On August 18, 1971, 13-year-old Mary Anne Wesolowski was last seen in her hometown of Glens Falls, New York. While some sources state the date of her disappearance as August 8, 1971, most official records indicate the later date. She was reportedly on her way to meet friends for a swim at Haviland's Cove Beach on the Hudson River. Mary Anne was last seen walking away from her residence on Broad Street at approximately 3:00 p.m. and never returned.
Prior to her disappearance, Mary Anne had expressed unhappiness with her life in Glens Falls. A few months before she went missing, she wrote a letter to her sister, which was never mailed, stating her dislike for the town and her eagerness for summer to begin. She also left a note for her mother on the day she disappeared that read, "I'm leaving. I might miss you." Her younger brother, who was seven at the time, later recalled that there were "a lot of problems" at home. He believes that Mary Anne left of her own accord and may still be alive. He described his sister as shy and withdrawn but generally happy before she vanished.
Authorities have considered Kenneth Arnold Yarter Jr. a possible suspect in Mary Anne's case. In 1974, Yarter was charged with the abduction and murder of 16-year-old Susan Camel Zanta in Argyle, New York, though these charges were initially dismissed in 1977. After being convicted of three rapes in New Jersey and Florida, Yarter was charged again with Zanta's murder in 1995. He subsequently confessed, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 1996, and is serving a life sentence. While there is no direct evidence linking Yarter to Mary Anne's disappearance, he was living in Glens Falls in 1971 and was employed at a restaurant near where she was last seen.
No other suspects have been publicly identified in connection with Mary Anne Wesolowski's disappearance. An investigation into her Social Security number has shown no activity since the day she went missing. Her case remains unsolved.Last Seen: Aug 8, 1971
