Anyone with credible tips on this case is urged to email this reporter at cristina.corbin@foxnews.com. Investigators wondered if she had been a KGB agent, or if she had been in the military and gone AWOL. [3] The fact that Ruff was able to cover up her identity so well in a time before the Internet has led to speculation that she had visited an "identity broker".[3]. All rights reserved. [8] She would also obsessively track the Ruffs' family history and try to find out their family recipes, but she still refused to talk about her own past. Lori Erica Ruff - identity SOLVED? Lori Erica Ruff was a secretive person. But nobody in the world knew Lori Erica Ruff. Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff (October 16, 1968 - December 24, 2010), was an American identity thief who remained unidentified for nearly six years after her death. Blake Ruff married the woman he had known asLori in2004. [citation needed], After Lori's funeral, some of the Ruffs drove to Leonard to see if they could find out more about her in her house. In July 1988, she moved to Dallas, where, according to court documents, she legally changed her name to Lori Erica Kennedy. Trophy Wife: Dirigido por Christian Sesma. She was sending deranged emails to the Ruffs. Related: Girl in the Green Mac: The Baffling, Unsolved Disappearance of Sheila Fox. Lori Erica Kennedy / Lori Ruff - Identified - Facebook Ruff's earliest known activity dates back to May 1988, when she requested the birth certificate of Becky Sue Turner, a two-year-old girl who was killed, along with two of her siblings, in a house fire in Fife, Washington in 1971. After earning a GED and a college degree, she married into a wealthy East Texas family and gave birth to a daughter. [3], On Christmas Eve 2010, Ruff's body was discovered in her car in the Ruffs' driveway, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. Then, in September 2016, investigators believed they solved the case. She was very private and didn't open to people about her past. Lori attended the University of Texas regularly and graduated with a business administration degree in 1997. The Bizarre Truth About Lori Ruff, The Woman Without An Identity. As Blake began the daunting task of sorting through his wife's possessions, he knew that he would have to deal with one thing that Lori had always told him he was to never touch. The harassment was so severe that the Ruffs were planning to file a cease and desist order just before Lori's death. It is generally believed that a new identity was already being considered either for herself or others. Lori Erica Ruff Suicide Is 3 Years Later Still A Mystery In Texas [2] She would also obsessively track the Ruffs' family history and try to find out their family recipes, but still refused to talk about her past. As far as the authorities were concerned, once Blake called them in, she was an identity thief now given the name "Jane Doe.". In his spare time he enjoys astronomy and Xboxing. The tall and slender brunette met Ruff at a bible study group and introduced herself as Lori Kennedy. Blake and Lori married in 2004the only witness to their marriage was the priest. [1] Despite the questions Blake's family had about Lori, the couple married in January 2004. According to the Seattle Times, a crowd-sourced investigation into Ruffs background began after the paper ran a story on her in 2013. They then discovered the lockbox in a closet, pried it open with a screwdriver, and discovered the documentation of Ruff's past. When problems became too difficult for him to continue, Blake finally accepted that their marriage wasnt working and subsequently moved out of the home they shared. It wasnt until the Ruffs found a safebox hidden inside their daughter-in-laws bedroom closet that showed the woman wasnt who she had claimed to be. These secrets Lori Ruff had kept from even her husband, Blake Ruff, and his family. Within the next two years, she obtained the birth certificate of Becky Sue Turner, a 2-year-old girl who had died with her two sisters in a house fire in 1971. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology, Learn more about your ad choices. McLean also asked them not to come after her. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. or redistributed. Colleen Fitzpatrick, a former nuclear physicist who created[citation needed] the field of forensic genealogy, learned of Lori Ruff in 2013 and began work on the case. Sign up for The Lineup's newsletter, and receive our eeriest cases delivered straight to your inbox. On Monday though, Lori. Photo Credit: Alchetron. And she did it all pre-InternetShe may have done this on her own, but its possible she sought out one of these identity brokers.. [1], Fitzpatrick informed Joe Velling, who had in the meantime retired from the SSA. In 2010, a woman in Texas named Lori Ruff parked her Tahoe in the driveway of the house where her estranged husband Blake had been living since he had walked out on her after their relationship had soured. Marriage is a sacred act between two people that care deeply for one another. During all of this, Blake continued in his efforts to pry more details from the mother of his baby. When he returned to his parents, he filed for a divorce. [3], After getting married, the Ruffs moved to Leonard, Texas. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Lori Erica Ruff was the alias of an unidentified American woman and identity thief who committed suicide on December 24, 2010 in Longview, Texas. Lori Erica Ruff was a secretive person. At the time of this application, Lori quoted her age as 19. She suffered a miscarriage before eventually giving birth to a baby girl in 2008. All rights reserved. Who was she? But Lori tragically died by suicide just before Christmas in 2010. Lori Erica Ruff, a Texan who committed suicide in 2010 and left behind a series of puzzling documents hinting that she wasnt who her family thought she was, has now been identified. Shewas an accomplished identity thief. Ruff gradually acquired more documents in her new name, including a Social Security number. "True identity of Lori Ruff revealed six years after she committed suicide", "After 30 Years, Lori Ruff's True Identity Finally Revealed", "5 Creepy-As-Hell Stories Of Real People With No Identity", "She stole another's identity, and took her secret to the grave. