In upstate New York, one man dropped off his wife at the clinic. He told her that he would return to get her after her appointment. He was there at the end of it, but she was nowhere in sight. Where did she go?
Nowhere In Sight
He told her he would return, and so he did. However, she did not return no matter how long he waited. Where could his wife be? Did something sinister happen? The answer only surfaced 42 years later.
Nowhere In Sight
Nothing More Than A Cold
He brought her to the appointment earlier that day, but nothing out of the usual happened. The only thing he knew was that she had been suffering a bad cold. He dropped her off and came back in an hour.
Nothing More Than A Cold
Florence Stevens
The woman in question is Florence “Flora” Stevens. Her spouse said that he last saw her on August 3, 1975. She was 36 years old at the time. Everyone knew that she was full of adventure and life.
Florence Stevens
A Resort In The Catskills
She was employed at a place in the Catskills in the summer of 1975. The resort went by the name The Concord. The luxurious 1,200-room complex was especially popular among tourists in the area.
A Resort In The Catskills
Educated
From her job application, the detectives on the case learned that she studied at Lincoln High School in New York. It was hard to find info on her, but they knew that she was married to one Robert Stevens.
Educated
Opening The Case
No one had any clue about what could have happened to Flora. An investigation took place, and many folks volunteered their time to help. Everyone was so puzzled by the way this nice lady vanished.
Opening The Case
The End Of The Road
They had no clues on the case, so it was difficult to solve it. Flora did not have living relatives as far as they were aware, so they could not even determine where she grew up. Everything felt hopeless.
The End Of The Road
No One Could Have Known
Sadly, they arrived at a dead end. No one could explain how or why she disappeared just like that. No one had a clue that things will take a surprising turn many decades after this.
No One Could Have Known
Senior Investigator Yan Salomon
It all started in 2017 when Yan Salomon, a New York State Police senior investigator, found something interesting. It would be what got the ball rolling on an old case. What was it that he discovered?
Senior Investigator Yan Salomon
Looming Questions
Yes, what he found would help uncover the truth behind the Flora Stevens disappearance. Did he truly find her? What exactly did he know about her? You will soon find out the answers to these questions.
Looming Questions
Skeletal Remains
Get ready because it was not good news. While Yan Salomon did see a woman, it was not an alive one. No, he discovered human skeletal remains. Of course, he needed to figure out who this person might be.
Skeletal Remains
Make Some Calls
He got his phone and began to make some calls. He got in touch with the Sullivan County sheriff’s office to speak to a detective. He informed them of the human remains he found in the Catskills area.
Make Some Calls
Too Hard
Did you know that 70,000 adult women go missing every year in the United States? There was no way he can solve this case on his own. He knew that this was true, so he came up with a plan for this.
Too Hard
Information At Their Disposal
In January 2016, there were 21,894 active missing women cases across the entire United States of America. The good thing was that the records were kept in storage, so it was possible to access them.
Information At Their Disposal
Looking For Her
Salomon was aware that it was not going to be an easy task, which is why he made a team to help check as many of these open cases as possible. They were tasked to compare them to the remains.
Looking For Her
Welcome To Sullivan County
While it was quite a long shot, he also went to Sullivan County and investigated for himself. He wanted to make things easier by doing local searches. He hoped that it was going to make things simpler.
Welcome To Sullivan County
An Open Case
With his deduction skills, he could tell that his mystery woman came from around there. He only had to go digging a bit deeper to get the answers he wanted. He learned about one interesting case in the area.
An Open Case
Looking For Answers
Was this the moment that he was waiting for? He asked the detectives to look for any living relatives of the woman in the said case. By now, we already know that this line of questioning would be useless.
Looking For Answers
It All Came Together
The file on the missing woman had been storage or a very long time already. First opened in 1975, it did not provide them a great deal of information. Still, Salomon knew that it was different from the rest.
It All Came Together
New Information
He deferred the case to the folks at Sullivan County. Det. Rich Morgan took over the case. It was now his job to look for a connection between the women. He was able to turn up something shocking.
New Information
Connecting The Dots
They dug up her work ID, and it revealed that she had been working at the Catskills when she vanished into thin air. As we know by now, this was where Salomon discovered the remains of a female adult…
Connecting The Dots
Fascinating News
In 1975, a woman called Flora Stevens disappeared. We are going to find out something amazing about this case. Are you ready to find out what happened to her? The answer will surprise you.
