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WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?: Exploring the Mary Theresa Simpson Cold Case
On Sunday, March 15, 1964, shy and cautious Mary Theresa Simpson waved goodbye to her two cousins and her aunt as she turned to go home to her dad's house, and they walked into a neighborhood store. Mary Theresa never made it home, and her body was found on Combs Hill Road just 4 days later.
The Elmira City Police Department is still investigating this case, and unfortunately, it isn't the only one of its kind. In What Happened to Me? factual accounts and narrative storytelling meet to explore the evidence and wider context of the disappearance and murder of 12-year-old Mary Theresa Simpson. A cold case that still weighs heavy on the heart of Elmira, New York.
The Elmira City Police Department is still investigating this case, and unfortunately, it isn't the only one of its kind. In What Happened to Me? factual accounts and narrative storytelling meet to explore the evidence and wider context of the disappearance and murder of 12-year-old Mary Theresa Simpson. A cold case that still weighs heavy on the heart of Elmira, New York.
- GenresMystery
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2025
14 people are currently reading
1238 people want to read
About the author
Christina Fanelli
11 books24 followersChristina has numerous diplomas in Literature, an AA in Business, and a BS in Information Technology she obtained while single parenting. She lives in upstate New York where she has resided most of her life. In her free time, she likes reading, knitting, fishing, and walking her dog. Her books come from different sources such as her past, dreams, and forecasts. She hopes that her writing insights can be beneficial to readers in both entertainment and understanding the unknown.
She also has published several books on Amazon, both fiction and non-fiction. She has been an Office Manager for many years working in different settings including healthcare, education, and business. She is a proud mother of a BS Accounting graduate and a military service provider.
She also has published several books on Amazon, both fiction and non-fiction. She has been an Office Manager for many years working in different settings including healthcare, education, and business. She is a proud mother of a BS Accounting graduate and a military service provider.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
October 25, 2025
Fanelli doesn’t just trace evidence she rebuilds a girl’s world. Through family memories, interviews, and local history, she captures Mary Theresa’s laughter, her hopes, her childhood joy. By the time I finished, I felt like I’d lost someone I knew. This book restores the fragments of a story time tried to erase. It’s as much about remembering as it is about mourning. A deeply human piece of storytelling.
December 30, 2025
True Story
Mary Theresa Simpson was a case I never heard of until I read this book. I thought Christina Fanelli, did a good job with what she had to work with.
There were things she could not add to the book because of the ongoing investigation.
The case of Mary Theresa Simpson is still not solved. I am hoping that the evidence is found to close the case soon.
Mary Theresa Simpson was a case I never heard of until I read this book. I thought Christina Fanelli, did a good job with what she had to work with.
There were things she could not add to the book because of the ongoing investigation.
The case of Mary Theresa Simpson is still not solved. I am hoping that the evidence is found to close the case soon.
October 25, 2025
The Light She Left
Every once in a while, a true story comes along that humbles you. What Happened to Me? is one of those. Fanelli’s words illuminate a darkness that’s lingered for decades. She doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, but her dedication to telling Mary Theresa’s story keeps her spirit alive. The final chapters filled me with both sadness and peace. It’s more than a book, it’s an act of remembrance. Fanelli has given the world a gift by ensuring Mary Theresa Simpson is never forgotten.
Every once in a while, a true story comes along that humbles you. What Happened to Me? is one of those. Fanelli’s words illuminate a darkness that’s lingered for decades. She doesn’t pretend to have all the answers, but her dedication to telling Mary Theresa’s story keeps her spirit alive. The final chapters filled me with both sadness and peace. It’s more than a book, it’s an act of remembrance. Fanelli has given the world a gift by ensuring Mary Theresa Simpson is never forgotten.
October 25, 2025
Reading What Happened to Me? broke my heart and somehow mended it at the same time. Fanelli’s inclusion of Mary Theresa’s sister’s voice brought tears to my eyes it’s raw and full of love. The dedication and remembrance woven throughout make this feel deeply personal, not just for the family but for readers too. It’s a story about loss, yes, but also about connection and memory. The humanity within these pages is what sets it apart from any true-crime book I’ve ever read. Beautiful, painful, and unforgettable.
