LITTLE GIRL LOST: The True Story of the Vandling Murder

by Tammy Mal

When nine-year-old Mae Ruth Barrett failed to return home on the stormy night of January 2, 1945, her family immediately feared an accident. But when the child's brutally beaten body was found the next day, secreted in an abandoned house, the small town of Vandling was left reeling. Who could kill a child walking home from church? Stunned by the barbaric events, residents would become even more horrified when suspicion soon focused on a most unlikely suspect. In harrowing detail, learn how the police solved one of the most sadistic crimes in history, long before the use of computers, DNA, or modern forensic science.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction

210 pages, Paperback

First published December 5, 2012

Reviews

[Kate Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Girl Lost is a remarkable story that I will never forget. I do not want to spoil it for those of you who want to read so I will not say much, except that for me, the beginning was a little slow, but stay with it, it builds until you feel like you cannot read fast enough to find out what happened and the why's of it all - elusive, perplexing and fascinating. I really enjoyed it. It is amazing, too, the way that people carry on through difficult times, persevere and triumph, like Mae's little sister Nan. She (albeit a "character" role in the book) must be an amazing individual who has been through some of the hardest times imaginable.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to make an account just so I could review this book. I read a lot of true crime novels, and this one is definitely in my top 3. It's such a sad story, but I felt I was back in the 1940s while reading it! The author did a beyond amazing job drawing me into the story. I ended up buying it on my kindle and did not set it down once until it was over. I hope to see more books by Tammy Mal, and in the meantime hope anyone who likes true crime give this book a read!

[Jill Puntar · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a very well written book that you just couldn't put down once you started reading it. Since I don't live far from where the crime took place, I get chills every time I pass the area and remember what happened there. I recommend reading it.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a truly sad case but very well written.

[Erica Paré · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave a real look into the difference not only in times relative to families, “The age of “single dads” was still forty years in the future”, but how much science has advanced. The running around trying to find witnesses was much more grueling, no cameras to check. There was little to no forensics to help identify the killer. I had never heard of this murder that happened decades ago, but this book was very informative from both the killer’s and the victim’s perspective. It shows how the whole community was changed by the act and not just the family of the victim. I have read other books who were based on a true story but none as captivating as this one. They dive into the psych of the killer and show just how deceptive, conniving, manipulative etc. the killer really was. And looking back at his childhood and how his mother was so different with him than other mothers were with their own children, it makes you wonder if that played a little role in how he turned out.

[Fawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was a hard read, the details of the murder were terrifying to read especially as a parent of a girl the same age as little Mae

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book about a a true murder case which happened in Pennsylvania in January of 1945. A 13 year old boy was accused murdering a nine year old girl, and to this day, no one seems to know why. The boy, who pled guilty to first degree murder, was sentenced to life with possibility of parole in a mental institution in a plea bargain made wit the District's Attorney's office in order to avoid putting the child to death. What is known about the boy and his family is that his mother made all of the rules and forced the boy to wear a leash in public when the family were on an outing. The boy was an only child, and he was regularly humiliated by his mother. There is also the possibility that he killed an unintended victim because he was angry at an older girl who had humiliated him in front of his whole class, and the girl who was killed lived next door to the older girl; the younger girl also "inherited" the older girl's hand me down clothing. The boy was a good student, very well liked by his teachers and peers and had no criminal history either before the one murder, and except for a very minor breakout with a female inmate, had no criminal history after this murder either. He was paroled in 1985 at the age of 52, after the victim's father was killed in a vehicular crash and lived a quiet and normal life until the time of his death.

So much is unknown regarding the boy's motive and "thinking" that even today, people still talk about the case as it was so unusual. This is not the story of a sociopath who kept up his criminal behavior at all. At the time he commmitted his only heinous and serious crime, he was an immature and naive 12 year old. One can only speculate what the child was thinking at the time, as he never discussed the subject himself. One peculiar fact that does stand out is the strange relationship beween mother and son. Since none of the family is alive, we will probably never know what prompted an otherwise likable and friendly child to brutally kill another child.....

