Barbara Jane Mackle: Where Is The Woman Who Survived Being Buried Alive Now?
The Ordeal That Shocked a Nation
Barbara Jane Mackle was a 20-year-old university student and heiress to a multimillion-dollar fortune from Florida. Her life, seemingly idyllic, took a harrowing and unimaginable turn in December of 1968.A Trip Home Turns Terrifying
The events leading up to the abduction began innocently enough. Barbara was attending Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, when she fell ill with the Hong Kong flu, a pandemic that had struck the campus. Mackle fell ill earlier in December, and her illness progressed to the point where she had to leave during an exam. Concerned for her daughter's well-being, Jane Mackle, Barbara’s mother, drove up from the family’s Florida estate in Coral Gables to care for her. The school’s infirmary was filled, so Jane had taken a room at the Rodeway Inn in Atlanta, where Barbara was recovering under her mother’s care. The plan was for Jane to nurse her daughter back to health and then drive her back to the family home in Coral Gables, Florida, for the Christmas break. However, before they departed, their stay at the motel would become the scene of a nightmare.The Abduction: A Calculated Crime
In the early morning hours of December 17, 1968, all of this excitement slammed to a halt when the Mackle family received grim news. On that fateful night, 20-year-old Barbara Jane Mackle was abducted from her motel room. The perpetrators were Gary Steven Krist, then 23, and his partner, Ruth Eisemann-Schierthe. The kidnapping was meticulously planned. Jane, Barbara’s mother, believed what she heard and opened the door, only to be met by the imposing figure of Gary Krist. Jane was knocked unconscious with chloroform and bound by her hands. With Jane incapacitated, Krist and Eisemann-Schierthe seized Barbara. They wanted $500,000 in ransom from Barbara's wealthy family.Buried Alive: 83 Hours of Darkness
What followed was an act of cruelty almost beyond comprehension. Barbara Jane Mackle was kidnapped at gunpoint and left in a purpose-built box beneath the Georgia ground. This was no ordinary kidnapping; Barbara Mackle was buried alive in a coffin in a remote, wooded area north of Atlanta. The box, described as a ventilated coffin, was equipped with a small air pump, a light, water, and some food, designed to sustain her for a limited time. But the psychological terror of being entombed underground, knowing that her survival depended entirely on her captors' whims and the effectiveness of their crude life support system, must have been unbearable. She endured three and a half days underground, or around 80 to 83 hours, in complete darkness and isolation. The world above ground frantically searched for her, unaware of the claustrophobic nightmare she was living.The Rescue and Capture of the Perpetrators
The FBI search party worked tirelessly, frantically digging to find her in the wooded area north of Atlanta after the ransom was paid. After around 80 hours under the ground, Barbara Jane Mackle was brought out by authorities. TIME magazine reported that she was found to be in good condition, a testament to her incredible will to survive and the quick action of the authorities. Krist, best known for kidnapping and burying heiress Barbara Jane Mackle alive in a ventilated box in 1968, was captured shortly after receiving the $500,000 in ransom money. He was eventually sentenced to life in prison. Ruth Eisemann-Schierthe was also apprehended, becoming the first woman to be placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.Where Is Barbara Mackle Now?
After surviving such an extraordinary and traumatic ordeal, it's natural to wonder about Barbara Jane Mackle's life in the decades that followed. Her story became a national sensation, a harrowing tale of survival that captured headlines and imaginations. However, following her rescue, Barbara made a deliberate choice to step away from the public eye. Barbara Mackle now lives a life far removed from the media’s attention. She has dedicated her years to family and maintaining a quiet, private existence. Unlike many who might capitalize on such a dramatic experience, Barbara chose a path of normalcy and anonymity. She married and reportedly has children, building a life centered on her loved ones, away from the glare of public scrutiny. Her decision to live privately is entirely understandable. The trauma of being buried alive for 83 hours, coupled with the intense media circus that surrounded her case, would be overwhelming for anyone. Her focus has clearly been on healing, moving forward, and finding peace in the everyday joys of life. She has shown remarkable strength not only in surviving the kidnapping but also in reclaiming her life on her own terms, defining herself not by the horror she endured, but by the quiet dignity with which she has lived since.A Legacy of Resilience
Barbara Jane Mackle's story remains a powerful testament to human resilience. She is "the girl who survived three days buried alive," a moniker that forever links her to an almost unbelievable act of endurance. Her experience, while horrific, also highlights the unwavering dedication of law enforcement and the collective relief of a nation when she was found alive. Today, Barbara Jane Mackle embodies the quiet strength of a survivor who chose to heal and thrive away from the spotlight. Her life, though private, stands as a profound example of overcoming unimaginable adversity and finding solace in the embrace of family and a normal existence. She reminds us that even after facing the deepest darkness, it is possible to emerge, rebuild, and live a full, meaningful life, far removed from the echoes of past trauma.- Permanent Loc Extensions Atlanta Ga
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Barbara Mackle — Southern Fried True Crime Podcast
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