The Mysterious Disappearance of Ercell Elizabeth Russell: A 75-Year-Old Cold Case That Haunts Barberton

Seventy-five years ago, Ercell Elizabeth Russell, a Barberton woman, disappeared without a trace. Described as petite, red-haired, and very pretty, Russell drove away on a snowy day and was never seen again. Authorities were initially hopeful when she left her home on 17th Street Northwest on December 10, 1948, to visit her parents in Wayne County’s Canaan Township. However, she never arrived at her destination.

Two days later, Russell’s abandoned green sedan was found at a roadside park on Route 21, less than a mile south of Canal Fulton. Her purse was discovered in the Tuscarawas River, downstream from the vehicle, with its contents intact. Despite extensive searches of the woods, river, and canal, no trace of Russell or her body could be found.

Investigators delved into Russell’s personal life for clues. She was born in Canaan in 1912 and grew up on a farm near Creston with her parents and three siblings. After marrying and divorcing, Russell worked at Goodyear Aircraft during World War II and later found a job at a department store in Wooster. She had a boyfriend who was a mortician, but their relationship was unstable, and Russell had experienced a partial nervous breakdown.

Authorities suspected foul play, especially when the mortician called Russell’s sister on the day she disappeared, inquiring about her whereabouts and stating that he was going on a short visit to Michigan. However, his alibi did not hold up, and investigators began to suspect his involvement in Russell’s disappearance.

Despite extensive searches and investigations, no concrete evidence was ever found to charge the mortician or publicly identify him. Russell’s family hired a private detective, and a reward was offered for information, but the case remained unsolved.

In 1956, Russell was officially declared dead, and her name is etched on her parents’ headstone in Canaan Cemetery. Her final resting place remains unknown, and the mystery of her disappearance continues to haunt investigators and the community.