lori erica ruff documentary

They married and had a daughter together. At the time of this application, Lori quoted her age as 19. He found a birth certificate for one person that wasn't her. Days later, she applied for and received a Social Security number a move that effectively erased her past. 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. Related: Girl in the Green Mac: The Baffling, Unsolved Disappearance of Sheila Fox. Such things have happened in other cases, and are often traumatic events. Market data provided by Factset. Legal Statement. McLean assumed a series of aliases before marrying Blake Ruff in 2004 and settling downleaving no trace of Kimberly McLean, at least until Fitzpatrick began researching her family tree. [3], The suicide notes were quickly determined to be incoherent ramblings that offered no clues to Ruff's identity. 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. 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. After four years of attempts, miscarriages, and disappointments, the couple had a daughter. I also want to get Early Bird Books newsletter featuring book deals, recommendations, and giveaways. Join us for a good mix of lesser known cases as well as our take on what we call the "Big Timers". 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. On December 24, 2010, the body of Lori Erica Ruff was found in her car parked in the driveway of the Ruff family's Texas home. Blake Ruff married the woman he had known asLori in2004. Real Life is Horror. Lori Ruff & The Dark Secret She Hid From Everyone 864,142 views Feb 5, 2019 13K Dislike Share Save Weird History 3.81M subscribers Few stories have fascinated the Internet quite like the one of. Her Idaho identification card listed her as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and her Dallas drivers license had her at 5 feet, 10 inches, but she was really somewhere in-between, Velling said. Want more real-life mysteries? 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. By continuing to browse, you accept the use of cookies and other technologies. During all of this, Blake continued in his efforts to pry more details from the mother of his baby. In life, Lori hadwarnedhimto stay away from it. After Lori Erica Ruff's death, Blake Ruff realized his wife was a complete stranger. Many of these sessions tended to feature increasingly strange behavior on her part. On Christmas Eve in 2010, Lori Erica Ruff sat in her car outside her in-laws' Longview, Texas home, and ended her life with a gunshot to the head. ", "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. A neighbor recalled that she and her daughter appeared to be very thin and that Lori would often ramble incoherently about her problems. Lori Ruffs handwritten notes. NY Daily News The Minds of Madness - True Crime Stories. She was very private and didn't open to people about her past. It took hard work on the part of investigators and some unique forensic genealogy for the truth to come out. Hosts Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson guide you through the most interesting true crime stories. [1] She eventually gave birth to a baby girl via in-vitro fertilization in 2008. He filed for divorce a short time later. She became distressed due to her parents divorce. Mother and child spent a lot of time together, which is normal for such a doting mother. Trophy Wife (2022) - IMDb With the help of investigator Joe Velling, he traced the DNA to a family in Pennsylvania. In the car were two suicide notes: an 11-page one addressed to "my wonderful husband" and another addressed to her daughter, to be opened on her 18th birthday. Lori Ruff & The Dark Secret She Hid From Everyone - YouTube The following people have been ruled out as possible identities for Ruff:[5], Ruff was a white female, who was approximately 41 to 50 years old when she committed suicide. And, why had she changed her identity and hid her past from those closest to her? These secrets Lori Ruff had kept from even her husband, Blake Ruff, and his family. However, over time he began to get the impression that he was the only one trying to make their marriage work. Criminology: Lori Erica Ruff on Apple Podcasts A week later, she obtained a Social Security number, removing traces of her true identity. [1] She eventually graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1997, with a degree in Business Administration. She was very private and didn't open to people about her past. Blake Ruff has admitted that he isn't completely sure what drew him to Lori. Related: The Strange Case of the Isdal Woman. According to Deannes brother, Tom, Kimberly grew irate after her mother and father separated in the 1980s. 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. Signup to sync subscriptions across devices. So, join us, plug in, sit back and prepare for scares. [7] She then traveled to Idaho, where she used the document to obtain a state ID card on June 16.[8]. Numerous theories regarding her identity can be found on various internet websites. This page was last modified on 5 May 2016, at 17:33. Strange life of identity thief Lori Ruff, aka Kimberly McLean The woman told doctors in 2005 that she was 35 a claim Velling doubts. 