Fascinating News
The Missing Woman
Det. Morgan could feel that he was onto something big with this case. Could it be that there was a connection between the dead woman and the missing one? He investigated some more to find out…
The Missing Woman
Looked Far And Wide
When she disappeared out of the blue, her husband tried his best to look for her. He took her to the doctor for her appointment, but how come Flora never made it to their meeting place?
Looked Far And Wide
Another Dead End
After that, he reported Flora missing. It launched an investigation. Back then, they did not get any answers. On top of that, her husband died ten years later. The track went cold for the detectives.
Another Dead End
How Would He Do It?
Det. Morgan knew that it was not going to be at all easy for them. For one, they were unable to find a living relative who could shine a light on Flora. He had no idea how to prove the hunch he had.
How Would He Do It?
Her Social Security Number
He combed the national and local databases. This was when he saw something shocking. Get ready for this because it will blow your mind. He saw that someone had been using her social security number!
Her Social Security Number
250 Miles From There
He tracked the number to a town just north of Boston. Who could possibly be using the social security number of a missing person? It was also interesting to hear that he traced it to an assisted living facility.
250 Miles From There
A Different Last Name
He got his phone, called the place, and talked to the staff there. They told him that the record was for a woman called Flora. Her last name was Harris, however. She had been in the facility ever since 2001.
A Different Last Name
Identity Fraud
What did this mean? Det. Morgan paid the facility a visit to figure things out. What they found out shocked them. The case was no longer cold, but it took them in a whole other direction altogether.
Identity Fraud
Possible Identity Theft
“Same first name, different last name, but same birth date and social security,” Det. Morgan said when he spoke to CBS Boston about the case. They needed to talk to her. Could it be a case of identity theft?
Possible Identity Theft
Just Her Photograph
They had to figure it all out, so they made sure to take a photo of Flora from the database. The only photo they had of her was the one that was in her work ID when she was working at the Catskills.
Just Her Photograph
Found Her
They went to the facility and talked to the woman. She took the photo and pointed at it. “She says that’s me, or me, she responded with one word, me,” said Det. Morgan. When they showed her a photo of the missing woman’s husband, the elderly lady all but confirmed it when she replied, “Robert.”
Found Her
She Couldn’t Remember
Sadly, they failed to answer many of the questions that bothered them all those years. The reason for this is that Flora has dementia. That was why she was unable to explain what happened many years ago.
She Couldn’t Remember
An Abusive Husband
“We really don’t know the circumstances of why or how she disappeared. She had psychiatric problems leading up to that point,” Det. Morgan said. Her caregiver was able to shed some light on her life.
An Abusive Husband
Maybe She Ran
Many are convinced that she just bought a bus ticket to escape her life and her husband. Det. Morgan said, “Most of the secrets are locked inside of Flora, and I don’t think we’ll ever get them.”
Maybe She Ran
She Didn’t Want To Be Found
Flora had been under Mbuva’s care for a while now. “To be honest, I don’t think she ever really wanted to be found. You can tell something happened in her past that she didn’t want any part of,” he said.
She Didn’t Want To Be Found
She’s Safe
Flora is from Yonkers. She is fond of saying ‘none of your business’ as well. Undersheriff Eric Chaboty of Sullivan County said, “It’s a neat feeling [to find someone]. The main thing is we know that Flora is safe.”
She’s Safe
Solved But Unsolved
Sullivan County managed to solve a case that has long gone cold when they verified their hunch. Sheriff Mike Schiff even said, “It is not too often that you get to solve a 42-year-old missing person case.”
Solved But Unsolved
A Smile And Wave
It took 42 years before they could get the closure they wanted. We are happy to hear that she is fine, but we still have many questions. Let us now look at the story of Matt and Laura… Would the childhood sweethearts find each other again?
A Smile And Wave
From A Young Age
The two of them first met almost 25 years ago. They had been preschool students at the time. Matt saw her on the playground and befriended her right away! No one saw just how close they would get.
From A Young Age
The Early Days
When he talked to Today, he said, “I don’t remember the first time I saw her, but she was always a girl who let me follow her around.” It would go on to be something very incredible, we swear.
The Early Days
Safety Buddies
They became even closer after going on a school trip together. The children needed to team up in pairs as “safety buddies.” Of course, Laura and Matt chose to partner up and stuck together the entire time.
Safety Buddies
Silly Matt
Soon after this, Laura realized that her friend was kind and warm. He only wanted to befriend her. They would soon be the best of friends. The two of them practically did every single thing together!
