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There was excitement in the air as Marianne Sada returned home following her shift at the

local dollar store on Christmas Eve in 1945.

17-year-old Marianne handed out gifts she had bought from work to her younger siblings

who persuaded their parents to George and Jenny to let them open a few early.

The family of 12 had an extra reason to celebrate Christmas that year.

World War II had ended only three months prior.

It wouldn't be long before the Sada's second-old son Joseph, who had been serving in the US

Army, returned home to Fayetteville, West Virginia.

As the night wore on, two of the older Sada sons, John and George Jr. retired to bed.

They had spent the day helping their father with work and were tired.

Depear headed up into the attic which was used as a space for the many Sada children to

sleep.

The attic was divided into two rooms and accessible via a set of stairs.

George Sr. also went to bed at this time in the master bedroom on the main floor.

His wife followed shortly thereafter at around 10.30pm, taking their three-year-old daughter

Sylvia with her.

...