Appalachia Unsolved: Claude & Sue Shelton 

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If the people only are gone, foul play is certainly possible. If the vehicle is gone, they are in water. RIP.

Wow, so sad that they haven't been found. There was an Auburn university student in Alabama that disappeared in 1976. He was driving back to school from Georgia when he vanished. Him and his car were found last year in a creek in Cussata ,Alabama. So you never know if they just ran off a a steep cliff or in a small pond.

Bless their hearts. And I can't imagine what those Children went thru all their lives, not knowing what happened to their Parents. Wow.

The dad didn’t have going to work in mind if he was up at 2 30. The ITS TIME TO GO thing his daughter heard doesn’t sound like getting snacks.

After hearing about the car with the hood up, that makes sense since he's a mechanic but I also fear they're in that lake, however they got there...

I always go to " is there a body of water nearby?" It's the only possible place you can be and no one can see you

Odds say that they are in the water, I would bet my next paycheck on it. As a retired firefighter, I can tell you that fatigued driving is almost as bad as drunk driving . . . and I'll bet dad was really tired driving to 'coffee up' for a shift that morning 👀

This really hurt my grandma aunt Sue missing left a hole deep with pain in a lot of my family no one ever has gotten past it. The kids of Sue and Claude now grow up believe that they were abandoned by choice. I still don’t know what I believe. Grandma always said she thought someone done something to them and by the way you have a few details wrong but I understand

UH OH JD GOT A SPONSORSHIP!!!! YOU MADE IT MY BROTHER!!!! CONGRATULATIONS, NO OTHER CHANNEL DESERVES IT MORE!!!! ❤

Okay the one photo of the front of a house with the station wagon sitting in front. It sure looks like the Brady Bunch house to me.

Since the parents are gone along with their car, I’m inclined to think they ran off the road into the lake. It’s difficult to search that much water completely. I don’t believe they abandoned their children.

Do more of the Appalachia.missing people that was years ago 😊ty

I live in Corbin!! And I lived here in 71. I was just out of high school I don’t even remember this. But I remember everything in the pictures. Clancys. The muffler shop. Amazing story. New subscriber Thanks!!!

Every now and then, some missing car is found down a deep ravine or in the bottom of a deep lake or river. Since the car and they disappeared at the same time, it's likely the took a detour they weren't familiar with and went off the road. It's sad, leaving their children without answers. Good job, JD! Congrats on the sponsor! 😊

What a mystery, the family deserves some closure. Great storytelling and thank you

God only knows. I feel so sorry for their children.

Apparently, Claude’s mother is one of the Brady’s

It seems strange that they would go out so late at night when Claude had to work so early. And then they disappear, car and all. Sadly this case may remain unsolved. Thanks for great story telling, as usual, JD. Cheers from Canada.

It was a different world back then. Children were more independent. Parents didn’t see danger round every corner.

They didn’t go for a snack at that time, especially after a long day and drive. There must have been a different purpose.

They're in the water 😢

Such a sad story. I had a family member disappear into thin air, its been over 51 years now and nothing. My heart goes out to this family and all the others who have experienced this terrible pain and loss. My family also lived in Eastern Ky at the time.

I remember this story. I was 15. No one in my family believed they just walked away. I think something bad happened to them.

I think the VIN number of Claude's Ford Galaxy should be made public and people urged to start looking for the car. If it was a great car, it may still be an antique somewhere. Such cars usually leave paper trails. Also, check to see if any known serial killers were in the area at that time. Were there any other murders or robberies that day or night within 50 miles of Corbin? Did a known suspect get away? Any surviving maps of the dam construction showing where a car could've hit the water or went down a ravine can be analyzed. That could help with radar in the lake. Just a few thoughts. I hope they are found. Their kids deserve the closure. I pray they get it.

No one should just take off at night leaving their children alone anything could have happened to them ‼️‼️

I say they're at the bottom of the lake. I also have played June's journey. I'm taking a break from it now. It was taking up too much of my time. I now use the time to listen to the Appalachian storyteller! 😂

Excellent presentation. They’re in water somewhere. Doesn’t sound like foul play.

I think they went into the lake trying to avoid a deer, were knocked unconscious, and drown. Being Laurel Lake is 5,600 acres with nearly 200 miles of tree-lined shore, I'd say it's fairly safe to start looking in an area not too far from the restaurant, (5-10 miles, probably less) and limited to where a car could be driven into the lake from the roadway or to the edge of the water i.e. boat launch, picnic area, campground, scenic overlook, etc.

