Casefile True Crime Case 333: Dianne Babcock
17 snips
Oct 11, 2025 In a gripping tale, the mysterious disappearance of a Cessna during a flight sparks an extensive search effort. A puzzling phone call from a friend hints at a deeper story, leading investigators to question the pilot's claims. Eyewitness accounts and sonar discoveries reveal haunting evidence of a tragic water landing. As authorities piece together the truth, they uncover a web of deceit, with the pilot eventually resurfacing under an alias years later. The case leaves lingering doubts about guilt, intent, and the fine line between accident and foul play.
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The Flight That Vanished
- Jerry Ambrosik and Diane Babcock flew from Penticton on August 22, 1982 and went missing on the return leg of their trip.
- Their Cessna disappeared from radar after ten minutes and no contact was made, triggering a large search effort.
The Shocking Collect Calls
- Tom Pulaski received a collect call from someone using the name Luis Gomez who turned out to be Jerry calling from an unknown location.
- Jerry described a drowned Diane and initially claimed to be in New York before later saying he was in Whitefish, Montana and named Little Bitterroot Lake.
Local Signs Point To Lake Landing
- Locals around Little Bitterroot Lake reported sightings of a wet young man matching Jerry and found camp remnants linked to a Cessna C-150.
- Evidence included a razor cover, a gust lock and a torn garbage bag, suggesting someone had camped ashore after a water incident.
