For whatever crazy reasons, I’ve spent the past month researching this case and I’ve definitely uncovered (or rediscovered) quite a bit and I would love to get input from some super-sleuthers! However, it’s A LOT of info for one post, so I’m wondering if I should put it out there in chunks so that it’s easier to digest?
I’ll start with some background info. We know that AM lived with the Hotards in ’52, but it’s also interesting to note that in the years leading up to her pregnancy she took active, public roles in the same organizations as TH…the Red Cross, Boy and Girl Scouts, American Society of Safety Engineers, and the local Delta Safety Society. She served on committees, held leadership positions, and coordinated activities between the different groups. I also find it intriguing that Thomas Hotard, Jr. (19 at the time of the murder) was very involved in the Red Cross and scouting with both TH and AM. As a matter of fact, during the summer AM disappeared to have her daughter, TH Jr. took her place as a swim and first aid instructor with the Jefferson Parish Red Cross. In later years, he would even hold some of the same offices that AM held, such as vice-chair of safety services for JPRC. When his father was killed and AM disappeared, TH Jr was still living at home with his parents, working as a clerk at a local bank…he actually spent his entire career at that bank. Considering TH Jr. was 15 years old when AM and the children lived with his family, and that he, AM, and TH were involved in organizations together thereafter, I truly wonder if he knew about their relationship before the murder/disappearance. Quite frankly, I believe several people close to them knew, and I’ll address that in another post. Thoughts? Input?