Great story! You have an excellent voice for being the storyteller, you really set the mood! Thanks a lot.

This is where my family are from! Honestly there are so many hollers and cliffs in this area, if he was tired and fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the car, i dont k ow if the car would be able to be seen from the road or air. However now there is a ton of build up in the area, maybe some day the car will be found.

They gotta be in the water. 😢

I can't help but wonder about that 280 foot deep lake. Could be hiding a lot of secrets. I'm sure the kids would just love some closure.

I've never heard of this case but just watching the video makes me think the parents wanted to disappear. Why did he take Friday afternoon off work to visit his mother? A last goodbye maybe? Why would they leave home to go get coffee after being up so late and Claude having to work that morning? Whatever happened to them it's sad for the kids. We'll probably never know what really happened but I think it's possible that this could be 2 people who didn't want to be found for whatever reason.

Why would they leave his mother's house after midnight because he apparently had lost track of the time and had to be up at 6 am for work, drive home, then decide to go out for coffee. Strange behaviour.

Saw a blog on LostnFound and the writer had interviewed the oldest daughter of the Sheltons. According to her the 3 kids are convinced their parents simply left them behind. Interesting. It's not a mystery in their mind. Curious if that's a coping mechanism or based on their experiences with their parents.

These type of disappeances are so tragic. It so often happenes near or in heavily wooded or wilderness areas. There are so many theories --- aliens, Bigfoot or other creatures, evil beings or predatory man. Until we have a verified reappearance we will never know for sure. I pray these children grew up with love that helped them. Would be interesting to see a follow up story from them. 😊

What a sad story. It seems odd, too, that Claude would want to go out for coffee when he had to get up early for work. It's sad enough to lose a loved one, but then not be able to find them and give them a proper burial is just unimaginable. Sending prayers to this family.🙏❤

They are certainly in the water somewhere!

I think they are in water. 99% of the time if someone and their vehicle is missing they've been in an accident and went into water.

You know stories like this drive me crazy (yeah, its a short drive😂) but someone knows exactly what happened, if theyre still living. I will never understand why, after so many years, that they dont come forward. Them in the lake may be possible, but it wasnt very deep back then. If i had access to a time machine, i think i would dedicate it to solving mysteries like this. Thanks for the story JD.

According to a newspaper report, there was no food in the house. And, who goes OUT for "coffee" at 2:30 a.m.? Particularly when you have to be at work at 6:00 a.m.? Even in my college days, when I was free as a bird, I would go from the bar to the Highway Host for food and THEN go home and to bed. I wouldn't leave the bar, go home, then suddenly decide to go "out for coffee" at 2:30 in the morning. And why were they wide awake at that time of night? Was speed involved? Meth? Cocaine? Leaving three young children alone in the middle of the night, or ever-- with no food in the house--is NEVER a good idea; I don't care WHAT year it is. The adult's behavior was on its face irrational...UNLESS the behavior was intentional, designed to LOOK LIKE one thing, and to throw searchers off the track. Maybe it was a kind of "Hansel and Gretel" story in reverse: the adults disappeared, rather than "disappearing" their children whom they could no longer afford to feed. I emphasize food here because hunger, even starvation, was common in Appalachia during that time. Finally, if the little girl was awake and could her her parents' conversation, why didn't she get up and ask them what they thought they doing at that time of night? Bizarre.

This is my first time watching "The Appalachian Story". I like your narration.

I have a feeling that they had an accident and are in one of the lakes. I don't think they would leave their kids like that without intending on coming back

I remember this story too... have family in Corbin and used to visit regularly...was there last weekend for a big birthday party and got the flu as a door prize 😵‍💫 Thanks for sharing this old mystery JD... I'm sharing with a cousin who might remember and enjoy 😎👍