Silly Matt
Not Just At Preschool
Even though they were always together at school, it was not enough for them. Their parents found out how close they were and set them up on playdates. The kids liked to watch movies together.
Not Just At Preschool
Protecting Laura
Matt managed to show his best friend that he cared about her when they watched movies together. When there was something scary on the screen, he liked to hold her hand to comfort her. Aww!
Protecting Laura
Impressing Laura
Matt was a big fan of the movie called Lion King. While many kids wanted to impress their pals by talking about their parents, he managed to do this by reciting lines from the movie.
Impressing Laura
The Teacher
We bet Laura was mightily impressed with his recital skills. However, she also impressed him. Laura taught Matt how to draw hills, eat string cheese, and use the swings! He was simply in awe of her.
The Teacher
Winning Her Over
At the Cinco De Mayo celebration at school, he was able to impress her. No one could break the pinata before him. He said, “Fortunately, I was the kid who managed to do it and I assume it got her attention.”
Winning Her Over
Young Love
When they were only four years old, Matt and Laura were “love birds” already. Even though he was young, he was unable to hold back just how strongly he felt for her! What did he do?
Young Love
Declaring His Love
In fact, he decided to let the whole class know just how serious he was about his best friend. He told them he would marry her! The others thought this was funny, but he said, “Just you wait!”
Declaring His Love
Birthday Parties
They stayed close day after day. They also spent birthdays together. Truly, Matt and Laura were stuck at the hip back in those days. However, preschool was ending. What would kindergarten be like for them?
Birthday Parties
Fearing The Future
There were a lot of things they had to worry about now that preschool was done. For one, it was possible that they would not be in the same class. They felt scared when they realized this possibility!
Fearing The Future
Different Schools
Things were going to be different for them. After all, Matt and Laura were headed to different schools! Their parents had no say in it as the region decided it. Still, they were promised frequent playdates.
Different Schools
Shaky Promises
Their parents made sure the two could see each other. They met up on the weekends and caught up. There were a lot of things for them to talk about now that they were going to different schools.
Shaky Promises
Drifting Apart
Sadly, the weekly visits would start to decline as they got older. This photo here shows the two of them enjoying time together at Christmas. Soon after this, they would only keep in touch on the holiday.
Drifting Apart
Just Christmas
Time went on, and the two of them only contacted each other via their annual Christmas cards. They did not see often, which was a far cry from when they were younger. Still, their bond was very special.
Just Christmas
Growing Up
They were growing up and getting busy. The Christmas cards would eventually stop coming as well. No one is to blame here. It was only that they had other things on their minds now that they were older.
Growing Up
High School
High school is a far cry from the world of kindergarten and especially for preschool. We are not surprised to learn that they hardly thought of each other anymore. It all changed on one fateful day.
High School
An Accident
During her freshman year, Laura had been going through the phone of a friend. She was so shocked when she saw one name come up. It was a name that she was very familiar with.
An Accident
Heartwarming Memories
She was shocked to read the name “Matt Grodsky” after all this time. But what was his name doing on this phone? How did her old childhood sweetheart and friend from high school know each other?
Heartwarming Memories
A Different Plan
Soon enough, she caught her breath once more. Laura informed her friend what she and Matt had such a long time ago. Her friend knew him from middle school. Who can blame her for feeling intrigued?
A Different Plan
Setting Them Up
Her friend was shocked by what she heard, so she decided to set them up once more. Laura was a bit hesitant, and this is understandable. After all, it has been a long time since she last saw him.
Setting Them Up
Going Ahead
Laura was not even sure she wanted a boyfriend. Here was what she told People: “I was a freshman in high school so I was like, ‘I don’t think so!’” Still, she agreed to give him her number.
Going Ahead
Matt’s Move
Matt felt the urge to text her as soon as he got her number. He did send her a text, but he was not sure how she would take it. She eventually responded to him, which made him feel confident about this.
Matt’s Move
Seeing Her
Matt noticed her smile when they first saw each other again. He was struck by how infections it was! He had always loved that look on her. He later said, “She always had a huge smile.”
Seeing Her
The First Date
The old best friends decided to go out. They were going to see a movie at the theater like the good ol’ days. Matt thought it was like love at first sight again. It was a relief that they got along well too.
The First Date
Like Old Times
The first date went off without a hitch. Not long after that, they started to go out as boyfriend and girlfriend. They could drive, so it was easier to meet up. They attended dances together as well.
