PA PA - Mary Ann Verdecchia, 10, Bloomfield, 7 June 1962

[pittsburghgirl]

Just think about Mary Ann today.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

It would be nice to know what Therese Rocco (retired Pittsburgh Police Missing Persons) thinks.

 

[CCJD]

It would be nice to know what Therese Rocco (retired Pittsburgh Police Missing Persons) thinks.

Rocco, who retired in 1994 as Pittsburgh’s first female assistant police chief, believes she knows who was responsible but can’t say, because she can’t prove it.

“Let’s just say there’s a strong belief … a feeling that we know where it ended,” said Rocco, of Brookline. “If this had happened during a period of time when there was all the technology we have today, we would have had a better chance of solving it.”
Answers still sought for 'lonely child' who disappeared from Pittsburgh in 1962

Her book is available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Therese-Rocco-Pittsburghs-Female-Assistant-ebook/dp/B06XGTNFRQ

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Here I am in Pittsburgh and I didn't know about the book. Or I forgot. Thanks.

 

[CCJD]

Here I am in Pittsburgh and I didn't know about the book. Or I forgot. Thanks.

I'm way too cheap to spend that much for a paperback. I was hoping Half-Price Books would have a copy for less but it comes up out of stock when I searched their site.

 

[CCJD]

So Mary Ann liked elevators - and Jean Emery lived on the 5th floor of the Martinique, which had/has an elevator. Since Mary Ann had a penchant for visiting Jean, it's not a big leap to think that the elevator Mary Ann got stuck in was there. Might not mean anything but it does make one wonder if the elevator may have come into play when she disappeared.
9 Jun 1962, Page 7 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette at Newspapers.com

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Given the disappearance of an adult woman, Marcella Krulce, from that building several years before, it seems likely to me that whatever happened is linked to that building.

 

[CCJD]

Given the disappearance of an adult woman, Marcella Krulce, from that building several years before, it seems likely to me that whatever happened is linked to that building.

And the murder of Mary Regan in '58.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Three in 5 years? Hard to see that as a coincidence.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Attempting to attach a PDF copy of the Post-Gazette story covering the Mary Regan murder. Quite interesting. Hope it posts...

 

[CCJD]

The Martinique Incinerator. This was taken at the time Mary Regan was murdered but it comes to mind how easy it would be to toss little Mary Ann in there.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

What the hell went on in the Martinique Apartments? Who lived there?

 

[Richard]

Mary Ann Verdecchia
Missing since June 7, 1962 from Bloomfield, Pennsylvania
Classification: Endangered Missing
Vital Statistics

• • Date Of Birth: August 15, 1951
  • Age at Time of Disappearance: 10 years old
  • Height and Weight: 4'10; 60lbs
  • Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Brown eyes. Black hair with brownish tini, worn in pony tail. Thin legs and fingers, breasts beginning to develop.
  • Scars/Marks: Scar on center of forehead.
• Clothing: A white blouse and red shorts. White tennis shoes

Circumstances of Disappearance
Verdecchia was last seen in Bloomfield, Pennsylvania on June 7, 1962. Mary Ann, who lived with her Aunt, had returned home after a half day of classes at Immaculate Conception School, changed from her uniform and went outside about 12:30. She had lived with an aunt for five years, ever since her parents separated.

She was seen going into the Martinique Apartments on Baum Boulevard. She ran errands for a lady there, and the woman sent her to the store. She was seen going back into the apartment about 14.45. That was the last reported sighting of her. About 18.00 her relatives began looking for her, and they called police at 22.30.
Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Pittsburgh Police Bureau
412-323-7800
Tip Form

Agency Case Number: 62-744
NCMEC Number: NCMC1181441
Doe Network file no. 1627DFPA

Source Information:
Doe Network
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
NamUs MP#7036

LINK:

The Doe Network: Case File 1627DFPA

 

[Delle]

If only someone would share information. Someone -other than the perpetrator either saw, heard something suspicious.

 

[Suglo]

Bump!

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Still hoping that Mary Ann's case will have a resolution.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

I've never seen Mary Ann's case buried so deep. She's just a few weeks older than I am, and I'm turned 69 in a few days. Still have hope that we will know what happened to her someday.

 

[pittsburghgirl]

It's disheartening to think there are so many unsolved disappearances from the 60s. What happened to little Mary Ann? What happened to Marcella Krulce? She lived in the Martinique Apartments, where Mary Ann visited on the last day she was see alive. Marcella disappeared also.

 

[alb1on]

Very early in this thread there are comments about the minister (pastor) who was accused of molesting a boy, who also claimed he saw this person killing a young girl. This is also covered in the 2018 reports on the Rocco interview, relating her experience of the case as the investigating officer. It identifies the pastor as attached to the Baldwin United Presbyterian Church.

The minister concerned is identified in various MSM sources, but perhaps the most interesting is the clipping at Clipping from Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Newspapers.com which reports on the church investigation of his conduct, as well as the police interest. Whilst it is entirely possible that he has nothing to do with this case, it would be interesting to know what became of that church investigation. It seems that the police were unable to take the allegations further, but the church would have had access to his full history as a pastor and testimony from previous parishes. That could have either made him more interesting or absolved him. As he was only 58 in 1990, when the allegations were made (and 30 when Mary Ann disappeared) you would expect there to have been other concerns about him if these allegations have any credibility.

Can anyone find anything on the church inquiry?

 

[pittsburghgirl]

Regarding Theresa Rocco's book--It's free on Kindle Unlimited and $9.99 on the Kindle or Kindle app.