By, David Lohr
April 21, 2007
ROCKDALE TOWNSHIP, PA (Crime Library)— At this time, details are sketchy, but it appears that convicted murderer Edward Gingerich, 40, may have kidnapped his estranged teenage daughter from his former Amish community. Gingerich captured national headlines in 1995 when he became the first Amish man in history to be convicted of homicide.
On Wednesday, Gingerich's 17-year-old daughter, Mary, and her aunt were traveling down Frisbeetown Road in a horse and buggy when a black sedan passed them and pulled to the side of the road. When the buggy approached the vehicle, Gingerich and three of his relatives jumped out and hijacked the buggy.
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| Edward Gingerich |
After navigating the buggy to a nearby farm, Gingerich and his accomplices locked Mary's aunt inside a barn and took Mary with them in the black sedan, allegedly against her will. The make and model of the vehicle used in the hijacking and abduction are unknown. The Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the matter as a missing person's case because custody of the teenager is considered an unresolved issue.
Yesterday afternoon, WSEE news, out of Erie, Pa., spoke with some members of the Amish community about the incident. According to published reports, no one they spoke with had any idea where Gingerich might have taken his daughter. The community as a whole is very concerned about her safety.
According to Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, an expert criminal profiler who has over 20 years experience in profiling everything from serial murders to aberrant sex crimes, Mary's life could be in jeopardy.
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| Dr. Deborah Schurman-Kauflin |
"This is such a sad situation," Dr. Schurman-Kauflin said in an interview with Crime Library yesterday evening. "First, based on looking at his history of mental illness and behavior, it is clear that he likely is a danger to Mary. His strong religious beliefs, delusions, and hallucinations drive him. So, the bizarre kidnapping fits his pattern of strange behavior. As Mary is his daughter and a reflection of Katie, he could view her in the same light as Katie before he butchered her. That is, he could believe that she is trying to hurt him, or, he could believe that he needs to save her. Likewise, he may even think that Mary is Katie. Either way, it spells trouble. Paranoia and fear make him more likely to act out if he is not being treated. And since he has a history of going off his medication, Mary is probably in grave danger."
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The Only Amish Man Convicted of Murder:The True Story of Edward D. Gingerich
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