These days, you often hear cautionary horror stories about Craigslist, where innocent victims will either post or answer an advertisement on the website and end up crossing paths with a psychopath who used the ad to lure them to a meeting and do them harm. However, this type of thing occurred long before Craigslist even existed. There have been numerous frightening tales of unsuspecting victims who were lured to a meeting with an unknown individual and wound up being murdered or vanishing without a trace. In many of these unsolved cases, the identity and motive of the person who arranged the ill‑fated meeting is unknown, and it’s possible that the victim was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Victims Lured Into Mysterious Meetings

10 The Disappearance Of Leonard Dirickson

Leonard Dirickson, a 39‑year‑old divorcee, lived on a dairy farm in Strong City, Oklahoma with his teenage son, Jared. On the crisp morning of March 14, 1998, a stranger in a pickup truck rolled up to the farmhouse. Leonard stepped outside to chat, and after a few minutes he returned and told Jared that the visitor was interested in buying one of his horses—something Leonard had never advertised.

Despite the oddness, Leonard left with the unknown man in the pickup to show the horse. That would be the last time Jared saw his father. A waitress later reported spotting Leonard and the stranger at a nearby coffee shop a couple of hours later. Six months on, police received an anonymous tip that Leonard had been seen at a bar in Amarillo, Texas. When officers arrived, the caller had vanished and Leonard was nowhere to be found.

Leonard was wrestling with serious financial strain from his divorce and a collapsed dairy operation, leading some to wonder if he’d vanished voluntarily. Yet friends and family are convinced he would never abandon his son. To this day, Leonard Dirickson remains missing, and the identity of the man who visited that fateful morning is still a mystery.

9 The Murder Of Dorothy Miller

In 1969, 48‑year‑old Dorothy Miller was the sole female real‑estate agent in Burlington, Iowa. On the night of August 15, she received a call from a man identifying himself as “Robert Clark,” who wanted to view a house for sale. Because Dorothy disliked showing houses alone after dark, she brought her husband, Fred, along.

The couple met Clark, who claimed he was moving his family from Des Moines. The next morning, Clark called again, asking to photograph the property for his wife. Dorothy wasn’t available, so she scheduled a new showing for August 18. Neighbors later saw the pair entering the house together.

When Fred awoke the following morning, Dorothy was missing. Police found her body in an upstairs closet, having been knocked unconscious, tied, sexually assaulted, and stabbed 22 times. Robert Clark vanished without a trace, leading investigators to suspect the name was an alias. The cold, calculated nature of the crime hinted at a possible serial offender, but the perpetrator has never been identified.

8 The Murder Of Penny Bell

In June 1991, 43‑year‑old Penny Bell ran a thriving employment agency in Denham, England, sharing a home with her husband and two children. At about 9:40 AM, builders renovating the house saw Penny leave, telling them she was late for an appointment. Two hours later, her car was discovered parked at the Gurnell Leisure Centre in Greenford, London, with Penny’s body slumped in the driver’s seat, bearing 50 stab and slash wounds.

Penny never recorded any details about the mysterious appointment, and her diary held no entry for it. Just three days earlier, she had withdrawn £8,500 from the joint account—a sum that was never recovered, and no one knows what she intended to spend it on. Inside the back seat lay a stack of design samples, suggesting she was showing something to a client before the attack.

Witnesses reported seeing Penny’s car driving through Greenford with an unidentified male passenger, visibly struggling, and the victim mouthing “help me.” The prevailing theory is that Penny met her killer elsewhere, was forced to drive to the leisure centre, and was murdered there. The identity and motive of the assailant remain unknown.

7 The Disappearance Of Carmen Hallock

On December 18, 1969, 22‑year‑old Carmen Hallock, a waitress and junior‑college student from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, met her former sister‑in‑law, Nancy Bauer, for lunch. Carmen mentioned she had an evening meeting about a lucrative employment opportunity. She claimed a college teacher had reached out, saying he did undercover government work and could offer a well‑paid position.