Like Old Times
College Coming Up
They had previously been separated, but it was different now that they were off to college. They wanted to study in different states. “Right after we graduated from high school, we were pretty hesitant,” Laura told People. “We were like, ‘Do we stay together? Do we try to make it work?’”
College Coming Up
Long Distance
They did not want to suffocate each other in college. Matt was off to Columbia College in Chicago, while she was set to go to Northern Arizona University. It was 1,600 miles away, but they were determined.
Long Distance
Staying In Touch
Of course, they that there was no way it was going to be easy. They did not want to lose each other one more time. They chatted on Facetime and visited whenever they could. The work was worth it for them.
Staying In Touch
6 Months
Social media made things much easier for them since they were posted on what the other was doing. Still, it wasn’t the same. They missed each other a lot. Once, Matt and Laura did not meet for 6 months!
6 Months
The Perfect Throwback
Finally, college graduation was upon them. Matt had a unique plan in mind. He made a picnic basket and wanted to hold the date at their old preschool! It was going to be a huge surprise for Laura.
The Perfect Throwback
A Secret Plan
“I convinced Laura that we were going to a picnic at the preschool. We had just finished up our junior year of college, so I framed it as a nice relaxing date,” he said. This was not the last of his surprises.
A Secret Plan
Back To Their Roots
Laura felt touched when she saw that Matt wanted to take her out to the place where they first met. It was thoughtful and sweet of him to do such a thing. Their old preschool was special to both of them.
Back To Their Roots
Matt’s Strange Behavior
On the way there, Laura noticed that he was fidgeting too much. She assumed that he only felt nervous, but he remained that way when they got there. It made her feel uneasy as well.
Matts Strange Behavior
The Big Move
Matt then dropped to his knee and brought out the ring he had. He asked Laura, “Will you marry me?” She was shocked but was ready to answer: “‘YES!’ I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, is this happening?’ I saw the ring and was like, ‘This is gorgeous. I’m so happy with it.’ I had no idea!”
The Big Move
Worrying
He was not just nervous since he was planning to propose to her. He had several worries about the ring too! He said, “I kept checking my pocket when she wasn’t looking to make sure the ring was still there.”
Worrying
Long Planning
Matt proposed to Laura on May 23, 2015. He had been planning this for months before this could actually take place. He also asked Laura’s dad for his blessing before the proposal could even happen.
Long Planning
Going All Out
He bought the ring for her and then asked his own brother to capture the moment with the use of a video camera. Yes, this means that his brother had been hidden in the bushes the entire time.
Going All Out
The Picnic Basket
The picnic basket was borrowed from his parents. It was actually quite a special one. We will have you know that his father used the same one when it had been his turn to propose to his mom.
The Picnic Basket
A Special Place
They returned to the place where everything began. He made his promise come true as well! “I proposed to her at the place it all began… our preschool classroom,” he explained to the Huffington Post. “When you like someone, you just kind of stand up and say it.”
A Special Place
Tying The Knot
It took place on the 30th of December in 2016. Do you remember how big of a Lion King fan Matt had been? We think it is amazing that the first dance was for “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.”
Tying The Knot
True Soulmates
Many friends and family members attended the wedding at the Arizona Historical Society. An uncle of Matt had this to say: “For most kids in preschool, it’s about finding your snacks and your sleeping mats, but for them it was about finding their soulmates.”
True Soulmates
For Social Media
They were millennials, so they posted about the special day on their social media accounts. They made posts on Facebook and Instagram to share for their close friends and loved ones. It sure exceeded expectations, however.
For Social Media
Laura’s Dad Speaks Out
At the ceremony, her dad decided to speak about how they came to the decision to adopt Laura back when they lived in India. Just wait until you hear the excellent story behind her adoption.
Lauras Dad Speaks Out
Their Own Long Distance Relationship
Her dad had been on tour in India and stayed there for a year. He was already seeing Laura’s mom back then. She would eventually start working at the American embassy in India to be with him!
Their Own Long Distance Relationship
Visiting The Orphanage
Of course, the two of them later got married. Her mom let him know about this orphanage that was full of poor children. They decided to pay a visit there. Everyone wanted to know what was next.
Visiting The Orphanage
Adopting Laura
There might have been a lot of kids there, but they wanted to take a look at the babies. That was where they found baby Laura with drips and tubes through her nose and arms. She had double pneumonia!
Adopting Laura
Not Leaving Without Her
They were determined in their quest to adopt tor, but there were rules they had to follow. Luckily, they managed to adopt her in the end. The couple succeeded in bringing little Laura home in the ned.
