Judge Joseph Crater disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 1930. Despite extensive investigations, his fate remains unknown.
Joseph Force Crater was a New York State Supreme Court Justice who vanished on the evening of August 6, 1930, after dining with friends at a restaurant in Manhattan. His disappearance became one of the most famous in American history and led to a massive search effort. The public’s fascination with the case was fueled by the fact that Crater was a prominent judge and involved in the politically charged atmosphere of New York City during that era.
Before his disappearance, Crater had been involved in some political and judicial controversies, which led to speculation that his vanishing might have been connected to corruption or organized crime. On the day he disappeared, he had reportedly taken a cab from the restaurant to Broadway, after which he was never seen again. He had also withdrawn a large sum of money from his bank account and had been seen carrying a briefcase that was never found.
Despite numerous leads, tips, and theories over the years, no conclusive evidence has ever surfaced regarding Crater’s whereabouts or what might have happened to him. The case was officially closed in 1979, but it remains a subject of speculation and a fixture in popular culture as an enduring mystery.