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FearForHarrisburg, Pa. 171Finger Qf GuiltIs Pointed AtDublin MadmanState Police today expressed fear for the life of a 17-year-old schoolgirl who was abducted'yesterday afternoon near her home, possibly by Dublin Township’s infamous ‘Mountain Man.”1The attractive girt Peggy Ann Bradnick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene.W. Bradnick of Burnt Cabins, R.D.,was hunted last night and today in Huntingdon County’s1 • \ •largest armed search.Approximately 200 law enforcement officers and volunteers combed . a four mile square area this morning in a steady cold rain seeking any clue to the whereabouts of the girl.The search concentrated in an area known as Dry Run Hollow where shortly before 10 a.m. this morning one of six search teams found a girl’s «hjp.It had not been determinedwhether the slip belonged to the missing girl but State Police immediately sealed off the area and began an intensive search.Later it was found that, the garment was not Peggy’s,The area in the vicinity of the abduction has been divided into six zones.Federal Bureau of Investigation agents from York, Philadelphia, State College and Harrisburg were converging on the site and approximately 20 agents are ready to join the investigation when the M hour time limit period expires.C8 units from the area have been assisting law enforcement officers in conducting the search from command head* Quarters at the Hamer’s Me-Abducted Schoolgirl’s LifePEGGY ANN BRADNICKvolvers and shotguns, volunteered their services willingly as the area' near the Bradnick home was scoured,It had been more than a year since the Dublin Township sniper had struck, but the reign of terror came pounding back with a terrific impact in yesterday’s abduction.It will be recalled that on Good Friday, April 16,1965, the Dublin Township madman fired at Ned A. Price, 54, Shade Gap, R.D. _ A rifle bullet tore through Price’s leg, necessitating amputation below the knee. Prior to that s the sniper had struck four times over a two-year period. Except for Price, all of his victims have beenwomen. Two persons, Price and a young woman, have been wounded by the “Mountain Man.”More than 75 State Police from nine sub-stations and headquarters poured into Dublin Township last evening and today to assist in the solution of the Dublin Township case, one of the state’s top unsolvedcrimes.Peggy Ann, a junior at Southern Huntingdon County High School, was en route to her home yesterday afternoon at 4:05, accompanied by her two brothers and three sisters: James Eugene, 16; Deborah Marie and Donald Warren, twins, 9; Mary Louise, 11, and Carol Jean, 8.School Bus Driver Isaac Frehn of Shade Gap had left theBradnick children off along Route 31002. The children then had to walk three - quarters of a mile up a dirt township road.Lt. Edward Mitarnowski of Hollidaysburg, acting commanding officer of Troop G, personally headed the giant investigation.morlal Park—the old Shade Gap picnic grounds.Fifteen game protectors from Bedford, Mifflin, Juniata, Franklin, Huntingdon joined the armed Dosses this morning.Dublin Township became armed camp late yesterday ternoon as soon as news of abduction spread through southern Huntingdon County ea. Men armed with rifles,anaf-thethear*re-Men, a helicopter, game wardens, a bloodhound and patrol cars by the dozen were tossed into the search, but like in the five other instances, the Mountain Man simply vanished.About one-half of-a mile from the ■ macadam Route 31002 a man jumped down over the bank from a pine thicket along the left side of the narrow dirt road. He was wearing a narrow mask and sunglasses, an. orange cap, a grey coat, grey trousers, a large black leather belt and black, knee high rubber boots. It will be recalled that the boots and a raincoat or overcoat were the sniper’s “trade marks” on several other incidents.The man also carried a lever action rifle. ,Peggy Ann's brother, James,, told The Daily News that the 1 man told the five school pupils, “I want no sass from any ofyou. After that remark he grabbed Peggy Ann, by the arm and started to drag her into the woods. At first .she resisted, but when the boot-wearing gunman grabbed her more tightly she went with him down over a small bank, through somelowland, across a creek and into the wooded ridge area.James ran immediately to his home one-quarter of a mile away. He told his father, “The Mountain Man got Peggy. The father, who was frying chicken On the stove for the youngsters when they arrived home from school, grabbed his shotgun, got into his ear and raced down the road with James to the spot where the abduction took plaee. There was no .-sign of Peggy Ann or .the Mountain Man,Daily News that he grabbed hisshotgun quickly and started to truThe father said he “hollered like an Indian, but got no response and heard no sound or crying from his daughter.Bradnick, an unemployed worker from the Knouse Food plant in Chambersburg,- immediately called police in Huntingdon, the call being received at 4:20.look for the Mountain Man. Later he discovered that' the weapon was not loaded and he had no shells for it with him?James said that he had never seen the man who abducted his sister.Huntingdon State Police rushed to the scene and other troopers from nearby substations answered the call for assistance.First searchers found, footprints of a man and girl in soil along the ridge, but -than lost the trail. No evidence was found along the trail.Peggy Ann, described as a friendly girl, wore a white blouse, red jumper and brown suede shoes.The girl’s brother James said he heard his sister give just “one squeal as she was pulled into the woods by her abductor. The father explained to1 The-“Prince,” a huge bloodhound owned by Thomas Stewart of Carlisle, was brought to the scene at. 8:15 and set On the trail. However, the dog failed to turn up a. trace of the missing girl or the madman.A helicopter stationed at Fort Littleton was used until dark. Many trips were made over the area, but not a trace of the Bradnick girl was found. The copter was scheduled to return at daybreak today.(Continued On Page Two)
Newspaper Details
The Daily News
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, US
Thu, May 12, 1966
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Jacob G.
NA, NA 05 Oct 2021
Other Publications Near Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Huntingdon Gazette
Huntingdon Journal American
The Daily News
Huntingdon Journal
Huntingdon Globe
