EDNA CHRISTINE THORNE Missing: Jun 24, 1975: PHILADELPHIA, PA

[Richard]

EDNA CHRISTINE THORNE
DOB: Feb 25, 1960
Missing: Jun 24, 1975
Age at time: 15
Age Now: 44
Sex: Female
Race: White
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
Weight: 105 lbs (48 kg)
Missing From: PHILADELPHIA, PA, United States
Non-Family Abduction

Edna was last seen at a relative's residence on June 24, 1975.

Philadelphia Police Department (Pennsylvania) - 1-215-685-1180

Link
http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PubCaseSearchServlet?act=viewPoster&caseNum=604667&orgPrefix=NCMC&searchLang=en_US

[Richard]

June 24th marks the 25 year anniversary of Edna's disappearance from her Philadelphia, PA hometown. Please think about her and take some time to read about her case.

[mere]

I will be thinking of Edna today. A lot of 30 year anniversaries in the past and coming months.

[messiecake]

Its distressing that there are no details!

I mean how do they know it was an abduction and not a runaway who met w/ foul play??

Shes looks older than 15 in the picture..........she could have easily passed for 18.


Anyone know any of the details about the relative's home?

[Richard]

I am sure that there are more details available, but one would have to look elsewhere than the internet at this point to find them. Certainly the police have reports and investigation notes. Possibly the local papers did stories on this case in 1975, and after. If one were to look up microfilm or bound copies of those newspapers in a library, then more details could be learned and posted.

Websites like NCMEC and Doenetwork (and others) are usually pretty receptive to new information sent in by researchers, and they will modify their files with what is made available to them.

[Richard]

I am sure that there are more details available, but one would have to look elsewhere than the internet at this point to find them. Certainly the police have reports and investigation notes. Possibly the local papers did stories on this case in 1975, and after. If one were to look up microfilm or bound copies of those newspapers in a library, then more details could be learned and posted.

Websites like NCMEC and Doenetwork (and others) are usually pretty receptive to new information sent in by researchers, and they will modify their files with what is made available to them.Does anyone have access to Philadelphia area Newspaper microfilm files or police reports on Edna's 24 June 1975 disappearance?

Edna went missing very close in timeframe and geographic area as several other children:
Sheila and Katherine Lyon on 25 March 1975 from Wheaton, MD,
Steven Anderson and David Williams on 7 April 1975 from New Lisbon, NJ,
Wendy Eaton on 17 May 1975 from Media, PA,
Tracy Anne King on 8 July 1975 from Littlestown, PA,
Kathy Lynn Beatty on 24 July 1975 from Wheaton, MD

All of the above cases remain unsolved. Except for Kathy Lynn Beatty, all children are still missing. Kathy Beatty was found on 25 July 1975, brutally beatten and sexually assulted, but still alive. She died 12 days later from her injuries. Kathy's killer was never caught or identified, however the rash of unsolved disappearances of children in the Maryland and Pennsylvania area seemed to stop at that point. Knowing that his victim had somehow survived his attack, he may have suddenly left the area.

Could these all of these likely abductions have been committed by the same individual?

[meggilyweggily]

I believe that back when I had a NewspaperArchive subscription I tried searching for Edna's name and all the variations on it I could think of, and came up with nothing. Chances are she was written off as a probable runaway at the time, hence no news.

There's no evidence that she didn't run away, though. No evidence, for that matter, that she wasn't abducted by aliens. That's what's so frustrating. The NCMEC has a few near-definite homicides classified as runaways, and some runaways classified as non-family abductions. The "endangered missing" and "long/injured missing" categories are really rubbish files which, as often as not, mean nothing.

[Paradise]

Does anyone have access to Philadelphia area Newspaper microfilm files or police reports on Edna's 24 June 1975 disappearance?

