Coming to 2027, Sara’s next book, Unsolved Dayton, will cover unsolved cases from Dayton’s history. There will be cases you’ve heard about, and ones you haven’t.In honor of finishing Unsolved Dayton, here are a few unsolved tidbits that did not make the book:
August 17, 1913 – An unidentified man was found in the Miami River with no identification and multiple knife wounds. Police believed he may have been Romanian, but gave no other identifying information.
December 29, 1989 – Karen Spencer got out of the car along i-275 after an argument with her sister in law. She was last seen walking away from the car. The driver of a red 1982 Datsun was questioned in connection with her disappearance
January 15, 2023 – Jack Flohre was last seen on Ingram Street. At the time of his disappearance, he was known to struggle with addiction and mental health issues.
September 7, 1993 – Lamar Dozier was playing video games with friends when he was shot in the stomach and stabbed several times in the chest. He lived for a few weeks before succumbing to hi injuries
The tornados of 2019 caused a lot of destruction in the Dayton area, but did you know there was a tornado in Kettering on May 8,1969? Continue reading →
With most of the major holidays over, the season has started for the most avid of Halloween lovers. Why not put yourself in a spooky mood by listening to WDTN’s podcast titled Gem City’s Most Haunted.
Hosted by Trey Brown, Cameron Cooper, and Avery Lewis, this monthly podcast explores Dayton’s Dark History alongside local authors and paranormal investigators. The series investigates spooky sites, cryptids, and folklore from throughout Dayton. The podcast has included Patterson Homestead, the Dayton Art Institute, and Kettering’s Hills and Dales Tower, among others. You can listen to the full series by checking out Gem City’s Most Haunted WDTN playlist on YouTube. Don’t forget to check out the episode from April 17, 2026 featuring Sara Kaushal!
Have you ever been to Huffman Prairie in Fairborn? After their first flight in Kitty Hawn, NC, the Wright brothers were in search of a flying field nearby. A banker from Dayton, Torrence Huffman, loaned his pasture to the Wright Brothers rent-free and this is where the Wright Brothers really developed their flying skills in 1904-1905.
Later in 1910, the Wright Brothers established the Wright Company and used Huffman Prairie as their testing ground and exhibition space, and ran their flying school there as well.
This book, projected to be released in 2027, will cover unsolved cases from the Dayton area. What unsolved cases from around here interest you?
Here are a few of the mysteries the book will cover:
A bomb send to the groom just before his wedding. No suspect has ever been arrested.
A young woman visiting Dayton suddenly dies and is buried without a name. Who is she, and why did he traveling companion refuse to identify her?
A grandmother disappears from her apartment. There were no signs of foul play and she didn’t take her coat or purse before leaving. What happened to her? Where is she?
A nightclub singer and his wife are murdered in their home. Their young daughter escapes through a window. Who killed the couple?
A young girl disappears from Kettering in 1976. Police dismissed her as a runaway. Whatever happened to her?
Last Saturday, Sara hosted several ghost tours of the downtown area as part of the Dayton Housing Tour! We had a great turnout and met a lot of great people. It was a blast discussing the ghost stories and hauntings in downtown, while exploring the history of the city.
Thanks to all who came out!
Sara’s tour included:
Court House Square (Old Jailhouse)
Dayton Daily News Building (4th and Ludlow)
Dayton’s First Cemetery (5th and Ludlow)
Spaghetti Warehouse
The Old Courthouse
If you have any suggestions for local tours, let us know!
The Downtown Housing Tour is back for 2026! The free event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 30.
Guests can get an inside look at downtown properties, and learn why a downtown address is so in demand!
Also, sign up for various Themed Walking Tours such as Sara’s Ghost Tour!
10 am – Walking Tour and Old Courthouse
11:15 – Old Courthouse only
12 noon – Walking tour and Old Courthouse
Writing under the name J.E. Irvin, Janet Irvin has written seven mystery/thriller novels. Her works have appeared in a variety of print and online journals, including Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Magazine, Flights, and Literary Mama. Her poetry has been published in Hawaii Pacific Review, Creosote, MockTurtleZine, and more.
In November of 1897, a Mrs. Seaman and her daughters, Katie and Mary, were driving across a bridge spanning the hydraulic canal north of Middletown when the horse suddenly became frightened.
Unfortunately, the horse fell into the canal, pulling with it the spring wagon containing the three women. They all plunged into the fifteen feet of water below, screaming and flailing. The commotion brought help to the scene but not in time for Mary and Katie. Mrs. Seaman was revived at the scene after a long period and taken to the hospital. She was not told of her daughters’ deaths until she recovered.
Source:Two Ohio Women Drowned, The New York Times, November 26, 1897
Dayton Unknown 