Gail Knowlton
Real Name: Gail Knowlton
Nicknames: No known nicknames
Location: Salem Heights, Massachusetts
Date: January 21, 1992
Bio[]
Occupation: Sears Credit Bureau Employee
Date of Birth: 1958 (approx.)
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 110 - 150 lbs.
Marital Status: Married
Characteristics: Caucasian female. Brown eyes, brown hair.
Case[]
Details: On the morning of January 21, 1992, thirty-three-year-old Gail Knowlton left her Salem Heights, Massachusetts apartment to go to work at the Sears Credit Bureau in Salem. She did not arrive at work and was never seen again. She left behind her paraplegic husband Edward and a sixteen-month-old son. Police received reports from neighbors about arguing in the apartment and other "suspicious activities", but no evidence of a crime was found. Police also noted that she was on probation for "incidents" involving her children from a previous marriage. However, it is not known if this had anything to do with her disappearance. Edward and their son later moved to Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
A few years later, police asked local witch and psychic Laurie Cabot to help with Gail’s case. Laurie received only her name, age, location, and date of disappearance. Once she received this information, she went into a relaxed frame of mind known as an “alpha state”. According to her, while she is in this state, events from the past come to her in stark clarity. She says she saw Gail’s final hours in vivid detail.
According to Laurie’s vision, that morning, Gail was surprised to run into an acquaintance just outside her front door. She was “gladly and happily” surprised to see him. They talked for a bit, and then he asked her to come with him. He started driving towards New Hampshire, and then kept driving. For some reason, she thought nothing of it, and even enjoyed it, like he was taking her away with him. He then started teasing her in a “not nice way” with a knife he had.
According to Laurie, the man drove Gail to Mount Washington in New Hampshire. He pulled off the road near a steep embankment. He demanded her to get out of his truck. When she got out, she said it was cold and asked him to “quit playing around.” He became angry and started pushing her. He then pushed her down the embankment. He did it "without hesitation or remorse." He then got back in his truck and drove away. Laurie believes that if Gail survived the fall, she most likely died from exposure to the cold.
Captain Murphy is not sure whether or not he believes Laurie. He would like to be able to use her as a law enforcement “tool”. However, he notes that her abilities have not been proven yet. Despite this, he plans to continue to use Laurie in hopes that she will continue to help them.
Laurie says that the man who killed Gail drove a dark-colored pickup truck. He may be involved with drugs. She says that Gail was killed along Dolly Copp Road at the base of Mount Washington in New Hampshire on January 21, 1992.
Suspects: Neighbors reported hearing arguments and other suspicious activities around Gail's apartment shortly before she vanished. Gail was also on probation for incidents involving her children from a previous marriage. However, it is not known if this is related to her disappearance.
Laurie believes that Gail's killer drove a dark-colored pickup truck and may have been involved in drugs. He is believed to be an acquaintance of Gail's. She does not believe that the killer is Gail's husband. She drew a composite of the man. However, police would not allow it to be shown on the broadcast.
Extra Notes:
- The case first aired on the October 25, 1996 episode, which focused on Laurie's psychic abilities.
- It was excluded from the FilmRise release of the Robert Stack episodes.
Results: Unsolved. Sadly, on March 21, 2007, Edward passed away at the age of forty-seven.
Links:
- Gail Knowlton on NamUs
- TV show to highlight '92 Salem case - October 13, 1996
- TV show featuring local witch generates widespread interest - November 3, 1996
- SitcomsOnline Discussion of Gail Knowlton
- Edward Knowlton's Obituary
- Websleuths Discussion of Gail Knowlton