Winifred Pierce, an 18-year-old woman from Cumberland, Pennsylvania, tragically lost her life on November 24, 1934. Her death was part of a larger, harrowing incident known as the "Babes in the Woods" murders. Winifred was the niece of Elmo Noakes, who, along with her, was found dead near Altoona, Pennsylvania. The investigation revealed that Elmo Noakes had murdered his three young daughters—Norma Sedgwick , Dewilla Noakes , and Cordelia Noakes —before killing Winifred and himself.
The events leading up to this tragedy began when Elmo Noakes, a man previously known for his good reputation and non-violent nature, acquired life insurance policies on his children and changed the beneficiary to his sister, Mrs. Pierce. In October 1934, Noakes purchased a blue sedan, which was later found abandoned near the site of his suicide. On November 11 or 12, 1934, Noakes left his home with Winifred Pierce and the three girls, leaving behind two weeks' pay that was owed to him. The family stopped at a diner in Philadelphia and shared a meal before continuing their journey.
The bodies of the three girls were discovered on November 24, 1934, under a blanket in the woods along Pennsylvania Route 233. The cause of their death was determined to be suffocation by external means. The next day, the bodies of Winifred Pierce and Elmo Noakes were found at a small railway station near Duncansville, Pennsylvania. Winifred had been shot through the heart and then in the head, while Noakes died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
The investigation into the murders attracted nationwide attention, with thousands of people lining up to view the bodies in hopes of identifying them. Despite the extensive media coverage and public involvement, the motive behind Elmo Noakes' actions remains unknown. The tragic events have since been documented in various historical archives and continue to be a subject of interest for researchers and historians.
Winifred Pierce's death, along with the murders of the three young girls, remains a somber chapter in the history of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The case highlights the devastating impact of such tragedies on families and communities, and the enduring quest for understanding and closure.
