365 days of Texas True Crime: Missing

In June of 1993, 75 year old Edna Laverne Blodgett went missing from her home in Post, TX, were she was living with her boyfriend, Jerry T. Smith...well, she was but had just taken out an order of protection against him that very year. Friends had, on several occasions, seen Smith get physically abusive toward Edna and despite the order of protection he was still known to visit Edna at her home.

On June 2nd, 1993, Edna was seen walking down a dirt road, US Highway 84, near her home.  It was the last time valid witness sighting of Edna alive. Edna was recently diagnosed with mild Alzhrimer's disease and on June 14th, after attempts to locate Edna fell short, employees of the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation were forced to report Edna as a missing person.

Later that month, June 1993, Smith, the boyfriend she had taken out an order of protection against, was charged with forgery after an attempt to cash a $100 check from Blodgett's account.   He was convicted and sent to prison in 1995 and then later that same year authorities charged him with Blodgett's murder.

A witness came forth to tell authorities that Smith had told him that he killed Blodgett, put her body in a 55 gallon drum, poured gas over the drum and set it ablaze believing it would wipe out any evidence. After that he took a short trip to Arkansas.

Blodgett had a history of abuse that solidified suspicion that he was responsible for Blodgett's murder, having abused his ex-wife and father on several occasions.   In 1996 he was convicted of Edna's murder and sentenced to life in prison all the while maintaining his innocence.   In January of 2000, 7 years after her disappearance, Blodgett's home was damaged in a fire.  Later that summer a construction worker cleaning the area debris discovered a bone fragment that some speculated belonged to Edna, however authorities said it was likely just an animal bone.

Edna Laverne Blodgett remains missing to this day. At least the man likely responsible for her death was brought to justice but authorities are still seeking the location of her remains

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Edna Laverne Blodgett contact the Garza County Sheriff’s office at 806-495-3595