Moment in Time (February 24, 2021)

Lola Celli was reported missing from near her family home in Grandview in February 1946. Still a cold case, it was called "the red shoe mystery." The case has been featured on network television cold case shows. 

February 23, 2011 will mark the 75th anniversary of the disappearance of 24-year-old Lola Celli. She was a 5'4" teacher from Logan County who spoke 5 languages, and was visiting her parents in Grandview. She was going shopping in downtown Columbus for nylons and some fabric for her mother that fateful morning. She was last seen leaving her parents' home on 3rd Avenue, walking the several blocks towards the bus stop at Cambridge and 3rd Avenues. She never boarded the bus. 

A massive search in eight states turned up no clues. Locally over 150 high school boys from Grandview and Upper Arlington were recruited to search along the Scioto River and in the quarries. This newspaper photo is of Grandview High School boys walking down Grandview Avenue to search for Lola (inset). 

The day she disappeared one witness riding a motorcycle reported seeing someone who looked like her in a car on Olentangy River Road arguing with a man. During the spat a red shoe was either thrown or dropped from the window. Lola was wearing red suede shoes that day. No shoe was ever found on that stretch of road and the case remains open with Lola officially listed as missing. Grandview Police Chief Robert Livingston issued this short report:
"At the suggestion of Chief of Police, Village of Marble Cliff, Ohio, GV reporting officer organized a search of area from Grandview Avenue north to Trabue Pike, along the Scioto River, and bordered on the north and east by the Pennsylvania Railroad. This search was conducted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Franklin County Sheriff's Office, Upper Arlington Police Department, Grandview Heights Police Department, and approximately 150 Upper Arlington and Grandview High School students.This search was conducted with negative results. This search was conducted and concluded on March 1, 1946."

In the months and years following her disappearance numerous reports on this mystery were filed. In most cases they were about alleged sightings and evidences that first inflamed and then put off the hopes of family members and acquaintances that still held out hope that she would be found safe.