Elsie Lina Farmer, a 13-year-old white female from Broward County, Florida, disappeared on October 23, 1972, while hitchhiking with her friend, 14-year-old Mary Alice Briscolina. Both girls were last seen alive that day and were reported missing shortly thereafter. Their remains were not discovered until January 17, 1973, when they were found at a construction site in Plantation, Florida.
The cause of death was determined to be homicide, with evidence suggesting they had been bludgeoned.
The case of Elsie Lina Farmer, a 13-year-old white female, and her companion became part of a broader investigation into a series of murders linked to Gerard John Schaefer, a former Martin County sheriff's deputy. Schaefer had a documented history of abducting and murdering young women and girls, often while using his position in law enforcement to gain their trust. He was known for his sadistic methods, which included binding, torturing, and killing his victims, many of whom were hitchhikers or runaways.
Although Schaefer was convicted in 1973 for the murders of two other teenage girls, Susan Place and Georgia Jessup, he was suspected in the deaths of many more, including that of 13-year-old white female Elsie Lina Farmer. Items belonging to several missing girls were found in Schaefer's possession, and his writings detailed violent fantasies that mirrored the real-life fates of his suspected victims. Despite the circumstantial evidence linking him to the murder of Elsie Lina Farmer, he was never formally charged in her case.
Gerard Schaefer was ultimately sentenced to life in prison for the confirmed murders. He was killed by a fellow inmate in 1995. While authorities believe he may have been responsible for the deaths of over 30 young women and girls, including 13-year-old white female Elsie Lina Farmer, many of those cases remain officially unsolved. Her family, along with others, continued to seek closure for decades, hoping to definitively link Schaefer to her murder and recover any remaining evidence.
