The Jodi Huisentruit case....

It is a different crime. Jodi was a news anchor in a small town. Abducted and then probably murdered and her body disposed of in a manner that it has never been found.

She was abducted in 1995. Pronounced legally dead in 2001. Case never solved.

The reason I bring up her case is that she was sort of best friends with an older man named John Vanice who was more affluent and flamboyant acting. They attended parties and functions together, went out to eat together and according to her journal entries she naively thought of him just as a good friend like a father figure and older brother.

Vanice has never been charged with anything and many are convinced he did this crime.

My obvious reason for bringing this up is that there are some similarities to the relationship in Laura. Fans of true crime have seen this play out many times. The age difference is not necessary. A man infatuated with a beautiful woman who only sees you as a friend. Over time the frustration and anger boil over.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jodi_Huisentruit