SAYLORSBURG, Pa. (AP) — In a small kitchen in the Poconos, Lori Leonard is surrounded by poster boards filled with handwritten notes, police sketches, and black-and-white photos. This evidence and information represent the frustration and mystery surrounding the unsolved murders of her parents, John and Madeleine Leonard.
More than 50 years have passed, and the Leonard sisters are still searching for answers. John Leonard, a World War II veteran, was shot to death in 1970 while driving a taxi at the Inn at Buck Hill Falls. Less than three years later, Madeleine Leonard died in a car accident that the twins believe was no accident at all.
For decades, the family left the investigation to authorities, fearing possible ties to organized crime. But now, with their children grown, Lori and Debra Leonard are determined to find closure.
They have put up fliers, appeared on podcasts, and received 1,000 pages of information from investigators. The twins are also seeking out anyone who may have information related to the cases, including hospital workers, government clerks, and former employees of the Inn at Buck Hill Falls.
As they continue their pursuit for answers, the sisters have turned to crowdfunding to raise money for exhuming their parents’ bodies and pursuing their own theories. They believe organized crime may have played a part in their father’s death, but investigators have stated there is no evidence to support that claim.
Despite the lack of active leads, the Leonard sisters remain determined to unravel the mystery that has haunted them for over 50 years.
In conclusion, the Leonard family’s quest for answers continues, with a goal of finding closure and potentially starting a scholarship fund with any leftover funds. Their determination to solve the murders of their parents serves as a reminder that unsolved cases can affect families for decades.