In July 1996 a Chicago family of four vanished from their home on South Rhodes Avenue. Everett Thompson, 40, a restaurant owner, his wife Lydia, and their sons Everett Jr., 11, and Andrew, 8, were last seen July 5, 1996. Tension in the household revolved around Lydia’s brother, Kenneth White, who had moved in after his February 1996 release from prison and was described by the family as a freeloading houseguest.

Two days before the disappearance Lydia made a 911 call saying White was threatening her with an ax; police responded but made no arrest. On July 5 Everett took a panic call from Lydia saying White was chasing her with an ax and had locked herself in a bedroom. A few hours later White showed up at Everett’s restaurant driving the family van and told staff Everett had been in a car crash and was arrested — a claim that was false. Staff noted red smears on White’s sneakers. White later forged Lydia’s signature to sell the house and sold the van, and there was insufficient evidence to charge him in the family’s disappearance.

White died by suicide in jail in December 1997 while held on unrelated bank fraud charges. The Thompsons’ disappearance remains unsolved. Does anyone who lived near South Rhodes Avenue in 1996 or who knew the Thompsons have information that could help clarify what happened that July?