Baby Jessica McClure was born March 26, 1986, in Midland, Texas.

The aptly named Midland is located halfway between El Paso and Fort Worth,

and has a reputation for stepping out from the shadows of larger Texas cities. Being former President George W. Bush's childhood, Home helps,

as well as its distinction as a major center of oil and natural gas production.

But this baby, Jessica, only a year and a half into her Midland Texas experience

would manage to overshadow anything the city had ever produced

by falling into the shadow of a well.

Welcome to Marooned, Stories of the Catastrifically Lost.

I'm Jack Luna.

This is Aaron Hable.

Baby Jessica was a typical 18-month-old.

She enjoyed playing with friends, was full of energy, and was very loving.

Her parents, Lewis and Reba McClure, were known by friends as Chip and Sissy.

They had gotten married and had Jessica when they were just 16.

At the time of our story here, Chip and Sissy were both only 18 years old.

And at the time, there was an oil bust where the price of oil had fallen and many people in Midland were directly affected.

Many oil workers were laid off and times were very hard.

The young couple could barely make ends meet, but loved their daughter and were trying their best.

October 14, 1987, it was a Wednesday.

18-month-old Jessica was sitting by a well in her aunt's backyard.

Her aunt, Jamie Moore, ran an in-home daycare center, and eight other kids were at the home

that day.

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