After that day, Carmen vanished. Nancy grew concerned when she didn’t hear from her over Christmas. A search of Carmen’s apartment revealed an unfed dog, and her car was later found abandoned in a nearby lot, prompting an official missing‑person report.

Gerard John Schaefer Jr., convicted of two murders in 1973, was suspected of having many more victims. Among his possessions were two gold‑filled teeth and a shamrock pin believed to belong to Carmen. Schaefer had briefly worked as an intern teacher in Fort Lauderdale in 1969 and authored a bizarre story about a woman in a black dress and high heels. On the day she disappeared, Carmen bought black high heels for the supposed meeting. Schaefer was murdered in prison in 1995, taking any possible involvement in Carmen’s case to his grave.

6 The Murder Of Lindsay Buziak

On February 2, 2008, 24‑year‑old real‑estate agent Lindsay Buziak received a call from a woman requesting a showing of an expensive home in Saanich, Vancouver. After agreeing to meet at 5:30 PM, Lindsay got another call from a man claiming he would meet her instead, which made her uneasy. She asked her boyfriend, Jason Zailo, to check in while she showed the house.

Jason and a friend arrived at 5:45 PM, reported seeing two figures moving inside. When Lindsay failed to reply to a text, the pair entered the house and discovered Lindsay’s body in an upstairs bedroom, stabbed more than 40 times.

A call was placed from Lindsay’s Blackberry at 5:41 PM, likely an accidental dial during the attack. Witnesses said she entered the house with a man and woman shortly before the call. The cell phone used for the crime was purchased under the name “Paulo Rodriguez.”

In December 2007, Lindsay had visited her father in Calgary and befriended someone who was later arrested in the largest cocaine bust in Alberta’s history. Some speculate the murder was linked to that bust. In February 2016, Lindsay’s father claimed a person involved in the case threatened him, suggesting drug dealers targeted Lindsay to send a message. No charges have ever been filed.

5 The Disappearance Of Revelle Balmain

In 1994, 22‑year‑old Revelle Balmain, a Sydney‑based aspiring model and dancer, landed a six‑month dance tour in Japan. On the night of November 5, she called a friend saying she had just finished an appointment and wanted to meet for drinks, but she never showed up. She had planned to visit her parents the next day, yet she disappeared.

Later, her belongings—including her bag and keys—were scattered around Kingsford, a suburb of Sydney. Police learned Revelle had taken a side job as an escort to earn extra cash. The “appointment” she mentioned was with a client hired through her escort agency, intended to be her final gig before heading to Japan.

The client, Kingsford resident Gavin Owen Samer, claimed he dropped Revelle off at a nearby pub before heading home. However, Samer was later seen with noticeable injuries and scratches, which he attributed to a surfing accident. In 2008, forensic evidence suggested Revelle may have been killed inside Samer’s house the night she vanished, but the evidence wasn’t strong enough for charges. Revelle Balmain remains missing.

4 The Murder Of David Merrifield

In 1995, 42‑year‑old real‑estate attorney David Merrifield was a partner at Smith, Merrifield, and Richards in Dallas. At around 7:30 AM on February 2, two female employees summoned the building’s elevator, only to find David’s body inside, shot in the back of the head execution‑style.

Initially, investigators thought robbery might be the motive because David’s wallet was missing, but it was later recovered a few miles away with cash and credit cards intact. A closer look at David’s desk revealed a scheduled 6:30 AM meeting that morning with someone named “Sam Jones.” The firm had received four phone calls the day before from a man using that name. David eventually spoke with the caller, who claimed he wanted to do something for him.

David typically arrived at the office around 9:00 AM, making the early meeting highly unusual. It’s theorized the killer arranged the 6:30 AM slot so David would be alone in the building. “Sam Jones” was almost certainly an alias, and his true identity and motive remain unknown.

3 The Disappearance Of Mary Shinn

In 1978, 25‑year‑old Mary Shinn ran an art studio in Magnolia, Arkansas, and dabbed in real‑estate on the side. She placed a newspaper ad to sell a home she owned. On July 19, Mary showed the house to an unidentified man who wanted to trade her property for a piece of land he owned outside town.