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Prior to that, she was known as Becky Sue Turner, an identity forged with the birth certificate of a long-dead child. She enrolled at Dallas County Community College in the fall of 1990 and eventually graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a business administration degree in 1997. Related: A Killer Calls: The Unsolved Murder of Dorothy Jane Scott. IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. We cover everything from big time serial killers (and those you may never have heard of), to hauntings, possessions, disturbing mysteries, bizarre whodunits and basically anything that tickles our creepy fancy. The investigation into her suicide hit dead end after dead end. Upon opening the container, Blakediscovered why: Inside was a birth certificate and IDs belonging to several different people. Mother and child spent a lot of time together, which is normal for such a doting mother. After she died, her ex-husband's family discovered a lockbox in a closet in her home. But Blake was in love. This has led investigators to believe that Ruff was much older than she claimed to be. Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff, was an American identity thief who remained unidentified for nearly six years after her death. Lori Erica Ruff - Wikipedia Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theywalkamongus. McLean used the child's birth certificate to obtain an Idaho state identification card, then moved to Texas and had her name legally changed to Lori Erica Kennedy. McLean used the child's birth certificate to obtain an Idaho state identification card, then moved to Texas and had her name legally changed to Lori Erica Kennedy . With the help of investigator Joe Velling, he traced the DNA to a family in Pennsylvania. And why didn't she see any other option but to end her own life? We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. [2], In the months between the separation and Lori's suicide, she behaved very erratically. Lori Erica Ruff - Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core Until now, Lori Erica Ruff was known to authorities as Jane Doe a woman of mystery who jumped from state to state, taking on the identities of other people. Lori's behavior caused immense tensions between Lori and the Ruffs, even keeping the new grandparents from visiting their granddaughter. So, it was granted without question. After several miscarriages, the couple finally had a daughter in 2008. And, why had she changed her identity and hid her past from those closest to her?You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminologyAn Emash Digital productionLearn more about your ad choices. One was for her daughter. In the days that followed, Blake tried to make sense of how things had gone so wrong. The local police department began a routine investigation and quickly found a safe at the bottom of a closet. This is a true crime podcast that spares none of the details and delves into what makes these killers tick. In 2010, he moved back in with his parents and filed for divorce. She created a false identity for the sole purpose of getting lost in America, Velling told FoxNews.com. Before 1988, Lori Erica Kennedy simply did not exist. She also began sending harassing emails to the Ruffs, created a scene at a custody exchange, and stole a set of house keys from them. In 1986, Kimberly McLean ran away from her home at the age of 18. Velling agreed to help identify her as a case of identify theft. [3], Eventually, Ruff did not want her in-laws to have any contact with her daughter. The Bat Bombs of WWII: Presidentially Approved, Totally Anna Anderson: Imposter of Duchess Anastasia, End of the World Predictions that Never Happened. After some failed marriage therapy meetings, Blake Ruff moved back to his parents' house in Longview and filed for divorce, leaving Lori with their daughter in Leonard. Perhaps because of these miscarriages, Lori was ultra-protective of her daughter. Lori Erica Ruff Criminology podcast In the days following her death, hebegan the grim task of sortingthrough his wifespossessions. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices. [6], On December 24, 2010, Ruff's body was discovered in her car in the Ruffs' driveway, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. One of television's most popular true-crime series adapted for your ears. Both fingerprints and DNA testing turned up nothing to help get to the bottom of her true identity. El Sorprendente Caso de Lori Erica Ruff -Documental - YouTube It was signed by a man called Roger Steinbeck. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the mysterious Lori Erica Ruff. The other had dates and the letters D and M on it. The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories. But who she really was is still a mystery. The woman used the birth certificate to obtain a valid Idaho identification card under the name Becky Sue Turner, issued on June 16, 1988, and bearing the photo of Jane Doe. She had ended her life with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. And when asked about her days in high school, she said she skipped it and went straight to college. That created a lot of heartburn for the family.. [1] After two years, Fitzpatrick finally identified Ruff when she discovered a third cousin match who was related to the Cassidys. The family tried everything to find her but she changed her name and location regularly, making it difficult for Kimberlys family to find her. In September 2011 the Ruff family, with the help of a congressional aide, sought the help of Joe Velling, an investigator for the Social Security Administration (SSA). ", "Texas woman's true identity baffles ex-husband, authorities years after her suicide", "She stole another's identity, and took her secret to the grave. [8] Other papers included the birth certificate of Becky Sue Turner and a judge's ruling granting a name change to Lori Erica Kennedy. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. Lori Erica Ruff was the alias of an unidentified American woman and identity thief who committed suicide on December 24, 2010 in Longview, Texas. Lori Erica Ruff. This site uses cookies to improve user experience. ", "Mystery of the woman with two names: Investigator tries to discover true identity of mother who committed suicide three years ago after husband finds evidence of a double life hidden in a lock box", List of unidentified decedents in the United States, List of unidentified decedents in California, List of unidentified murder victims in the United States, List of unidentified murder victims in California, List of unidentified murder victims in Texas, List of unidentified murder victims in New York, List of unidentified murder victims in Florida, List of unidentified murder victims in Michigan, List of unidentified murder victims in Pennsylvania, National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Lori_Erica_Ruff&oldid=718811075, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2016, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, About Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core. Perhaps Lori was creating parents for the benefit of Blake. Join us for a good mix of lesser known cases as well as our take on what we call the "Big Timers". Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. Lori Erica Ruff was the alias of an unidentified American woman and identity thief who committed suicide on December 24, 2010 in Longview, Texas.After she died, her ex-husband's family discovered a lockbox in a closet in her home. Lori Erica Kennedy / Lori Ruff - Identified. Be the first to contribute! Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff (October 16, 1968 December 24, 2010), was an American identity thief[3] whose true identity remained unknown for nearly six years after her death. Her mothers remarriage didnt help either and she told her family she was going away. The new Mrs. Ruff was an unusually private person, particularly around her in-laws, according to Velling, special agent in charge of the Social Security Office of the Inspector General in Seattle, Wash. When people made small talk with her like asking where she went to high school she would say, 'Its none of your business.' As with the birth certificate, it was relatively straight forward to acquire a new social security number. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. According to the man, whom Velling did not name, Jane Doe had more problems than he could deal with.. The tall and slender brunette met Ruff at a bible study group and introduced herself as Lori Kennedy. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. But, it didn't happen easily and it took the hard work of a number of people and a little bit of luck to learn the truth.Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the mysterious Lori Erica Ruff. They tried several times to have a child, but she had trouble conceiving and suffered multiple miscarriages. Early on Christmas Eve, Lori drove over to the Ruff house. She then moved to Idaho and obtained a driver's license using Becky's birth certificate, according to news.com.au. Image: Social Security Administration. Or at least they should. After obtaining the driver's license, Ruff went before a judge in Dallas on July 5 1988 and legally changed her name to Lori Erica Kennedy; a week later she obtained a social security number, effectively erasing her past. Legal Statement. Les currently resides in London and is a freelance writer with a long standing passion for the unexplained and paranormal. [2] The writings on the paper found in the lockbox included the scribblings "North Hollywood police", "402 months", and "Ben Perkins", who turned out to be an attorney. Sometime later, Blake's father left the house to pick up the paper. In addition, there were no matches for the woman in any existing fingerprint and facial recognition databases. Lori definitely was not who she portrayed herself to be, so who was she? For example, Lori would often ramble to the minister on a variety of topics; mainly her perceived flaws, problems, and the failure of her marriage. Others, including a private detective, tasked with finding out more about her, consider that an incident in her past concerned her sufficiently to create an entirely new identity. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Lori kept to herself, rarely speaking Finally, in 2008, the pair had a daughter, conceived with in vitro fertilization. Days later, she applied for and received a Social Security number a move that effectively erased her past. Lori didnt take this at all well. Related: Lady of the Dunes: Was the Unidentified Cape Cod Murder Victim an Extra in Jaws? In the box, which she told her husband never to touch, were all the documents exposing her elaborate ruse the paperwork showing the name change and the application for a Social Security number, among other receipts. When asked about her background,Lori was guarded and evasive; she claimed her parents were dead and she had no siblings. Her father-in-law discovered her body inside Blakes car. She obtained a Texas drivers license in 1989, listing her age as 19. How had their marriage fallen apart? On Christmas Eve 2010, the body of 42-year-old Lori Erica Ruff was found in a car parked outside the Ruff family home in Longview, Texas. With each question she asked, Lori deflected, the Seattle Times reported. In the box a number of documents were discovered which revealed that Ruff had stolen the identity of Becky Sue Turner, a 2-year-old girl killed in a fire in 1971 in . Prior to marrying Blake, Loriwas known as Lori Erica Kennedy. But this could have simply been a number picked for convenience purposes only. But all that he managed to discover was that Lori had something of a difficult upbringing. [1] She eventually graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1997, with a degree in Business Administration. They believed she fled because she did not like her mothers new husband. She had brown hair and hazel eyes. She received a Texas driver license in 1989 and qualified for a GED[8] the following year. Or, Becky Sue Turner? Market data provided by Factset. "My God, that's Kimberly!," one Pennsylvania relative exclaimed, the Seattle Times reported. She didnt even allow the publication of the announcement of their nuptials in the local newspaper either. Although Blakes family was suspicious of Lori from the beginning, Blake himself was very much in love. Papers belonging to Ruff, who had been married with a child, surfaced after her suicide indicating she had once been known as Lori Kennedy, and prior to that, as Becky Sue Turner, the name of a young girl who had died in a Washington state fire in 1971. On Christmas Eve 2010, the body of 42-year-old Lori Erica Ruff was found in acar parked outside the Rufffamily home in Longview, Texas. In 1989, her new identity was completed with a Texas drivers license. Within the next two years, she . She was eventually identified as a native of suburban Philadelphia who left home at age 17, in the fall of 1986, because she did not get along with her mother and stepfather. But, it didn't happen easily and it took the hard work of a number of people and a little bit of luck to learn the truth. They married and had a daughter together. Investigators then began to search of hertrue identitya process that would take six years to complete. For the next couple of years, Blake worked on all aspects of the marriage. Among the various documents was a certificate indicating that Lori Kennedy had changed her name from Becky Sue Turner. She was never too keen to go into further detail. It was either she or his family, and he chose his family, Velling said. It's the best podcast app and works on Android, iPhone, and the web. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. Although she left notes for her husband and her daughter, they didn't provide any clues. Fitzpatrick found matching DNA records using saliva samples of Blake and Loris daughter. [4] She also said her father was a failed stockbroker. The grieving husbandrecognized the box. The contents of this safe put into sharp focus everything that Blake thought he knew about Lori Kennedy. [3], Ruff was incredibly overprotective of her daughter, often refusing to let anyone else hold her, which angered her husband's family. The pair set up a home together and tried to start a family. They then discovered the lock box in a closet, pried it open with a screwdriver, and discovered the documentation of Ruff's past. Lori refused to allow anyone else to babysit her child. Unresolved is an investigative and immersive look at those stories, as host Micheal Whelan tries to determine why these stories - unsolved crimes and other unexplained phenomena - have no ending. Lori Erica Ruff The Generation Why Podcast. Lori definitely was not who she portrayed herself to be, so who was she? Blake's parents were suspicious of Lori right from the beginning. 1,529 likes. [7] She eventually gave birth to a baby girl via in vitro fertilisation in 2008. Ruffs apparent identity theft pulled in former Social Security Administration investigator Joe Velling, who hoped that publicity from the Times piece would urge amateur sleuths to provide some leads. The only person in attendance was the preacher. Host Charlie brings in appropriate historic and cultural context to look beyond what happened and consider why it happened. But to a dogged federal investigator, she is "Jane Doe," a Texas mother who killed herself three years ago in her family's driveway after spending decades using stolen identities to erase a past that remains mired in mystery. Using DNA analysis from Ruff's daughter, investigators were able to trace Ruff's identity back to a family in Pennsylvania, whose teenage daughter had disappeared in 1986, per Mental Floss. Ruff described her as being incredibly secretive, particularly regarding her past. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. A 2013 Seattle Times feature article about the case was published in news outlets around the world and created enormous interest in the online "websleuth" community. [6] The fact that Ruff was able to cover up her identity so well in a time before the Internet has led to speculation that she had enlisted the services of a so-called identity broker.[6]. She arrived at this identity by way of a girl named Becky Sue Turner. [1] She then traveled to Idaho, where she obtained a state ID card on June 16 using the girl's birth certificate.[2]. The letter failed to mention crucial details such what was her role and responsibilities. Lori Erica Ruff was a secretive person. Where Murder Lies is investigating the mysterious case of identity thief Lori Erica Kennedy Ruff, aka Kimberly Maria McLean, who, unbeknown to her husband, led a secret life for decades.
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