Edna went missing very close in timeframe and geographic area as several other children:
Sheila and Katherine Lyon on 25 March 1975 from Wheaton, MD,
Steven Anderson and David Williams on 7 April 1975 from New Lisbon, NJ,
Wendy Eaton on 17 May 1975 from Media, PA,
Tracy Anne King on 8 July 1975 from Littlestown, PA,
Kathy Lynn Beatty on 24 July 1975 from Wheaton, MD

All of the above cases remain unsolved. Except for Kathy Lynn Beatty, all children are still missing. Kathy Beatty was found on 25 July 1975, brutally beatten and sexually assulted, but still alive. She died 12 days later from her injuries. Kathy's killer was never caught or identified, however the rash of unsolved disappearances of children in the Maryland and Pennsylvania area seemed to stop at that point. Knowing that his victim had somehow survived his attack, he may have suddenly left the area
Thanks for bringing that up Richard...PA has a few really old cases, and I've always wondered if they've been related. Also in response to the question about access to microfilms, I live in Reading (about an hour from Philly) and I'd be willing to go down there on a day off to look up some info on her. Also, if you (or anyone else) knows how to go about obtaining a copy of her police reports let me know, I might be able to pick them up while I'm there as well.

[Paradise]

Just wanted to add this...I don't think it was in the first post. This comes from the Charley Project...

Thorne was last seen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on June 24, 1975. She was departing from a horse stable on a relative's property at the time of her disappearance. Thorne has never been heard from again. Few details are available in her case. She is believed to have been abducted by a non-family member.
The fact that she was departing from a relative's property makes me suspect either the relative did something to her and hid it pretty well or someone abducted her on her way home which is what LE is obviously suspecting (I'm assuming she was on foot since it doesn't mention a car). I'd really like to dig deeper into this but I'm not sure how to go about getting her missing persons report?!

[Richard]

... I'd really like to dig deeper into this but I'm not sure how to go about getting her missing persons report?!
According to the Doenetwork, the Philadelphia Police have this case - so one would probably have to contact them concerning obtaining a missing persons report. I don't know how helpful they would be, or if you have to submit a special form to obtain such a report. Since the purpose of submitting a missing persons report is to eventually Locate that person, it would seem that the police should want to make the widest distribution of that report possible.
Even knowing whose farm she was departing from, what route she might have taken, who worked at that farm, etc might help.

[Paradise]

I wonder why doenetwork doesn't give the information that she was leaving a realtive's horse farm. Obviously there aren't going to be horse farms in center city....so this had to have happened on the outskirts of Philly. I know they try to keep as much information from the public as possible so that if someone would come forward they'd be giving real information and not just something they read online but it makes it so much harder to try to solve this or at least work out the details. :banghead: Anyway, that was my rant. I'm going to try to contact them and get her report. I should be able to get this right? Is this public information?

[mere]

Does anyone have access to Philadelphia area Newspaper microfilm files or police reports on Edna's 24 June 1975 disappearance?

Edna went missing very close in timeframe and geographic area as several other children:
Sheila and Katherine Lyon on 25 March 1975 from Wheaton, MD,
Steven Anderson and David Williams on 7 April 1975 from New Lisbon, NJ,
Wendy Eaton on 17 May 1975 from Media, PA,
Tracy Anne King on 8 July 1975 from Littlestown, PA,
Kathy Lynn Beatty on 24 July 1975 from Wheaton, MD

All of the above cases remain unsolved. Except for Kathy Lynn Beatty, all children are still missing. Kathy Beatty was found on 25 July 1975, brutally beatten and sexually assulted, but still alive. She died 12 days later from her injuries. Kathy's killer was never caught or identified, however the rash of unsolved disappearances of children in the Maryland and Pennsylvania area seemed to stop at that point. Knowing that his victim had somehow survived his attack, he may have suddenly left the area.

Could these all of these likely abductions have been committed by the same individual?
The Doe Network has listed 2 unidentified young females from Pennsylvania. They were found prior to 1975, but I wonder who they were. Neither victim was buried. You can see the details under Hot cases.

