2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Deadly Disappearance
A Miami University graduate's murder mystery novel resurrects an ancient urban legend on campus
Laura Houser
Issue date: 10/31/06 Section: Features
One chilly April night, a timeless, red-bricked university perched upon a hill, laden with history. There, one young man walked out of his dorm room and into the cobweb enshrouded hall of an urban legend.
For Miami alumnus Walt McKeever, there was no other subject upon which to base his murder mystery novel, Dissolved Into Darkness. The novel is loosely based off the legend of Ron Tammen, the Miami sophomore who mysteriously disappeared 53 years ago.
Allegedly, the Miami University sophomore walked out of his room in Fisher Hall (removed in 1978) April 13, 1953 - and was never heard from again. Several theories exist, including murder, draft dodging, and the more readily believed, amnesia.
McKeever, who graduated in the class of 1954 and is now a retired professor of psychology from the University of Toledo, was a junior at the time of Tammen's infamous disappearance. He was particularly drawn to the case after a psychology professor, E. F. Patten, presented a psychological hypothesis explaining Tammen's disappearance.
"I've always been fascinated by the Ron Tammen story since Dr. Patten told me that he was of the opinion that Tammen suffered a dissociative fugue - an amnesia regarding his identity and life," McKeever said.
After years of work in clinical neuropsychology, McKeever ultimately returned to the Tammen mystery - lured by its legendary appeal. Although Redmond and Jennifer McClain, McKeever's fictional detectives, find themselves at Ravenslake University in Pleasanton, Ohio, the parallels to Oxford are clear.
"Anyone reading the book who's been to Oxford will be able to tell," McKeever said.
Yet the real focus of the novel centers around Ron Henry Tammen Jr., a young man typical of the era. As resident assistant in Fisher Hall, he was also a varsity wrestler, brother of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and an accomplished musician. He had a 3.2 GPA, and with no known financial troubles - there seemed to be no need to run.
For Miami alumnus Walt McKeever, there was no other subject upon which to base his murder mystery novel, Dissolved Into Darkness. The novel is loosely based off the legend of Ron Tammen, the Miami sophomore who mysteriously disappeared 53 years ago.
Allegedly, the Miami University sophomore walked out of his room in Fisher Hall (removed in 1978) April 13, 1953 - and was never heard from again. Several theories exist, including murder, draft dodging, and the more readily believed, amnesia.
McKeever, who graduated in the class of 1954 and is now a retired professor of psychology from the University of Toledo, was a junior at the time of Tammen's infamous disappearance. He was particularly drawn to the case after a psychology professor, E. F. Patten, presented a psychological hypothesis explaining Tammen's disappearance.
"I've always been fascinated by the Ron Tammen story since Dr. Patten told me that he was of the opinion that Tammen suffered a dissociative fugue - an amnesia regarding his identity and life," McKeever said.
After years of work in clinical neuropsychology, McKeever ultimately returned to the Tammen mystery - lured by its legendary appeal. Although Redmond and Jennifer McClain, McKeever's fictional detectives, find themselves at Ravenslake University in Pleasanton, Ohio, the parallels to Oxford are clear.
"Anyone reading the book who's been to Oxford will be able to tell," McKeever said.
Yet the real focus of the novel centers around Ron Henry Tammen Jr., a young man typical of the era. As resident assistant in Fisher Hall, he was also a varsity wrestler, brother of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and an accomplished musician. He had a 3.2 GPA, and with no known financial troubles - there seemed to be no need to run.
