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This episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual assault. Use your best judgment.

Ruth Dench, Marrieder Husband Paul in 1936. The couple bought a home in Hamilton County, Ohio,

where Ruth worked as a teacher at the local elementary school. In 1937, the couple had a son,

Robert. 18 months after he was born, Robert saved his entire family.

The wiring in the dentch house was faulty, causing a fire on the second floor of their home,

where the family was sleeping. The screams of a terrified toddler,

woken parents, allowing everyone to escape their burning home.

The top of their house had been destroyed, and they lost most of their furniture and clothes.

But the family was safe. The house could be repaired. Ruth, better known as Mrs. Dench to her students,

was made acting principal in 1968. She retired from a 40-year-long career in education in 1969.

Her husband, Paul, died in 1973. He was 74 years old at the time.

In 1974, Ruth lived in the same two-story house that she'd raised her son in,

the one that had caught fire when he was just a toddler.

On July 13th, at around 4 p.m., she called her now-grown son, Robert, who lived in Chicago.

That was the last time they would ever speak.

From A&E, this is cold case files.

Ruth was a regular at church. It was just a few miles from her home.

But on July 14th, she didn't make it to the service. Her neighbor, Catherine Hetzleman,

became concerned and decided to check on her friend. This is Ruth's son, Robert.

Catherine also noticed that the garage door had been left open, as well as the storm door on the front porch.

And so she then went in and knocked on the door and then went into the room right off our

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