Missing Kids and Their Bicycles - Cases of Dario Cicolecchia, Janice Pockett, and Others

By: Shane Lambert

Season 2 of Forensic Files included an episode (Episode 12) that offers key insights for those studying missing persons cases. The episode covers the 1993 disappearance of Dario Cicolecchia, a boy in Switzerland, whose case led to a murderer’s capture and revealing statements about his methods. This case provides a nugget of information worth considering for similar mysteries.

Dario Goes Missing: Secluded Area, Unwittingly Leaves Trail for Pedophile to Follow

Dario went missing after leaving home on a bicycle to go fishing. He was later found dead and mutilated in a Swiss cornfield. Forensic medicine revealed he was drowned, with diatoms (one-celled organisms found in water) in his lungs. These diatoms matched a nearby creek, pinpointing the murder location, and were also found in the suspect’s car, linking the victim, car, and crime scene.

The convicted murderer, Roland Kubler, was featured in the *Forensic Files* episode “Micro-clues” (December 18, 1997), which examined his actions.

Note the Bicycle in this Case: It Acts As a Trail to Follow

Kubler claimed he spotted Dario’s bicycle near the road, signaling a young boy nearby. This triggered his actions, leading to Dario’s murder. He didn’t actively seek bicycles but stumbled upon one during other activities. This is notable because other missing children cases, where only bicycles are found, may follow a similar pattern. A visible bicycle could act as a trigger for a predator in a secluded area.

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Is Roland Kubler Now Dead?

A Reddit discussion suggested Roland Kubler is deceased, but this lacks verification due to the informal nature of community forums. The Serial Killer Database Wiki lists him under ‘Dead Serial Killers,’ but without confirmed details from Swiss sources, his status remains unverified.

Janice Pockett Left Her Bicycle Visible Before Disappearing

Janice Pockett, missing from Tolland, Connecticut since July 26, 1973, rode her green banana-seat bicycle to a wooded area to retrieve a butterfly. Her bike was found near a road, but she vanished. This mirrors Dario’s case, suggesting a predator may have noticed her bike, prompting an investigation of the area.

Vicki Lynn Hoskinson Disappearance: A Child’s Bicycle is a Clue Again

In another case, Vicki Lynn Hoskinson (*Forensic Files* Season 3, Episode 11, “Speck of Evidence”) left a bicycle behind, as noted in a recent article. A child’s bicycle may act as an ‘advertisement’ to a predator, suggesting a young person nearby. In non-family abductions, items like bicycles, scooters, or skateboards could be key clues, indicating a serial predator noticed them.

This pattern suggests victims were pursued rather than randomly encountered. For more related mysteries, see: Women With Car Troubles Go Missing | Missing Person Phenomenon -- Bloodhounds Tracking Ends at Roadside

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