Case Details

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This person was missing Missing Since 11/04/1983

Missing Since:

Missing Since 11/04/1983

Missing From:

Missing From Dane County, Wisconsin

Classification:

Classification Endangered Missing

Gender:

Female

Race:

Race White

Date of Birth:

Age:

Age 44 years old

Height and Weight:

Height and Weight 5’4, 117 pounds

Clothing/Jewelry Description:

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Brown hair, blue eyes. Ruth’s nickname is Ruthie. Her previous married name is Nordess.

Details of Disappearance:

Ruth Homberg disappeared in 1983. She was married to Gary Homberg, the president of a wood company where she also worked. They had a troubled marriage, and Gary was having an affair with Ruth’s daughter-in-law, Sharon.

Ruth learned about the affair and planned to confront Gary. After leaving friends’ house with Gary, she vanished. Gary reported her missing, but acted suspiciously: he didn’t check with family first, and lied to their cleaning lady, who later noticed Ruth’s jewelry was gone (Gary had secretly sold it). Ruth left behind all her belongings—very unusual.

The next day, Gary met Sharon at the airport. He’d parked Ruth’s car there. He confessed to Sharon that he was embezzling money from his company and Ruth threatened to expose him. He said he’d gotten rid of Ruth’s body.

Gary was later caught for the embezzlement. Police suspected he’d murdered Ruth. Sharon initially lied to protect him, but eventually confessed everything in exchange for immunity. Gary was convicted of murder in 1989, but he’s never revealed where Ruth’s body is. Police believe he may have destroyed it in the company’s powerful furnace. He remains in prison.

Agency:

Dane County Sheriff’s Department 608-284-6878

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