George Wright Bugher, a 38-year-old businessman from Elizabeth, New Jersey, was last seen on July 8, 1964. He owned Hand Hardware Store and was reportedly under financial strain. That day he told his wife by phone he would be late because he had a meeting with two men about refinancing the business and was seen by business associates around 7:00 p.m.

The next morning the store manager found the keys still in the lock, the burglar alarm turned off, both safes open, and a cash box with more than $600 missing. Bugher’s wallet, jacket, and briefcase remained inside the store. Two days after he disappeared his 1954 Chevy was found parked in Newark with the missing cash box inside, but it held only a few pennies and receipts.

Extensive searches turned up no further clues, and investigators never determined what happened to him after that night.