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. Photo Credit: Alchetron. I think she was born sometime between 1960 and 1968., Records gathered by Velling provide tantalizing clues. In the car were two suicide notes: One 11page note addressed to "my wonderful husband" and another addressed to her daughter, to be opened on her 18th birthday. With little to no clues about who shemight actually be, the woman once known as Lori Erica Ruffwas registered in the federal governments database of missing and unidentified persons as a Jane Doe. Or, Becky Sue Turner? However, according to records, Becky Sue Turner asphyxiated in a house fire when she was just 2 years old. Con Erica Peeples, Tiffany Black, Sean Patrick Thomas, Chris Sakyi. [1] He flew to Pennsylvania to meet the potential family. [3], On Christmas Eve 2010, Ruff's body was discovered in her car in the Ruffs' driveway, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot. They looked for signs of gambling addiction and sex trafficking. As far as the police officers could tell, Lori never traveled abroad before 1990, as there is no passport with that name. Everyone in Dallas has an accent and she did not. Although she left notes for her husband and her daughter, they didn't provide any clues. Lori Erica Ruff Kept Her Past Locked Up in a Secret Safe Blake Ruff thought he had found someone special. In addition, there were no matches for the woman in any existing fingerprint and facial recognition databases. This has led investigators to believe that Ruff was much older than she claimed to be. But to a dogged federal investigator, she is "Jane Doe," a Texas mother who killed herself three years ago in her famil. In 2010, after she took her own life, secrets were revealed and the truth about her past began to unravel. Police also found a curious letter within the safe. On Monday though, Lori. The house belonged . We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. And, with the child, Lori's behavior became even more erratic. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. Some people can explain all of this with nothing more sinister than the Witness Protection Program. He noticed the car and called the police. Historic Mysteries provides captivating articles on archaeology, history, and unexplained mysteries. And she was aggressive about it, Velling said. His letter contained pages of incoherent rambling. It was either she or his family, and he chose his family, Velling said. | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | DMCA Notice, This website uses cookies to improve your experience. As many of you know, "Lori Ruff" is the assumed name of an otherwise anonymous woman who died in 2010. Blake, who was close with his parents, couldn't take it anymore. 2021 Emash Digital & Mike Ferguson, Mike Morford. Erica Kelley is a native Tennessean exploring historical and contemporary true crime in the South. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology, Learn more about your ad choices. The harassment was so severe that the Ruffs filed a cease and desist order just before Lori's death. In 1989, her new identity was completed with a Texas drivers license. But all that he managed to discover was that Lori had something of a difficult upbringing. In July 1988, she moved to Dallas, where, according to court documents, she legally changed her name to Lori Erica Kennedy. Market data provided by Factset. Using a DNA analysis from Ruffs daughter, investigators were able to trace Ruffs identity back to a family in Pennsylvania, whose daughter had disappeared in 1986, when she was 17. In May of 2016, several commentators on the internet noticed similarities to Ruff's story and to the plot of a 1987 crime drama called Positive I.D., which was directed by a professor of film at UT Arlington. 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 Fife, Washington, in 1988, and then changed her name to Lori Erica Kennedy. It was in 2010 when events finally took their toll on her. Sources The Bizarre Truth About Lori Ruff, The Woman Without An Identity. Lori Erica Ruff - YouTube 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 her death, Lori's husband found a lockbox with papers inside that shed light on his wife's past. For years, it was nothing but a series of dead ends. After her death, Lori's husband found a lockbox with papers inside that shed light on his wife's past. Prior to marrying Blake, Loriwas known as Lori Erica Kennedy. On the West Coast, we generally dont have a discernible accent, said Velling, a Seattle native. When a woman known as Lori Erica Ruff died in Texas three years ago, she left behind a mystery that has investigators baffled. 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. Lori Erica Ruff - identity SOLVED? : r/UnresolvedMysteries - reddit Lori acquired Turner's birth certificate in 1988, a time when you could just send a letter requesting a birth certificate with little resistance. 