In the rugged terrain near Shade-Gap, Pennsylvania, a tense and ultimately tragic event unfolded in May of 1966. It culminated in the death of 42-year-old Terry R. Anderson, a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. His death was not a random act of violence, but rather the grim outcome of a desperate manhunt for a kidnapper.
The ordeal began when a 17-year-old girl was abducted and held captive. For seven days, her captor, a man named William Hollenbaugh, eluded a massive search effort that involved local and state police, as well as the FBI. Hollenbaugh, who was known as the 'Mountain Man,' was adept at surviving in the wilderness, making the search for him and his victim exceedingly difficult.
The search took a fatal turn on May 17, 1966. Special Agent Anderson, while actively searching for the kidnapped teenager, was shot and killed by Hollenbaugh. The very next day, the extensive manhunt came to a close when law enforcement cornered Hollenbaugh. In the ensuing confrontation, the suspect was shot and killed. The 17-year-old victim was then rescued, bringing an end to her week-long nightmare, but not without the loss of a dedicated law enforcement officer. As the suspect was killed, there were no subsequent arrests or trials in this case.
