57: The Disappearance of Ruth Baumgardner: Vanished from Her Dorm in 1937 with guest reader Mallory Kennedy

In 1937, college student Ruth Baumgardner said good night to her friends and walked toward her dorm room. She was never seen again.

The next morning, her car key was found on the dormitory staircase—but Ruth was gone.

In this episode of She Goes by Jane, we examine the disappearance of Ruth Baumgardner, a case that has remained unsolved for decades. What happened between that final walk down the hall and the moment she vanished? And how do cases like Ruth’s slip through the cracks of both memory and investigation?

We place her story within its historical context, exploring the limitations of 1930s investigative methods and the ways young women’s disappearances were understood—and often minimized—at the time.

📍 Delaware, Ohio | 1937

📖 Featuring an original poem written in her honor, read by Mallory Kennedy, producer, writer, and founder of Margrette Bird Pictures.

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About Mallory Kennedy

Mallory Kennedy is a producer, writer, and President of Margrette Bird Pictures. She is known for the award-winning documentary Perfect Bid: The Contestant Who Knew Too Much, and is the author of multiple books focused on identity, wellness, and personal development.