The Disappearance of Ricky “Jeannie” Bryant — Missing Since 1949.
December 19th, 1949. Mauston, Wisconsin — a small, quiet town just preparing for Christmas. Four-year-old Ricky Jean Bryant — or “Jeannie,” as her family called her — was at home with her grandparents and two siblings when a fire broke out in their house. Her parents were away at the time. In the chaos, Jeannie’s five-year-old brother later said they stood together outside, watching their home burn when a strange woman pulled up in an expensive-looking car. She told him to run and get help — and when he returned, both the woman and little Jeannie were gone. But Jeannie’s grandmother told a different story. She said she brought the other children outside and went back in to look for Jeannie — calling her name over and over, but getting no answer. Authorities believed Jeannie had perished in the blaze. Some bone fragments were found and sent for testing… but none were ever confirmed to be hers. For decades, Jeannie’s fate was a mystery buried in ashes. But her siblings neve...
