In the sleepy town of Brookhaven, Vermont, 1967 was meant to be just another year of small-town routines and neighborly chatter. That was until Mary Holloway, the town’s beloved shopkeeper, vanished without a trace on a crisp October morning — leaving behind a trail of eerie clues that have stumped investigators for over half a century.
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The Last Morning
Mary was known for her punctuality. Each day, she opened Holloway’s General Store at 8 a.m. sharp. On October 14th, witnesses saw her unlocking the store at her usual time, greeting customers, and chatting with the mailman around 8:45. She was last seen behind the counter, writing something on a sheet of paper.
By 9:15, the store sat eerily silent.
When a delivery driver arrived and found the front door ajar, he stepped inside — only to find the scene that would haunt Brookhaven for decades.
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The Clues
The counter was empty except for a half-finished letter addressed to “M. R.”. The handwriting trailed off mid-sentence. Beside it sat a steaming cup of coffee — still warm — suggesting she had left (or been taken) moments earlier.
Near the back exit, investigators found a single black pump. The shoe was undamaged, as if it had simply slipped off. The back door was open, but there were no signs of forced entry. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Investigation
Police initially believed Mary had stepped out briefly and would return, but hours turned into days, and days into weeks.
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Witnesses reported seeing a blue pickup truck parked behind the store that morning.
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No fingerprints other than Mary’s and regular customers’ were found.
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The letter was never completed, and “M. R.” was never conclusively identified.
Theories ranged from a sudden abduction to Mary leaving voluntarily to start a new life — though her bank account and personal belongings were untouched. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Lingering Questions
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Who was “M. R.”? A secret friend, a family member, or someone dangerous?
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Why leave one shoe behind — was it a struggle or a staged clue?
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Who owned the mysterious blue pickup truck
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Why It Still Haunts Us
Mary’s disappearance became one of Vermont’s most notorious cold cases, a constant reminder that even in quiet towns, danger can lurk in unexpected places. Despite occasional tips and rumored sightings, the case remains unsolved to this day. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This Solve-It Saturday, we’re handing the evidence over to you.
Look at the facts, consider the possibilities, and ask yourself:
💡 If you were in charge of this case, what would you do first to solve it?
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