Not Leaving Without Her
A Different Place
Her dad had to use a different method to convince the people at the orphanage. He was working at the US embassy at the time. This gave him a lot of access to products that people wanted from the states.
A Different Place
Back To Now
At any rate, Matt and Laura ended up together in the end. His uncle had words of wisdom to impart about their story: “Love is not one moment, not even this moment – it’s every moment.”
Back To Now
Dancing For Love
“Our favorite part of the wedding was the dancing and having everyone we love there to celebrate with us,” Matt and Laura said. “We tore it up on the dance floor and it was great being surrounded by everyone who played a part in bringing us together.”
Dancing For Love
Honeymoon Time
After their lovely wedding, they then went to Maui for their honeymoon. They went from a fairytale to paradise in no time at all. This was not the end of the story for them, however.
Honeymoon Time
The Way We Met
Laura wanted to share their story with other people. This was the reason she approached “The Way We Met” on Instagram. She took an old and new photo of them, and the post went on to a big hit!
The Way We Met
A Big Hit
It is easy to see that the two of them have a great story to tell. However, neither Matt nor Laura thought it would go viral. “I was enamored with Laura as a child, and I still am to this day,” he has admitted.
A Big Hit
Inspiring Others
The story did not just reach “a few people.” It was a huge hit among people from other places in the world. The Instagram post got 30,000 likes and almost a thousand comments. It got 400,000 reactions later on. Many media outlets also heard of the story and wanted to talk to Matt and Laura.
Inspiring Others
Social Media’s Feelings
Yes, this story sounds like something from the movies. Who would have thought that it can also happen in real life? Those who lost contact with childhood sweethearts started to talk about their stories too.
Social Media’s Feelings
More Than They Thought
The influence went further than just nostalgia as well. Interracial couples learned about it and talked about how much it has affected them. For these folks, the story just helped them stay strong and resilient.
More Than They Thought
Tyrese Gibson
Tons of people heard about the story. It has even reached celebs such as Tyrese Gibson of Fast and the Furious. He adored their relationship and felt impressed. He wanted to do something about it!
Tyrese Gibson
Treating The Couple
Tyrese Gibson revealed that he has always been a fan of love stories. This is in the running for the best one he ever heard. He contacted the couple and then offered them a 3-day trip to Florida!
Treating The Couple
The Grodskys’ Future
Matt and Laura now live in one roof in Arizona. They are still young and have their whole lives ahead of them. Matt works as an account executive at a digital marketing agency, while Laura is with a non-profit organization that helps foster children. Two years married now, they have bought a house together.
The Grodskys Future
Becoming Parents
They have decided to go to the next step as well. Laura and Matt are now parents! Kind of. They have a lovely little pup by the name of Kirby. Do you think they want human children of their own, however?
Becoming Parents
Real Parents
People asked Laura and Matt if they plan to have a kid in the future. They said, “We would love to have kids at some point. Right now we are focused on our new puppy Kirby and our new house.”
Real Parents
What A Journey
Love had been a great journey for these two. They fell in love, got separated, but ultimately found each other again. “The best thing about our relationship is we are just silly and we appreciate each other every day,” they said. “Having gone through a long distance relationship, you learn really quick how much the other person means to you and we value our time.”
What A Journey
The Best In Each-Other
“My favorite thing about Matt is his humor, he always makes me happy and he is the most driven person I know,” she said, “He is always moving forward.” Meanwhile, he said, “My favorite thing about Laura is her infectious smile and her desire to help those who are less fortunate. She is a force for good and it’s inspiring to be around her every day.”
The Best In Each Other
The Moment They’d Been Waiting For
There are times when they look back and still wonder in awe. If you ask us, it seems like not once did they leave each other’s hearts. It was special when they tied the knot, but that was not all of it.
The Moment They’d Been Waiting For
A Wedding To Look Back On
Do you know the tradition of bouquet catching? They said that those who catch it will be the next to get married. Luckily, no one fought over the bouquet during the wedding. Everyone had been in high spirits!
A Wedding To Look Back On
Celebrating Their Love
For this couple, every day is a celebration of their love. They did not only get married and want to spend their lives together, but they are also soulmates. We are glad to hear that true love won in the end!
Celebrating Their Love
One Small Step
It was only the beginning for this couple. While their new lives began wonderfully, we are sure that they will still achieve more than that. There is no doubt that the rest of the story will be just as lovely!
One Small Step