The Mysterious Disappearance of Ray Gricar: A Cold Case That Continues to Baffle Investigators

The disappearance of Ray Gricar, a former District Attorney of Centre County, Pennsylvania, has been shrouded in mystery for over two decades. Since his vanishing act on April 15, 2005, the case has captured the attention of the public, investigators, and amateur sleuths alike. Though many theories have emerged, there is still no definitive answer as to what happened to Gricar.

Who Was Ray Gricar?

Ray Frank Gricar was born on October 9, 1945, in Cleveland, Ohio. He was a successful lawyer and eventually became the District Attorney of Centre County in 1985. Gricar was known for his dedication to his work, serving the people of Centre County for two decades before announcing his plans to retire at the end of 2005. However, Gricar never got the chance to enjoy his retirement, as he mysteriously vanished on April 15, 2005, at the age of 59.

The Disappearance

On the morning of April 15, 2005, Gricar called his girlfriend, Patty Fornicola, to inform her that he was taking a day off to drive along Route 192 and enjoy the picturesque scenery. This was not unusual for Gricar, who enjoyed taking impromptu trips in his red Mini Cooper. However, when he failed to return home that evening, Fornicola became concerned and reported him missing.

The following day, Gricar's vehicle was discovered in the parking lot of an antique store in the small town of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, approximately 50 miles east of his home in Bellefonte. His cell phone was found inside the car, but there was no sign of Gricar or his belongings. An extensive search began, involving local and state police, as well as the FBI. Despite these efforts, Gricar remained missing.

Key Findings and Unanswered Questions

Throughout the years, several key findings have emerged in the case. On July 30, 2005, Gricar's laptop was found in the Susquehanna River near a bridge in Lewisburg, with its hard drive missing. The hard drive was eventually recovered on October 1, 2005, but was severely damaged and unreadable.

In 2009, investigators revealed that someone had searched "how to fry a hard drive" and "water damage to a notebook computer" on Gricar's home computer shortly before his disappearance. This has led to speculation that Gricar may have intentionally destroyed his laptop's hard drive to hide sensitive information.

Another curious aspect of the case is Gricar's past. In 1996, his older brother Roy Gricar committed suicide by jumping off a bridge in Ohio. This family history, coupled with the fact that Gricar had recently purchased a book on how to disappear and start a new life, has fueled theories that Gricar may have staged his own death.

However, there are still many unanswered questions in the case. Why would Gricar want to disappear? If he did stage his death, where is he now? If he was the victim of foul play, who was responsible and why?

If you know anything about the disappearance of Ray Gricar, please contact the Pennsylvania State Police at (814) 355-7545.