The STRANGEST Unsolved Mystery I Have Ever Seen In Pennsylvania

On June 25, 1979, 36-year-old Susan Reinert's nude body was found in her car trunk at a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania motel. She'd been beaten, bound, injected with enough morphine to "kill her ten times over." But the real horror: her two children—11-year-old Karen and 10-year-old Michael—were missing from the scene entirely. They vanished and have never been found. This is the Main Line Murders, one of Pennsylvania's most disturbing cold cases.

Susan was a dedicated English teacher at Upper Merion High School, beloved by students and colleagues, raising Karen and Michael after her 1976 divorce. She'd been secretly dating William Bradfield, chair of the English department, for four years. She believed he was her future husband. He wasn't. She was one of several women Bradfield was simultaneously dating, and he'd been systematically deceiving her.

Six weeks before her murder, Susan amended her will leaving everything to Bradfield—over $1 million including $660,000 in life insurance, $200,000 inherited property, $30,000 cash. She'd withdrawn $25,000 for Bradfield's "investments" that didn't exist. Police found fake stocks and bonds he'd forged. He was positioning to profit massively from her death.

June 22, 1979—last day Susan and her children were seen. Friday evening 9:30 PM, neighbors heard Susan's distinctive orange-red Plymouth start up and leave. She'd planned to attend a Parents Without Partners conference in Allentown with the kids but canceled days earlier, saying she had an "appointment" Friday night. Investigators believe she visited Bradfield.

Monday morning, Susan's body was found. No coat, wallet, eyeglasses. Children's belongings: gone. At home, clothes laid out on Karen and Michael's beds next to suitcases—Susan had been packing before leaving Friday. Autopsy: died Sunday between 12:15-6:15 AM, at least 27 hours after leaving home. Bound with chains, gagged, beaten, lethal morphine injection.

Bradfield had an alibi: Cape May, New Jersey all weekend with fellow teachers Susan Myers (secretly living with him for years) and Vincent Valaitis. Left Friday night, arrived Saturday morning—hours before Susan was killed. His close friend? Former principal Jay C. Smith, convicted on weapons charges, scheduled to turn himself in to Harrisburg authorities Monday June 25th—same day and city Susan's body was found.

Smith's violent history: August 1978 caught in mall parking lot wearing hood, carrying loaded pistols, attempting vehicle break-in. Police found weapons, homemade silencers, drugs. Most significant: Smith's daughter Stephanie and son-in-law Edward vanished February 1978, leaving all possessions. Smith claimed they fled California owing drug dealers. Never found.

Theory: Bradfield recruited Smith to kill Susan, dispose of children while establishing alibi 100+ miles away. 1983: Bradfield convicted three counts murder, conspiracy, life sentence. 1986: Smith convicted, death sentence. 1992: Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacated Smith's conviction—prosecutorial misconduct, state trooper paid $50,000 by author Joseph Wambaugh for confidential info, evidence withheld from defense. Smith never retried, died free 2009. Bradfield died prison 1998.

Among Bradfield's possessions: Polaroid of distinctive stone in woods, believed marking Karen and Michael's burial site. Never revealed location. 45+ years later, children never found.

CASE INFO: Karen Reinert, 11 | Michael Reinert, 10 | Missing: 6/22/79 | Ardmore, PA | Mother Susan murdered 6/25/79 | Contact: PA State Police (717) 783-5599

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