But nobody in the world knew Lori Erica Ruff. Before 1988, Lori Erica Kennedy simply did not exist. Lori Erica Ruff The Generation Why Podcast. 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. Perhaps because of these miscarriages, Lori was ultra-protective of her daughter. Days later, she applied for and received a Social Security number - a. [2], In the months between the separation and Lori's suicide, she behaved very erratically. Velling agreed to help identify her as a case of identify theft. Whilethe file on Lori Erica Ruff may be closed, her bizarre case continues to fascinate, and will forever raise thechillingquestion: Just how well do you know those closest to you? The other had dates and the letters D and M on it. After following numerous leads he was stumped, and sought the help of the general public to identify her through an article published June 22, 2013, in The Seattle Times. All rights reserved. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology, Learn more about your ad choices. Also found in the lockbox was a paper with several seemingly random scribblings. She had told him she was from Arizona, that both her parents were dead, and that she had no siblings. These secrets Lori Ruff had kept from even her husband, Blake Ruff, and his family. IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. Blake was caught in the middle, and eventually he couldn't take it anymore. 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. 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. But who she really was is still a mystery. Lori and Blake tried to have a child almost immediately after they were married, but found themselves experiencing fertility issues. She had brown hair and hazel eyes. They tried several times to have a child, but she had trouble conceiving and suffered multiple miscarriages. She was eventually identified as a native of suburban Philadelphia who left home at age 18, in the fall of 1986, because she did not get along with her mother and stepfather. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Accept Read More, Jeffrey Alan Lash: His Remarkable Mystery. As far as the police officers could tell, Lori never traveled abroad before 1990, as there is no passport with that name. So, it was granted without question. [3], Ruff was incredibly overprotective of her daughter, often refusing to let anyone else hold her, which angered her husband's family. They married and had a daughter together. Blake admitted knowledge of the box. 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. Included among theitems was a sealed lockbox buried deep in Loriscloset. 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. One of these had notes written and a collection of phone numbers and names. For example, Lori would often ramble to the minister on a variety of topics; mainly her perceived flaws, problems, and the failure of her marriage. [3], On Christmas Eve 2010, Ruff's body was discovered in her car in the Ruffs' driveway, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. The family tried everything to find her but she changed her name and location regularly, making it difficult for Kimberlys family to find her. The response? Buried deep in the back of Lori's closet, Blake pulled out a sealed lockbox. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. She was overly protective, and she refused to let other people hold their daughter. His wifewas not who she claimed to be. 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. Blake had enough with her inability to get along with his family. There were two other pieces of paper. But this could have simply been a number picked for convenience purposes only. They then discovered the lockbox in a closet, pried it open with a screwdriver, and discovered the documentation of Ruff's past. And she was aggressive about it, Velling said. Upon opening the container, Blakediscovered why: Inside was a birth certificate and IDs belonging to several different people. She parked her car, left it running, and shot herself. The family members identified the picture of the mystery woman as Kimberly Mclean. Everyone in Dallas has an accent and she did not. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theywalkamongus. After marrying, the couple moved away from the senior Ruffs, who lived in eastern Texas, settling in Leonard, Texas, in the southwestern region. 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. When Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff took her own life on Christmas Eve, 2010 in Longview, Texas, she took with her all of the secrets of her true identity. ", "Texas woman's true identity baffles ex-husband, authorities years after her suicide", "She stole another's identity, and took her secret to the grave. 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. His recollection was that she was a dancer at a Dallas-area nightclub at the time [she was attending school], Velling said. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. 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. [3], In 2003, she met Blake Ruff, the son of a well-established family in East Texas,[2][3] in a Bible study class. Yes! 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. Join us for a good mix of lesser known cases as well as our take on what we call the "Big Timers". In 2013, a nuclear-physicist-turned-forensic genealogist Collen Fitzpatrick worked on Ruffs case and new details emerged about her past. 