March 12, 2026
I read a lot of true crime books. It is sad what happened to these girls and that one case isn't solved yet and it took until 2020 before the one was solved and if I remember right the killer had already died of natural causes. This is a new author to me.
November 16, 2025
Fanelli has written something far beyond a crime investigation it’s a lament, a whisper from the past that won’t rest until it’s heard. Every line feels weighted with empathy. Through meticulous research, she rebuilds the fragments of a life cut short, giving voice to a child who deserved so much more. It’s not just the mystery that gripped me, but the emotion behind it the love of a sister, the ache of unanswered questions, the chill of forgotten truth. This book doesn’t scream; it mourns. A stunning and necessary read that restores humanity to a story long buried in silence.
November 28, 2025
What Happened to Me? is a heartbreaking and deeply affecting true crime book that stays with you long after you finish it. Knowing this is the real story of a 12-year old girl who never made it home makes every page feel heavy with meaning. Christina Fanelli treats Mary Theresa Simpson with care and dignity, never losing sight of the fact that this is not just a case it’s a child who was loved and a family that was shattered.
What I appreciated most is how the book balances factual investigation with emotional storytelling. The details of the case are laid out clearly, but the human side is always front and center. You feel the fear, the unanswered questions, and the lasting impact on the community of Elmira. It’s frustrating, sad, and unsettling to realize how much time has passed with no justice.
This isn’t an easy read, but it’s an important one. It gives voice to a girl who was silenced far too young and reminds us why cold cases still matter because behind every one is a life that deserves to be remembered.
What I appreciated most is how the book balances factual investigation with emotional storytelling. The details of the case are laid out clearly, but the human side is always front and center. You feel the fear, the unanswered questions, and the lasting impact on the community of Elmira. It’s frustrating, sad, and unsettling to realize how much time has passed with no justice.
This isn’t an easy read, but it’s an important one. It gives voice to a girl who was silenced far too young and reminds us why cold cases still matter because behind every one is a life that deserves to be remembered.
December 9, 2025
WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?: Exploring the Mary Theresa Simpson Cold Case by Christina Fanelli looks closely at the original investigation and the family’s long search for the truth. By also discussing other local homicide cases, the book shows how these tragedies have affected the Elmira community over the years. Simpson’s family has read the book and says it tells the facts honestly while capturing the lasting impact the case had on everyone involved.
But this book is more than a crime story—it feels like a quiet, heartfelt tribute. Fanelli’s careful research pieces together the short life of a child who deserved so much more, giving her a voice after so many years of silence. What stands out is not just the mystery, but the emotion behind it: a sister’s love, the pain of unanswered questions, and the weight of hidden truths. It’s a powerful and meaningful read that brings humanity back to a story long forgotten.
But this book is more than a crime story—it feels like a quiet, heartfelt tribute. Fanelli’s careful research pieces together the short life of a child who deserved so much more, giving her a voice after so many years of silence. What stands out is not just the mystery, but the emotion behind it: a sister’s love, the pain of unanswered questions, and the weight of hidden truths. It’s a powerful and meaningful read that brings humanity back to a story long forgotten.
October 25, 2025
What Happened to Me? is a heartrending and chilling story by a writer, Christina Fanelli, of what happened to an unsolved murder of a 12-year-old girl, Mary Theresa Simpson. Fanelli combines the facts and emotional narration of the events that happened in the 1964 tragedy in Elmira, New York.
She re-creates the last days of Mary Theresa through keen research and empathy and addresses the unanswered questions that haunt her. The book is not only of a single cold case but of justice, memory and eternal pain of a community.
The writing by Fanelli provides a voice to the voiceless and reminds the readers of the need to find the truth despite the number of years that have passed. A gripping and touching true-true crime book.
She re-creates the last days of Mary Theresa through keen research and empathy and addresses the unanswered questions that haunt her. The book is not only of a single cold case but of justice, memory and eternal pain of a community.
The writing by Fanelli provides a voice to the voiceless and reminds the readers of the need to find the truth despite the number of years that have passed. A gripping and touching true-true crime book.
November 3, 2025
This book takes a poignant and respectful look at the real-life mystery of 12-year-old Mary Theresa Simpson, who disappeared in 1964.
Rather than sensationalizing the case, the author focuses on the human side – Mary's life, her family, and the community that is still reeling from her loss.
The book combines true crime details with heartwarming storytelling, making it emotional and thought-provoking.
Although it doesn't solve the case, it helps readers understand the lasting impact of an unsolved tragedy.
Overall, this is a quiet, compassionate, and touching true crime story about memory and justice.
Rather than sensationalizing the case, the author focuses on the human side – Mary's life, her family, and the community that is still reeling from her loss.
The book combines true crime details with heartwarming storytelling, making it emotional and thought-provoking.
Although it doesn't solve the case, it helps readers understand the lasting impact of an unsolved tragedy.
Overall, this is a quiet, compassionate, and touching true crime story about memory and justice.
February 17, 2026
This One Sat Heavy With Me
I didn’t read this book quickly. It felt wrong to rush it. Every chapter seemed to ask for a pause, as if the story itself needed space to breathe. Mary Theresa Simpson is introduced with such tenderness that I forgot, briefly, what the book was leading toward and that made the loss hit harder.
What stayed with me most was how the author lets uncertainty remain. The investigation, the family, the community everything exists in a state of waiting. That patience felt respectful. This isn’t a book that offers comfort, but it does offer honesty, and that mattered more to me.
I didn’t read this book quickly. It felt wrong to rush it. Every chapter seemed to ask for a pause, as if the story itself needed space to breathe. Mary Theresa Simpson is introduced with such tenderness that I forgot, briefly, what the book was leading toward and that made the loss hit harder.
What stayed with me most was how the author lets uncertainty remain. The investigation, the family, the community everything exists in a state of waiting. That patience felt respectful. This isn’t a book that offers comfort, but it does offer honesty, and that mattered more to me.
February 17, 2026
Not What I Expected, But Exactly What I Needed
I went in expecting a traditional true-crime format. What I found instead was something quieter and far more affecting. The writing focuses on Mary Theresa as a child first, not as a victim, and that choice completely changed how I experienced the story.
Reading about her routines, fears, and family moments made the unanswered questions unbearable in the most human way. The absence of neat conclusions didn’t frustrate me it mirrored real life. I finished this book feeling sad, thoughtful, and strangely grateful for the care taken with such a fragile story.
I went in expecting a traditional true-crime format. What I found instead was something quieter and far more affecting. The writing focuses on Mary Theresa as a child first, not as a victim, and that choice completely changed how I experienced the story.
Reading about her routines, fears, and family moments made the unanswered questions unbearable in the most human way. The absence of neat conclusions didn’t frustrate me it mirrored real life. I finished this book feeling sad, thoughtful, and strangely grateful for the care taken with such a fragile story.
February 21, 2026
I Kept Putting the Book Down and Picking It Back Up
This was not a book I could power through. I kept stopping, setting it aside, then feeling pulled back to it again. Not because it was suspenseful, but because it felt heavy in a quiet, almost respectful way. Mary Theresa’s life is presented so gently that her absence becomes impossible to ignore.
What stayed with me was how the story refuses to rush toward meaning. It allows confusion, grief, and unanswered questions to remain exactly as they are. That restraint made the experience feel honest. I didn’t close the book feeling satisfied I closed it feeling changed.
This was not a book I could power through. I kept stopping, setting it aside, then feeling pulled back to it again. Not because it was suspenseful, but because it felt heavy in a quiet, almost respectful way. Mary Theresa’s life is presented so gently that her absence becomes impossible to ignore.
What stayed with me was how the story refuses to rush toward meaning. It allows confusion, grief, and unanswered questions to remain exactly as they are. That restraint made the experience feel honest. I didn’t close the book feeling satisfied I closed it feeling changed.
February 21, 2026
A Quiet, Unsettling Read
This book stayed with me in a way I didn’t expect. Mary Theresa Simpson isn’t introduced as a “case” but as a child with routines, fears, and small joys. That choice made everything heavier. I found myself slowing down, rereading passages, and feeling the weight of every unanswered moment.
What struck me most was Linda Simpson-Galpin’s presence throughout the narrative. Her love, her memories, and her voice anchor the story emotionally. Even when facts dominate the page, grief lingers between the lines. This isn’t fast-paced true crime it’s reflective, respectful, and deeply human.
This book stayed with me in a way I didn’t expect. Mary Theresa Simpson isn’t introduced as a “case” but as a child with routines, fears, and small joys. That choice made everything heavier. I found myself slowing down, rereading passages, and feeling the weight of every unanswered moment.
What struck me most was Linda Simpson-Galpin’s presence throughout the narrative. Her love, her memories, and her voice anchor the story emotionally. Even when facts dominate the page, grief lingers between the lines. This isn’t fast-paced true crime it’s reflective, respectful, and deeply human.
February 21, 2026
A Different Kind of True Crime
This book isn’t loud. It doesn’t chase shock value. Instead, it unfolds slowly, allowing the reader to absorb the loss piece by piece. Mary Theresa Simpson is treated with dignity, not as a mystery but as a presence that never truly leaves the page.
Captain Smith and the investigative process are shown with all their limitations, which made the story more frustrating and more real. Progress is slow. Leads dissolve. Time passes. That realism made the case feel painfully authentic. I appreciated how restraint was used as a storytelling tool rather than a weakness.
This book isn’t loud. It doesn’t chase shock value. Instead, it unfolds slowly, allowing the reader to absorb the loss piece by piece. Mary Theresa Simpson is treated with dignity, not as a mystery but as a presence that never truly leaves the page.
Captain Smith and the investigative process are shown with all their limitations, which made the story more frustrating and more real. Progress is slow. Leads dissolve. Time passes. That realism made the case feel painfully authentic. I appreciated how restraint was used as a storytelling tool rather than a weakness.
February 21, 2026
Heartbreaking Without Being Exploitative
It would have been easy for this story to turn sensational. It never does. Christina Fanelli writes with care, letting silence and unanswered questions speak louder than speculation. Mary Theresa’s inner world her fears, dreams, and routines felt achingly close.
Janice’s role in documenting the investigation added a grounded, procedural layer that balanced the emotional weight. Seeing events laid out through reports and timelines reinforced how much effort went into finding answers, even when none came. This book left me reflective, not rattled and that matters.
It would have been easy for this story to turn sensational. It never does. Christina Fanelli writes with care, letting silence and unanswered questions speak louder than speculation. Mary Theresa’s inner world her fears, dreams, and routines felt achingly close.
Janice’s role in documenting the investigation added a grounded, procedural layer that balanced the emotional weight. Seeing events laid out through reports and timelines reinforced how much effort went into finding answers, even when none came. This book left me reflective, not rattled and that matters.
February 21, 2026
Must Have for Thoughtful True-Crime Readers
This book reads less like an investigation and more like an act of remembrance. Mary Theresa Simpson is never reduced to a headline. Instead, her life is rebuilt gently through moments that feel ordinary and that’s what makes them devastating.
The inclusion of similar cases, especially Marise Chiverella’s, brought a wider context that felt purposeful rather than distracting. Hope is introduced quietly, almost cautiously. I finished this book with a deep respect for how carefully the author handled real people, real pain, and unresolved truth.
This book reads less like an investigation and more like an act of remembrance. Mary Theresa Simpson is never reduced to a headline. Instead, her life is rebuilt gently through moments that feel ordinary and that’s what makes them devastating.
The inclusion of similar cases, especially Marise Chiverella’s, brought a wider context that felt purposeful rather than distracting. Hope is introduced quietly, almost cautiously. I finished this book with a deep respect for how carefully the author handled real people, real pain, and unresolved truth.
October 25, 2025
Unforgettable Tragedy
Christina Fanelli delivers a haunting yet tender account of a little girl whose story still echoes through time. What Happened to Me? is not just a cold case it’s a cry for justice wrapped in love and sorrow. The way Fanelli humanizes Mary Theresa made me stop more than once to breathe and feel. Every detail is handled with care, balancing fact and emotion beautifully. It’s both heartbreaking and deeply respectful, reminding us that every name in a headline once had dreams, laughter, and family. This book will stay with me for a long time.
Christina Fanelli delivers a haunting yet tender account of a little girl whose story still echoes through time. What Happened to Me? is not just a cold case it’s a cry for justice wrapped in love and sorrow. The way Fanelli humanizes Mary Theresa made me stop more than once to breathe and feel. Every detail is handled with care, balancing fact and emotion beautifully. It’s both heartbreaking and deeply respectful, reminding us that every name in a headline once had dreams, laughter, and family. This book will stay with me for a long time.
October 26, 2025
Reading this felt like walking through history with a heavy but necessary heart. Fanelli captures the innocence of Mary Theresa with such tenderness that you can’t help but feel protective of her. The blend of narrative and documented fact makes the story immersive and painfully real. Every chapter honors her memory and reflects the persistence of those still seeking answers. This isn’t a typical crime book it’s a tribute, a reminder of how love outlasts tragedy. I finished it in tears, but with gratitude that someone cared enough to tell her story right.
October 26, 2025
This book tore through me in ways I didn’t expect. Fanelli doesn’t dramatize or sensationalize she simply tells the truth as it was, and that truth is devastating. I could almost feel the cold March air and hear the silence that followed Mary Theresa’s disappearance. The research is impeccable, but what makes this book powerful is its humanity. It’s not just about what happened it’s about who it happened to. A young girl robbed of her future, and a town that never forgot her. Honest, emotional, and unforgettable.
October 28, 2025
From the first page, I was pulled into the quiet ache of this story. Fanelli’s writing is both investigative and deeply emotional. You can sense her respect for Mary Theresa and the care she took to honor every fact and feeling. I appreciated how she combined cold evidence with warmth and empathy it’s rare in true crime. The result is a book that doesn’t just inform; it moves you. It’s a powerful reminder that every case file holds a real person whose story deserves to be told. Absolutely unforgettable.
October 28, 2025
Fanelli does something remarkable here she transforms a forgotten crime into a deeply human story. The attention to period detail makes you feel as if you’ve stepped back into 1964, walking the same streets, hearing the same whispers. But what moved me most was how she gave dignity to the victim. No sensationalism, no easy answers, just truth, grief, and persistence. It reads like both an investigation and a memorial, balancing sadness with quiet strength. I closed the book feeling changed like I’d just witnessed something sacred.
November 4, 2025
The book centers around the life of Mary Theresa, a cheerful girl who led an ordinary life. However, one day she suddenly goes missing and is later found to have been brutally murdered.
The story is mysterious and astonishing. The author gradually unveils the story of Mary Theresa and her unexpected disappearance. The unresolved nature of the case adds a chilling aspect to the crime.
The narration is simple yet captivating. The author introduces characters who could potentially be suspects in the murder case of Mary Theresa.
The story is mysterious and astonishing. The author gradually unveils the story of Mary Theresa and her unexpected disappearance. The unresolved nature of the case adds a chilling aspect to the crime.
The narration is simple yet captivating. The author introduces characters who could potentially be suspects in the murder case of Mary Theresa.
November 6, 2025
Fact Meets Feeling
Few authors manage to make you feel history, but Fanelli does. The mix of documented fact and heart-wrenching storytelling pulled me in completely. I found myself rereading certain passages just to take in the emotion behind them. The care she shows for accuracy is clear, but so is her compassion. This is investigative writing with a soul. Every page honors Mary Theresa’s life rather than her death. It’s a reminder that justice isn’t always about finding a culprit it’s about remembering who was lost.
Few authors manage to make you feel history, but Fanelli does. The mix of documented fact and heart-wrenching storytelling pulled me in completely. I found myself rereading certain passages just to take in the emotion behind them. The care she shows for accuracy is clear, but so is her compassion. This is investigative writing with a soul. Every page honors Mary Theresa’s life rather than her death. It’s a reminder that justice isn’t always about finding a culprit it’s about remembering who was lost.
November 6, 2025
Frozen in Time
Some books entertain; others awaken something in you. This one did both. Fanelli captures the 1960s world so vividly the neighborhoods, the small joys, the fear and then gently shatters it with tragedy. Her prose feels almost poetic, especially in the scenes describing Mary Theresa’s innocence. You sense the author’s respect in every line. The unresolved ending left me quiet for hours, reflecting on how many stories like this are still waiting for answers. It’s haunting in the best possible way.
Some books entertain; others awaken something in you. This one did both. Fanelli captures the 1960s world so vividly the neighborhoods, the small joys, the fear and then gently shatters it with tragedy. Her prose feels almost poetic, especially in the scenes describing Mary Theresa’s innocence. You sense the author’s respect in every line. The unresolved ending left me quiet for hours, reflecting on how many stories like this are still waiting for answers. It’s haunting in the best possible way.
February 17, 2026
A Book That Doesn’t Let You Look Away
There were moments when I wanted distance from this story, but the writing wouldn’t allow it. Not through shock, but through presence. Mary Theresa’s world is built so clearly that her disappearance feels like a tear in something familiar.
The investigative details are presented with restraint, never overpowering the emotional core. I appreciated how the author trusted the reader to feel the weight without spelling it out. This book doesn’t demand attention it earns it.
There were moments when I wanted distance from this story, but the writing wouldn’t allow it. Not through shock, but through presence. Mary Theresa’s world is built so clearly that her disappearance feels like a tear in something familiar.
The investigative details are presented with restraint, never overpowering the emotional core. I appreciated how the author trusted the reader to feel the weight without spelling it out. This book doesn’t demand attention it earns it.
February 17, 2026
Emotional Without Being Overwritten
What impressed me most was how controlled the emotion was. This book could have leaned into dramatics, but instead it lets quiet moments carry the grief. Mary Theresa is remembered through small, ordinary details, which made her loss feel deeply personal.
The long-term impact on the family is handled with care and dignity. There’s no attempt to assign easy blame or create villains. The story stays grounded, thoughtful, and unresolved just as it should be. I closed the book feeling reflective rather than overwhelmed.
What impressed me most was how controlled the emotion was. This book could have leaned into dramatics, but instead it lets quiet moments carry the grief. Mary Theresa is remembered through small, ordinary details, which made her loss feel deeply personal.
The long-term impact on the family is handled with care and dignity. There’s no attempt to assign easy blame or create villains. The story stays grounded, thoughtful, and unresolved just as it should be. I closed the book feeling reflective rather than overwhelmed.
February 17, 2026
This Book Changed How I Think About Cold Cases
I’ve read a lot of true crime, but this felt different. It reminded me that behind every case file is a life that didn’t get to finish unfolding. Mary Theresa is portrayed as more than a name, and that changed everything for me.
The slow, deliberate pacing mirrors the long wait for answers. At times, it was frustrating but that frustration felt intentional. I walked away with more empathy, not just curiosity, and that feels rare in this genre.
I’ve read a lot of true crime, but this felt different. It reminded me that behind every case file is a life that didn’t get to finish unfolding. Mary Theresa is portrayed as more than a name, and that changed everything for me.
The slow, deliberate pacing mirrors the long wait for answers. At times, it was frustrating but that frustration felt intentional. I walked away with more empathy, not just curiosity, and that feels rare in this genre.
February 17, 2026
One of the most powerful lessons from this book is how ordinary moments are never truly ordinary. The image of a tiny Christmas tree barely standing under the weight of too many ornaments mirrors the fragility of life itself. A child waking at 4:16 a.m., trying not to wake her family, praying quietly before tiptoeing back to bed — these are small, intimate details that feel safe. Yet knowing what happens later makes those details sacred. The book teaches us to stop rushing past simple mornings and shared holidays. We never know which memory will become the last untouched moment of innocence.
February 17, 2026
Mary Theresa’s quiet excitement on Christmas morning reveals a child who still believed the world was predictable. She looked for tags on gifts, hoping her handmade presents would make others happy. That innocence caring about giving, about family contrasts painfully with what we know follows. The lesson here is that children move through the world trusting it will protect them. As adults, we are responsible for guarding that trust. The book forces us to confront how fragile childhood security truly is.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews