This week in Michigan history: Ex-Teamsters leader Hoffa disappears

[Omaha Steve]

Photo at link: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080727/NEWS06/807270585/1008

July 27, 2008

Jimmy Hoffa, in a photo taken July 24, 1975, six days before he disappeared.

On July 30, 1975, former Teamsters president Jimmy Hoffa disappeared from the parking lot of Machus Red Fox restaurant in Bloomfield Township. His mysterious disappearance led to one of the biggest FBI searches in history, but no trace of him has ever been found.

Hoffa was convicted of attempted bribery in 1964 and was not allowed to participate in union activity for 10 years after his release from prison. He had been planning to sue to get his restrictions lifted when he disappeared. Many people believe he was killed by organized crime to prevent him from rejoining the Teamsters union because it had established close relations with the new Teamsters president and did not want Hoffa to return.

Hoffa was scheduled to meet with organized crime leaders at the time of his disappearance.

No one has ever been officially charged in the case. On Dec. 9, 1982, a Michigan court pronounced Hoffa legally dead.

By Sanjana Malviya