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. [1] She then traveled to Idaho, where she obtained a state ID card on June 16 using the girl's birth certificate.[2]. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. Ruff had a first cousin named Cassidy on her list of matches; however, the name was very common and the cousin was not responsive. It took hard work on the part of investigators and some unique forensic genealogy for the truth to come out. She was above average height at 5feet 10inches (1.78m) tall, and weighed 160 pounds (73kg). Lori definitely was not who she portrayed herself to be, so who was she? By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. Authorities believe she initially traveled to the home with the intent of harming the family.[6]. On Monday though, Lori. Little Beckywas just two years old when she diedin a house fire outside of Seattle, Washington in 1971. She wanted to live in her little cocoon.. Then, in September 2016, the case of Lori Erica Ruff was finally solved: her real name wasKimberly McLean. Over time the pair grew closer and eventually, they eloped to Dallas. This has led investigators to believe that Ruff was much older than she claimed to be. The woman told doctors in 2005 that she was 35 a claim Velling doubts. Lori Erica Ruff was as evasive as she had always been but did reveal that both of her parents had passed away and that she had no living relatives. Numerous theories regarding her identity can be found on various internet websites. RedHanded the podcast jumps head first into all manner of macabre madness. 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. They then discovered the lock box in a closet, pried it open with a screwdriver, and discovered the documentation of Ruff's past. The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories. 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 Ruff married the woman he had known asLori in2004. Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff, was an American identity thief who remained unidentified for nearly six years after her death. [1] She eventually graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1997, with a degree in Business Administration. Although she left notes for her husband and her daughter, they didn't provide any clues. "My God, that's Kimberly!," one Pennsylvania relative exclaimed, the Seattle Times reported. He revealed that Lori considered it to be a personal item that must never be opened. Blake's mom, Nancy Ruff, described facing a stone wall. There were no dates and the letter itself was a little vague. 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. He describes her as being incredibly secretive, particularly regarding her past. The letter failed to mention crucial details such what was her role and responsibilities. The Ruff family declined to comment on the story, which was first reported by the Seattle Times on Saturday. Lori Erica Ruff - identity SOLVED? 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. About a month afterward, the certificate was used to obtain legal identification in Idaho. [9][6], After Lori's funeral, some of the Ruffs drove to Leonard to see if they could find out more about her in her house. Find a Grave [8], In the months between the separation and Lori's suicide, she behaved very erratically. The only person in attendance was the preacher. She became distressed due to her parents divorce. Who was she? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. [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. Although Blakes family was suspicious of Lori from the beginning, Blake himself was very much in love. "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. All rights reserved. Any time she got around the family, they would ask her questions and it was uncomfortable for her. But Blake was in love. If Lori was trying to escape her past, then it could explain her reluctance for publicity. 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. [1] Velling approached a relative, who immediately identified the deceased Lori Ruff as Kimberly McLean.[1]. ", "Three years after Texas woman's suicide, a question lingers: Who was she? It wasnt until the Ruffs found a safebox hidden inside their daughter-in-laws bedroom closet that showed the woman wasnt who she had claimed to be. Lori would also spend time fidgeting and stare at the palms and back of her hands. Most of these discoveries came from talking to those that she had worked with previously. The tall and slender brunette met Ruff at a bible study group and introduced herself as Lori Kennedy. She was never too keen to go into further detail. Lori acquired Turner's birth certificate in 1988, a time when you could just send a letter requesting a birth certificate with little resistance. Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff (October 16, 1968-December 24, 2010), was an identity thief who remained unidentified for nearly six years after her death. 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. Henceforth, Lori would be known as Lori Erica Ruff. Sign up for The Lineup's newsletter, and receive our eeriest cases delivered straight to your inbox. The Bat Bombs of WWII: Presidentially Approved, Totally Anna Anderson: Imposter of Duchess Anastasia, End of the World Predictions that Never Happened. Loris behavior was highly erratic in the timebetween theseparationand her death; she sent threatening emails to Blake and his family, and might have even attempted a break-in at Blakes parents home. According to the Seattle Times , a crowd-sourced investigation into Ruff's background began after the paper ran . This was very sophisticated, Velling said. In 1986, Kimberly McLean ran away from her home at the age of 18. 