[Richard]

Edna Christine Thorne
Missing since June 24, 1975 from Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.
Classification: Non-Family Abduction

Vital Statistics
Date Of Birth: February 25, 1960
Age at Time of Disappearance: 15 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'1; 105 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Brown hair; brown eyes.
Dentals: Available

Circumstances of Disappearance
Thorne was last seen at a relative's home in Philadelphia, PA on June 24, 1975. She has never been seen again.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Philadelphia Police Department 215-685-1180

NCIC Number: M-857652106
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Sources:
The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
The Doe Network: Case File 74DFPA

Link:
http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/74dfpa.html

[Hollow]

I found an article last night on NewsLibrary from 2000 that mentions Edna briefly (very briefly) They spelled her last name Thorn and said she had departed from horse stables when she disappeared.

[Paradise]

So far from what I've found, she was departing from her relative's house and her relative had horse stables on their property. I'm kind of thinking it was an aunt or uncle, but I'm not sure. I wish there was more information released about her.

[Hollow]

Ok, you guys are going to think I'm the biggest crazy person for posting this. I kept thinking if my name was Edna, I wouldn't go by that (no way) so I was googling the name Christine Thorne and I found one on this horse site. Probably not her, but it has an e-mail. You have to scroll way down and look for the name Christine Thorne. Double triple dare everybody to e-mail her.:crazy:


http://www.crossedsabers.com/NEWS/Disaster_Planning.htm

[Hollow]

And since I look really nutty now, there's an Edna Thorne on this church site listed under " Communication-Zone Representatives "

http://www.unitedchurchgander.ca/Admin2005.htm

[PonderingThings]

http://www.doenetwork.us/cases/images/EThorne.jpghttp://www.doenetwork.us/cases/images/EThorne1.jpg
Edna at age 15 on left, Age progressed to 43 on right

If Edna is alive today she would be almost 46 years old. To me, its unlikely that this woman would still be using her real name. Instead, if she wanted to be "lost" she would have taken a married name, or another name if abducted.

However anything is possible!!!

Personally I don't think you are crazy as I frequently *try* to find people alive, even if they've been missing for a long time.

If Edna was using her middle name of Christine, then she may be known as Chris Thorne.

[PonderingThings]

Well Hollow, just to show you that you are not the only person who is nuts, I sent an email to your Christine Thorne who loves horses.

I explained why I was contacting her, and gave her the reference to this site. I figure the worse thing she could do is ignore us. The best thing would be to send back a quick email saying, yes its me, or no it isn't.

Will let you know if I hear anything.

Your friend in nuttidom http://www.websleuths.com/forums/images/smilies/crazy1.gif
PonderingThings

[PonderingThings]

Hollow I checked my email and I have already received a reply from Christine Thorne. What a nice person!

Although its not her, she does hope that we (someone) finds her! She sent back a very nice email.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Hollow]

Hollow I checked my email and I have already received a reply from Christine Thorne. What a nice person!

Although its not her, she does hope that we (someone) finds her! She sent back a very nice email.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif
Process of elimination!!!! The Edna Thorne church lady probably isn't her either, but geez, how many Edna Thorne's can there be, and tomorrow's Sunday.....

[PonderingThings]

Do you want to try sending an email to church Edna, or should I? http://www.websleuths.com/forums/images/smilies/crazy1.gif

[Hollow]

Do you want to try sending an email to church Edna, or should I? http://www.websleuths.com/forums/images/smilies/crazy1.gif
I was thinking we should just call.

[PonderingThings]

I'm not the "telephone type", but if you are I say go for it!!

She's a church lady! Odd are she'll be very nice!

[Hollow]

I found an article last night that mentioned that Edna's case was being investigated by a Philadelphia police officer named Virginia Hill. I don't know if she is still on the case. Nothing new in article about Edna though.

[Paradise]

Well as of January, 2002 she was still working in Philadelphia. I can't find anything more recent though.

http://www.nleomf.com/TheFund/programs/OOM/hill_jan02.htm

[Hollow]

This may or may not be a long shot, but I watched this show about a serial killer operating on the East Coast, mostly New Jersey area. I think he was arrested in the early eighties, his name was James Paul. His known trade was working on horse farms, I wonder if he was employed where Edna disappeared from. They convicted him of three murders and he has described to investigators two others, but they don't know who these two others were.

