a broad range of cases from the sinister to the surreal. Using DNA analysis from Ruff's daughter, investigators were able to trace Ruff's identity back to a family in Pennsylvania, whose teenage daughter had disappeared in 1986, per Mental Floss. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Plot Summary submission guide. The other was for Blake. Lori Erica Ruff was a secretive person. Blake's parents were suspicious of Lori right from the beginning. McLean requested the birth certificate in Bakersfield, California, Becky Sue Turner's birthplace. While the hotel was genuine and a favored haunt of numerous celebrities, there was no trace of the author. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers. All rights reserved. This page was last modified on 5 May 2016, at 17:33. However, it was written on hotel stationery from Bangkok, Thailand. But it wasn't until Lori ended her life on Christmas Eve that the Ruffs would get answers. After some failed marriage therapy meetings, Blake Ruff moved back to his parents' house in Longview and filed for divorce, leaving Lori with their daughter in Leonard. The Ruff family declined to comment on the story, which was first reported by the Seattle Times on Saturday. Colleen Fitzpatrick, a former nuclear physicist who created[citation needed] the field of forensic genealogy, learned of Lori Ruff in 2013 and began work on the case. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. In 2010, he moved back in with his parents and filed for divorce. And, with the child, Lori's behavior became even more erratic. She died by suicide in the driveway of her former in-laws' home in Longview, Texas, on Christmas Eve 2010. Yes! A 2013 Seattle Times feature article about the case was published in news outlets around the world and created enormous interest in the online "websleuth" community. Ruff described her as being incredibly secretive, particularly regarding her past. As many of you know, "Lori Ruff" is the assumed name of an otherwise anonymous woman who died in 2010. Image: http://reallifeishorror.blogspot.co.uk/. Sources Hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson guide you through the most interesting true crime stories. When given the chance for an extravagant and lavish wedding day to remember, Lori declined the offer. But Lori tragically died by suicide just before Christmas in 2010. [8] Other papers included the birth certificate of Becky Sue Turner and a judge's ruling granting a name change to Lori Erica Kennedy. Or, Becky Sue Turner? Lori Erica Ruff The Generation Why Podcast. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! With each question she asked, Lori deflected, the Seattle Times reported. Unfortunately, it looks like Lori took all of her secrets to the grave. With little to no clues about who shemight actually be, the woman once known as Lori Erica Ruffwas registered in the federal governments database of missing and unidentified persons as a Jane Doe. Lori met her future husband, Blake, in 2003. Lori Erica Ruff's true identity was Kimberly McLean. In his spare time he enjoys astronomy and Xboxing. She then moved to Idaho and procured a drivers license using the deceased girls birth certificate. Lori Erica Ruff was a secretive person. Yes! The house belonged to his parents and it was his father who discovered her [] The post Lori Erica Ruff 93 Generation Why appeared first on The Generation Why Podcast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. Blake admitted knowledge of the box. She had told him she was from Arizona, that both her parents were dead, and that she had no siblings. Blake, who was close with his parents, couldn't take it anymore. It is generally believed that a new identity was already being considered either for herself or others. Host Charlie brings in appropriate historic and cultural context to look beyond what happened and consider why it happened. In 1986, Kimberly McLean ran away from her home at the age of 18. Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff (October 16, 1968-December 24, 2010), was an identity thief who remained unidentified for nearly six years after her death. Among the various documents was a certificate indicating that Lori Kennedy had changed her name from Becky Sue Turner. The house was discovered in disarray, with piles of dirty dishes, laundry, and trash stacked up around the house, as well as shredded documents and papers with incoherent scribblings on them. Blake's mom, Nancy Ruff, described facing a stone wall. She didnt even allow the publication of the announcement of their nuptials in the local newspaper either. She was eventually identified as a native of suburban Philadelphia who left home at age 17, in the fall of 1986, because she did not get along with her mother and stepfather. Or, maybe she was none of them. His recollection was that she was a dancer at a Dallas-area nightclub at the time [she was attending school], Velling said. She was sending deranged emails to the Ruffs. There was a successful application for a new social security number. In 2003 McLean met Jon Blakely "Blake" Ruff, the son of a socially prominent family in East Texas,[8][6] in a Bible study class. Ruff had a first cousin named Cassidy on her list of matches; however, the name was very common and the cousin was not responsive. Where Murder Lies is investigating the mysterious case of identity thief Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff, aka Kimberly Maria McLean, who, unbeknown to her husband, led a secret life for decades. But, it didn't happen easily and it took the hard work of a number of people and a little bit of luck to learn the truth. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Lori Erica Ruff was the alias of an unidentified American woman and identity thief who committed suicide on December 24, 2010 in Longview, Texas.After she died, her ex-husband's family discovered a lockbox in a closet in her home. At the time, a request of this nature was hardly unusual. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. In May 1988, McLean obtained the birth certificate of Becky Sue Turner, a two-year-old girl who had died, along with two of her siblings, in a house fire in Fife, Washington in 1971. It's clear that even at this time, Lori knew what she was doingBecky had been born in one state and died in another, making it far less likely that the fraudulent use of her identity would be discovered. Upon opening the container, Blakediscovered why: Inside was a birth certificate and IDs belonging to several different people. Be the first to contribute! In May of 2016, several commentators on the internet noticed similarities to Ruff's story and to the plot of a 1987 crime drama called Positive I.D., which was directed by a professor of film at UT Arlington. 2010 42- , . Accept Read More, Jeffrey Alan Lash: His Remarkable Mystery. As far as the authorities were concerned, once Blake called them in, she was an identity thief now given the name "Jane Doe.". Find a Grave However, according to records, Becky Sue Turner asphyxiated in a house fire when she was just 2 years old. And, why had she changed her identity and hid her past from those closest to her? But, it didn't happen easily and it took the hard work of a number of people and a little bit of luck to learn the truth.Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the mysterious Lori Erica Ruff. She and her young daughter had visibly lost weight. Although Blakes family was suspicious of Lori from the beginning, Blake himself was very much in love. At some point in the past, Lori had been a dancer at an exclusive gentlemans club, and a post-mortem examination revealed that Lori, not Becky, had received breast implants. Whomever she was, the woman Blake knew as Lori Ruff was not who she claimed to be. It must have been for some horrific reasoneither she was running away from a crime or an abusive family or relationship., She wanted a complete break from her past, said Velling. That created a lot of heartburn for the family.. Player FM is scanning the web for high-quality podcasts for you to enjoy right now. [3], Eventually, Ruff did not want her in-laws to have any contact with her daughter. And she had no accent, leading Velling to believe she originally came from the Pacific Northwest or West Coast. Related: Jeffrey Alan Lash: His Remarkable Mystery. By changing her name, she created a clean identity a person with no past.. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. The two moved to Leonard, about 60 miles northeast of Dallas and roughly 125 miles from Ruffs parents in Longview. Or at least they should. As Blake began the daunting task of sorting through his wife's possessions, he knew that he would have to deal with one thing that Lori had always told him he was to never touch. Where is the Body of the Legendary King Gorm of Denmark. She would regularly be seen with her in some of her favorite tea shops. About a month afterward, the certificate was used to obtain legal identification in Idaho. Lori Erica Ruff was the alias of an unidentified American woman and identity thief who committed suicide on December 24, 2010 in Longview, Texas. Her mothers remarriage didnt help either and she told her family she was going away. In the car were two suicide notes: One 11page note addressed to "my wonderful husband" and another addressed to her daughter, to be opened on her 18th birthday. She became distressed due to her parents divorce. Included among theitems was a sealed lockbox buried deep in Loriscloset. "My God, thats Kimberly! The family member confirmed Ruff was actually Kimberly McLean, daughter of Deanne Cassidy and James McLean, who had run away from home in Pennsylvania at the age of 18. And, why had she changed her identity and hid her past from those closest to her?You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminologyAn Emash Digital productionLearn more about your ad choices. In 2010, after she took her own life, secrets were revealed and the truth about her past began to unravel. After four years of attempts, miscarriages, and disappointments, the couple had a daughter. Review our. Lori attended the University of Texas regularly and graduated with a business administration degree in 1997. In 2010, after she took her own life, secrets were revealed and the truth about her past began to unravel. They looked for signs of gambling addiction and sex trafficking. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. In the days following her death, hebegan the grim task of sortingthrough his wifespossessions. Lori began to complain to Blake about his parents whenever she was even mildly inconvenienced. She was much older than that, he said. The only person in attendance at their wedding ceremony, held in a church outside Dallas, was the officiating preacher. When asked about her background,Lori was guarded and evasive; she claimed her parents were dead and she had no siblings. Velling agreed to help identify her as a case of identify theft. She had ended her life with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. She wasnt Lori Erica Ruffshe was a Pennsylvania woman named Kimberly McLean. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the mysterious Lori Erica Ruff. Image: Social Security Administration. Then, in September 2016, the case of Lori Erica Ruff was finally solved: her real name wasKimberly McLean. Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. Market data provided by Factset. Real Life is Horror. According to the Seattle Times , a crowd-sourced investigation into Ruff's background began after the paper ran . She was above average height at 5feet 10inches (1.78m) tall, and weighed 160 pounds (73kg). In 2010, a woman in Texas named Lori Ruff parked her Tahoe in the driveway of the house where her estranged husband Blake had been living since he had walked out on her after their relationship had soured. After earning a GED and a college degree, she married into a wealthy East Texas family and gave birth to a daughter. Although questions about the case remain, Lori Ruff's name has now been removed from the federal government's database for missing and unidentified persons. Buried deep in the back of Lori's closet, Blake pulled out a sealed lockbox. Years later, in the life she created with Ruff, tensions between the Verizon account manager and the wife he never really knew eventually reached a breaking point. They then discovered the lockbox in a closet, pried it open with a screwdriver, and discovered the documentation of Ruff's past. Lori's behavior caused immense tensions between Lori and the Ruffs, even keeping the new grandparents from visiting their granddaughter. Henceforth, Lori would be known as Lori Erica Ruff. In 2010, after she took her own life, secrets were revealed and the truth about her past began to unravel. In the days following her death, he began the grim task of sorting . All rights reserved. Blake was caught in the middle, and eventually he couldn't take it anymore. Within the next two years, she obtained the birth certificate of Becky Sue Turner, a two-year-old girl who had died with her two sisters in a house fire in 1971. Ordinary people who do unthinkable thingsThe Minds of Madness is a True Crime Podcast that examines the most disturbing criminal minds and the impact violent crimes have on survivors of homicide. To her husband, she was Lori Kennedy. The house belonged . [6], Ruff was "extremely protective" of her daughter, often refusing to let anyone else hold her and even taking the baby with her to use the bathroom. Lori Erica Ruff. They believed she fled because she did not like her mothers new husband. All rights reserved. Join Jim Clemente (former FBI profiler), Laura Richards (criminal behavioral analyst, former New Scotland Yard) and Lisa Zambetti (Casting director for CBS' Criminal Minds) as they profile behavior from real criminal cases. Jane Doe had a simple narrative and stuck to it: She was the only child of a failed stockbroker and his wife, who both died. The nature of these scribblings led some followers of the case to believe that Ruff was trying to avoid prison time, due to the references to police, a possible jail-term length, and the name of Ben Perkins, a Los Angeles attorney. She then received a Texas driver license in 1989, and the next year qualified for a GED[2] then enrolled in Dallas County Community College. Ruff gradually acquired more documents in her new name, including a Social Security number. Most of these discoveries came from talking to those that she had worked with previously. Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff (October 16, 1968 - December 24, 2010), was an American identity thief who remained unidentified for nearly six years after her death. According to Deannes brother, Tom, Kimberly grew irate after her mother and father separated in the 1980s. So, join us, plug in, sit back and prepare for scares. The harassment was so severe that the Ruffs filed a cease and desist order just before Lori's death. They then discovered the lock box in a closet, pried it open with a screwdriver, and discovered the documentation of Ruff's past. Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff (October 16, 1968 - December 24, 2010), was an identity thief who remained unidentified for nearly six ye Lori Erica Ruff - Top podcast episodes After marrying, the couple moved away from the senior Ruffs, who lived in eastern Texas, settling in Leonard, Texas, in the southwestern region. A neighbor recalled that she and her daughter appeared to be undernourished and that Lori would often ramble incoherently to herself while pacing back and forth outside. But to a dogged federal investigator, she is "Jane Doe," a Texas mother who killed herself three years ago in her family's driveway after spending decades using stolen identities to erase a past that remains mired in mystery. She obtained this identity via a girl named Becky Sue Turner, who died in 1971 in a house fire near Seattle, Washington. Eager to meet her, the family invited her to lunch. It was in 2010 when events finally took their toll on her. The woman received breast implants in 1991 and claimed to have suffered from bulimia in 1990. She received a Texas driver license in 1989 and qualified for a GED[8] the following year. ", "Mystery of the woman with two names: Investigator tries to discover true identity of mother who committed suicide three years ago after husband finds evidence of a double life hidden in a lock box", List of unidentified decedents in the United States, List of unidentified decedents in California, List of unidentified murder victims in the United States, List of unidentified murder victims in California, List of unidentified murder victims in Texas, List of unidentified murder victims in New York, List of unidentified murder victims in Florida, List of unidentified murder victims in Michigan, List of unidentified murder victims in Pennsylvania, National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Lori_Erica_Ruff&oldid=718811075, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, About Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core.
Newrez Insurance Department Fax,
Norma Brass For Sale,
New Construction Homes In Northwest Suburbs Illinois,
French Military Victories Joke,
Bare Kitties Cattery,
Articles L