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. Ruff did his best to find out as much about his new partner as he could. or redistributed. Her Idaho identification card listed her as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and her Dallas drivers license had her at 5 feet, 10 inches, but she was really somewhere in-between, Velling said. Lori's behavior caused immense tensions between Lori and the Ruffs, even keeping the new grandparents from visiting their granddaughter. To her husband, she was Lori Kennedy. [3], Eventually, Ruff did not want her in-laws to have any contact with her daughter. Join her as she shows you just how southern fried the justice system can be in the Deep South. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of streaming providers. Marriage is a sacred act between two people that care deeply for one another. 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 July 1988, she moved to Dallas, where, according to court documents, she legally changed her name to Lori Erica Kennedy. Real Life is Horror. Southern charm is attempted but southern sass is bountiful. 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 Hosted on Acast. Just click the "Edit page" button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the Plot Summary submission guide. Different cultures define matrimony in different ways and tie the knot for various reasons. She wasn't Lori Erica Ruffshe was a Pennsylvania woman named Kimberly McLean. Host Charlie brings in appropriate historic and cultural context to look beyond what happened and consider why it happened. 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.' This page was last modified on 5 May 2016, at 17:33. 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 . Ruff did his best to find out as much about his new partner as he could. Les currently resides in London and is a freelance writer with a long standing passion for the unexplained and paranormal. In his spare time he enjoys astronomy and Xboxing. When he returned to his parents, he filed for a divorce. Related: Girl in the Green Mac: The Baffling, Unsolved Disappearance of Sheila Fox. We don't take ourselves too seriously but we take true crime very seriously. Sources She wasnt Lori Erica Ruffshe was a Pennsylvania woman named Kimberly McLean. But all that he managed to discover was that Lori had something of a difficult upbringing. Lori began to complain to Blake about his parents whenever she was even mildly inconvenienced. 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. The suicide notes were quickly determined to be incoherent ramblings that offered no clues to Ruff's identity. She was very private and didn't open to people about her past. McLean, posing as Becky Sue Turner, then appeared before a judge in Dallas on July 5, 1988, and legally changed her name to Lori Erica Kennedy. So, join us, plug in, sit back and prepare for scares. In the car were two suicide notes: an 11-page one addressed to "my wonderful husband" and another addressed to her daughter, to be opened on her 18th birthday. The contents of this safe put into sharp focus everything that Blake thought he knew about Lori Kennedy. Or, maybe she was none of them. And, with the child, Lori's behavior became even more erratic. In addition, there were no matches for the woman in any existing fingerprint and facial recognition databases. And when he asked her to marry him in 2004, she said yes, but insisted on no announcement in the newspaper, and wanted a wedding where only the minister was present. It was in 2010 when events finally took their toll on her. But it wasn't until Lori ended her life on Christmas Eve that the Ruffs would get answers. Requires subscription and macOS 11.4 or higher. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Whomever she was, the woman Blake knew as Lori Ruff was not who she claimed to be. Legal Statement. She must now fight to clear her name and figure out who betrayed her husband. ", "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. During all of this, Blake continued in his efforts to pry more details from the mother of his baby. She had told him she was from Arizona, that both her parents were dead, that she had had an unhappy childhood, and that she had no siblings; she also said her father had been a failed stockbroker. Con Erica Peeples, Tiffany Black, Sean Patrick Thomas, Chris Sakyi. [7] The couple eloped in January 2004 after Nancy Ruff, Blake's mother, inquired about placing a wedding announcement in the local newspaper. 1,529 likes. I also want to get Early Bird Books newsletter featuring book deals, recommendations, and giveaways. Becky was born in one state and died in another, making it much less likely that a fraudulent use of her identity would be noticed. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices. Interesting history topics are just a click away. ", "Texas woman's true identity baffles ex-husband, authorities years after her suicide", "Live chat with investigator, reporter about Jane Doe case", "Mystery woman: After 30 years and a suicide, Lori Ruff's real identity emerges", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lori_Erica_Ruff&oldid=1125479355, Articles with minor POV problems from October 2022, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from October 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 December 2022, at 06:14.
What Comes After Sextillion, Articles L