The next day, the man called again, saying his car was being repaired and asking Mary to meet him at the EZ Mart across from her studio so she could give him a lift to view the house again. Mary agreed, and then vanished.

Later that afternoon, Mary’s unlocked car was found in a grocery store parking lot, containing her keys, purse, sneakers, and a wallet full of money. Traces of seeds and grass inside indicated the vehicle had been driven through a meadow before being abandoned. A witness at the EZ Mart reported a young man asking for a quarter to use the payphone that morning—likely the same caller. The theory is that the meeting was a lure to a different location where Mary was murdered. Her body has never been recovered, and the caller’s identity remains unknown.

2 The Murder Of Joanna Parrish

In 1990, 20‑year‑old Joanna Parrish, a language student at Leeds University, was originally from Newnham on Severn, Gloucestershire, England. She traveled to Auxerre, France, for a work placement teaching English at a local school. To supplement her income, she placed a newspaper ad offering English lessons.

On the evening of May 16, Joanna received a call from an unidentified man who wanted to hire her to teach his son English. She arranged to meet him in the town centre, which turned out to be the last time she was seen alive. The following day, her nude body was discovered in the River Yonne, having been sexually assaulted, beaten, and strangled.

The case went cold for years until investigators linked it to Michel Fourniret, a serial killer convicted of raping and murdering seven young women. Fourniret’s wife, Monique Olivier, was also sentenced for assisting in luring victims. She initially provided details suggesting they were involved in a murder in Auxerre, then later recanted. Complicating matters, DNA evidence from Joanna’s case was lost, making it difficult to formally charge Fourniret. The murder remains officially unsolved.

1 The Disappearances Of Nick And Lisa Masee

In 1994, 55‑year‑old Nick Masee, a recently retired banker, lived in Vancouver with his 39‑year‑old wife, Lisa. On August 10, they declined a night out with friends, claiming they had an appointment with an unidentified man who needed Nick’s help investing $10 million. Nick booked a table for four at his favorite restaurant, but no one showed up, and he never called to cancel.

There were reports of the couple being seen that night at another venue in the nearby Westin Bayshore hotel. The next day, Lisa used Nick’s cell phone to call her boss and Nick’s business partner, saying they would be away for a few days due to a court case—this was the last anyone heard from them.

A week later, their house was found unlocked with the car parked in the driveway. Two plastic zip ties lay near the front door, their passports remained inside, and the money in their bank accounts was untouched. Earlier that year, the Masees had taken an unexplained trip to the Cayman Islands, opening a bank account with $50,000 worth of stock and drafting new wills.

Nick’s long banking career had intersected with many controversial figures, sparking rumors that he might have become entangled in illegal activities that led to their disappearance. None of these rumors have ever been substantiated. Nick and Lisa Masee remain missing, and the mysterious investor who arranged the meeting is still unknown.

Meetings are not usually interesting. Anybody who has worked an office job knows that there are far too many of them. Some of the world’s most successful businesspeople have attempted to make them as short as possible in the belief that they otherwise do more harm than good. People sitting around a desk, arguing over details, and falling asleep: hardly the stuff of legend.

But it is possible for meetings to be radically more interesting than what we are accustomed to. If the definition of a meeting is allowed to include conferences and assemblies, then there is no shortage of meetings in which you certainly wouldn’t fall asleep. So here are ten occasions when people “sat around a table” and changed the course of history.

Related: 10 Facts Everyone Forgets About World War II

10 The Congress of Vienna

The year was 1814. Napoleon Bonaparte had swept across Europe in a manner not seen since the days of Julius Caesar before abdicating his throne and going into exile. The Congress of Vienna was therefore convened to decide the future of the continent after a century of constant warfare and civil unrest had rocked the Old World to its foundations.

