Katharina Buczek
The publicity also brought Francis’ worst fears to life, with his family receiving two ransom notes– each asking for $5,000 in exchange for Dorothy’s return. He also received threats directed toward his other daughter, Marjorie.
Thankfully, these incidents did turn out to be hoaxes. But, the nationwide search for Dorothy was seemingly not enough to close her case– because she remains missing to this day.
There have since been numerous theories regarding Dorothy’s disappearance. Some suspect that she ran away in hopes of living out her life anonymously– although there is a lack of evidence about this possible scenario.
Still, in February 1911, the Arnold family did receive a postcard that simply said, “I am safe.” It was also signed with Dorothy’s signature and appeared to have been written in her penmanship.
Her father, Francis, though, was certain that the author of the letter had just copied Dorothy’s handwriting.
Another theory also surfaced six years after her disappearance when a Rhode Island convict alleged that he had been paid $150 to dig Dorothy’s grave.
Now, the convict could not provide the name of the person who had paid him. However, he claimed that it was a man who resembled Dorothy’s boyfriend, George Griscom Jr. As for Dorothy’s cause of death, the convict also claimed that she had passed away following a “botched abortion” and was later buried in the basement of a home near West Point.
Investigators did follow up on this tip and search numerous basements in the West Point area, though. And unfortunately, Dorothy’s body was never located.
The Arnold family, too, had their own specific theory– that Dorothy had been kidnapped and murdered.
Francis was particularly sure of this and believed that his daughter had been attacked while walking through Central Park and dumped in a nearby reservoir.
In spite of all these theories, though, Dorothy’s case was never resolved. And her parents, Francis and Mary, had lost hope that their daughter was still alive.