[Hollow]

James Pauls activities before he was arrested are rather interesting. He is currently serving the first of three consecutive life sentences in Trenton Prison. He is known as " The Executioner "

He killed Virginia Vickery in New Jersey in 1984. He had just been charged with domestic violence against the girlfriend he was living with at the time, Rose Hoover. She kicked him out, he took up residence at the Belvedere hotel, where he met Ms. Vickery. There was a break-in at the horse farm where Mr. Paul was employed, two firearms were stolen. He took Ms. Vickery on a drive out to Island Stock road in Reddington Township. He forced her out of the car, forced her to kneel and beg for her life, all along shouting " Rose " at her. He shot her three times.

Next, he drove to Connecticut, where he killed Robin White. He was also employed at a horse farm at this location. He says he picked her up hitchhiking. She had been out looking for a job. He says he told her that he owned the horse farm where he was working. They drove around for days, his story to her was he was going to buy some more horses and couldn't locate the address he was looking for. Police have no way of knowing if she became suspicious that something was wrong. He took her to a secluded road in Huntington, Connecticut and shot her twice. The sad thing about this case is that a family out walking heard rustling in the bushes where she lay dying. The father looked and seen her moving, but for whatever reason hurried his family along. He returned about 10 hours later and then phoned police. She was in a different position and location the second time he viewed her.

James Paul then moved on to Vermont where he shot and killed George Cole at a rest stop area.

Police finally apprehended Paul at a North Arlington, New Jersey Diner.

He said that he had committed two other killings. He said he was at a rest area on an Interstate Highway and he was drinking beer with 2 men with Canadian accents. He said he shot them both and rolled them down an embankment. He said they were driving a black car/with red interior, it had Canadian liscense plates. Police do not know who these men were.

[awagner]

I would think that this information might be of interest to the detective who has her cold case.. Have you contacted?

This may or may not be a long shot, but I watched this show about a serial killer operating on the East Coast, mostly New Jersey area. I think he was arrested in the early eighties, his name was James Paul. His known trade was working on horse farms, I wonder if he was employed where Edna disappeared from. They convicted him of three murders and he has described to investigators two others, but they don't know who these two others were.

[Hollow]

Actually, I don't know if I should or not because Edna disappeared in 1975, which was 9 years before James Paul was arrested. I know that the investigators that worked on his case would be overjoyed to get him the death penalty, because at the time when he was convicted, they could not, now New Jersey has the death penalty. Anyways, everytime I call to tip anything, I find out someone has already called and tipped it (this is so silly) so I dare not, so if anyone thinks it's a good idea to, GO FOR IT!!!!!!:) :) :) Does Pennsylvania have the Death Penalty???? Even if he got convicted for Edna, would that overwrite his three life sentences??? I'm confused.

[Richard]

... Does Pennsylvania have the Death Penalty???? Even if he got convicted for Edna, would that overwrite his three life sentences??? I'm confused.
A crime has to be tried by a court which has jurisdiction over the crime and its location. So, if a person imprisoned in NJ, and is connected by evidence to a crime in PA, then a court in PA has to charge him, and a request for extradition goes out from PA to NJ.

[Richard]

How old is James Paul, and what would his age have been in 1975? The next big question would be, What was he doing between 1975 and 1984?

[Hollow]

bumping Edna's thread for someone looking at it !!!!:)

[lostwithoutyou]

Today, June 24, 2007, marks the thirty-second anniversary of Edna's disappearance. Please keep her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. If you have any information, PLEASE call the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-685-1173 or your local police department (you can remain annonymous).

[mere]

I thought I would bump this case up, since Wendy Eaton' s case has bee brought up. The time frame and area are very close.

[hmg]

Wanted to bump this since Edna's circumstance of disappearance has changed and it looks like they updated her DNA status.