The case of Mary Reeser, a woman who died in a mysterious fire in her apartment in St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1951. The fire was so intense that it cremated her body, but strangely, the surrounding area was not damaged. The investigation found no signs of accelerants or foul play, and the cause of the fire remains unknown. Theories include a cigarette igniting her nightgown, a thermite bomb, and even spontaneous human combustion. Despite the bizarre circumstances, no definitive answer has been found, and the case remains unsolved.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Mary Hardy Reiser died in a fire in her apartment in St. Petersburg, Florida on July 2nd, 1951.
2. Mary told her son that she had taken two "El" tablets, a sedative, and was planning to take two more before bed.
3. Mary's son was a doctor and was considered a suspect in her death.
4. Mary's body was found cremated, with her skull shrunk to the size of a cup.
5. Parts of Mary's spine and her left foot, still in its black satin slipper, were found intact.
6. The surrounding area, including the apartment and nearby walls, was relatively unaffected by the fire.
7. The cause of the fire was unknown, but theories included a cigarette, spontaneous human combustion, and an external source such as a thermite bomb.
8. The FBI and police believed that the fire was likely caused by Mary falling asleep while smoking a cigarette.
9. Mary's weight was around 170 pounds.
10. The case was considered "perplexing" by Detective Chief Casper and "amazing and baffling" by Dr. Wilton M. Krogman, a professor of physical anthropology.
11. The coroner ruled out thermite bombs, kerosene, magnesium, phosphorus, and napalm as possible causes of the fire.
12. Some people believed that Mary was a victim of spontaneous human combustion.
13. The concept of spontaneous human combustion is considered questionable by some, as the human body is made up of up to 70% water.
14. Theories about spontaneous human combustion include static electricity, bacteria, stress, obesity, and alcohol consumption.
15. Biologist Brian J. Ford suggested that a large concentration of acetate in the body may contribute to spontaneous combustion.
16. The case of Mary Reiser remains unsolved.