Missing: Mary Agnes Moroney

2-year-old Mary Agnes Moroney's parents were desperate for help as they were pregnant with their second child. In early 1930 they put an ad in the social worker column. They thought their prayers were answered when a woman supposedly named Julia Otis arrived and helped them out with food and needed items.

On May 15, 1930, the woman came back to their Chicago, Illinois home and was welcomed inside. She had wanted to buy a dress for Mary and the parents trusted Julia so they allowed her to take her to the corner store. She never returned with the child though and the next day she sent a letter to the parents. They knew they'd never see their daughter again.

Julia stated that she was taking Mary to California and the parents could spare a few months without her. Two weeks later another letter arrived where she pretended to be a cousin named Alice Henderson saying she was mourning the loss of her own child. That she was "love-hungry" and was keeping Mary. 

Her story became known across America as Newspapers picked up the story. This did not bring Mary home and she never got to meet her little sister who was born two months later on July 11th. She may have been raised as the mystery woman's child.

Mary was a 2-year-old white female at the time. She had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was 3 ft and 20 lbs. She had a strawberry birthmark on her face and a scar on her stomach from a hernia. She was also left-handed.


SOURCES:

NamUs

Doe Network

Charley Project

The Evenings Time

This Bismarck Tribune