PA PA - Lauren Pico Jackson, 5, Spring City, 4 Oct 1988

[Trackergd]

I drove over to the VA center and discovered that the park that had been planned on the property back in 2014 has yet to be created. www.eastvincent.org/vertical/sites/.../160125_East_Vincent_Park_Final_MSDP.pdf

It is all overgrown with no access and has no trespassing signs posted. I will email the township next week and see if the site is open or not. I did find a map that pinpoints the little graveyard that the inmate I suspect would sleep at night. This may all have to wait until the County Detectives decide what to do. The upside is that the site is undisturbed at this point, so if Lauren is there, no construction work has occurred to disturb her remains.

 

[rosesfromangels]

Thanks for that update Tracker. I'm relieved to hear demolition hasn't started. Of course we could be wrong about Lauren's remains, but I think our speculation/calculation is a very good possibility. Very good.

Again, I would encourage cadaver dogs on that property, and a close inspection in the basements of those buildings. I think they would end up finding more than just Lauren's remains perhaps. Regardless, I pray we get answers and closure for that sweet little girl. It is somewhat ironic that she might have ended up where children with limitations (perhaps similar to hers) were incarcerated. Perhaps her abductor thought that was where she should be. Who knows. That whole place is just a pit of evil. I agree a park should go there.

 

[Multiplemiggs]

Just catching up on this. I think the work you have done is amazing and I wish LE had been more receptive to help on this case. I know quite a bit about the Pennhurst property. The cemetery where the memorial rock is located is actually behind Kathryn Lane and not King Street. However there are unmarked graves all over the property. The buildings where the National Guard building is (the upper campus), all buildings except the one the Guard uses have been demolished in the last few months. Some of this property is state owned and some has been given to East Vincent Township and as mentioned some of this land will become a park. The part of campus where most of the buildings are (Lower Campus) has been privately owned for about 12 years. This is where they have the Halloween Haunt. The Upper Campus is where female residents lived and the Lower Campus is where the male residents lived. If I can be of any help with property questions, I would be happy to help!

 

[Trackergd]

Just catching up on this. I think the work you have done is amazing and I wish LE had been more receptive to help on this case. I know quite a bit about the Pennhurst property. The cemetery where the memorial rock is located is actually behind Kathryn Lane and not King Street. However there are unmarked graves all over the property. The buildings where the National Guard building is (the upper campus), all buildings except the one the Guard uses have been demolished in the last few months. Some of this property is state owned and some has been given to East Vincent Township and as mentioned some of this land will become a park. The part of campus where most of the buildings are (Lower Campus) has been privately owned for about 12 years. This is where they have the Halloween Haunt. The Upper Campus is where female residents lived and the Lower Campus is where the male residents lived. If I can be of any help with property questions, I would be happy to help!

I got no response from the Township on access to the property. Same nothing that I got from EVPD. I am letting the County Detectives handle it since EV Township seems to want to stick their head in the sand.

 

[Trackergd]

Finally got a response from the township. I was couched in a rather hostile tone that the property is posted and anyone setting foot on it will be subject to arrest and No they will not issue me a permit to do forensic metal detecting practice.

What is it about that township? Seems to exude hostility no matter who you talk to.

Waiting another week and will call my contact at the DA's office. Only calling once a month or two so I don't end up being a pain.

Edited to add that while most of the property is not mowed or maintained that I can tell, Google earth and what I can see from the street suggest that someone may be mowing the little graveyard.

 

[4SAM]

Can you find out who is maintaining the cemetery property? Maybe they can get you in touch with someone else that will allow you to go on the site.

 

[Trackergd]

Not a bad idea. I can see where the mower tire marks are coming from. Worth taking a look into.

 

[shadowdancer]

All very odd, but you are amazing Trackergd. Thank you for your continuing work to find Lauren, and for contributing to this thread.

 

[Multiplemiggs]

To the best of my knowledge, the township (East Vincent) cuts the grass at the cemetery. They may subcontract it out but it is maintained as you mentioned.

 

[shadowdancer]

To the best of my knowledge, the township (East Vincent) cuts the grass at the cemetery. They may subcontract it out but it is maintained as you mentioned.

So why are they so keen to keep Trackergd away from it, I wonder???

 

[Multiplemiggs]

The area has recently undergone some changes. Because this was part of the Pennhurst property. Recently much on the "upper campus"of Pennhurst (which was state owned) was demolished. Much of the land that was formally state owned, is now owned by East Vincent Township. They plan on building a park on some of this land(including a walking trail that will run right past the cemetery). He is a link to the plans (below). I am not aware of needing permission to visit the cemetery site.

http://www.eastvincent.org/vertical...loads/160125_East_Vincent_Park_Final_MSDP.pdf

 

[Trackergd]

To the best of my knowledge, the township (East Vincent) cuts the grass at the cemetery. They may subcontract it out but it is maintained as you mentioned.

