Padlocked Tackle Box: The Finger That Announced Norman Hunt's Disappearance

Padlocked Tackle Box: The Finger That Announced Norman Hunt's Disappearance The chill image of a padlocked tackle box left upright on a cypress root held a human finger wrapped in oilcloth and sealed with electrician's tape - and a driver's license for Norman Hunt, a man no one had yet reported missing. Why would someone leave such a deliberate message and at the same time erase the man it identified? In this episode, we trace the first days after Norman Hunt vanished: the last confirmed sighting, the unfamiliar dark sedan in his driveway, the discovery of the finger four miles south of Elmore, and the detective who followed measured leads that produced more questions than answers. How did that single severed finger become the only clue to where Norman went? Person: Norman Hunt Date: January 6-9, 1974 Location: Elmore, Sutter County (tackle box found four miles south of Elmore) Status: Missing (case cold by summer 1974) Detective: Ray Tillis - The tackle box was found upright on a cypress root on the morning of January 9, 1974. - Inside the box were a wristwatch, a leather wallet with $42 cash, and a right-hand ring finger severed at the proximal joint. - Norman Hunt was identified by his driver's license in the wallet and by his mother's recognition of scar tissue on the finger knuckle. - Last confirmed sighting: Norman's truck left 14 Calloway Road at approximately 6:15 PM on January 6, 1974. - Neighbor Vera Simms saw an unfamiliar dark sedan (green or blue) with a dented rear passenger door parked at Norman's house between 5:30 and 6:00 PM and it remained after Norman drove away. To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com. © 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].