On December 17, 1968, heiress Barbara Jane Mackle was kidnapped and buried alive in a glass coffin. She remained trapped for 3 days until her rescue. When asked how she remained so positive during her ordeal, she explained she just thought about spending Christmas with her family.
Title: The Miracle of Hope: Barbara Mackle’s Survival After Being Buried Alive in 1968
Introduction
On December 17, 1968, a chilling crime shocked America: Barbara Jane Mackle, a 20-year-old college student and heiress to a real estate fortune, was kidnapped, drugged, and buried alive inside a ventilated wooden box beneath the Georgia soil. For nearly three days, she fought to survive in complete darkness, clinging to one thought—spending Christmas with her family. Her astonishing story of resilience, hope, and survival continues to inspire decades later. In this deep dive, we explore the terrifying ordeal, the daring rescue, and the mindset that kept Barbara alive.
The Kidnapping: A Plot Fueled by Greed
Barbara Mackle was targeted for her family’s wealth. Her father, Robert Mackle, co-founded a multimillion-dollar development company, making the family a prime mark for criminals. On the night of December 17, while recovering from the flu at a motel near Atlanta, Barbara answered a knock at her door. Posing as police officers, kidnappers Gary Steven Krist and Ruth Eisemann-Schier forced their way in, drugged her, and whisked her away.
The kidnappers demanded $500,000 in ransom (equivalent to ~$4 million today). But their plan took a grisly turn: to avoid detection, they buried Barbara in a custom-made fiberglass and plywood box, just 12 feet from the surface. Equipped with battery-powered air vents, a mattress, water, and minimal food, the coffin-like box became her prison.
Trapped Underground: 83 Hours in Darkness
Barbara awoke disoriented, cold, and terrified. The box—roughly 2.5 x 3 feet—deprived her of light, space, and warmth. Temperatures dropped to freezing overnight, while heavy rain seeped inside. Yet, despite the horror, Barbara’s resolve never broke. She rationed supplies, tapped the walls rhythmically to avoid panic, and focused on memories of her loved ones.
Her secret weapon? Hope for Christmas.
When rescued, Barbara revealed she’d fixated on holiday plans—decorating the tree, sharing meals with her family—to stave off despair. “I kept telling myself Christmas was coming,” she later said. “I refused to let the fear win.”
The Daring Rescue: A Nation’s Sigh of Relief
After Robert Mackle paid the ransom via a carefully orchestrated drop, the kidnappers provided a crude map hinting at Barbara’s location near Norcross, Georgia. For 11 hours, FBI agents, police, and volunteers combed the rocky terrain. Finally, on December 20, a detective spotted a pipe sticking out from the ground—the ventilation system.
Rescuers frantically dug through the dirt to reach the box. When Barbara emerged, frail but alive, the nation rejoiced. Her first words? “Thank you, I love you.”
The Aftermath: Justice and Legacy
- The Captors: Krist was captured days later and sentenced to life in prison (paroled in 1979). Eisemann-Schier fled but was apprehended—the first woman on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list.
- Barbara’s Recovery: Though physically unharmed, she battled PTSD but rebuilt her life, becoming an advocate for kidnap survivors. She married, raised three children, and published a memoir, 83 Hours Till Dawn.
- Cultural Impact: The case influenced security protocols for high-profile families and inspired TV episodes (MacGyver, Criminal Minds) and true crime documentaries.
Lesson in Resilience: How Barbara’s Mindset Saved Her
Barbara Mackle’s story transcends true crime—it’s a testament to the power of psychological resilience. Experts cite her focus on future-positive visualization (like Christmas) as a key survival tactic. By anchoring herself to love and hope, she prevented paralyzing fear from overwhelming her.
In her own words:
“Fear is natural. But if you let it control you, it becomes your coffin. I chose to believe I’d see my family again.”
Conclusion: A Christmas Miracle Remembered
Over 50 years later, Barbara Mackle’s ordeal remains one of history’s most harrowing survival stories. Her unbreakable spirit and the miraculous rescue just days before Christmas—often called “Georgia’s miracle”—remind us that even in darkness, hope can be a lifeline. As the holidays approach, her legacy endures: a beacon of courage, faith, and the enduring light of the human spirit.
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