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

The year is 1945 and the story is about a little girl brutally murdered by a 13-year-old
neighbor boy and the aftermath. The setting is Vandling, PA not far from Scranton and takes place during Christmas/New Year holidays. Although this type of crime is all too common in today's world, it was shocking beyond comprehension in the year 1945. It is very well written and it held my interest throughout. Five stars.

[CATHLEEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

Child murderer

This is a well written true story of a child killing another child in 1945. The sociopathic actions of the murderer are well presented, as are the reactions of the small town. A hard to put down book. Characters and place come to life.

[Mary Barna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I re-read this book recently. The crime was committed many years ago, but because it happened locally most people in the area are aware of it. Ms Mal's attention to detail and her sense of place invokes a feeling of being there and experiencing what the town folk did.

[Marlene Tomcykoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tragedy of a murder

This book is the first time I knew the entire story of Mae. I knew of her murder but not the details. Knowing the area, I was able to walk the streets with the author and know exactly where she was describing. Very good mystery, unfortunately true event.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Read

Interesting and good read. I live in Pennsylvania, not far from where this took place and never heard of this crime before. I am glad I decided to read it. Thank you Tammy

[Yuuto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and to the point and a pretty horrifying, sad story. Absolutely infuriating that “life in prison” for the murderer amounted to about 20 years before he got out on parole and got to start a family and live free for another 40 years.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it informative and interesting also sad

[Sarah Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast read! Great, true crime book about a town local to me.

[alan fairchild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intrigue.

It kept my interest in a murder near my home state. My friend grew up with the author and suggested I read the book. I will be reading another book by her.

[Martha Helwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting but a very sad story

I personally know the family that now resides in the home that Mae and her family once lived. It is hard to understand why Myron killed Mae. I found this to be a very interesting read.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Of course it was Cassie Wiley, criminal justice major and fellow lover of horror stories, who got me to read this true account of child murder. Even though the subject isn't a favorite, I still enjoyed reading it. It was a very interesting and detailed telling of the case. I would have rated it higher but I am not a fan of the writing style. It didn't read like a story, more like an extremely thorough and long news article, covering everything including a brief history of the town and family histories. It was sure to make everything very clear to the reader. The research done shows through very well. I do think that a different writing style would have made it much harder to read however, pulling the reader in more emotionally. I would say this is worth the read.

[Leigh Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A unstinting look into a chilling case of murder. I found this book engrossing, not only because of the unusual aspects of the case - namely the young ages of the victim (9) and murderer (13) - but also because the author takes the time to paint a complete picture of the people involved, and the way of small town life in Vandling. This crime would be shocking enough today, but it was practically unheard of in 1945. The author details the vicious brutality of the murder, and the ensuing shock and horror throughly. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime cases.

[Jillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I could hope for and more. It was a little slow at the beginning. I do like learning facts about places and people in a time period, but it seemed a little much. Once I got past that, it was fantastic. The book contained the facts, no BS and no mush. Such a bizarre, twisted tragedy, which I would never have known about had it not been for this book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. This is one if those......can't put it down books. What a sad thing this family had to go threw, knowing someone was so brutal must be just torture. I think he got off way to easy, I won't say more about that cause it would spoil it, but to easy on him. I love true crime books and this writer writes very well. Would read a book by her again.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Painted an in-depth look at the town and the characters involved in the story line. It was sensitive to the families but it did not hide details that were important to understanding the relationship the crime the had to the town . Finished it in one day because it was so good.

[terri Schwartzkopf · Rating 4 out of 5]

He should have died in prison

He should have died in prison

Her name was MEA BARRETT HOW COME WE ALWAYS REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE MURDER AND NOT THE VICTIM MEA BARRETT PLEASE DON'T FORGET HER NAME OR ANY VICTIMS NAME PLEASE

[Judy Pfahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remarkable story and very well told.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story about a Little girls short life and how the town found who really did it. Really tragic for both sides.

[Liz Malhiet · Rating 5 out of 5]

So tragic

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sad true murder that took place in the 40's almost in my own backyard.

[Deborah Valliere · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting true crime story