Peggy Joyce Rusness, 41, vanished from her Wolf Lake, Minnesota, farm on April 3, 1976, the same evening a fire consumed the family home. Firefighters recovered the body of her eight-year-old son Brian and the remains of two family dogs in the ruins, but Peggy and her common-law husband Bernard Rusness were not found in the debris. Investigators at the time concluded the couple had likely survived the blaze.

Earlier that day Peggy and Bernard had gone grocery shopping and returned in the afternoon. Bernard was seen working on his truck and left the hood up, planning to finish it the next day. All the vehicles at the property were found with keys in the ignition, and about $1,000 remained in the couple’s bank accounts along with uncollected paychecks, suggesting they had not taken money or driven away after the fire.

Despite the initial view that they escaped the fire, neither Bernard nor Peggy was ever seen again. Foul play is suspected and the case remains unsolved. Does anyone have information about Peggy or Bernard Rusness, their movements in April 1976, or contacts who might remember that household?