The cold case death of Tim Molnar - Neosho, Wisconsin - January 24, 1984
On January 24, 1984, 19-year-old Timothy Molnar disappeared without a trace. He had dropped off his little brother Frank at junior high school that morning, after which he was supposed to go to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Instead, he drove back home, loaded his bike into his car, and drove off, never to be seen alive again. When he didn't come home that night, his parents knew something must have happened. Tim always came home at exactly the same time. The boy's father and mother called all his friends to see if they knew where he was, but no one had any idea. Worried as they were, they called the police.
That same night, the family received two phone calls, with the person on the other end of the line not speaking. They wondered if it was Tim, and if he was in trouble.
The days after the disappearance, relatives of the boy hung flyers in the city hoping that someone had a lead for them. About three weeks passed when the family received a bill from a credit card company for a payment at a gas station in Lake City, Florida. Tim had filled his car with petrol on the day of his disappearance. The station attendant recognized the photo of him and told his parents he was traveling alone. Tim's question of starting a new life became relevant. Were there any clues to this scenario? The fact that Tim had withdrawn all but ten dollars of his savings from his account seemed to point in that direction.
Car found
Another four months passed with neither the family nor the police making any progress in finding their beloved Tim. Until the boy's parents suddenly received a letter from a car repossession company in Atlanta, Georgia. According to the letter, his car was left in a parking lot just a block away from the Greyhound bus station six days after he disappeared. In the car, Tim's family found his driver's license, wallet, credit card and other items. His bicycle, sterio system and expensive tool kit were gone. His wallet didn't contain any money.
Would he really have disappeared of his own free will to start over under perhaps a new identity? Then why hadn't he brought any clothes at all? The family didn't know what to make of it. In any case, the family was angry with the company that took Tim's car without contacting them first. They may have destroyed traces that could have helped the investigation into his disappearance. The family then hired a private detective to assist them in the search for Tim. Meanwhile, a relative had passed away who had left Timothy $50,000 as an heir. This money was waiting for him at home at… The family didn't know yet that Tim would never claim the inheritance.
Death body found
The fact that Tim Molnar had already died in 1986 only came to light ten years later. Steven Cull was watching Unsolved Mysteries on January 31, 1996. The episode was about Tim, and suddenly he recognized the clothes Tim was wearing in the picture that was shown.
Ten years earlier, Steven had found a body frozen in ice in a woodlot in Neosho, Wisconsin. He was sure that the body was wearing the same clothes, and Steven then contacted the medical examiner. Among other things, they still had the bunch of keys that the unknown dead person (John Doe) was carrying, and asked Tim's family to send a copy of the house key so that they could check it for a match. And there was. The house key matched one of the keys that the deceased person had with him. DNA eventually confirmed that it was Tim Molnar. The boy had died in a remote woodlot nearly 1,300 miles from home.
The boy's cause of death could no longer be determined, but it was certain that there were no signs of trauma. How Timothy made it all the way to Wisconsin and for what reason remained unknown. Had he gone himself or had someone involuntarily taken him? Friends of Tim found it especially strange that he had left his beloved car behind, because he was known to be very proud of his vehicle. According to some, he would never have left the car voluntarily. Rumors that Tim used drugs were never proven, but it may give some food for thought. How could a young man of nineteen die without trauma? Was it foul play? For now it remains a mystery.
Tips and Information
Tim's remaining family, his fellow students and friends all want to know what happened to him. Do you know more about the boy's death? Or do you know more about his contacts, or what he might have been up to under the radar? Please let us know now. Maybe then we can finally solve the mystery. Don't hesitate and get in touch (anonymously) using the form below.
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