The Missing
Ludger Belanger
Washington, Maine
🕯️ 50 YEARS WITHOUT ANSWERS: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LUDGER BELANGER
For half a century, one question has remained unanswered in rural Maine:
What happened to Ludger Belanger?
On November 25, 1975, 25-year-old Ludger went hunting in Washington, Maine. He told his young wife, Linda, that he expected to be home within an hour or two. But he never came home.
💔 Ludger and Linda were married young and were raising three daughters: Michelle, Angel, and Traci.
Ludger was described as a quiet, kind man who loved his family, hunting, fishing, and the Maine outdoors. He hunted deer in the fall partly to help put food on the table for his family.
That morning, Ludger was carrying his .30-30 hunting rifle when his brother and Linda dropped him off near Billings Field along Route 105 in Washington.
He planned to hunt for a short time before Linda had to leave for work.
But as the hours passed, Ludger never returned.
🔎 The following morning, Maine game wardens began searching the area.
In the woods, investigators discovered footprints, spent .30-30 cartridges, blood in the snow, and evidence that Ludger had successfully shot a deer.
His deer, however, was gone.
Investigators determined that Ludger appeared to have dragged the animal toward Creamer Lot Road, repeatedly returning to retrieve his rifle as he moved the deer closer to the road.
Then investigators found something even more significant.
🚗 Tire tracks suggested that a vehicle had traveled down Creamer Lot Road.
The tracks appeared to show that two men had stopped along the road before continuing toward the main road.
Then the vehicle’s tracks crossed Ludger’s.
Investigators believed Ludger had reached the road with the deer and accepted a ride from the occupants of the vehicle.
Evidence suggested that the deer was placed in the trunk and Ludger got into the back seat.
But the vehicle apparently did not take him toward home.
Instead, it turned away from the direction he needed to go.
🧩 Nearby, investigators found a receipt from Walker’s Garage in Union for repairs to a 1965 Buick Special.
The receipt was dated November 25, the same day Ludger disappeared.
The document also contained a name: David Svenningsen.
Investigators learned that Svenningsen had been in the area that day with Daniel Collins, a Vietnam veteran who walked with a cane.
Police searched Svenningsen’s home and seized various items, including firearms, ammunition, deer meat, knives, hair, and other evidence.
Investigators also searched property connected to Collins.
But despite the evidence collected, no one was ever arrested in connection with Ludger’s disappearance.
💔 According to investigators and later case reports, Ludger was most likely the victim of a homicide.
His wife, Linda, believes he was killed over the deer he had worked so hard to bring home to his family.
One theory is that Ludger was shot while sitting in the back seat of the vehicle after loading his deer into the trunk.
But without a body, the exact circumstances of what happened remain uncertain.
🔍 WHERE IS LUDGER?
Searches were conducted at quarries, abandoned wells, Crystal Lake, and other locations.
Investigators never found Ludger’s body.
His family has spent decades living with that uncertainty.
Linda has said she still cannot bring herself to drive down the road where investigators believe Ludger may have encountered his killer.
“He was thrown away like a bag of trash,” she said. “We want to lay him to rest our way, with dignity.”
🔥 Eight months after Ludger disappeared, David Svenningsen’s home exploded.
Svenningsen suffered severe burns and later died from his injuries in August 1976.
Authorities had indicated that they believed the fire involved foul play, but the investigation ended following his death.
Whatever Svenningsen may have known about Ludger’s disappearance died with him.
⚖️ In 2001, Ludger was legally declared deceased.
A Maine State Police report stated that investigators believed Ludger was most likely the victim of a homicide.
But his remains have never been recovered.
No one has been arrested.
And his family is still waiting for answers.
Ludger would be 75 years old today.
His three daughters grew up without their father. His family has continued to carry his memory forward, including through the “Justice For Ludger Belanger” effort.
After 50 years, the questions remain:
Where was Ludger taken?
What happened after he got into that car?
Where are his remains?
And does someone still know the truth?
📞 If you have information about the disappearance of Ludger Belanger, contact:
Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit – Central
📱 207-624-7143
☎️ Toll-free: 1-800-452-4664
🕯️ Justice for Ludger Belanger.
Sources:
https://www.wmtw.com/article/maine-cold-case-ludger-belanger-1975-washington/69548531
https://www.murdershetold.com/episodes/ludger-belanger
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