MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Clarence Roberts
When the body of a man is found in the burned remains of the Roberts home, the family assumes it’s 52-year-old Clarence. But the question surrounding his identity remains for years… until another fire 10 years later leaves everyone with more questions than answers.
For our friends in the Deaf and Signing community, you can view an ASL version of this episode.
We’d love to speak with you and see how we can support.
If you’re a law enforcement agency or family member of one of the people we mentioned in this episode, or if you’re looking for more coverage on a case, please reach out. You can email us at:
Episode Source Material
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Man’s Body Found In Burning Garage.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Victim’s Identity In Doubt.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): ‘Mystery Man’ Sought in Fatal Brown County Fire.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): Authorities say Nashville fire victim is ‘mystery man’ by Steve Wilson.
- Rushville Republican (Rushville, IN): Fire Death Mystery Increases.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Police Say Ex-Banker Not Victim by Carolyn Pickering.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): Mystery still in Nashville by Steve Wilson.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): Small town mystery ‘it just doesn’t make any sense at all’ by Steve Wilson.
- The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN): Son Charges Cop Car At Roberts’ Prior To Fire by Larry Incollingo.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Man in Photos Like Roberts, According to FBI.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Mystery Corpse In Brown County To Be Exhumed By State Police by Carolyn Pickering.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Whatever Happened To Clarence Roberts? By Carolyn Pickering.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): Recover mystery corpse from grave at Nashville by Steve Wilson.
- The Herald (Bloomington, IN): Fire Victim’s Body Exhumed.
- The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN): Identification Of Body In Garage Fire As Roberts Appears Imminent.
- The Columbus Herald (Columbus, IN): Sheriff Says ‘No Rift’ in Fire Victim Investigation.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Roberts Suicide in Doubt, But He’s Likely Victim.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Lie Test Reveals ‘No Deception’.
- The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN): Police Deny Roberts Case Disagreement.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Is Bandit Missing Businessman? By Carolyn Pickering.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Brown Coroner Files ‘John Doe’ Death Certificate In Garage Fire.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): In Roberts Fire Case Police To Keep Mum.
- The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN): One Of Many Mysteries: Who Died In Roberts Fire? By Larry Incollingo.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Coroner Rules He Can’t Identify Victim of Fire.
- Evansville Press (Evansville, IN): The case of the missing Hoosier by Bill Gerdes.
- The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN): Roberts Probe Snagged On ‘Poor Cooperation by Larry Incollingo.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Ex-Sheriff Passes Police Lie Test.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): VanValer confirms Nashville mystery case remains unsolved by Steve Wilson.
- The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN): Cadaver Case Called ‘Nightmare’.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Legal maze: Roberts case lingers on in court.
- The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN): To File Four Suits In Clarence Roberts Case.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): Clarence Roberts case remains official mystery.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Tests Prove Roberts Not Victim Of Blaze by Carolyn Pickering.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Resolving Of Mystery Sought By Family, Police, Insurers by Carolyn Pickering.
- The Tribune (Seymour, IN): Wife Of Missing Man Drops Suit.
- The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN): Coroner Didn’t Have X-Rays For Autopsy by Larry Incollingo.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Geneva Roberts seeks inquest by coroner’s jury.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): The Coroner does not plan to reopen Clarence Roberts case.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Roberts Case Investigation Renewed by State Police.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): State authorities to reopen probe into Roberts death case by United Press International.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): New Death Certificate Coming in Roberts’ Case? by Parker Sams.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Roberts Deposit Box To Be Opened by Parker Sams.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Belated disclosures made in Roberts case.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): ‘Ghost’ Of Roberts Stirs Dispute Over ‘New’ Police Findings by Carolyn Pickering.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): Coroner nixes revised death certificate in Clarence Roberts case.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Identification Of ‘Mystery Man’ In Clarence Roberts Case Refuted by Carolyn Pickering.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): “Mystery man” deepens confusion in Roberts’ fire.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Mrs. Roberts Seeks New Investigation.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Five years later—Brown County grand jury may be asked to revive the Clarence Roberts case; prosecutor reviews evidence.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Jurors Hear Testimony In Roberts Fire Case.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): ‘Breakthrough’ is expected in Clarence Roberts case, 6 subpoenaed to testify by Dick Reed.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Clarence Roberts File Given Grand Jury By State Police by Bruce C. Smith.
- The Terre Haute Tribune (Terre Haute, IN): Mystery Man Probed By Grand Jury.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Clarence Roberts case inquiry widens with call for additional witnesses by Dick Reed.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Jury’s Report On Roberts’ Case Is Sealed by Bruce C. Smith.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): After five years of mystery and confusion, the grand jury gives us—more mystery and confusion by Greg Temple.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Indict Missing Clarence Roberts On Murder Charge by Carolyn Pickering.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): Is Roberts in Germany?
