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Post by Scumhunter on Jul 27, 2016 4:02:24 GMT -5
   (Above: Kerstetter, circa 1987 photo credits: Charley Project)
Missing Person Profile as of July 27th, 2016: (based on Charley Project website)
Missing Since: September 12, 1987 from Bradford, Pennsylvania
Date Of Birth: March 7, 1937
Age (at time of disappearance): 50 years old
Height and Weight: 5'4, 130 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian male. Gray hair, brown eyes.
TIPS: Anyone having information should contact the Pennsylvania State Police at 1-814-938-0532From The Charley Project: Kerstetter was last seen on September 12, 1987 at 11 p.m. during his weekend shift. He worked as a maintenance man and a security guard at Corning Glassworks in Bradford, Pennsylvania; he had been employed there for 29 years. The next morning, on September 13, a fellow security guard found Kerstetter's lunch pail, newspaper and keys on a cafeteria table. Kerstetter's truck was still in the parking lot. A search of the truck showed that Kerstetter's truck keys were still in the ignition and his .22 caliber gun holster was inside the vehicle, but the gun itself was missing. A carton of cigarettes and Kerstetter's day pack were also found. No sign of Kerstetter was found in and around the plant. There was no indication of forced entry and no signs of a struggle. A police dog traced Kerstetter's scent to the second floor of the plant where the glass furnace was located. This area was not part of Kerstetter's normal security rounds. They discoverd that $250,000 worth of platinum pipe was missing. An examination of security tapes from 3 security cameras showed a masked intruder in the back of the plant. In one shot, the intruder was seen around the area where the platinum was missing. In a second shot, Kerstetter is seen talking to the masked intruder. As both Kerstetter and the intruder walked out of the second floor, Kerstetter looked directly into the security camera. Authorities do not know if Kerstetter was signaling for help or flaunting a crime. A third shot shows the intruder wheeling out a large bag. Police speculate that the bag contained the missing platinum or Kerstetter's body. Kerstetter was having financial problems at the time of his disappearance, and Bradford police believe that he willingly participated in the robbery. His family disagrees, stating he was very close to his six children and would not have abandoned them. One of Kerstetter's daughters noted that security guards at the plant were supposed to check in every hour. Between 11 p.m. and 4 a.m. Kerstetter did not check in. Kerstetter's case remains unsolved and foul play is suspected in his disappearance. charleyproject.org/cases/k/kerstetter_dale.htmlThoughts? Kerstetter's disappearance was profiled on the October 25th, 1989 episode of Unsolved Mysteries. His case remains unsolved. Other relevant links: unsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Dale_Kerstetterunsolved.com/archives/dale-kerstetterAdmin Note: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form |
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Post by Scumhunter on Apr 29, 2018 5:11:27 GMT -5
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Post by Maddog on Jan 12, 2020 21:36:31 GMT -5
I can honestly say I have never been so torn on a case. I am leaning, though, with 55% certainty, towards the belief that Kerstetter was kidnapped. I do acknowledge there is some circumstantial evidence that he was in on the robbery, but I am just barely convinced he was abducted from the plant.
The circumstantial evidence in favor of him being involved is obvious: he was talking on the surveillance video with the robber, he was in debt at the time, and he had recently taken a pay cut. However, it’s my belief he was abducted for the following reasons:
1) He left behind a teenage son at his home. I don’t think he would willingly leave behind a son of tender years at home to fend for himself.
2) The surveillance video was recently released through a request of Pennsylvania’s version of the Freedom of Information Act. It is EXTREMELY poor quality. The only worse surveillance video (stills from the Kerstetter case are online) I have ever seen in a UM/AMW case was the Jordan Algood case. However (I haven’t downloaded the video, but a long-time UM fan did provide a description), saying that there were TWO masked intruders. I don’t know if this is true or not, as I would have to see the video myself, but that’s an open and shut case for me if there was more than one robber.
3) Dale’s lunch pail was left completely full. If he knew he was going to partake in the robbery, why pack a lunch at all?
4) Dale’s work history wasn’t perfect, but he saved six people and millions in equipment by preventing a forklift from exploding at the Corning plant. That shows to me he was very loyal to his job.
5) Here’s the thing that is not in dispute: the robber apparently knew where everything was at. I am 99.99% sure that the robber was a former Corning employee. I think the reason Dale was talking to him was that he recognized the intruder’s voice and asked what he was doing. That probably prompted Dale’s presumed murder.
6) Dale’s scent was traced to the furnace where the platinum pipes were, but here’s the thing: Dale’s .22 was missing. I think the robber may have taken in from Dale and threatened to kill him unless he stayed nearby and didn’t go for help.
7) I have a hard time believing he is going to flaunt his crime to the security camera. If he tried to wave at the camera or in someway signal for help, the intruder could have killed him. Keep in mind, as a security guard, he is going to know where the camera is, so that was likely his way of signaling that he was under duress.
8) We know that Kerstetter was $40,000 in debt, but his family, including his daughter, were adamant that he could have approached them. Further, he could have cashed out Corning stock he owned at the time.
9) Sure, Kerstetter had just had his job downgraded and took a pay cut of $5-7K. The factory was being sold at the time, however. Many had just been laid off (according to accounts from people who claim - emphasis on claim - to have worked there at the time). Sounds to me like Corning went out of their way to make sure he still had a job there. I have a hard time believing he would turn on them if they did that for him.
10) Dale (as far as I know), had no prior criminal history that included crimes of dishonesty.
I am slightly inclined to believe Dale Kerstetter was murdered in the plant that night. Since no evidence of foul play was found, I am inclined to believe he was probably asphyxiated/choked/strangled to death and his body wheeled out on that cart along with what I suspect was the platinum. Kerstetter was only 5’4”, so he could have been easily concealed on that cart. However, if Kerstetter was involved, I suspect he was also killed to conceal any loose lips. The rumor that keeps popping up in this case is that his remains were thrown down a well in the area. No idea if that is true, but if it is, it would explain why his remains are nowhere to be found.
It’s my hope that the police have gone through the personnel records of that plant: I would be willing to bet $20 that the intruder worked there at one point.
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Post by Scumhunter on Jan 12, 2020 23:27:15 GMT -5
Yeah this is one where I'm going to completely chicken out and say 50-50 and not leaning in any direction lol.
If I recall the Unsolved Mysteries airing though, working off memory as opposed to seeing it recently, I think the local police Kerstetter was flaunting and mocking them when he looked at the camera or something, which I personally had a hard time believing because of how incredibly stupid a move that would be. If you're trying to get away with a crime, you're wearing a mask, not brazenly staring at a camera where everyone knows it's you. Plus no one who knew him described him as having a smart alecky personality. It doesn't mean he was looking at the camera distress either and could have just been an "oh darn forgot anout that one" reaction or "oh well I'm going to go on the run anyway" but I never brought that he was purposely flaunting it.
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