I think I will try and find out if it is a private person or a contractor. Whomever is driving the mower would be able to tell me if there is a depression anywhere near the graveyard that their wheels keep dipping into and if they had to remove any old clothing or debris from my suspect.

 

[Multiplemiggs]

I think I will try and find out if it is a private person or a contractor. Whomever is driving the mower would be able to tell me if there is a depression anywhere near the graveyard that their wheels keep dipping into and if they had to remove any old clothing or debris from my suspect.

You may have better luck speaking with a homeowner near the cemetery. Seems East Vincent isn't much help to you. The Pennhurst property has a long complicated history and people just want to forget it (including the township it seems). The graveyard lists over 100 burials on find a grave website, yet there are maybe 40 graves with tombstones. There are stories of unmarked graves all over the property. I wish you luck. I have seen a video on youtube of the cemetery if you need a reference point.

 

[Trackergd]

So why are they so keen to keep Trackergd away from it, I wonder???

My guess is that there is a dirty secret involving this entire case and someone is doing their utmost to prevent it coming to light.

 

[Trackergd]

The area has recently undergone some changes. Because this was part of the Pennhurst property. Recently much on the "upper campus"of Pennhurst (which was state owned) was demolished. Much of the land that was formally state owned, is now owned by East Vincent Township. They plan on building a park on some of this land(including a walking trail that will run right past the cemetery). He is a link to the plans (below). I am not aware of needing permission to visit the cemetery site.

http://www.eastvincent.org/vertical...loads/160125_East_Vincent_Park_Final_MSDP.pdf

The cemetery site is not accessible without walking through a homeowners property, the posted PECO right-of-way or the posted township property that is supposed to become a park.

 

[Trackergd]

You may have better luck speaking with a homeowner near the cemetery. Seems East Vincent isn't much help to you. The Pennhurst property has a long complicated history and people just want to forget it (including the township it seems). The graveyard lists over 100 burials on find a grave website, yet there are maybe 40 graves with tombstones. There are stories of unmarked graves all over the property. I wish you luck. I have seen a video on youtube of the cemetery if you need a reference point.

Wonder if they have not started the park construction for fear that they would be unearthing unmarked graves? Sorta makes you wonder what happened to all the patients of the hospital that wandered through Spring City and East Vincent Township after the hospital closed. Had to be somewhat of a chore to manage all the unstable or helpless homeless people walking about.

 

[shadowdancer]

My guess is that there is a dirty secret involving this entire case and someone is doing their utmost to prevent it coming to light.

My best guess is that they suspect Lauren was taken/harmed by one of the mentally ill people they released, and they would rather her case wasn't solved because it would result in Lauren's family being able to sue them for a lot of money.

 

[Trackergd]

My best guess is that they suspect Lauren was taken/harmed by one of the mentally ill people they released, and they would rather her case wasn't solved because it would result in Lauren's family being able to sue them for a lot of money.

I suspect you are correct. I guess they did not count on someone hanging in this long gathering evidence and bringing the County DA into it.

 

[Multiplemiggs]

Wonder if they have not started the park construction for fear that they would be unearthing unmarked graves? Sorta makes you wonder what happened to all the patients of the hospital that wandered through Spring City and East Vincent Township after the hospital closed. Had to be somewhat of a chore to manage all the unstable or helpless homeless people walking about.

I don't think the unmarked graves has anything to do with it. I think they are still finding money (grants, donations etc) and the state is still demolishing and replacing street lights, paving roads etc... This was all to be done by the state before the park would be built. There are many rumored unmarked grave sites, mostly on the lower campus which is privately owned. It's a true shame no one will give these people the dignity they deserve ! The sites of the unmarked graves are known to only a few and those who know aren't talking. There are many secrets involving Pennhurst and the local towns and the state would rather not involve themselves in anything involving the place it seems.

 

[4SAM]

I just googled the Pennhurst Hospital. Maybe this guy can help if he is still alive. His name is Bill Baldini, he worked for NBC10 and did a series called "Suffer the Little Children" in 1968. Says he cried all the way home from the conditions of the hospital. If you can get him to understand that maybe there is a connection between Lauren and the hospital, maybe he can help or use his resources to assist you. Just a thought on a different avenue that you might be able to use.