Time flies, doesn’t it? When I first heard about Ronald Tammen’s disappearance, it was back in 1978, and Tammen had been missing for a mere 25 years. To the near-adult I was then, that seemed like a long time. Now, 40 years later, and eight years since I began digging into the case, are we any closer to understanding what happened to Tammen?
In my mind, we are. We know, for example, that there were clues that had been overlooked, disregarded, or maybe even purposely kept out of public view by the Oxford PD, the university, and the FBI. We know that the FBI already had Tammen’s fingerprints on file by the time he disappeared, yet those prints didn’t seem to help them locate Tammen. Most significantly, we know that the FBI had expunged those prints in 2002. That’s not nothing. And I’ve made several more discoveries, the most significant of which I hope to reveal to you in the coming months, after at least one document has gone through a process called a mandatory declassification review. If what I think happened happened, we’ll have a pretty good idea why we’ve been kept in the dark for so long.
We’re told that patience is a virtue, and that good things come to those who wait. Sixty-five years is long enough, don’t you think? Here are some things we’ll be doing to commemorate the day Ronald Tammen was last seen on Miami University’s campus.
April 19, 9 a.m. ET — New documents to be released
Visit this blog on Thursday, April 19, at 9 a.m., when I’ll be posting documents that have never been released as well as a discussion on what new insights these documents bring to our current understanding of Ronald Tammen’s disappearance. Of course, you’re welcome to visit this blog sooner than that, as I plan to post at least once more before the 19th. (You’ll be notified by email when a new update has been posted if you follow this blog.) But definitely be sure to stop by on the 19th.
April 19, 11:30 a.m. ET — Livestream discussion on Facebook
On Thursday, April 19, at 11:30 a.m. ET, join me on Facebook for a 15-minute livestream event. We’ll be discussing the documents that are being released that morning as well as their significance to the case. In the remaining time, you can submit any burning questions you have about the whole Ronald Tammen saga and I’ll do my best to answer them. Here’s where you need to be: https://www.facebook.com/agmihtf/.
From now until April 19, 11:59 p.m. ET — Take the quiz and maybe win a T-shirt
Are you a Ronald Tammen addict? Do you think you know pretty much all there is to know? Take a quiz to assess your knowledge about some of the details of his story, both old and newly uncovered. Upon submission — regardless of your score — your name will be entered into a drawing for a free commemorative T-shirt. Twenty shirts will be given away!
Here are the rules:
- Only one entry per person will be considered. If you submit more than one quiz, your name will be entered only once for the drawing.
- All entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on Thursday, April 19, to be included in the drawing. After that date, you’re welcome to take the quiz, but you won’t be eligible to receive a T-shirt.
- Only entries from people living in the United States will be eligible for the drawing. (Sorry–I need to keep shipping costs within my budget.)
- The drawing will be conducted by an unbiased person who is not related to me and is not affiliated with my blog.
- If your name is selected, you will be contacted by email and asked for your mailing address and T-shirt size. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.
And that’s it! Good luck, and please share this link with your family and friends!
You answered some today, although in asking about a hypothesis shot down, I meant one you’d personally held.
OK, gotcha. I’ll add it to the list of Qs for the next post.
Do you suspect anyone, outside of the feds, of knowing but not telling?
Would you have done the same thing if you’d been in Ron’s shoes?
What working hypothesis, in whole or in part, have you had shot down?
What could or should someone or anyone have done to stop the disappearance?
If it was voluntary, why didn’t Ron ever contact his family?
Great questions. I’m adding them to the list of Qs for tomorrow or, if we run out of time, the Q & A blog post to follow soon thereafter.
Kind of late in the game, but what about flyers around campus? I’d gladly pay for them and hang them around campus and town.
That’s so nice of you to offer, but I was planning on tweeting the post out on the 19th and using some Miami-focused hashtags. Also, I plan to give a heads up to some members of the media there in case they have an interest. But thank you again — I appreciate the offer.
I think it would be fair to advertise this on the CharleyProject and WebSleuth sites. Maybe MiamiHawkTalk too.
Thanks! I’ll look into those sites. Note too that the Facebook livestream will also be viewable after-the-fact.
Along with a history class, an investigative journalism class would be nice.
If you want me to save these for the 19th, tell me so. I’m getting to a sort of “Let’s wrap up the loose ends” and tossing out some stored ideas.
What was your original best guess back in 1980?
Do you have an offline confidante you run stuff by?
What’s been the biggest surprise?
Have you seen a picture that really struck you, mystery related or not?
I suspect you might want to wait on this one, but…..
If you were a friend and knew the answer on April 18th 1953, what would you say to Ron?
These are great questions. It’s OK to send them in as you think of them. If I don’t have time to address them all on the 19th, I may post a Q&A shortly thereafter.
April 19 is a go. Maybe I’ll set up a one day FacePlant account. Some thoughts. ..
I think a history class at Miami using your book as the text would be a huge hit.
Is this essentially the end point of the blog?
Were you using poetic license in your various references to still working out the mystery, or did you nail it down during the course of the blog?
How have the Tammens reacted to your work so far?
No worries if you don’t care to answer now.
Glad you’ll be able to join us and thanks so much for your kind words of support! April 19 won’t be the end of the blog. I’ve decided to disclose new information on that day that will enable us to delve further, but in a slightly new direction. In short, you won’t be getting an answer, but you will be getting a new angle. The Tammens have been wonderfully supportive throughout this project. As for my overarching theory, that still hasn’t changed, but I continue to learn new details to help fill in the picture. I’m still working on what I believe to be the slam dunk, however.
I’ll have to borrow someone else’s FacePlant account to join in. I am right now pretty sure I’ll take a day off work to do it. I have a boatload of questions, but for the moment will settle for this one: When did you come to the basic conclusion you now hold, both in terms of what dd/mm/yy and what information led you to that position?
Haha! Wow. Great question—I’ll have to think that one over so I can be prepared. See you on FacePlant! 🙂
Fantastic as always. Thanks for keeping up the search and I truly can’t wait to see what you’ve dug up. Looks like you’re getting close.
Thanks so much! Not sure how long it will take to get to the finish line but I do think we’re getting closer. If the mandatory declassification review (MDR) plays out in our favor, that should speed things up. If not, I have a plan B, but it could take a while longer. See you on April 19!