Gosch/Gannon/Guckert

My story really begins on Sept. 3, 1982; we had attended a Valley High school football game to watch our older son play.

So begins WHY JOHNNY CAN'T COME HOME by Noreen N. Gosch, Johnny Gosch's mother.

I grew up in Iowa and was just 2 weeks shy of my twelvth birthday when Johnny Gosch, the paperboy from West Des Moines, disappeared. I remember it was very traumatic; parents where I lived even (which is 2 1/2 hours north of Des Moines) were very vigilant and wary all of a sudden. Almost two years later, another paperboy from Des Moines, Eugene Martin disappeared. Something hinky was going on and it was touted for years as a conspiracy that consisted of pornography, child prostitution, mind control, espionage, and the like.

I like to think that I keep pretty current with the news. I read the newspaper, watch the 10:00 news, Jay Leno Show, Nancy Grace. So color me surprised when I heard KWWL (channel 7) announce a special report for the following evening that Johnny Gosch may have been found and that he may be Jeff Gannon. I looked at my significant other and asked him, "Who's Jeff Gannon?" He told me what he knew.

Well, I did what any librarian would do. I Googled him. And I found all kinds of websites for Jeff Gannon/Jim Guckert, along with too many coincidences and things that I don't know whether to believe or not.

I do know that, according to the news report, Jeff Gannon/Jim Guckert says 'he's not Johnny Gosch' and he'll give a DNA sample to prove it, for 'big bucks' and wants to 'go on the Dr. Phil show' to have the results culled and determined. If interested, I welcome you to do your own Google search and read all about it. It was a significant moment in my childhood and I hope Johnny Gosch is well and safe, whoever he is.