The Tragic Disappearance of Edna Laverne Blodgett: A Life Cut Short by Domestic Violence

On a quiet June morning in 1993, the small town of Post, Texas, would become the backdrop for a tragedy that would haunt the community for years to come. Edna Laverne Blodgett was last seen near her residence on June 2, 1993, marking the beginning of a case that would expose the deadly consequences of domestic violence against vulnerable elderly women.

Born on June 22, 1917, Edna Laverne Blodgett was 75 years old when she disappeared from her home in Post, a small city in Garza County, Texas. Edna had been married to Gilbert Lee Blodgett since July 28, 1935, but Gilbert died in 1970, leaving her widowed for over two decades before her disappearance.

Standing 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 121 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, Edna was a petite woman who had been dealing with significant health challenges in her later years. She was diagnosed with mild Alzheimer's Disease prior to her 1993 disappearance, a condition that may have left her disoriented and particularly vulnerable to those who might wish her harm.

One of Edna's most distinctive physical characteristics was that all of her teeth had been extracted, but she did not wear dentures at the time of her disappearance. She was also known to wear a family ring with six small stones - 2 pink, 1 green, 1 blue, 1 gold and 1 light blue - made of white gold with yellow gold outer edges.

Life in Post, Texas

Blodgett normally tended her garden at home and also walked to several local businesses on a daily basis, establishing herself as a familiar face in the small community. Her routines were well-known to neighbors and local business owners, making her sudden disappearance all the more alarming to those who knew her. Her family members said that it is uncharacteristic of her to leave without warning, emphasizing how out of character her vanishing was for someone who maintained such regular habits.

However, Edna's peaceful retirement years in Post were marred by a dangerous relationship that would ultimately cost her life. She lived with her boyfriend, Jerry T. Smith, before receiving an order of protection against him that year. The relationship had become increasingly volatile, with witnesses saying that Smith physically abused Blodgett on several occasions.

Despite the legal protection order meant to keep Smith away from Edna, he continued to visit her at her house regardless of the orders against him. This blatant disregard for the court order would prove to be a deadly warning sign that went unheeded, demonstrating the limitations of protective orders when dealing with determined abusers.

A Pattern of Violence

Jerry Smith's violent behavior toward Edna was not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing pattern that extended throughout his adult life. Smith had a history of abuse prior to his relationship with Blodgett, suggesting that Edna was not his first victim of domestic violence.

His former wife told authorities that she filed for divorce in the early 1980s after Smith beat her severely, revealing that his capacity for violence against intimate partners had been established years before he met Edna. His violent tendencies weren't limited to romantic relationships either, as he pleaded guilty to assaulting his father in 1985, demonstrating a willingness to harm even family members.

The Disappearance

On that fateful day in June 1993, Edna was wearing white pants, white tennis shoes, and a light colored blouse when she was last seen. A witness told authorities that she was seen walking along a dirt road off of U.S. Highway 84 northwest of Post later during the day. This sighting would be the last confirmed observation of Edna alive.

No one recalled seeing Blodgett after June 2, and her absence from her daily routines quickly became apparent to those in the community who knew her habits. The woman who had been such a regular presence in local businesses and in her beloved garden had simply vanished without a trace.

Criminal Activities Following the Disappearance

In the weeks following Edna's disappearance, Jerry Smith's behavior became increasingly suspicious and criminal. Smith was charged with forgery after he attempted to cash a $100 check from Blodgett's bank account later in June 1993. This attempt to access her finances while she was missing raised immediate red flags for investigators and provided the first concrete evidence of criminal activity connected to her disappearance.

He was convicted in 1995 and sentenced to ten years in prison for the forgery charges, but authorities suspected that his crimes against Edna went far beyond financial fraud.

The Murder Charges and Trial

Authorities charged Smith with Blodgett's homicide later in 1995, despite the fact that the victim's body was never recovered and there was no physical evidence indicating the commission of a criminal offense. The case against Smith would rely heavily on witness testimony and circumstantial evidence.

