Mary Ann Switalski (16 yrs) - Chicago, IL - 7/15/63

[lostwithoutyou]

Mary Ann Switalski

http://www.charleyproject.org/images/s/switalski_mary.jpg



Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: July 15, 1963 from Chicago, Illinois
Classification: Endangered Runaway
Age: 16 years old
Height and Weight: 5'2, 102 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian female. Blonde hair, hazel eyes.
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A black sleeveless blouse, white shorts and straw sandals.





Details of Disappearance
Switalski was last seen in Chicago, Illinois on July 15, 1963. She attended a carnival at St.Priscilla's Catholic Church that day. She has never been seen again. Her parents received a letter from her two days after her disappearance, however; Switalski wrote that she was fine and would be sending them some money soon. She never got in touch with them again. It has been established that Switalski joined an organization that sold magazines door-to-door. It was bound for California at the time. When questioned, the couple who ran the group admitted they had hired her, but gave conflicting statements as to what happened afterwards. The wife said Switalski had left the group sometime before; the husband claimed she had never left Chicago at all. Switalski's disappearance remains unsolved. Few details are available in her case.



Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Chicago Police Department
312-746-6000

http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/switalski_mary.html (http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/s/switalski_mary.html)

[lostwithoutyou]

Is she really thought to be a runaway? Or could she have been sold into some sort of child sex ring? Or were those even around back then?

[forthelost]

http://www.forthelost.org/calikids/MSwitalski.doc

[meggilyweggily]

Child sex rings have ALWAYS been around. That said, there's a good chance Mary just never got in touch with her family and is alive somewhere and probably a grandma or great grandma.

[Richard]

Mary Ann Switalski
Missing since July 15, 1963 from Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics


Age at Time of Disappearance: 16 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'2"; 102 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Blonde hair; hazel eyes.
Clothing: Black sleeveless blouse, white shorts and straw sandals.

Circumstances of Disappearance

Mary Ann attended a carnival at St. Priscilla's Catholic Church on July 15, 1963.

Two days after her disappearance her parents received a short letter postmarked from Oak Park, IL. In the letter, Mary Ann stated that she was fine and that she was going to earn some money to take care of them. No further contact was ever made.

It is believed that Mary Ann may have joined a magazine door-to-door sales group that was headed to California.

The husband and wife owners of the sales organization gave conflicting statements. The wife stated that Mary Ann left with the sales group and the husband stated that Mary Ann never left Chicago.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Chicago Police Department
312-746-6000


Source Information:

Chicago Tribune
Doe Network

LINK:

http://doenetwork.org/

[iconoclast]

Unfortunately for Mary Ann, no sinister sex ring is necessary for her to vanish. I've read a little on the traveling magazine sales groups and how they exploit their young workers:

http://www.religionnewsblog.com/21414/door-magazine-sales-cult

Often when a worker doesn't perform, these groups will just abandon that person, and I don't doubt some of them have done more than that. Perhaps Mary Ann started complaining about the working conditions and lack of pay, thereby becoming an "inconvenience" to the boss?