The Bennington Triangle Disappearances

Between 1945 and 1950, five people disappeared without trace in the wilderness of southwestern Vermont. The area, dubbed the Bennington Triangle by author Joseph Citro, has never given up its secrets. The disappearances remain unsolved.

The Area

The Bennington Triangle encompasses an area around Glastenbury Mountain, including parts of Woodford, Bennington, Shaftsbury, and the now-abandoned town of Glastenbury. The terrain is rugged, forested, and sparsely populated. Native Americans reportedly avoided the area.

The Disappearances

In 1945, Middie Rivers, 74, vanished while leading hunters. In 1946, Paula Jean Welden, 18, disappeared while hiking. In 1949, James Tedford vanished from a bus between stops. In 1950, 8-year-old Paul Jepson disappeared from a truck. Days later, Frieda Langer, 53, vanished while hiking.

The Searches

Extensive searches found almost nothing. Only Frieda Langer’s body was discovered, seven months later, in an area previously searched. No cause of death could be determined. The other four were never found.

The Theories

Explanations range from serial killer to wild animals to supernatural abduction. The variety of victims, from child to elderly, makes a single human predator unlikely. The terrain, while rugged, is not typically deadly to experienced hikers.

The Legacy

The Bennington Triangle has attracted paranormal researchers seeking connections to UFO activity, Bigfoot sightings, and strange lights reported in the area. The Long Trail passes through, and hikers still report strange experiences.

Assessment

The Bennington Triangle disappearances remain genuinely unsolved. The concentration of vanishings in a small area over five years suggests something beyond coincidence. Whether natural or supernatural, the wilderness has kept its secrets.