The most damning evidence came from a witness who provided chilling details about Smith's alleged confession. A witness testified that Smith told him he murdered Blodgett in Texas, then departed for a short trip to Arkansas in early June 1993. The witness provided horrific details about the alleged disposal of Edna's body, claiming that Smith said he buried her body in a 55-gallon drum, then packed soil around the container.

Even more disturbing was the witness's testimony about Smith's attempts to destroy evidence. The individual stated that Smith poured high-octane gasoline over the drum and ignited it, claiming he believed the process would destroy Blodgett's bones and any evidence of her murder. This methodical approach to disposing of evidence suggested premeditation and a calculated effort to avoid prosecution.

Throughout his legal proceedings, Smith continued to maintain his innocence throughout his trial. However, the jury found the evidence against him compelling enough to convict. He was convicted of Blodgett's murder in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison.

The Search for Remains

Despite Smith's conviction, Edna's family and the community remained haunted by the fact that her body was never recovered. Blodgett's body has never been recovered, leaving her loved ones without the closure that comes with being able to lay a victim to rest properly.

Years after her disappearance, there was a moment of hope that her remains might finally be found. Blodgett's former home was damaged during a fire in January 2000, nearly seven years after her disappearance. During the cleanup process, a construction worker discovered a bone fragment among the debris during the cleaning process later that summer.

Some people speculated that the fragment was part of Blodgett's remains, but investigators stated that it was likely an animal bone. This false hope only added to the family's anguish and highlighted the ongoing pain of not knowing the location of Edna's final resting place.

The Vulnerable Victim

Edna's case highlights the particular vulnerability of elderly individuals, especially those dealing with cognitive decline, to domestic violence and exploitation. Blodgett is classified as a disabled missing person, recognizing how her Alzheimer's diagnosis made her particularly susceptible to victimization.

Her condition likely made it difficult for her to recognize the full extent of the danger she was in or to effectively protect herself from Smith's escalating violence. The combination of her age, her medical condition, and her isolated living situation created a perfect storm that allowed a dangerous predator to victimize her with relative impunity.

A Legacy of Tragedy

The murder of Edna Laverne Blodgett serves as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences of domestic violence, particularly when it targets society's most vulnerable members. Her case demonstrates how protective orders, while important legal tools, are only as effective as the enforcement behind them and the willingness of abusers to respect legal boundaries.

Edna's story also illustrates the challenges faced by law enforcement and prosecutors in cases where no body is recovered. Despite these obstacles, the determination of investigators and prosecutors ensured that Jerry Smith was held accountable for his crimes, even without the physical evidence that typically anchors murder prosecutions.

The fact that Smith had a documented history of domestic violence against multiple victims, including his ex-wife and even his own father, underscores the importance of taking domestic violence seriously at every level. Each incident of abuse represents not just harm to the immediate victim, but a warning sign of potential future violence that could escalate to murder.

Today, more than three decades after Edna Laverne Blodgett vanished from her quiet home in Post, Texas, her story continues to resonate as both a tragedy and a warning. Her memory serves as a reminder that domestic violence knows no age limits and that society's most vulnerable members deserve protection, support, and justice when that protection fails.

While Jerry Smith may be behind bars for life, serving his sentence for Edna's murder, the location of her remains continues to be a mystery. Her family and the community of Post, Texas, continue to live with the pain of not knowing where she was laid to rest, a final injustice in a case marked by violence and loss.

Edna Laverne Blodgett deserved to live out her golden years in peace, tending her garden and taking her daily walks through the town she called home. Instead, she became a victim of the very person who should have cared for and protected her. Her story stands as a testament to the need for continued vigilance in protecting vulnerable adults from those who would do them harm, and as a reminder that justice, while sometimes delayed, must never be denied.

Sources

• Edna Laverne Blodgett – The Charley Project
• 987DFTX - Edna Laverne Blodgett - The Doe Network
• Smith v. State :: 1999 :: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Decisions
• Edna Laverne (Burns) Blodgett (1917-1993) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
• TX-Edna Laverne Blodgett, 75, Post, Texas, 06/02/1993 | Websleuths