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. When Lori Erica Kennedy took her own life, she left behind evidence that she'd stolen another's identity. Kimberly Maria McLean, a.k.a. When asked about her background,Lori was guarded and evasive; she claimed her parents were dead and she had no siblings. He describes her as being incredibly secretive, particularly regarding her past. Investigators wondered if she had been a KGB agent, or if she had been in the military and gone AWOL. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices. It must have been for some horrific reasoneither she was running away from a crime or an abusive family or relationship., She wanted a complete break from her past, said Velling. Lori Erica Ruff (born Kimberly McLean, October 16, 1968 - December 24, 2010) was a woman who took her own life while living in Longview, Texas. Join Jim Clemente (former FBI profiler), Laura Richards (criminal behavioral analyst, former New Scotland Yard) and Lisa Zambetti (Casting director for CBS' Criminal Minds) as they profile behavior from real criminal cases. 2021 Wondery LLC. The response? The Strange Life and Death of Lori Erica Ruff Other commentators noted that Ruff briefly attended UT Arlington and may have become familiar with the film prior to changing her identity. The woman received breast implants in 1991 and claimed to have suffered from bulimia in 1990. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Apparently, after Becky Sue Turner perished, a woman turned up and requested a copy of the birth certificate. [1] Despite the questions Blake's family had about Lori, the couple married in January 2004. While the hotel was genuine and a favored haunt of numerous celebrities, there was no trace of the author. Blake did learn that Lori was born somewhere in Arizona. In a matter of months, Lori completely deteriorated. All rights reserved. Now, as he opened it, he understood why it was forbidden territory. Shewas an accomplished identity thief. Due to her off-putting[opinion][clarification needed], secretive[citation needed] behavior, she clashed with her husband's family, and her marriage eventually collapsed. Follows Toni, who has a complete breakdown and ends up in a mental facility after the unexpected news that her husband was murdered, and even she is a suspect. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. A friend of the family verified that Becky Sue Turner had died in a house fire at the age of 2. Although Blakes family was suspicious of Lori from the beginning, Blake himself was very much in love. Prior to that, she was known as Becky Sue Turner, an identity forged with the birth certificate of a long-dead child. 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. Blake Ruff thought he had found someone special. After marrying, the couple moved away from the senior Ruffs, who lived in eastern Texas, settling in Leonard, Texas, in the southwestern region. Ruff gradually acquired more documents in her new name, including a Social Security number. 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. 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. The truth of Ruff's deception only came to light after she committed suicide, and some determined investigators began looking into . Based on her own research, and a DNA sample the Ruff family submitted that indicated Lori had a first cousin named Michael Cassidy, Fitzpatrick suggested Velling contact the Cassidy family in Philadelphia. If you can never get enough true crime Congratulations, youve found your people. ", "Texas woman's true identity baffles ex-husband, authorities years after her suicide", "Live chat with investigator, reporter about Jane Doe case", "Mystery woman: After 30 years and a suicide, Lori Ruff's real identity emerges", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lori_Erica_Ruff&oldid=1125479355, Articles with minor POV problems from October 2022, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from October 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 4 December 2022, at 06:14. Review our. The pair set up a home together and tried to start a family. 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.. Buried deep in the back of Lori's closet, Blake pulled out a sealed lockbox. The letter failed to mention crucial details such what was her role and responsibilities. The family tried everything to find her but she changed her name and location regularly, making it difficult for Kimberlys family to find her. Henceforth, Lori would be known as Lori Erica Ruff. Sign up for The Lineup's newsletter, and receive our eeriest cases delivered straight to your inbox. The family members identified the picture of the mystery woman as Kimberly Mclean. A man who knew Ruff during this time has stated that she worked as a stripper in the early 1990s. Host Charlie brings in appropriate historic and cultural context to look beyond what happened and consider why it happened. [1], Fitzpatrick informed Joe Velling, who had in the meantime retired from the SSA. In 2013, a nuclear-physicist-turned-forensic genealogist Collen Fitzpatrick worked on Ruffs case and new details emerged about her past.

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