Laurel Lake wasn’t impounded until 1974, there other lakes that were during that time within 30 to 50 miles away. I think the car along with their bodies are buried deep in a hole somewhere local. That would definitely be hard to ever find and a backhoe, small bulldozer, tractor with a blade or bucket could do it. Bodies of water tend to overtime give up their secrets. A piece of property mostly untouched, back off somewhere be it a pasture or woods would be almost impossible to just find. And maybe the daughter I think it was who thought they heard voices of their Dad might have been mistaken. Being a kid, late at night, hearing voices through walls at home would absolutely think it was Dad’s voice, 100% unless the voice was so distinctive. It doesn’t seem like a random thing, and sometimes a person May wrong someone that know one can tie them too and no one knew about. Not every problem between is always widely known. All it would take is one person with more than likely a family member l, I mean a close member, someone that would die with the secret to pull something like that off. Them coming home late just a coincidence. Most women carried purses back then and wouldn’t go anywhere much without it, alittle different today, with styles, designs back then they were almost an essential small case, had storage for anything that might be needed for any situation. Unless you were just riding to the garden or barn any woman going out would have that purse hanging off that forearm, at least the women in my family were like that. Also, anyone that’s not much younger, would be panicking about going to bed knowing they had to work the next day. This was a place that places of business were just not open that time off night except for truck stop, and shows how busy they were , no one came during that time. People weren’t out and about like they are now. Easy to try to figure things out based on today’s things, back then people still went to bed early and rose early. Nothing to do played a big part in that and hard work!! Back then you had one channel on the TV and extremely lucky if you had 2 and if you had 3 well you were absolutely a rare case in this area, especially if you could actually see all 3, not just see one ok, see one all snowy just enough to make out figures which you watched anyway and only hear the third one but it all came to an end at what 11 maybe 12. The national anthem playing with the jet flying, and flag waving I think was the end after that it was a small black box and colored lines with this sound that definitely wasn’t music and this played out until next morning, 6 am I think. The majority around you were in bed, all 3 channels signed off, FM radio didn’t exist and I don’t even know if you could pick up an AM radio station that was on throughout the night, none local anyway. Going out in the middle of the night , especially after being out late and trying to get home from his mother’s because he was already out later than normal just didn’t seem like something reasonable to do. People then still had the mind set if you wanted something to eat or drink you got it home. Also, I remember even in the late 70’s and early 80’s 1-75 wasn’t the big Thur i way it is now, it was 2 lane each way with huge spaces between traffic, I mean sometimes it was like you were the only one on the interstate, I sure wasn’t steady line of traffic or even what we think is light traffic now and the exits were not built up around here. If you lived during this time you’d understand. People had party line telephone lines if they were one of the few houses even with a phone. We got a phone in the later mid 80’s like 85-86!! And guess what it hardly ever rang

This story was on Adventures with Purpose A RU-vid channel that dives for cars and looks for loved ones gone missing. Needless to say they didn’t find anything.

I’ve been playing June’s Journey for some time now and it’s my favorite game. I can’t imagine that couple walking away from their kids like that. It sounds like they were a good family and had plans for the future. I wish their kids could get some closure. Thanks! I had never heard this story before. I love mysteries.

great story JD, i was busy yesterday and didn't see this till this morning. thank you for your hard work! you are the man,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I lived in Corbin for twenty three years and their is no way I'd have gone to that truck stop.

Even before you said anything I felt like the new damn might have something to do with them missing. Crazy story.

Those poor children 😢

Where they lived in trailer park to truck stop had/has no body of water big enough for a car to disappear. They would have turned right out of trailer park towards truck stop. They turned left instead. Was told that by two seperate people, now deceased. They never told police because of fear for their own safety. Was a Corbin resident nearly thirty years. Was also told police should have checked areas where new roads were being built and concrete being poured.

I lived in Kentucky for 36 years about 2 hours away from Corbin. A lot of rumors of violence comes from that town. There is a lot of drugs. Also, it has many generations of mountain justice. I was always scared to go east in Kentucky. If you get lost you can see people with shot guns on their laps or hands. I have had people aim a rifle at me for going down the wrong street. Some places grow pot and they will not hesitate to shoot you. I don't know this couple but I thought I would give a background of what it is like in these areas. I originally grew up in California and it was so different in Kentucky. There are some good people but most people are clanish and have no problem in harming you if it is to their benefit... Very strange that not even a car was found but most people out there will not talk if they are afraid. Someone knew something I am sure but kept quiet.

Back then...a quick ride to the store when the kids were asleep was ok, with an 11yr. old in the house. She would have been old enough to watch them for a short time. Things have definitely changed over the years. No one leaves their purse and lots of money behind if they are leaving for good. He was getting a pay check that was due. This couple lived paycheck to paycheck. This was either an accident or someone did something to them. The car may be the only way they will be found after all these years. Best of luck to anyone who is searching.

Another great job on a case that I've researched some. It's as if they just completely vanished. Divers have searched the waterways in and around Corbin and came up empty handed. Very strange.

Another great story... and also a sad story my friend...enjoyed the Live Stream couple days ago...Keep up the good work.

Yes, the car is most likely in a lake. Unlit roads in the middle of the night; it isn’t uncommon.

Love love love to hear your stories

Being from The Netherlands, I think that they get in the water somewhere. Also because their car was never found back. Here this cold cases are very often solved because the car is found in the water.

