I found this 1945 article about a three-year-old boy named Dickie tum Suden who went missing. I looked up his name and discovered he was still missing as late as 1953 — a strong indication that they never found him at all. I have a picture of him, so if this could be verified I could post him on Charley.
Hmm.
First time I’ve heard of him. Perhaps I should contact the CDOJ and see if he is in their database. Something this old, I doubt it, but you never know. I’m guessing the LE would be the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office since Downieville, California is an unincorporated area.
Poor little guy, I can’t find any thing about him being found. He was missing for more than a week though and at one point Law enforcement seems to believe he was in NM, apparently the parents disagreed with that theory though.
Did you notice that there are several listings for a Professor Richard tumSuden at Montgomery College. Wonder if that is the same person.
It is a very unusual surname.
He seems to be about the right age, lists himself as graduating high school in 1960…
Though if that’s him, his family moved to NYC at some point.
Nevermind, misread his facebook — his 1960 degree was college, not high school. He’s most likely a few years too old to be the missing Dickie.
Dickie tum Suden was never found. His disappearance remains a mystery that haunted my adoptive family for the rest of their lives. The FBI had some notes on the case but they were destroyed. Back then, without a ransom note there was no reason to suspect kidnapping. I believe that the Richard tum Suden at Montgomery College was unrelated to us.