The Mysterious Disappearance of Craig Frear: A Scotia, NY Cold Case
Welcome to another episode of Murder Through the Grapevine! As always, we like to pair our true crime discussions with a fitting bottle of wine. For this episode, we’re sipping on Angels Ink from Wendt Vineyards in California. This vineyard, one of the oldest in California, was founded by Carl Wendt’s great-great-grandfather, who learned winemaking from the famous Charles Krug.
This wine celebrates dreamers, seekers, and boundary breakers—an interesting parallel as we explore Craig Frear's mysterious disappearance, a case that has left investigators and the local community searching for answers for two decades.
Tasting Notes
Before we dive into the case, let’s break down this wine’s flavor profile:
• Nose: Dark cherry, vanilla, floral notes, boysenberry pie, and a hint of tobacco.
• Taste: Ripe berries, subtle oak, soft tannins, baked cherry, and even a touch of pecan pie.
At $15 a bottle, it’s an easy-drinking wine that reminds us a lot of Apothic, but from a much smaller, family-run vineyard.
Now, onto the case…
A Normal Teenager with a Secret
Seventeen-year-old Craig Frear was a well-liked high school student, a talented soccer player, and a part-time employee at Price Chopper. However, unbeknownst to his parents, he had recently lost his job due to multiple no-call, no-shows. When his mother discovered this, she demanded that he come home. That was the last time anyone ever saw him.
The Last Known Movements
On the day he disappeared, Craig was at a friend’s apartment in the Cambridge Manor complex. After a phone conversation with his mother, he walked toward his parked car. However, upon spotting his father nearby, he abruptly changed direction and walked into the woods behind the complex, toward the railroad tracks. He never made it home.
The Search and the Theories
His disappearance wasn’t reported for five days due to a jurisdictional dispute between local police departments. When the search finally began, no trace of Craig was found. His Social Security number has never been used, and there has been no sign of him since.
There are several theories about what might have happened:
• Did he leave voluntarily? Some believe Craig wanted to start a new life, but without money, identification, or any known plan, this seems unlikely.
• Did he meet with foul play? A suspicious detail emerged years later when a former classmate was found in possession of Craig’s wallet. The student never explained how they obtained it.
• Did he have a fatal accident? Given the nearby railroad tracks and river, some speculate he may have fallen or been struck by a train.
Lingering Questions
Craig’s disappearance remains one of the Capital Region’s most haunting mysteries. With no new leads, the case has faded from public attention, leaving his family and friends desperate for answers.
If you have any information regarding Craig Frear’s disappearance, please contact the New York State Police at (518) 630-1700 or (518) 783-3212.
And if you’re curious about the wine we featured today, you can find more details and tasting notes on our blog at Capital Brew Marketing under the Murder Through the Grapevine section.
Until next time, stay curious and stay safe. Cheers!
