Episode 599: The Kidnapping of Barbara Jane Mackle (Part 2)

The kidnappers abducted Barbara Mackel and demanded a large ransom from her wealthy father, Robert Mackel.

Alaina Urquhart brings to the forefront the case of Barbara Jane Mackel's kidnapping. Barbara's abduction was orchestrated by Gary Crist (George Deacon) and Ruth Eisemann Shear, who observed Jane and Barbara to learn their routines including details like Stuart Woodward’s car, which they used in their ruse. In preparation for their crime, the kidnappers even acquired a police officer's hat from a diner to disguise Krist during the abduction.

Despite the successful ransom drop, the kidnappers failed to provide the Mackels with proof of Barbara's safety. They insisted proof was forthcoming, but it never materialized. Gary and Ruth subjected Barbara to an extreme ordeal by imprisoning her in a makeshift underground coffin for 80 hours. The confinement was severe; the kidnappers could have chosen a less harsh method but instead opted for a grimmer strategy by burying her alive. They constructed the box so that Barbara could not escape, making it airtight and screwing the lid in place.

Barbara was injected with a tranquilizer, forced to pose for a photograph holding a kidnap sign, and despite her drugged state and attempts to reason with her captors, was put into the underground box. The kidnappers' actions throughout her captivity demonstrate an apparent ambiv ...

The exhaustive investigation into the kidnapping case has led to the identification of George Deacon and Ruth Eisman Shear, revealing Deacon's identity as the escaped convict Gary Krist.

Investigators traced the kidnapping to George Deacon, who was discovered to be the escaped convict Gary Krist, and his accomplice Ruth Eisman Shear.

Investigators discovered that the car involved in the kidnapping was traced back to George Deacon. Deacon, with fabricated qualifications, had secured a job at the University of Miami Marine science laboratory where he worked under Dr. Robert Hurley, building containers for marine specimens, which likely aided him in constructing the underground coffin used in the kidnapping.

Deacon claimed substantial but falsified experience on his resume, and presented himself as significantly younger than he was, his invented career misleading Dr. Hurley at the University of Miami. George Deacon had constructed an elaborate false persona, complete with a job recommendation from MIT, which led to his employment without thorough verification of his background.

While in Miami, Deacon dated Ruth Eisman Shear, a graduate student who would become his accomplice. Agents connected Shear to the kidnapping after hearing a young woman's voice in communication related to the case. Shear had disguised herself as a teen boy during the crime, as suspected by agents.

Neighbors of Deacon reported him to be a bitter man with an admiration for wealth. Deacon's family situation deteriorated as well; his wife and children had left him just weeks prior to his capture.

Further investigation connected George Deacon to the criminal Gary Krist after clues were found, including letters and receipts inside a trailer linked to the kidnapping, which led the agents to the realization that Deacon had been living under a false identity. Gary Krist, also known by several other aliases, had a past laden with crime, including car thefts, a dramatic escape from prison, and gunfire that led to a fatality.

When George Deacon’s fingerprints, taken from a vehicle connected to the case, matched those of G ...

In the wake of her traumatic kidnapping, Barbara Mackle demonstrated remarkable resilience, readjusting to life by focusing on family and future.

Barbara Mackle was rescued alive but deeply traumatized, later writing a book about her ordeal and marrying her longtime friend and supporter, Stewart Woodward.

Barbara Mackle endured a harrowing experience but managed to emerge with her strength intact. After being medically cleared following her rescue, Barbara returned to Florida on her father's plane and was able to spend Christmas with her family, illustrating her commitment to reconnecting with her loved ones. During her captivity, to keep her mind off her situation, she thought about her family and friends, hummed tunes, and even tried to make herself laugh. This mental fortitude continued after her rescue as she immediately inquired about the well-being of her parents.

Two years later, she co-authored a book titled "83 Hours till Dawn," which detailed her kidnapping, expressing a desire to take control of her narrative. She then decided to firmly leave the past behind and wed Stewart Woodward, her best friend and steadfast supporter during the ordeal. Together, they aimed to live out of the public eye, raising a family and moving forward with their lives.

The kidnappers faced significant legal consequences, with Deacon/Krist receiving a life sentence and Eisman Shear serving 7 years in prison, though both were later paroled and continued engaging in criminal activities.

The legal system handed down significant punishments to the kidnappers; Eisman Shear served seven years before being paroled and deported back to Honduras, while Deacon/Krist received a life sentence, recommended for mercy by the jury, thus avoiding the death penalty. Krist's sentence came with the possibility of parole after seven years. However, ...