The mafia possibly being involved. which is strange I never heard of any mob family being involved in that part of W. Va. however Mr. Sodder had just started a thriving Coal Trucking outfit and you better believe the unions would be interested in that if he got big enough and we know the affiliation of the mob and teamsters during Jimmy Hoffa era. But this was before that. and it was a small company . But from what I can find there was no threats or intimidation of any kind by the unions,that Mr. Sodder reported he was a small fry . But he was threatened by a man selling life insurance who threatened to burn the home and ironically ended up on the jury that ruled all the children had died in the fire.
The fire was definitely arson as the sound of a rolling bottle then an explosion and a delivery driver reporting seeing something flying thru the air. But even as hot as the fire got there is no way the body's would have been consumed any fire expert or scientists would agree. But the Sicilian Mob involved highly unlikely they only killed there own over business or those who would get in the way and threaten them.
and would not kill children and an insult especially about Mussolini who tied to kill all the mafia at time in Italy no chance they where involved.
So that leaves an Italian Insurance salesman and his kinfolk as suspect who could have kidnapped the children and sent them to Italy to live but you would think at some point as these children where old enough they would go looking for answers unless they where totally convinced by the story they where given. Or there are darker things which could have been done to them from killing them to being sold into child sexual slavery and worse.Unfortunately so much time has passed and there are plenty of people who should have went to prison over how this whole matter went down. but they are long gone and not talking but surely there relatives know. But in W.Va. like in Kentucky there has always been backwoods justice just look at the Hatfields and McCoys. Will the real truth ever come out ? maybe some day when everyone involved has passed and the children or grandchildren feel brave enough to talk about it.
