A man got mixed up with dangerous people decades ago, but some wonder if it cost him his life.
A number of law enforcement agencies have tried to crack the case of Ross Dean Crane, but it remains unsolved. On Feb. 19, 1982, Ross and his brother went to a house in El Dorado to collect money. They drove in separate vehicles. Case records with the Department of Justice show Ross told his younger brother to leave and they would meet up later, but he was never seen or heard from again.
Ross’s car was later found in front of a nightclub in Wichita — at the corner of Lincoln and Governor – on the southeast side of town. His mother and brothers went to check his apartment on east Harry Street. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, minus no sign of Ross.
The man Ross was going to see in El Dorado was later convicted for violent drug-related crimes, records show. The KBI and the Butler County Sheriff investigated but say there wasn’t enough evidence to make an arrest. Family fears foul play in Ross’ disappearance.
ROSS DEAN CRANE
Missing from: El Dorado, Kan.
Missing since: Feb. 19, 1982
Age when reported missing: 36
Height: 5’5’’
Weight: 125 pounds
Hair: Black/brown
Eyes: Brown
Clothing: black belt with a round, engraved belt buckle; brown plain flannel shirt; brown dress pants; tan dingo boots.
If you have information that could help the case, call the Butler County Sheriff’s Office at (316) 322-4254, or the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at (785) 296-4017 or by clicking here.
A man was last seen in south-central Kansas decades ago.If you have a person you’d like for us to share a story about, please contact Anchor Annette Lawless at annettelawless@hotmail.com.