The Mysterious Disappearance of Linda Bowdre: A Springfield Township Tragedy

Linda Bowdre, a successful AT&T executive in Cincinnati, Ohio, vanished without a trace on February 14, 1988, from her home in the New Burlington neighborhood of Springfield Township. She was last seen having breakfast with her husband of 18 years, Larry Bowdre, before he left their house for personal errands that afternoon. Linda's sudden disappearance puzzled investigators, as she left behind her beloved pets, a gold 1988 Acura Legend, antique jewelry, and all her clothing.

Although an exhaustive search of the area yielded no clues about Linda's whereabouts, her purse was later found in a mailbox at a post office on Dalton Street in Cincinnati, with her credit cards and personal items still inside. Prior to her disappearance, Linda had been engaged in an extramarital affair with a married coworker, and she had made an appointment with a divorce attorney to end her marriage with Larry.

Larry Bowdre, aware of Linda's plans to leave him, wrote a letter to his wife's lover's spouse, pleading with her to help him convince Linda to reconsider their marriage. The contents of the letter revealed that Larry had forgiven Linda's infidelity, expressing his deep love for her. It remains uncertain whether the letter was ever sent. However, Larry had sent a threatening letter to Linda's boyfriend, warning him to end the affair or face violent consequences.

Upon their initial interview with Larry at the couple's residence, police detected a strong odor of chlorine bleach and noticed several open windows. They later confiscated two kitchen cupboards with potential bloodstains and a muddy shovel. Despite hiring an attorney and declining to cooperate further in the investigation, Larry maintained his innocence in Linda's case and suggested that she had run off with her boyfriend.

In 1989, Linda's mother, Joan McCurdy, filed a lawsuit against Larry, accusing him of causing her severe emotional distress by failing to notify her of Linda's disappearance. The police only informed McCurdy several days after Linda was last seen. The lawsuit also demanded the return of $10,000 worth of antique furniture that McCurdy had loaned to her daughter. The outcome of the lawsuit remains unknown.

Linda, originally from Michigan, was a 1970 graduate of Michigan State University. She met Larry, a teaching assistant, during her time in college, and they later moved to Cincinnati in 2016 due to a job transfer. As the primary breadwinner of the family, Linda enjoyed gardening with her husband and maintained a large garden at their home.

Despite the lack of concrete evidence, authorities have long suspected foul play in Linda's case, classifying her disappearance as a homicide. The investigation remains unsolved to this day, leaving a tragic and mysterious void in the lives of those who knew Linda Bowdre.