Current Synopsis of the Research/Progress In The Marian Baker Story

Marian Baker is so much more than a young woman who was brutally murdered in Lancaster County in 1950. That has always been evident but is becoming so much clearer as the days go by.
What started as my unsettling questions, for almost all of my life, has now turned into a clear understanding that it is not just the facts surrounding the case that need clarification and explanation.
Marian Baker was ill used by the press and the media. It began as soon as she was reported missing and the investigation began.
Marian Louise Baker was on an errand in downtown Lancaster. She was on her errand as part of her job at F & M. She was a happy young woman, engaged to be married and excited over picking her engagement ring up at Kay's and then having her hair done later that afternoon.
She accepted the offer of a ride back to campus.
Ed Gibbs spun a quick tale and headed south on Prince Street.
What he testified to as the conversation in the car as they headed away from the campus, not toward it, is a lie.
Marian Baker was rushed with work and said so earlier in the day.
Immediately prior to leaving for downtown to go to the bank, the post office, and Kay Jewelers, she told Nancy Stonesifer that she was so rushed with work all of a sudden that she was worried she'd miss her five-thirty p.m. hair appointment.
She was so excited about that appointment that she told one of the women she saw during her errands that she wouldn't recognize her the next day, due to having her hair done.
Tuesday, January 10, 1950 was a gray, cold day. By accepting Ed Gibbs' offer of a ride back to campus she could save time. Taking the bus back would have taken longer.
Ed Gibbs didn't count on Nancy Stonesifer's recollection of the comment made by Marian as she sat down right after lunch, at her desk, not even taking the time to remove her coat as she got ready to head downtown.
Ed Gibbs lied about the ride down Prince Street.
Why he wasn't questioned about the earlier mind set of Marian about being rushed confuses me.
It has always been portrayed that Marian quite willingly headed back to the Harnish cottage without question. That is incorrect.
Marian wasn't interested in a joy ride. She wasn't interested in seeing the scenery.
She wanted to get back to campus, get her work done quickly and keep her five thirty hair appointment.
What did Ed Gibbs suddenly come up with to keep Marian calm as he headed down Prince Street?
He never told a soul.
But he lied to her. And he lied to everyone else about those facts.
Marian was a lady. And I'm sure she would have kept her frustration to herself as she probably checked her wristwatch, calculating the time she would have left to get her duties done and still keep her appointment.
Marian treated everyone with respect. Even Ed Gibbs.
Ed had no idea that Marian had told Nancy Stonesifer that his continual chatter about himself made her sick.
If he had maybe he would have had second thoughts about picking her up in front of the Lancaster Post Office that day. Knowing that she wasn't impressed with his false face and false persona, maybe he would have grunted in dismissal and kept on walking.
But Marian wasn't only respectful and a lady, she was kind.
And being rushed, she thought that a ride back to the campus was a great plan.
Ed Gibbs made up a lie and made Marian believe that this was temporary detour.
I'm sure she was a bit less than happy at the sudden change in route.
What makes my blood run cold is thinking about the point in time when she began to become afraid.
I'm sure she experienced what we all would in that circumstance. She probably told herself she was being silly. There really was nothing to be afraid of.
That little twinge in her stomach when things didn't feel quite right...
How surreal it all became in a hurry.
I believe to the very end she couldn't believe it was actually happening to her.
The truths about Ed Gibbs haven't been made public.
There are many.
I have no idea why the DA never pounced on the discrepancies in testimony.
Yes, he had the confession. He had what he believed, from the beginning, an air tight case.
But why not reveal some more truths about Ed Gibbs?
By revealing those truths would have removed the innuendo from Marian Baker.
Marian Baker never once entertained the thought of going to any remote wooded area with Ed Gibbs. She truly wasn't that kind of girl.
And THAT should have been part of the official record.
There are many wrongs to be righted in Marian's defense.
Ed Gibbs was a complete and total liar.
He killed Marian. And by his hands he helped the media and press to tarnish her character.
And that will not stand.