(Guadalupe County) — The Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office is again setting out in search of clues in the missing person’s case of a local mother, who 34 years ago, vanished from her family.
It was April 5, 1985, when Kathleen Laura Ranft, a mother of three, was reported missing in Seguin.
Sgt. Robert Murphy, of the sheriff’s office special investigations/cold case unit, says since that time, the 29-year-old’s disappearance has left investigators baffled.
“Kathleen Ranft was a mother. She had children and she was out that night and her husband came in to the sheriff’s office back when the sheriff’s office was at the courthouse and reported that his wife was missing. She had not come home and he was concerned and the investigators at the time did quite a bit of work on it. Unfortunately, they all passed away over the course of the years,” said Murphy.
Murphy says despite the lack of leads, Ranft’s case continues to be active for both the sheriff’s office and the Texas Rangers Cold Case Unit. He says the only evidence left behind was her vehicle found at a business on the south side of Seguin.
“Her vehicle was found at a location in Seguin. They found no sign of foul play at the time. They did everything that 1985 technology could do with the car,” said Murphy.
Ranft is described as 5′ 6″ inches tall, 130 pounds with blond hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a blue and white flowered western style shirt. She was also described as wearing a set of jewelry which included a gold wedding band with nine diamonds, a pair of diamond ear-rings, a gold chain with diamond pendant, two other rings and a Seiko wrist watch.
Murphy says his hope is that by resurfacing this case, someone, somewhere will remember something.
“They canvassed the area. The investigators have talked to dozens of people to try and develop some leads on what happened to Kathleen Ranft and so because it is a missing person and it’s 1985 case, we just ask the public — anybody who might have any information, they can contact us at the sheriff’s office. They can contact the Texas Rangers. They can contact Crime Stoppers and we would appreciate any help in trying to bring some closure to the family. In these cold cases, it’s things that people don’t think are important that turn out to be the most important part of the case after all,” said Murphy.
Murphy says solving this and other cold cases remain at the forefront for Guadalupe County Sheriff Arnold Zwicke and hopes that any and all new leads will finally give Ranft’s family the closure that it deserves.
“The sheriff is really really big on trying to find families an answer. That’s really one of the great things about him is he really does care about the citizens of our county and that’s one of the things that I appreciate in the 25 years that I’ve been here — just how much he really cares about things,” said Murphy.
Anyone who has information regarding this investigation and wishes to remain anonymous are asked to contact the Guadalupe County Crime Stoppers at 877-403-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be submitted online at ww.gccsTIPS.org. or via the P3 Tips App. All information received through Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous.