Hidden: The Unsolved Mystery of Sarah Mumford

by Michelle Graff

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.

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2023

About the author

Michelle Graff is the founder of Cultivating Human Resiliency and the author of The Compassion Fatigued Organization. After more than twenty years in social services, she now focuses on helping the helping professional.

As a resiliency cultivator, she provides training and consultation to both public and private human service agencies. Over the past twenty-two years, Michelle has developed and presented hundreds of trainings on everything from trauma and the brain to interpersonal and leadership skills. Her experience working with human service professionals and organizations has provided an insider’s perspective on the impact of secondary trauma. Compassion fatigue has become her most requested topic.

Michelle lives and works in Kansas City, where she enjoys learning, creating, and spending time with family and friends.

Reviews

[Paige Moulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden: The Unsolved Mystery of Sarah Mumford by Michelle Graff is a compelling and atmospheric true crime narrative that revisits a haunting case left unresolved for more than a century. Blending historical investigation with personal lineage, Graff constructs a layered story that feels both intimate and investigative in scope.

What sets this book apart is its dual narrative structure. By weaving together the original 1899 investigation with a parallel account rooted in her own family history, Graff creates a deeply immersive reading experience. This approach not only revives the mystery of Sarah Mumford but also adds emotional resonance, connecting past and present in a meaningful and thought-provoking way.

The reconstruction of the case is handled with care and attention to detail. From the coroner’s inquest to the emergence of multiple suspects, the narrative captures the uncertainty and tension that defined the original investigation. Graff’s inclusion of new insights and interpretations invites readers to engage actively with the mystery, encouraging them to question assumptions and consider alternative possibilities.

Beyond the crime itself, the book explores broader social themes, including identity, power dynamics, and the limitations of justice in a historical context. These elements add depth and relevance, making the story resonate beyond its immediate setting.

Hidden will appeal to readers who enjoy historical true crime, unsolved mysteries, and narratives that combine investigative rigor with personal storytelling. It is a thoughtful and engaging work that invites readers to look beyond the surface and reconsider a long-forgotten case.

[Dennis Kocik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read of a 124 year old, unsolved, murder along with a parallel quest to find more about the authors relative during the dame place and time. My question to the author would be: why not try sbd have Sarah's body exhumed and DNA taken to compare with the 2 child bodies near her to see if she did, indeed, birth one of them and possibly solve the mystery of why she was murdered?

[Marge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fine Effort To Solve the Mystery

I am a family history hobbyist. The stories of the persons introduced in this book almost satisfied my thirst for research and history. Why didn’t it? You need to see for yourself and I hope that by book’s end you’ll see what I mean.

[Audra Solito · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a hobby genealogist, I have often discovered stories in my research and wanted to do more digging and analysis. The level of research the author did with this book is fantastic and I truly enjoy her method telling the story.

[Snicholson524 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so interesting because it was set in my hometown!