Mystery Of Child's 19th Century Headstone In Lansdale Solved

Lansdale, PA — The mysterious case of the 19th century child's headstone that was dug up in a Lansdale resident's backyard has been solved.

Police say that the child for whom the headstone was engraved has been identified as Mabel Mae Leauchmen, who died at the age of 2 years and 11 months in 1895.

After an extensive investigation involving the borough, police and the Lansdale Historical Society, Mabel Mae's actual burial plot was tracked to a Bucks County cemetery. Her burial plot there was confirmed by records and cemetery personnel.

The headstone that was found in Lansdale had been hand-inscribed, and officials believe that it was replaced in the 1930s by a professionally made headstone.

The new headstone, at the Bucks County plot, also contained a spelling correction, listing her name as Mabel May Lauchman.

The plot where the old headstone was dug up was the home of the Lauchman family in the years after Mabel May's death, police said.

The initial discovery was a shock to officials because there was no record of death or illness of a child during that time period, according to police. It was also unclear at first whom the Lansdale property belonged to in 1895.

Police said they had originally issued a cease-and-desist order to the property owner, who fully cooperated with the investigation.

Authorities specifically noted Lansdale Historical Society’s Richard Shearer and Patricia Rieker for their assistance in helping to solve the mystery.