Liberty, Ohio — What was meant to be a joyful weekend, a homecoming, a picnic, and a mother gathering groceries for a celebration—turned into a mystery. Somewhere between the checkout line and the park, something went wrong. By the time the sun rose again, a mother of three had vanished, leaving a running car, unanswered questions, and a family still waiting for her return.
According to the Liberty Township Police Department, on August 4, 2006, 45-year-old Lori Ann Boffman won $1,000 in the Ohio Lottery. Around 4:00 AM on August 5, 2006, she was seen at the Giant Eagle on Belmont Avenue, where she purchased $500 worth of groceries for the party planned for that day. Later, on August 5, Lori and her family gathered at a park in Youngstown for the picnic. She decided to go for a drive but never returned. She was last seen leaving her home around 6:30 PM on Holly Hill Drive in Girard, Ohio.
According to the Youngstown Police Department, they received a call at 3:00 AM on August 6, 2006, regarding the sound of a crash. When officers arrived at the scene at 3:12 AM, they found a blue 1992 Mercury Sable. The vehicle had left the road off Himrod Avenue and traveled through the backyards of several homes before coming to rest in a driveway between two houses on North Jackson Street near Oak Street on the east side of Youngstown. Inside the car, authorities discovered eyeglasses, a keychain, and personal documents belonging to Lori Ann Boffman.…