Mary Alice Briscolina, a 14-year-old white female from Broward County, Florida, disappeared on October 23, 1972, while hitchhiking with another girl, Elsie Farmer. Both girls vanished under mysterious circumstances, prompting a search that would last several months. Their remains were eventually discovered on January 17, 1973, at a construction site in Plantation, Florida.
The discovery confirmed that both girls had been murdered, though specific details about the cause of death were not publicly disclosed in the available sources.
The case took a chilling turn when it was linked to Gerard John Schaefer Jr., a former sheriff's deputy in Martin County, Florida. Schaefer, a white male born in 1946, had a disturbing history of violence and was later identified as a serial killer. He was known for targeting young women, often abducting them while posing as a law enforcement officer. His crimes included abduction, torture, and murder, and he was suspected of killing between 2 and 30 or more victims during his spree.
Schaefer was arrested in 1973 after two teenage girls escaped from an attempted abduction. During the investigation, authorities uncovered evidence connecting him to multiple unsolved murders, including that of 14-year-old white female Mary Alice Briscolina. He was eventually convicted of two murders and sentenced to life in prison. While incarcerated, Schaefer was murdered by another inmate in 1995.
The deaths of Mary Alice Briscolina and Elsie Farmer remain among the many tragic cases attributed to Schaefer's violent legacy. Their story is a haunting reminder of the dangers faced by young women during that era and the betrayal of trust by someone who once wore a badge.
