There are many unanswered questions about the case and even some contradictions. My main concern with this case is the newly discovered information that the Shelton's children now all believe that the parents abandoned their kids. I would love to hear a podcast interview concerning why they think that? Possibilities include:
1.) There were deep dark secrets in the family that no one knew about, or the kids might have known about, but they were too young, embarrassed, or ashamed, to speak about it, especially for fear of upsetting the grandmother. (I can't remember if it was the grandmother on Claude or Sue's side where the siblings ended up living.) But there is something that seems "Off." In fact, several things that seem "off."
2.) Rural Kentucky especially in those small town cities was simple in lifestyle and living, A lot of hillbillies, and moonshiners, and Bible-thumping. Stuff was hidden to protect the towns and the churches. Claude and Sue, at least on the surface, don't strike me as interested in drinking or drugs. Someone is lying about that night, or the whole story is not being told.
3.) The neighbor who said there was no food in the house with three kids? This strikes me as neglect. Good points knowing that this was Memorial Day Weekend Sue neglected, forgot, or whatever to buy food for the kids for the upcoming week if in fact the neighbor's story is true. Did she have no food in the house because she knew that she wasn't going to be there?
4.) Yes, when the children awakened the next morning they were shocked to find their parents gone? Why didn't they immediately call the neighbors or the grandparents and say, "Mom and Dad never came home last night." I had forgotten how much time elapsed between the time that the children woke up to find their parents gone, and when law enforcement were actually called. Didn't the neighbors originally care for the kids before the grandparents raised them? I think that the grandparents lived in Tennessee.
5.) Personally, over time, I have grown to discount the money jar that was alleged to have $600 in it. I think that came about through neighbor and friend gossip. They claim the jar went missing. The children insist that there was no jar and I believe them.
6.) To my knowledge, that 2AM time frame has never been substantiated either. Some accounts of the case say 2:30 am. Who goes out for "a bite to eat" at that time of night when they just returned home from Claude's parents house where Southern family gatherings would have a ton of food, especially Southern families? If you lived in the South and had a family visit, there was food!
We don't know the time that the Shelton's got home from the family gathering. The "2AM" is the time allegedly given by the eldest daughter, Shelia, that she heard Claude say to Sue either, "Are you going to go with me, or are you going to stay here?" Other accounts say, "If you're going to go with me, you'd better come on." Something really critical had to have happened where they had to leave the house right then and there! If Sue left her purse (accounts vary) and Claude left his own stuff behind, this is where I think that they would not have had the necessary resources needed to start a new life. You would take luggage, food, clothing, toiletries if you planned to leave for a long time.
7.) Did anyone bother to check the Shelton's bank accounts or savings and loan assets for any deposits or withdrawals in the months, weeks, and days, leading up to their disappearance? There's no evidence that they left anything to help the children! If they really wanted to leave the kids, why not let the grandparents know the reasons behind this situation? Are we really dealing with stupid people here who don't have the responsibility and commitment to take care of children? Neighbors and friends said that Claude loved to often talk, particularly about Ronnie's accomplishments, so it seems like they were close to their kids.
8.) I agree, not a word about the parents going to the King's Truck Stop Diner to get sandwiches. That's what the kids said. Law enforcement searched around the area, and talked with employees who said they never saw them.
9.) I used to think that the Shelton's had an accident. they were in the lake., However, when I saw that documentary about them searching the lake, I just didn't know. There were several bodies of water in route but it would seem that something, remains of a car, or some piece of forensic evidence would be found. There wasn't.
10.) I want to know more about the broken down car! Was that substantiated? I think both things could have happened simultaneously meaning the following:
1.) Claude at least had every intention of leaving home later that night. Sue was reluctant at first but decided to go with him.
2.) Claude being a mechanic and probably a really nice guy saw a stranded motorist on the road, stopped and offered to help him with his broken down car, connected with a bad person and could have been killed, probably by gunshot. Maybe this person had a stolen car, and did not want anyone to know about it. He could have carried a gun to protect himself.
It sounds like their plan was to leave the kids that night. Maybe not abandon them, but they had to go somewhere and met up with foul play.
Satch
