The disappearance of Marjorie West

Marjorie West was a beautiful four-year-old girl, who came from a loving family. Marjorie West was born on June 2, 1933, in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Her parents were Shirley, and Cecilia West. She had two older siblings, Dorothea, and Allan. Marjorie’s father, Shirley West, had worked as assistant engineer, at Kendall Refining. The business was just a few blocks from their home in Bradford. He had been a war vet from WWI.

On May 8, 1938, Marjorie and her family had attended church in Bradford, Pennsylvania. Afterwards, they decided to take a drive out to Marshburg, Pennsylvania, so they could celebrate Mother’s Day. It was thirteen miles away, along Highway 219. The spot that the West family had chosen, was a clearing beside the Allegheny Forest, which was popular with hunters and fishermen. The family joined up with their friends, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Akerlind.

The West family had a great time together that day. Shirley decided to go trout fishing with Lloyd. Cecelia started to walk off to the car, so she could take a short rest. The two girls, eleven-year-old Dorothea, and four-year-old Marjorie, wanted to pick wildflowers near the picnic area. Their father warned them that there were rattlesnakes nearby. Then, he headed out to the stream.

The girls eagerly started to pick wildflowers. When they had gathered up a nice bouquet of violets for their mother, Dorothea left her sister alone for a moment, while she ran over to talk to her mother. When she was done, Dorothea realized to her horror, that her…