A new lead may finally unlock the decades-old mystery of Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance, thanks to a mysterious clue left by a crooked cop and a breakthrough using ground-penetrating radar. Hoffa, the notorious Teamsters leader, vanished without a trace in 1975, leaving behind only theories and cold leads. Now, a group called The Case Breakers believes they may be on the verge of solving the case, pointing to an unexpected burial site: beneath third base of a demolished baseball stadium in Milwaukee.
The lead comes from cryptic instructions scribbled on a playing card, which were handed to a woman 27 years ago by her relative, former police officer Harold Walthers, before his death. The message reportedly refers to Hoffa’s resting place, and since receiving the card, The Case Breakers—a team of retired detectives and forensic experts—have zeroed in on this lead, carrying out multiple tests at the site.
Ground-penetrating radar tests at the old Milwaukee County Stadium, where third base once stood, revealed a disturbance beneath the earth. According to retired detective and Case Breakers member Jim Zimmerman, this is a key finding. “And lo and behold, right where third base would be, coincidentally enough, there was a disturbance in the ground in that location,” he shared.
Hoffa’s mysterious disappearance has baffled investigators for nearly five decades. On July 30, 1975, he made a final call to his wife, promising to be home soon after a meeting at a Detroit restaurant. But Hoffa never returned, and his car was found abandoned outside the venue. Many believe he was killed by the mob due to his attempts to regain influence within the union.
Since then, numerous theories have surfaced about where Hoffa might be buried, from Michigan to New Jersey. The Case Breakers believe they’ve found the most credible lead yet, thanks to the cryptic playing card and modern technology. The Milwaukee County Stadium was demolished in 2000, but radar scans of the area have provided new hope. The investigation, however, has hit a roadblock, as The Case Breakers need permission from the FBI to continue excavations at the site.
Another piece of compelling evidence comes from K-9 expert Carren Corcoran, whose cadaver dog, Moxy, gave multiple signals indicating the presence of human remains near the disturbed ground. The site is now a parking lot next to the current Milwaukee Brewers stadium, American Family Field.
For Zimmerman, there’s still some uncertainty about whether Hoffa’s remains are still there, but he believes they once were. He explained that the ground radar could only penetrate five feet, as a layer of concrete blocked further scans, suggesting the area had been hastily dug up and refilled at some point. “My 35% of doubt comes from the fact that if they moved the body from under the plate, then we’re likely out of witnesses who could tell us where he was taken next.”
Zimmerman first became aware of the playing card’s existence from his ex-girlfriend’s relative. The card, which reportedly references Hoffa’s name, a Chicago mobster, and the location of Milwaukee’s third base, was handed to the woman by Walthers, a cop believed to have mob ties, before his death in 1997. Walthers had a long history of shady activities, and it’s thought that he may have known where Hoffa was buried.
Despite the promising lead, Zimmerman and The Case Breakers are at the mercy of the FBI, which has yet to greenlight any further digs. Without official approval, the team cannot proceed with their excavation plans. Still, Zimmerman is cautiously optimistic, saying that further searches may finally bring long-awaited closure to Hoffa’s case.
The Case Breakers continue to press forward, hopeful that this lead will result in the resolution of one of the most famous cold cases in American history. However, Zimmerman and his team acknowledge that the journey is far from over. Whether Hoffa’s remains are still beneath the third base or not, the pursuit for the truth remains as pressing as ever. As Zimmerman warned, “I would be nervous if I was involved, put it that way. I would be getting very nervous.”
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