The History Chick
From hidden gems to hometown legends, we explore history, folklife, and culture in New Jersey and the Tri-State Area. Whether it’s Revolutionary War tales, boardwalk stories, or local folklore, The History Chick is here to keep the past alive—and a little bit sassy.
The History Chick
The Vanishing of Marie Smith: Asbury Park’s Forgotten Murder
In 1910, 10-year-old Marie Smith disappeared just 600 feet from her home in Asbury Park, New Jersey. What followed wasn’t just a tragic murder — it exposed the racial tensions, investigative failures, and dark underbelly of a resort town trying to maintain its pristine image.
Join host Lesley Schierenbeck (aka The History Chick) as she unpacks one of the most shocking — and nearly forgotten — true crime cases in New Jersey history. This episode takes you from the rushed arrest of Tom Williams, to the arrival of the Pinkerton Detective Agency, to a professional “roper” who lured the real killer into confessing inside an Atlantic City hotel.
🕵️♀️ It’s a story of injustice, persistence, and a chilling confession — all set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Asbury Park.
📚 Further Reading:
This episode was inspired in part by The Rope: A True Story of Murder, Heroism, and the Dawn of the NAACP by Alex Tresniowski — a gripping account that dives even deeper into this case and its national implications.
Thanks for listening!
Want to walk the very streets where this chilling story unfolded? Join me on one of my History Chick Tours in Asbury Park, NJ. Visit historychicktours.com for upcoming dates and tickets.
💌 Contact:
Got an idea for a future episode? Want to be a guest? Email me at historychicktours@gmail.com