Linda Stoltzfoos’ 19th Birthday Passes; 5 Months Since Disappearance

Linda Stoltzfoos‘ 19th birthday was last week. It’s now been 5 months since she disappeared. Lancaster Online shares a brief update. Unfortunately there are few positive details in it, other than the fact the investigation is ongoing. However, I think that is good to keep in mind:

Saturday marks five months since Linda Stoltzfoos disappeared — kidnapped, according to authorities, while walking home from church on June 21.

Her 19th birthday was Wednesday.

Handwritten signs on the family’s business, Stoltzfoos Home Improvements in Upper Leacock Township, asked for privacy and understanding. A woman who answered the door Wednesday declined comment.

Authorities say the investigation is continuing. Meanwhile, Justo Smoker, the man charged in her disappearance, is in Lancaster County Prison without bail as his case progresses through the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas.

“Everything is ongoing: the prosecution of Smoker, efforts to find Linda, and the investigation of what took place on and around the day she was taken,” Brett Hambright, spokesman for the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, said in an email Friday. “We continue to ask the public for assistance with any information they might have about any aspect of the case.”

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The family has asked for privacy. Hopefully that will be respected. At the same time I feel it is worth keeping Linda’s story public, in the albeit likely distant hopes that there might be a break in the case.

It must be assumed that investigators have gotten little to no further information of substance from Smoker at this time. Those who care about Linda have to keep the hope alive that some sort of resolution will come, so that the family can at least know Linda’s whereabouts. Here are the contact details again for anyone who might have information:

Tips may be submitted here, or by calling East Lampeter police at 717-291-4676, or the FBI at 800-255-5324.