Representatives from the Four Great Powers—Austria, Prussia, Britain, and Russia—agreed to reshape and balance European borders in a way that would prevent future conflict. France was cut down in size, while Prussia received significant territorial gains. A new German confederation was created. However, some critics argue that the Congress of Vienna was a reactionary response by traditional monarchs to the threat of liberal and revolutionary ideals.

Either way, the Congress of Vienna created a new continental order known as the Concert of Europe, which ensured relative peace and stability for a century. But that all came crashing down in 1914, and it is arguable that the Congress of Vienna directly paved the way for World War One.^[1]

9 Bretton Woods

In 1944, with World War II still raging, 730 delegates from the Allied Nations gathered in an innocuous New Hampshire town. The name of the town? Bretton Woods. The USA, in particular, had realized that, once the war was concluded, several previously wealthy nations would need significant investment. This presented an opportunity to create something never before attempted in world history: a truly regulated international monetary system.

Officially entitled the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference, this three-week gathering established the International Monetary Fund and a precursor to the World Bank, called the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. From the end of WWII until 1973, the Bretton Woods Conference shaped global economic affairs and, by extension, geopolitics as a whole. It also represented the point at which America truly became the world’s foremost superpower, superseding their one-time rulers, the British.^[2]

8 The First Council of Nicaea

It is hard to imagine what Christianity was like in its earliest years. Rather than a global organization with a clear hierarchy and defined set of beliefs, liturgies, and rules, it was once a hodge-podge collection of wildly differing groups.

That all changed at the First Council of Nicaea. Convened in AD 325 by Constantine I, the Roman emperor who made Christianity the state religion of Rome, its purpose was to set out exactly how Christianity would function as an organized religion. Of particular importance was the relationship between Jesus and God. While some believed that Jesus was a human, others believed he was the divine Son of God, and a third group thought Jesus and God were one and the same.

Constantine desperately wanted to avoid the brewing ecumenical conflict, and his Council managed to agree that Jesus was indivisible from God. This official recognition of the Holy Trinity was termed the Nicene Creed, and it has served as the binding theological foundation for organized Christianity ever since.^[3]

7 The Yalta Conference

One of the most famous photographs of all time features the three most powerful men in the world sitting side-by-side, looking more like old friends than the leaders of World WarII’s victorious nations. Josef Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin D. Roosevelt are the three men. In early 1945, they met in the Crimean resort of Yalta to discuss what would happen in the aftermath of an Allied victory. They agreed that prominent Nazis would be tried as war criminals, among other proposals.

Most conspicuous of these was Stalin’s promise that free elections would be held in Eastern Europe. This didn’t happen, and Communist governments were imposed on Bulgaria, Hungary, and several other states. As such, while the Yalta Conference would be followed by other, more formal assemblies to sort out the state of the world, it is this initial meeting that looms largest over post-war Europe. Indeed, it laid the basic foundations for the Cold War, which is the defining conflict of the late 20th century and our recent history.^[4]

6 Themistocles Convinces the Athenians to Build a Fleet

Themistocles was an Athenian politician and general born in 524 BC. Although we do not know precisely when it happened, we do know that at a particular meeting of the Athenian assembly, Themistocles convinced his countrymen to build a fleet of 200 triremes. He even referred to an obscure prophecy from the Oracle at Delphi that predicted that Athens would be saved by a “wooden wall.”

This prophecy was proven true when the Persian king Xerxes invaded Greece. His huge army was halted temporarily by Spartans at the legendary Battle of Thermopylae, but the real turning point was at sea: the Battle of Salamis. The total destruction of the Persian fleet, mainly because of Athenian ships, stopped the Persian advance in its tracks. Had the Persians defeated the alliance of Greek cities, then the world today would be completely different. Democracy—not just the concept but even the word itself—might (maybe would) not exist in its current form. As such, that meeting of the Athenian assembly should be considered one of the most important in history.^[5]

5 The Treaty of Rome

The European Union is the world’s second-biggest economy after the USA, and its population is the third-largest after India and China. In 2022, it is hard to imagine anything other than close cooperation between European countries. But war was the norm for a millennium. England, France, the German states, Spain, and Austro-Hungary are just a few of the great powers who fought constantly and viciously for centuries. The 18th century alone saw several million casualties in war, and there is no need to go over the horrors of the early 20th century.
https://www.thebalance.com/world-s-largest-economy-3306044

