PA PA - Debra Makel, 8, Rices Landing, 5 Oct 1973

[chiippertheripper]

Debbie Makel Murder Part 4

Well, I've finally decided to sit down and post the next part of the ongoing blog about the murder of third grader Debbie Makel in October...

swpare.blogspot.com

 

[cb66]

BBM I disagree. They have the killer's DNA. Genetic genealogy is coming for him if he's still alive.

I think that it was probably someone in the community who also had a connection to the school—maybe someone like an older brother or father of one of Debbie's friends or an older relative one of her brothers' friends.

The suspect could have been someone very young—say 15 or 16—and someone like that might not have been on LE's radar screen back them. Nowadays we know that rapists and serial killers sometimes start very young.

I'm not to familiar with the geography of that area. How far was it from where Debra's body was found to other houses? There's a very good chance the the killer lived very close and in that general direction.

I agree with much of what you say , based on all of the information I have read I do believe it was someone that was familiar with her routine and maybe even someone she knew. As far as the geography of the area it was in a wooded area and from being familiar with that area I would say the nearest house probably 120-170 yards if I had to guess. Although I did not live in that community I did live in a town about 12 miles up the river I was 7 years old at the time , I do remember hearing my parents and grandparents speaking of some of the rumors were going around, this case left a lot of fear in communities at the time.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Bumping for Debbie - this month marks 50 years.

 

[ChuckMaureen]

It could be that if she were killed in another location, that the shoes, underwear and purse were left there. I wonder if the neighbors were checked. I really can;t imagine that her family stayed there, in the same house, not knowing who was responsible. This poor family.

There's an odd reference to DM's shoes as "lost in nearby under-brush." I find that quite specific for speculation. "Nearby" under-brush. Was it information supposed to be withheld? I would expect "her shoes, misisng."

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Oct 26, 1973

 

[Richard]

This unsolved murder will be 52 years old next month.

 

[cb66]

There's an odd reference to DM's shoes as "lost in nearby under-brush." I find that quite specific for speculation. "Nearby" under-brush. Was it information supposed to be withheld? I would expect "her shoes, misisng."

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Oct 26, 1973

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I wouldnt read into that to much, its just the words of the newspaper reporter referring to underbrush near the site her body was discovered would be my guess

 

[ChuckMaureen]

I wouldnt read into that to much, its just the words of the newspaper reporter referring to underbrush near the site her body was discovered would be my guess

We must 'read in to it' because we need to know if a reporter's words colors or alters facts. We need factual reporting.

 

[cb66]

In my opinion the reporters did not alter anything. Reporting back in the early 1970s was far more thorough than any of the reporting that is done today, go to any newspaper archive site and read the papers. That was a time when we didnt have the lawsuits as in todays world or someone being offended if the reporting on a case was graphic. or to detailed I was a grade school aged kid back then and I often go to the newspaper sites to see what I remember and what I dont that was in the news back then . And all I can say is it was real news reporting and journalism back then , not what you will find ibeing done by todays so called journalist or reporters. Another thing you must keep in mind is that most of the original investagators , news media ,first responders have passed away , most of those alive today were fairly young back then. As each year goes by chances of this being solved decrease a little more.