Who Killed Linda Mae Peugeot

On September 22nd, 1969 shoppers at the King’s Department Store in Maryland witnessed a man trying to talk to 21-year-old Linda Mae Peugeot and her daughter, 3-year-old Lori. People brushed it off, assuming the man was her husband or boyfriend. Little did they know, they had just witnessed an abduction.

That day, Linda and Lori visited the department store to do some shopping. Lori’s husband was away serving in the U.S. Navy, so Linda decided to stay with relatives in Bel Air, Maryland. As the day drew to a close, Linda’s family began to grow concerned that the two had never returned home.

Soon, the Maryland State Police had launched a state wide search for the young mother and her daughter. The agonising search would screech to a halt in early October 1969 when a disturbing confession came to light. Stanley Barton Hoss told the FBI about that fateful September day in chilling detail.

According to Hoss, he came across Linda at the department store and accosted her at her car. He forced his way in, threatening Linda with a fire arm. He ordered Linda to drive him to Canada, and thus, her ordeal began.

He first took Linda and Lori to Franklin, PA, where they stayed in a motel. The staff did not raise the alarm, as they were not aware that Linda had been reported missing. Later, other reports of Linda and Lori would surface from different states, but these sightings contradict Hoss’ own story.

Sometime between September 22nd and 24th, Linda refused to drive Hoss any further. Stating she was worried about Lori’s welfare. In a fit of rage, Hoss claimed to have shot Linda and put her in the boot of her own car.

Linda’s body was reportedly left at a dump just outside of Akron, Ohio, but subsequent searches for her body turned up empty. After dumping Linda’s body, Hoss claimed to drive himself and Lori through several states before arriving in Kansas.

In Kansas, Hoss alleged he smothered Lori with a blanket before callously leaving her body in a creek. Hoss continued to drive around in Linda’s 1969 Pontiac GTO before his arrest in Iowa. His arrest is what triggered his shocking confession and searches for Linda’s and Lori’s bodies.

Despite their best efforts, investigators have never been able to find Lori or Linda. Hoss was well known to the police, having killed a police officer and awaiting sentencing for sexually violent crimes against a 17-year-old girl. Hoss had also kidnapped 2 others, but they were freed without incident.

Unfortunately, justice was not served for Linda and Lori, as it was determined his constitutional rights had been violated, given he had not been granted a ‘speedy trial’. He would be sentenced to life in prison for killing the officer, but that is as far as the law was able to get him.

His violent behaviour continued behind bars, torturing and eventually murdering a prison officer. His tirade would only end in 1978 when he took his own life in his cell. He took his dark secrets to the grave, ensuring that Lori and Linda’s families would never get full closure.

There have been concerted efforts over the years to find their bodies, but so far, police have come

up empty-handed. Whilst this case occurred 56 years ago, it is never too late for justice. It may well be that Linda and Lori are among the long list of Jane Does, waiting to be identified.

Linda Peugeot is described as a white female with blonde hair, blue eyes, 5’0” and 96 lbs. Lori Peugeot is described as a white female with blonde hair and blue eyes, 2’6” and 21 lbs. If you have any information, you are asked to contact the Maryland State Police at 301-729-2101.