All that has now changed largely because of the European Union. Former enemies are now united not only by international agreements like NATO but also by a shared economy, open borders, and closer political ties than ever. None of this would have happened if not for the Treaty of Rome, signed in 1957 by France, West Germany, Belgium, Italy, Holland, and Luxembourg. The treaty founded the European Economic Community, which would one day become the European Union. Perhaps no meeting in history has brought nations closer together than the Treaty of Rome.^[6]

4 The Great Schism

The Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, by far the two biggest denominations of Christianity, were not always separate organizations. Their split goes back to the 11th century when existing theological and political disputes came to a dramatic conclusion. Although the Great Schism—as this split is called—was a long and gradual process, its defining moment took the form of a rather short meeting in 1054.

After years of constant tension, such as EasternChristianity’s roots in Greek philosophy compared with WesternChristianity’s focus on Roman law, the situation had become untenable. In April 1054, a papal delegation sent from Rome arrived in Constantinople, the home of Eastern Christianity. The planned meeting was cut short, however, when the papal delegates took issue with their hosts’ welcome and promptly stormed out. The subsequent religious division between West and East has since become a crucial element in European history. Indeed, it was only in 1965 that the mutual ex-communications of 1054 were finally revoked—over a thousand years later.^[7]

3 The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk

Less famous than the Treaty of Versailles, which dealt with the aftermath of the First World War, is the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Its effects, however, are still being felt to this day. AfterLenin’s Communist Revolution and the fall of the Tsar, Russia wanted to withdraw from World War One. The Central Powers—Germany, Austria, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria—accepted their withdrawal but foisted severe demands on the new Bolshevik Government. Eleven countries became independent across Europe and Asia, Germany gained territories in Poland and the Baltic, and Ukraine became a republic free from Russian control.

This treaty is of particular relevance because it has been used as a justification for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Not only that, but it is arguable that the 2008 attack on Georgia was also partially justified by the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. Above all, it is beyond doubt that Putin personally views it as a huge mistake made by his ancestors and one which defines his own foreign policy goals.^[8]

2 The Roman Senate Declares Caesar an Enemy of Rome

On the 7th of January in 49 BC, the Roman Senate gathered to discuss the growing power of Julius Caesar. Years of political tension between Rome’s two greatest generals, Caesar and Pompey, had led the republic to the brink of war. After a hurried debate, the Senate ordered Caesar to relinquish his military command. Caesar himself described this as “insulting” and “savage” and—as we know—refused to obey. He was, therefore, declared an “enemy of the state,” and from that point, there was no going back.

This meeting led directly to the civil war between Caesar and Pompey, which itself resulted in Julius Caesar’s victory and assumption of the title of “Dictator for Life.” Although further civil wars followed, the Roman historian Suetonius believed that 49 BC marked the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. While it is impossible to know what would have happened if a civil war hadn’t broken out, it is clear that the Senate’s decision was of historical importance both for contemporary Rome and the rest of the world.^[9]

1 Henry VIII Launches the Royal Navy’s First Mission

It is well known that the British Empire was the largest empire in history. Its rise to power was far from inevitable, however. If not for a meeting in the early 16th century, there may never have been a British Empire at all.

Having inherited just five warships from his father, Henry VIII had built over forty by his death and officially established the “Navy Royal.” In 1512, nineteen-year-old Henry VIII met with his advisors to discuss a war with France. They urged him not to, but Henry VIII pressed ahead. The success of subsequent naval engagements with France vindicated Henry’s desire to invest in the Royal Navy. And the rest—England’s emergence as the world’s greatest seafaring nation and subsequent global power—is history. Not only did the British Empire make English the global lingua franca, but it also channeled philosophical and political concepts around the world and has been a major power ever since. Had Henry’s advisors convinced him otherwise, then all of this may not have happened.^[10]