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Roberts Probe Report May Be Made Public.
- The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY): Is Indiana man dead or has he assumed some other identity? by Glenn Rutherford.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Grand Jury Confirms Indictment Of Missing Clarence Roberts.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Investigator Says Leads To Find Roberts Pursued.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Man says Clarence Roberts in Mexico in 1975.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): One more ‘saw’ Roberts after fire.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Ex-State Police Detective Tells Court He Believes Roberts Died by Bruce C. Smith.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Opposing Testimony In Roberts Trial by John Beach.
- The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN): ‘Brother Doubted Victim Was Roberts’ by Bill Pittman.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Tooth No Help in Roberts Case by John Beach.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Pathologist Testifies Bone Probably Roberts’ by John Beach.
- The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN): Pathologist Under Cross-Examination.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Pathologist Fails to Change Testimony in Roberts Case by John Beach.
- The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN): Did Roberts Have Swiss Account?
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Mrs. Roberts Tells of Being ‘Watched’ by Investigators by John Beach.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Saw Roberts In ’72: Ex-Tavern Owner by Bruce C. Smith.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Body In Garage Dismembered, Expert Claims by Bruce C. Smith.
- The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN): Judge Speeds Up Roberts Trial, Now In Fourth Week by Bill Pittman.
- The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN): Roberts Decision Now Up To Judge.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Clarence Roberts, Wife Identified As Victims in Brown Fire Sunday by David Baumann.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): 2 charred bodies add to 10-year-old mystery by Bruce C. Smith.
- The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN): ‘Pretty Sure’ Fire Victim Is Clarence Roberts by Bill Pittman.
- The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN): Bodies found in fire may be Clarence and Geneva Roberts by Masha Hamilton.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Roberts Family Skeptical It Was Clarence by David Baumann.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Police trying to trace Roberts’ whereabouts.
- Evansville Courier and Press (Evansville, IN): Body found in fire believed husband missing 10 years by Nancy Shulins.
- The Daily Journal (Franklin, IN): Pathologists to hold press conference by Mike Lewis.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Arson fire claims life of Geneva Roberts; second victim ‘looks like’ Clarence by Helen Ayers.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Relatives disclaim mystery man was missing Roberts by Bruce C. Smith.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Official Thinks 3rd Person Set Roberts Fire by David Baumann.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Experts confirm Roberts died in fire with wife by Bruce C. Smith.
- The Columbus Herald (Columbus, IN): Alcohol Level in Bodies Called High by David Baumann.
- The Times-Mail (Bedford, IN): The Clarence Roberts’ puzzle still has two missing pieces by Kathy Harsh.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Roberts case leaves many tough questions by Helen Ayers.
- The Columbus Herald (Columbus, IN): Roberts Investigators Close To Solving Case by David Baumann.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): Roberts insurance case dismissed.
- The Indianapolis News (Indianapolis, IN): May Present Evidence In Roberts Fire.
- Brown County Democrat (Nashville, IN): Authorities prepare Roberts case for grand jury by Helen Ayers.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Victim of ’70 Fire At Roberts Garage May Be Identified by David Baumann.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Roberts Fire Victim Not James Hatcher by David Baumann.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Police Check ‘Long Shot’: Roberts Victim Identified? by David Baumann.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Policemen Testify In Roberts Case.
- The Republic (Columbus, IN): Police Criticized in Roberts Case by David Baumann.
- The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN): 20-year-old murder yields new clues by Bruce C. Smith.
- Notorious 92: Indiana’s Most Heinous Murders In All 92 Counties, by Andrew E. Stoner. 2007. Rooftop Publishing.
- YouTube: Unsolved Mysteries, Season 14 Episode 156. Directed by Kabir Akhtar.
- Detection of blood and DNA traces after thermal exposure.
Suggested Episodes
WANTED: Justice for MMIP
May is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Month, and we want to highlight some of the many cases involving members of Native American communities that so often go underreported and underserved, and thus unsolved.
WANTED: Justice for David Carter
Ohio State Highway Patrol were identifying unknown remains along the side of a highway in northern Ohio at the same time a man in Michigan was being reported missing.
WANTED: Justice for Hassani Campbell and Tianna Kirchner
Five-year-old Hassani Campbell disappears without a trace, leaving behind a community desperate for answers.
Join our Fan Club to listen to this episode and more!
Unlock all of the exclusive benefits and dynamic listening experience as a Crime Junkie Fan Club member.
Join the Fan Club now to reap the rewards!