The Mystery Of Belinda VanLith: 51 Years Of Unanswered Questions

We are a month away from a sad anniversary here in Central Minnesota. It will be 51 years since anyone has seen or heard from the then 17-year-old Belinda VanLith. She was last seen house-sitting for a neighbor, and it seems she just vanished.

Why is VanLith referred to as the 'Queen of Hearts'?

Belinda is known as the Queen of Hearts, as that is the card her photo and story were printed for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehensions Cold Case Playing Card Initiative. Belinda's story has confounded locals and law enforcement for nearly 51 years, with no real answers being discovered in all that time.

What Happened To Belinda?

According to an online Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension page, "Belinda was last seen house-sitting for a neighbor around 8 a.m. on June 15, 1974. She then disappeared from the property located on Little Eagle Lake in Wright County. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance. She has not been seen or heard from since."

Were there any suspects in the case?

There were a few suspects in Belinda's disappearance, notably, one suspect, Timothy Joseph Crosby, was staying at a nearby cabin at the same time that Belinda disappeared, and in 2009, the Pioneer Press reported that he was a person of interest in Belinda's case as well as the 1994 murder of Victoria Morris.

As far as anyone knows, nothing ever came from the investigation into Crosby, as he was never charged in connection with the disappearance of Belinda VanLith.

The case was officially closed in 2024

On a request from the family of VanLith, the investigation case was closed by the Wright County Sheriff's Office. In closing the case, the family is hopeful that someone will come forward with information regarding Belinda's disappearance.

Since the case has been closed, numerous podcasts have picked up the story and are also seeking answers to what happened to the 17-year-old.

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If you have information on the disappearance of Belinda VanLith you are asked to contact the Minnesota BCA at (651) 793-7000.

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Source: Remembering Belinda VanLith And Her Unsolved Disappearance