What Happened to Ray Gricar? Everything About Ray Gricar Disappearance
by Alaguvelan M
Updated Feb 01, 2024
What Happened to Ray Gricar?
In 2005, Ray Gricar, a well-respected district attorney in Pennsylvania, mysteriously vanished, leaving a trail of unanswered questions. Gricar had served the Centre County community for many years and gained recognition for his meticulous approach to his work.
The upcoming episode of Dateline: Secrets Uncovered, titled "The Case of the Missing D.A.," will explore the perplexing circumstances surrounding Gricar's disappearance, set to air on January 31, 2024, at 8 pm EST on Oxygen.
Living a seemingly content life with his girlfriend, Patty Fornicola, and on the brink of retirement, Gricar took an unexpected day off on April 15, 2005. Informing Fornicola that he was going on a drive, he never returned home.
The investigation revealed his car parked in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, with his cell phone inside, but crucial items like his laptop, keys, and wallet were missing. Despite extensive efforts by law enforcement, Gricar's fate remains unknown, and the episode aims to unravel the mystery behind his disappearance.
The enigma deepens with Gricar's prior involvement in investigating sex abuse allegations against Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky. The episode will explore various theories, from suicide to foul play, shedding light on the puzzling circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Ray Gricar.
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About Ray Gricar
Ray Gricar, born on October 9, 1945, was a lawyer who served as the district attorney of Centre County, Pennsylvania, from 1985 to 2005. In 2005, he went missing under mysterious circumstances and was declared legally dead in 2011. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Gricar earned his law degree and worked as a prosecutor before becoming the district attorney.
After moving to State College, Pennsylvania, Gricar decided to focus on family life. He served as an assistant district attorney before being elected as the district attorney in 1985. Notably, in 1998, he chose not to press charges against Jerry Sandusky, a Penn State assistant football coach accused of child sexual abuse. Gricar declined to seek re-election in 2005.
Gricar faced personal challenges, including divorces and the mysterious suicide of his older brother, Roy, in 1996. His disappearance in 2005 remains unsolved, with his car found in Lewisburg and later his laptop and its hard drive discovered in the Susquehanna River. The circumstances surrounding his vanishing continue to raise questions.
How Did Ray Gricar Disappear?
Ray Gricar, a district attorney in Pennsylvania in 2005, lived with his girlfriend Patty Fornicola, who worked in the Centre County District Attorney's office. As retirement approached, Gricar had financial stability and a fulfilling life with a successful career, a beautiful girlfriend, and a daughter.
On April 15, 2005, Gricar took a day off and went for a drive, informing Fornicola that he was heading northeast of Centre Hall. However, he didn't return that night, prompting Fornicola to report him missing.
The police discovered Gricar's red Mini Cooper in Lewisburg, resembling the location where his older brother's car was found after an apparent suicide. Gricar's car contained his county-issued cell phone, but his laptop, keys, and wallet were missing.
While initial investigations didn't suggest foul play, sniffer dogs hinted that Gricar might have entered another car. The FBI became involved, scrutinizing Gricar's financial and communication records, yet no leads emerged.
In July, fishermen found Gricar's county-issued laptop without a hard drive in the Susquehanna River. Two months later, a damaged hard drive was recovered. The sole clue was search queries in Gricar's home computer about damaging a hard drive.
Despite multiple theories, Gricar was declared "dead in absentia" on July 25, 2011, leaving his mysterious disappearance unanswered.
What Happened To Ray Gricar - FAQs
Ray Gricar disappeared on April 15, 2005.
Ray Gricar worked as a district attorney in Pennsylvania.
Gricar was last seen driving northeast of Centre Hall, Pennsylvania.
Gricar's car had his county-issued cell phone, but his laptop, keys, and wallet were missing.
Gricar was the first prosecutor to investigate child sexual abuse claims against Jerry Sandusky in 1998.