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On Thursday, July 19, 1990, Florida resident Steve McGowan received a letter in the mail from his 34-year-old sister, Beverly.

The siblings had last spoken on Sunday, July 15, when Steve called Beverly to see if she would

like to drop by for a visit. She had declined, saying that she was too busy. Their conversation

was pleasant and ordinary. Now, four days later, Steve was mildly surprised to find Beverly

had sent him a letter out of the blue. The brief note contained the following message.

I just want to say goodbye to you and the kids, and let you know that what I am doing is the right

thing. This is what I need at this point in my life, so don't worry. When I come back, I will be a much

better and happier person.

Beverly was the youngest of the three McGowan children. The family hailed from Philadelphia, but had

all relocated to Florida a little over a decade earlier. Beverly lived on the coast in Pompo

Beach. Her sister Jane lived 11 miles north in Boca Raton. Steve resided in central Florida.

Like her brother, Jane also received a cryptic farewell letter from Beverly. It detailed her

decision to make some big life changes in order to go traveling. She wrote of quitting her job

...