Florence “Sally” Horner: A Tragic Story of Abduction and Inspiration
Florence “Sally” Horner lived with her widowed mother, Ella Horner, at 944 Linden Street in North Camden when, in June 1948, she was abducted by Frank LaSalle. LaSalle, a 50-year-old convicted pedophile, held Sally captive for 21 months, taking her across the country before she managed to contact authorities. Following her rescue, LaSalle was extradited to New Jersey and imprisoned at Trenton State Prison, where he died in 1966.
Sally returned home after her harrowing ordeal but faced another tragedy just a few years later. In 1952, she died in an automobile accident.
Cultural Significance
Sally Horner's abduction and its surrounding circumstances reportedly influenced Russian-born novelist Vladimir Nabokov. Her story is believed to have inspired aspects of his novel Lolita, particularly in its exploration of manipulation and captivity.
Further Reading
In November 2014, Sarah Weinman published a comprehensive article titled The Real Lolita in the online Hazlitt magazine. This piece provides an in-depth account of Sally's abduction, details about the individuals involved, and the aftermath of the events. The article also features high-quality images and is highly recommended for anyone interested in learning more about this tragic case and its cultural impact.
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Sally Horner Associated Press Release 3
SAN JOSE, Calif. March 1950 (AP) — A 13-year-old girl's telephoned plea “send the FBI for me, please!” has ended her 21-month trans-continental travels with a 52-year-old man. Sheriff' s deputies placed Florence (Sally) Horner in a juvenile detention home last night, after finding her in an auto court. They were awaiting word from her…
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