Publisher's Synopsis
Who killed Sarah Mumford? 120 years after her death, the question still captivates Pendleton, New York residents.
On June 8, 1899, a wealthy farmer reported his sixteen-year-old adopted daughter missing. The following morning, a farmhand discovers Sarah Mumford's lifeless and mangled body on the train tracks. The coroner launches an inquest that keeps the small town on edge. When the medical examiner reveals that Sarah died before the train hit her, the investigation takes a sinister turn.
Journalists far and near clamor to chronicle every strange twist and turn. Neighbors come forward with dark stories about the prominent family. Rumors persist that Sarah was pregnant. Questions surface about her identity and role in the household. The coroner's inquest reveals seven different suspects. But the summer of 1899 ends with the mystery unsolved and justice unserved.
Over a century later, historians and amateur sleuths still search for clues. On a quest for answers to her family's history, author Michelle Graff reexamines the evidence and offers new insights, dark revelations, and a compelling theory.
Hidden engages true crime fans with two narratives woven together on the same timeline. One follows the original investigation in a nonfiction account that allows readers to discover clues and develop theories. The other is told from the perspective of the author's great-grandmother, whose real-life story parallels Sarah's. The two narratives crisscross in surprising ways while exposing broader issues still relevant today.
