SOLVED. Non-Fiction True Crime Book - 70's or 80's - Psychic Helping Solve Murder [s]

[Railyn]

**POSSIBLY LOTS OF SPOILERS BELOW - BEWARE**

I read this book in High School. I was taking a class on the legal system and we examined a lot of famous true crimes (Manson, Atlanta Child Murders,
etc). We had to read a book and write a report, and I had a lot of other work for other classes, so I picked what looked like an easy read from the school library. I finished it in a weekend. There were lots of photos in the book.

It was about a girl - age 18 or 19 (don't think she made it to 20). She was a recent high school graduate. I think her name may have been Terri or
Teresa, but I could be wrong. She didn't go to college, but got a job at the local hospital washing dishes. She saved up enough money to buy a new
Chevy Vega - I believe it was brown or maroon - and she was happy with the way things were going.

One day she disappeared. They found her car abandoned and knew there was no way she'd leave her car that she was so proud of. There were other bits
of evidence of foul play, but I can't remember. The police either weren't concerned about her being missing or they were, but hit nothing but dead
ends (again, don't remember exactly). At some point, out of desperation,either the police or her parents call in a psychic, OR the psychic approached them (can't remember). She said she had info but needed something personal belonging to the girl. There was a picture of the psychic in the book holding the girl's class ring.

The psychic said the girl was dead, and she could be found in the woods,among garbage, and there was something to do with either swimming or blue
plastic or something like that (can't remember exactly). They did finally find her (can't remember how long it took) but she was in the woods, laying
where there was illegal garbage dumping. She had been thrown there and covered with a child's plastic swimming pool. She was wearing her white uniform that she wore to the hospital that day.

You'd think that with what I can remember, I'd find the book, but no. Been looking for years. I remember that there was a graduation photo of the
girl in the book. I believe she had long dark hair in a very 70's style. She may have had very 70's looking glasses - can't remember for sure. I
believe it happened in either Pennsylvania or New York (not city - I believe it was in a smaller town), but I may be wrong. I don't recall her
having a boyfriend, but I may be wrong. I don't remember who killed her, or why, or if they even figured it out. I can't remember the psychic's
name, but it was a woman, and she wore glasses (which is why I may think the girl who died was wearing glasses - can't remember). It kind-of looked
like Dorothy Allison in my mind, but may not have been her - I can't find record of her being involved in a similar case. The book also had a photo
of her abandoned car, and I believe the place where they ultimately found her. I seem to remember the cover of the book having a hand sticking up from the ground, but I may be wrong. I can't recall even part of the title, or the author.

If this rings any bells with anyone, please respond. I'd like to read it again. Thanks!

[Railyn]

I finally found it! I mentioned my frustration to a friend who told me to do a google "book search" (which I didn't know existed). I tweaked a few settings, and re-arranged the keywords over and over until I got a hit. Not for the book, but for another book where it showed the photo of the psychic holding the girl's class ring (and it turns out it was indeed Dorothy Allison). The girl's name was Debbie (not Terri) and her parents asked Dorothy for help, but the police were cooperative.

I was right - she drove a brand new Chevy Vega they found abandoned. The psychic said (among many things) that she'd be in a garbage dump, and she was under a kid's swimming pool. She also gave the killer's first names. Word got to one of them, who was in prison on an unrelated charge, and he led police to her body because he apparently feared the psychic.

I was also right about her being right out of high school and being a dishwasher at the local hospital. And it happened in a small town in Pennsylvania, not to terribly far from where I live. It happened in 1976. And I was right on about the cover - it gave me goosebumps when I saw it.

If you're looking for a good read (I didn't spoil it - there's a lot more to it) and a fast read, check it out - especially if you like true crime stories:

http://www.amazon.com/Missing-Person-...

Missing Person

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Well, congrats on finding your book Railyn. I'll move this down to "SOLVED" for you and shelve the book. Who knows--someone else, some day, might come looking for it too, and your search might help them find it.

[Railyn]

Can you tell me how to shelve it, or is that a moderator duty? I see that reference a lot, but no way to do it, unless I'm looking in the wrong place.