THE puzzling unsolved murder of a teen who vanished without a trace in 2006 before being found dead three years later has been investigated in connection with the Delphi murders, The U.S. Sun can reveal.
Jorden Sopher had only recently celebrated her 18th birthday when she disappeared after visiting her adoptive parents' home in Wabash, Indiana, on the morning of May 23, 2006.
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The teen spoke very briefly with her dad, Robert Sopher, hugging him and telling him she loved him before walking down an alley behind the family's home.
That was the last time she'd ever be seen alive, with police -who have said they don't think the case has any connection to Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen, and he has not been named a suspect - investigating.
Later that night she went missing, Jorden's mom Linda received a phone call from the manager of the local Hardee's restaurant where her daughter worked, informing her the teen had failed to show up for her scheduled night shift.
Linda called the police the following day, telling the operator it wasn't like Jorden to not show up for work.
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A search for her was launched, but as the days turned into weeks and weeks into months without any sign of Jorden, her family - along with investigators - grew increasingly resigned to the fact that something terrible must've happened to her.
An agonizing three years would pass before Jorden's tragic fate would be revealed.
The breakthrough came after a mushroom hunter scouring a rural wooded area near Peru, Indiana, happened across a set of skeletal remains in May 2009.
The remains were identified as Jorden, though the discovery would raise more questions than answers.
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The Wabash City Police Department (WCPD) began investigating Jorden's death as a homicide, however, her cause of death has never been determined and few leads have been yielded in the almost 14 years since.
Her case had all but faded from public view until the arrest of Allen in October last year for the murders of Libby German, 14, and Abigail Williams, 13, who were found dead on Valentine's Day 2017 in Delphi, Indiana.
After the apparent breakthrough in the case - which is known as the Delphi murders - investigators with WCPD were urged by members of the public to investigate Allen as a potential suspect in Jorden's case.
Allen, an employee of a CVS chain in Delphi, lived in Mexico, Indiana, at the time of Jorden's disappearance.
His home at the time was roughly 16 miles away from where Jorden was last seen and around 14 miles from Peru.
Allen later moved from Mexico to Delphi in late 2006, a few months after Jorden disappeared, property records show.
A spokesperson for WCPD told The U.S. Sun they have looked into any potential links between Allen and the death of Jorden but they do not currently suspect the 50-year-old had any involvement.
"It was something that was brought to our attention, and it's something we looked into, but we don't think there's a connection at this time," said the spokesperson.
"Nothing much has changed in the case but the investigation remains open."
'A SWEET GIRL'
The department declined to provide case files for Jorden's disappearance citing an active and ongoing investigation.
Jorden - born Aryne Willis - was adopted by Linda and Robert Sopher in 2004.
She'd arrived on their doorstep two years earlier after being removed from an abusive home in Peru.
In an interview in 2007 with the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Linda recalled how Jorden was uncertain, untrusting, and fearful of her when they first met.
The then 14-year-old would regularly wake in the middle of the night screaming from terrifying nightmares.
But over time, Linda and Robert were able to gain her trust and she eventually settled into her new life.
It was something that was brought to our attention and it's something we looked into but we don't think there's a connection at this time
WCPD Spokesperson
Her adoption was officially finalized in August 2004 and she began attending a local private Christian school.
A classmate of Jorden's, Emily Overlander, remembered her as a "sweet girl."
"I didn’t know her well at all, unfortunately [but] from what I remember, she was a sweet girl, and she was always nice to me and vice versa," recounted Overlander to The U.S. Sun.
"I was shocked to hear she went missing, but I think she had already dropped out of school sometime before that.
"I remember rumors of her running away and possibly a rumor she ... was hanging out with people who were into drugs, which shocked me.
"I always liked her though."
FINAL MONTHS
Jorden dropped out of school in her junior year but was planning on returning to classes in the fall of 2006 before she vanished.
Email records show she had contacted Wabash High School to ask about graduation requirements.
She also told her mother she was interested in beauty college, and an entry she wrote in her journal indicated she was also considering a career in the U.S. Coast Guard.
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A month before she disappeared, Jorden moved out from the Sophers' home after an argument with Linda.
Linda had confronted her daughter over an entry in her journal about a relationship she didn't approve of and the pair got into a spat.
Jorden, who had just turned 18, told Linda she was now an adult and could do as she wished.
She then moved out, living for a time with some family friends before she moved in with her friend and co-worker, Erin Harlin.
The Sophers - who couldn't be reached for this story and have never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with her death - previously told local media they believed their daughter would enjoy one wild summer of living independently before returning home.
But no such reunion would be forthcoming.
A TRAGIC END
Jorden's roommate last saw her in the early hours of the morning on May 23, 2006, when Harlan woke her for work.
According to police, Harlan said Jorden told her she didn't have to work until later that day, so Harlan then left for work.
When Harlan returned at 10.15am, Jorden was gone.
Sometime that morning she arrived at her parents' home in a truck driven by Cory Bridenthal, who dropped her off and left.
Robert Sopher told police he spoke with Jorden only briefly.
She had been wanting to go on a motorcycle ride with him but her father said he was unable to because he needed to take one of their foster children to a doctor's appointment.
After the conversation, she hugged him, told him she loved him, and left - disappearing therein.
Bridenthal, who was never accused of wrongdoing in connection with her death and died in 2013, was later questioned and told police that after he dropped her off, he noticed that Sopher's cell phone was laying on the seat of his car so he returned it, either handing it to Harlan at work or dropping it off at Jorden's apartment.
Jorden's purse was also left behind at her apartment, and her bank account remained untouched.
A collection of her belongings remain in an evidence storage lockup at WCPD's headquarters.
The investigation into Jorden's death remains active and ongoing.
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Anyone with information is encouraged to call 1-877-226-1026 to submit an anonymous tip.
