Decades-Long Mystery: Former DA's Disappearance Remains Unsolved

Center County District Attorney Ray Gricar vanished without a trace 21 years ago in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:54am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a car key fob against a pitch-black background, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually representing the unsolved mystery of a former district attorney's disappearance.The abandoned car of a former district attorney whose mysterious disappearance has haunted a Pennsylvania community for over two decades.Lewisburg Today

In early 2005, Lewisburg became the center of an investigation that would continue for decades after Center County District Attorney Ray Gricar was last seen in the town. Despite years of searching and speculation, Gricar's disappearance remains an unsolved mystery, with his red Mini Cooper found abandoned but no other clues about what happened to him.

Why it matters

Gricar's disappearance has become a long-standing source of fascination and conspiracy theories in the local community, with the unsolved case continuing to haunt the region two decades later. The lack of closure has left many wondering what could have happened to the former district attorney.

The details

On the day before Gricar was reported missing, some residents claim to have seen his distinctive red Mini Cooper parked in Lewisburg's famous street of shops next to the Susquehanna River. However, the next day the car was found abandoned, with no sign of Gricar. Despite an extensive investigation over the years, no concrete evidence has emerged about Gricar's fate, leading to rampant speculation and theories, including the possibility that he was targeted for revenge by someone he had prosecuted in his role as district attorney.

  • In early 2005, Gricar was last seen in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
  • Gricar's red Mini Cooper was spotted parked in Lewisburg the day before he was reported missing.
  • It has now been 21 years since Gricar's disappearance.

The players

Ray Gricar

The former Center County District Attorney who disappeared without a trace in 2005.

Robert Buehner Jr.

The former Montour County District Attorney and longtime friend of Gricar, who speculated that Gricar may have been targeted for revenge by someone he had prosecuted.

David Seybold

A Lewisburg resident who claims to have seen Gricar's car parked in the town the day before he was reported missing.

Tom Possinger

A Lewisburg resident who notes that Gricar's disappearance is still frequently mentioned and discussed in the local community.

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What they’re saying

“It's still always mentioned because it's an unsolved case. It's been on TV every so often, every so many years, it pops back on television, people are still wondering what really happened.”

— Tom Possinger, Lewisburg Resident

“Nothing has ever turned up, and he certainly hasn't turned up in my backyard or anybody else's or any of my neighbors', so we don't know what happened to him.”

— David Seybold, Lewisburg Resident

“Some of the most terrible acts that are committed in our society end up being prosecuted by district attorneys. We make enemies. I think someone out there, for revenge, decided they wanted to take him and do away with him.”

— Robert Buehner Jr., Former Montour County District Attorney

The takeaway

The disappearance of Ray Gricar remains one of the region's most enduring mysteries, with the lack of closure leaving the local community to grapple with unanswered questions and conspiracy theories two decades later. The case serves as a sobering reminder of how some crimes can defy resolution, even with the passage of time.