OH OH - Annabelle Rankin-Ludwig-Smith, 40, Cridersville, 15 June 1982

Annabelle Marie Rankin-Ludwig-Smith, 40, Missing 15 June 1982, Cridersville, OH

Annabelle Marie Rankin-Ludwig-Smith
Missing since approximately June 15, 1982 from Cridersville, Allen County, Ohio
Classification: Missing

Vital Statistics

Date Of Birth: December 31, 1941
Age at Time of Disappearance: 40 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'4" - 5'6"; 120-145 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White Female. Auburn hair; hazel eyes.
Marks, Scars: Annabelle has a beauty mark / mole above upper lip along with other moles on various locations on her body. She has a fatty deposit on her upper thigh of leg. No known scars / tattoos / piercings. She suffered a broken wrist as a child that never healed properly and the bone protruded from the wrist under the skin.
Medical Conditions: Substance abuser at the time of disappearance. May have been suffering from bipolar disorder.
AKA: Annabelle Rankin; Annabelle Ludwig; Annabelle Smith
Dentals: Not Available
Fingerprints: Not Available
DNA: Available

Circumstances of Disappearance

Annabelle was last seen residing with her ex-husband, Robert Ludwig, and three children at their home in Cridersville, Ohio approximately June 15, 1982. This area borders Auglaize County, in Northwest Ohio.

Annabelle and Robert were married in 1960, had first divorced in 1977, after a turbulent marriage which included separations, divorce proceedings, and extramarital affairs of both parties.

Annabelle then married a "Smith" for a month and then returned to residing with Robert Ludwig in 1978 and moved from Mt. Cory, Ohio / Hancock County to Cridersville, Ohio / Allen County.

Family members, court documents, law enforcement reports and witnesses verify that Annabelle and Robert had a turbulent coexistence and Annabelle had a tendency to leave the residence / family without notice for periods of time (days - weeks) but then return the same way.

Annabelle was involved with other men and was a substance abuser. Prior to her disappearance, Annabelle had been involved with a man who departed Ohio in 1980-1981 and moved to Florida for several years and returned in late 1980's.

Annabelle had made statements that she wanted to leave to go to Florida with him, but did not at the time the man departed Ohio.

Just prior to her disappearance in 1982, Annabelle mentioned receiving a correspondence from this man, and was going to leave to go to Florida. After this point, family advised Annabelle just was not there anymore. Family advised it was normal behavior for Annabelle to just leave, so at the time it was not unusual behavior. Annabelle did not leave any note or letter stating where she had gone.

Annabelle has not been heard from or contacted anybody since 1982, even at the time of the deaths of her parents.

Annabelle Ludwig did not have a drivers license and did not work at time of disappearance.
No known jewelery she always wore. No known clothing she always wore or sizes / brands / shoe size.

No medical records available. She had four children through natural child birth.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Hancock County Sheriffs Office
Detective Barry Boutwell - Unit #L28
419-424-2424
419-424-7234

Agency Case Number: C9504189

NCIC Number: M-836331366

Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information:
Hancock County Sheriffs Office
The Doe Network: Case File 2363DFOH

LINK:

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2363dfoh.html

Top Row, Bottom Row Left: Smith, circa 1977-
Bottom, Far Right: Smith, circa 1966-68
The Doe Network:
Case File 2363DFOH

Bumping for 32 years today.

Bumping with NAMUS: https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/5150/

ANNABELLE RANKIN-LUDWIG CIRCA 1978

Bumping for Annabelle, as we now pass 38 years since her disappearance

Annabelle Marie Ludwig

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Annabelle during the 1960s and 1970s

• Missing Since 06/15/1982
• Missing From Cridersville, Ohio
• Classification Endangered Missing
• Sex Female
• Race White
• Date of Birth 12/31/1941 (78)
• Age40 years old
• Height and Weight 5'3 - 5'6, 120 - 145 pounds
• Medical Conditions Annabelle had a substance abuse problem at the time of her disappearance. She may suffer from bipolar disorder.
• Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Annabelle may use the last names Rankin and/or Smith together with the name Ludwig, or separately. She has a mole or beauty mark above her lip and fatty tissue buildup on her upper thigh. Annabelle fractured her wrist as a child and the injury did not heal properly; the bone protruded from her wrist under the skin.

Details of Disappearance
Annabelle was last seen at her residence in the 1800 block of Rose Avenue in Cridersville, Ohio on June 15, 1982. She was residing with her former husband, Robert Ludwig, and three of her four children at the time of her disappearance.

Annabelle had married Robert in 1960. Their relationship was troubled and included extramarital affairs on both sides and frequent separations and divorce filings. They divorced in 1977. Annabelle subsequently married a man named Smith, but only stayed with him for a month before returning to Robert in 1978. She was involved with several other men and also abused substances.

One of Annabelle's boyfriends moved to Florida in 1980 or 1981. Shortly before her 1982 disappearance, Annabelle said she had heard from this man and wanted to go Florida to be with him. She disappeared shortly afterwards and did not leave a note. Her family has not heard from her since.

Annabelle had had a habit of leaving her family for days or weeks at time without notice, and then suddenly returning, but she has never been gone for this long. Robert didn't report her missing, and the police didn't begin looking for her until August 1982.

Some theorize Annabelle was murdered and buried on a farm near Jenera, Ohio or at a property in Cridersville. These accounts haven't been verified, however.

At the time of her disappearance, Annabelle was unemployed and did not have a driver's license. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance are unclear. Her parents both died in the years following 1982, but other relatives are searching for her.

Investigating Agency

• Hancock County Sheriff's Office
• 419-424-7234
• 419-424-2424

Source Information

• NamUs
• The Doe Network
• The CUE Center for Missing Persons
• The Findlay Courier
• Annabelle Marie Ludwig – The Charley Project

I found an old archived article from 2008. Her sisters Rita & Linda had been looking for Annabelle. The article says that:

Ludwig, who was 40 at the time, was last seen by her ex-husband, Robert, at a Lima Ponderosa restaurant on June 15, 1982.

He didn’t report her missing, however, and authorities did not begin looking for her until that August.

McVetta and others believe she was killed and possibly buried on a farm near Jenera or at a property in Cridersville.

Over the years, McVetta and another sister, Linda Wynkoop of Mount Cory, have tried without success to find their lost sister, a mother of four.

They say they have gotten little help from authorities in Hancock and Allen counties.

Last summer, on the 25th anniversary of Ludwig’s disappearance, the sisters held a memorial service for her at Clymer Cemetery in Union Township.

A small monument, inscribed with the words Missed But Not Forgotten, was placed next to the grave of her parents, Paul and Helen Rankin, even though Ludwig’s body has never been found. News – Help Find Annabelle Ludwig

Rita passed away in March 2019. Annabelle's son Gregory Ludwig passed away July 2020. His father and Annabelle's ex husband Robert Ludwig is still alive.
Remembering Rita McVetta
Remembering Gregory Allen Ludwig

I think that she bears some resemblance to the Wetzel County Jane Doe. Do you think this would be worth submitting to the investigator?

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Bumping

Bumping again