Sorry that I am so late to this discussion. I lived in the same neighborhood as MaryAnn. We all played together back then as there were many children living in our neighborhood area then. Mary Ann and I were the same age and grade level. However, we attended two different Catholic grade schools.
Many individuals worked hard attempting to find Mary Ann. Police, fire, relatives and neighbors searched and spent many hours looking for her. My father and his brother were both on the Force, not assigned to the case, but dedicated their skills and time in the hopes of finding Mary Ann.
There was one person who stood out: Assistant Police Chief Therese Rocco. She specialized in missing children cases and established many protocols still used today. Assistant Chief Rocco has authored a memoir of her career. Mary Ann Verdecchia is a central theme throughout it. She is 92 years old now; but, she has NEVER given up on solving this case. If you would like knowing about this case from her perspective, find her book: Therese Rocco, A Memoir. It is available on Amazon.
There are a few things I'd like to adjust and will add other points later.
Lets start with these:
1. The Martinique Apartments were renamed to The Belvedere Apartments back then. The only way the building changed is that awood sign was placed over the first name which was etched into the buildingabove the door. The main entrance is rather small and unassuming.
2. The building was not torn down. There is an empty lot next door which might make someone think there may be an error in the address number. This lot is where a Cities Service gas station was located. It was torndown as was a small apartment building across the street.
3. There was a business in the space where a pizza shop is currently located and not a restaurant. Back then, I really don't recall a restaurant in that building; but, for all I know there may have been one. This could be checked by looking at an old photo of the building or looking at the phone book from that time.
4. There is a public bar located in The Belvedere building today called P Town. Back in 1962, it was a "go go" bar. Strippers appeared there and there was a marque announcing the performers appearing. It was not a loud or trouble making location back then, but those families in the area were not happy having it there. Also, at that time, immediately beside it there was a braille library.
5.Several neighborhood kids stated back then that they had seen Mary Ann on the Millvale Avenue Bridge, a nearby bridge on the street connecting Morewood Avenue (where Mary Ann and I lived) and Baum Blvd, where The Belvedere is located. Mary Ann was seen walking in the direction of her school she attended, Immaculate Conception There were so many kids who were living and normally walking in that area that they could have easily seen someone else.
6. More than likely, by my thoughts, she disappeared from that building and was disposed of at a different location. It is so easy for a child like her to be overpowered, abused, killed, and taken elsewhere. The build has a number of doors, unlabeled, on the first floor. Plus, the driveway to the back of the property travels under the building on the street level. On two sides, the building has a first floor. In the middle, it starts on the second floor.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
** DDXRRR **** XXBB
D = Door, X=Regular Space, R = Restaurant (now pizza shop)
** = Drive way, BB= Bar (Strippers then, Regular Bar now)
7. I have checked the location of the building for an incinerator. There appears to be a smoke stack, but. I could be wrong though. If there was an incinerator, she could have been burned and disposed of in another location as ashes. There are several bone sections which can still exists even after a cremation, so if a body is incinerated, there would be something beyond ashes. Anyway, this is one way which would explain her going away so quickly and thoroughly in such a short amount of time. More later.