No good parent leaves their small children unattended like this.

Structured people don’t lose track of time like this or stay up til 2 when they are planning on going to work. Seems like he was saying goodbye to his mom

You tell the stories so amazing...❤ em all...

I love June’s Journey! She is a great character in a game. I am a new subscriber ❤

Thanks JD, a mystery for sure. Much respect. ❤

Ha! I play June's Journey every day! What a coincidence.

Heartbreaking story. I really feel something happened to them, and the report of a car with it's hood up doesn't sound good if Carl stopped to help. Unbelievably harrowing for these lovely good people and their three children.

Car was never found. They’re in the water somewhere.

So great to hear another great video.

Great narration and story telling.

Love your voice and love your new stories.

I enjoy your videos. Thank you!

Gotta love the pic of th Bradybunch house 😅

Im sharing this on all my social media pages. Im from Carter county Kentucky.

This is a bizarre story, but I have no idea what happened to them. I will say that with a lake that massive, there would be tons of places to ditch bodies and a car, where nobody would ever find them. Thanks for telling their story!

Poor babies, I can't even imagine how they felt or went through. Good story this might help their children find out what happened to their mom and dad.

They in water, somewhere, somehow

Congratulations JD!

This is so tragic. My sister in law disappeared. We searched. Hundreds showed up on at least a dozen searches. She was found 4 months later. Those 4 months were awful. We knew she was gone but we still wanted to find her. Our heartbreak only lasted 4 months. (Several years, actually. Her husband was arrested, tried and found not guilty) I cannot imagine not knowing for years/decades. It would be maddening. Their families suffered. Sad.

Quite the Mystery JD! Hope they find them one day.💔

Well done - and the perfect nightmare. Thanks for posting - good job!

The strangest part of this story is that they were already getting home late and Claude had to work early the next day. Why would they decided to go for a bite to eat at that hour? Why would they leave their three young children alone? Why would Sue leave her purse? I'm just spit-balling, but what if someone was hiding and appeared at the door with a gun, maybe didn't know they had kids inside the trailer? Could it be the parents spoke loudly enough to let the kids know they were leaving, but not alert them that there was trouble, or not say anything to the killer to let them know there were kids inside? I know it's a long shot, but they weirdness starts right there in that moment, so that to me is the most important place to start to unravel this mystery. Maybe the car stopped at the side of the road was where he made them get out and walk into the woods. Then he took the car out of State or out of country or parted it out. Just an idea.

Wow JD got a sponsor! Good for you with all your hard research and varied content now. I like the way the information is taking away with the hand. That’s very unique and I’ve not seen that on any other channel. Well my take on this is they stopped to help the people on the side of the road and got into something else entirely. Perhaps some shifty people. Perhaps the car was then takin apart and sold for parts True we might not ever find out. The children would be better off with closure though. I’d want to know if this had happened to me. Than God grandma was able to care for them she was heartbroken I’m sure. Great storytelling again JD thanks!

I love these !

Me too. I love your stories ❤

Nothing good ever happens after midnight. Stay home and stay safe.

I agree took wrong turn and ended up in the lake somehow. So sad.

I love your story’s ❤❤

How horrific for the children. I was so close to my parents, especially my dad. I can't fathom waking up and them not being there. This life suree isn't fair.

Happy Friday, JD! I got a little catching up to do seeing I been in the hospital about all week. Mr. Diabeetus has been giving me a hard time but the good folks who try to take care of me got him back under control for now. I enjoyed the story and I hope to see ya Saturday morning, friend.

Why was their savings out on the table? When you take your kids to visit your mom, their grandparents, who stays until midnight? What mother, leaves her children alone, sleeping, in a mobile home that could turn into a raging inferno at any minute? The fact that the mothers purse was left at home suggests it wasn't entirely voluntary.

I remember that one of the scuba diver search teams looked for them a year or so ago. My girlfriend’s mom has the same car.

Great storytelling 😊

These kind of cases are fascinating. It's very possible they stopped to help but then what happened to the car that was supposedly broken down? Did they fall victim to a ruse? I guess we will never know unless more information is found. I can't imagine living my whole life wondering what happened to my parents.

Heartbreaking 💔 😢

Congrats brother ❤

Those poor kids.

At 6:22 in the video it looks like the sun is setting in the low spot on that mountain like the spot was made to hold the sun up

Thanks again cuz.

Has anyone ever checked the vin# registry to see if car was ever re-titled??? Double check route to & from truck stop?? Sad story