Episode #196: Mabel Kretshmar - Murdered (1959)

keystonecoldcases
14 minutes ago
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Mabel Kretshmar was a 59-year-old widow who had recently returned to her hometown for a fresh start. On the bitterly cold night of February 13, 1959, she walked nearly a mile through the snow to attend a church prayer service, determined not to let the weather stop her.

Somewhere along the way, she was targeted. A man dragged her from view, beat her brutally, and left her for dead. Somehow, Mabel managed to stumble—shoeless—to a nearby gas station. Police responded quickly, but she was fading fast. She died at the hospital just hours later.

Authorities launched the largest manhunt the area had ever seen, with multiple agencies involved and a reward offered. Despite those efforts, her killer was never identified. Sixty-seven years later, her case remains unsolved.

Mabel Kretshmar

Birth: 1899/1900 – Death: 02/14/1959

Ethnicity: Caucasian Sex: Female

Hometown: Perkasie, PA – Bucks County

Crime Scene: Walnut Street and Constitution Avenue, Perkasie

Last Known Location Alive: Grand View Hospital

Injury Description: Severely beaten, all ribs on one side were broken, choked

Suspect Description: White male, 5 ft 6 in to 5 ft 7 in, 190ish lbs.

DNA/Fingerprints: Back in 1959, detectives had sent Mabel’s clothing to a lab for analysis. They found several strands of hair they believed belonged to a male, and they also lifted a partial fingerprint from what was likely a plastic button from her coat.

If you have information regarding the burglary and murder of Mabel Kretshmar you can call Perkasie Police at 215-257-6876, using crime watches anonymous telephone tipline at 267-517-0099, emailing the Perkasie police department at info@perkasiepd.org, calling the Dublin Barracks of the PA State Police at 215-249-9191, or you can submit a tip on the crime watch website.