Who Killed Susie Salmon in Real Life? Uncovering the Tragic True Story Behind The Lovely Bones
The Lovely Bones is a haunting, emotional novel by Alice Sebold that was adapted into a acclaimed film in 2009 But many wonder – who was the real killer that inspired the brutal murder of Susie Salmon? While The Lovely Bones is a work of fiction, there are true events that influenced the author’s writing Uncovering the real-life inspirations behind The Lovely Bones provides insight into the tragic stories that gave depth to Susie’s tale.
The Fictional Story of Susie Salmon’s Murder
In The Lovely Bones, 14-year-old Susie Salmon is lured into a handmade underground den and murdered by her neighbor George Harvey in 1973. Susie narrates the story from heaven as her family grieves her loss and struggles to move on. The details of Susie’s murder are vivid and terrifying, emphasizing the random violence that shattered her life and family. Susie’s body goes undiscovered for much of the story, representing the lingering pain and lack of closure her family endures.
While Susie’s story is fiction, author Alice Sebold drew inspiration from the emotional truths of real crimes. Sebold herself was brutally raped as a college student, an experience that informed her writing. While no actual case directly mirrors Susie’s story, Sebold gave her a tragic fate similar to many lost girls of the 1970s.
The Inspiration Alice Sebold’s Own TraumaThe most direct inspiration behind Susie Salmon’s story was Alice Sebold’s real-life trauma. In 1981 she was attacked and raped while a student at Syracuse University. The harrowing experience had a profound impact, influencing the depth and honesty of emotion in The Lovely Bones.
In her memoir Lucky, Sebold detailed the assault, her struggles with PTSD, and the long process of healing. Critically, her rapist was never caught – a devastating lack of closure mirrored by Susie Salmon’s unresolved murder. By giving Susie’s family a similarly unresolved loss, Sebold injected visceral realism into her fictional tale.
The 1970s Murder Case That Influenced Susie’s Story
In addition to her own experience, Alice Sebold has cited a specific 1970s murder case as inspiration for The Lovely Bones.
In the 1970s, a 14-year-old girl was raped and killed in Norristown, Pennsylvania. The details directly echo Susie’s fate – taken from her home, raped, and murdered at age 14. Also similar to Susie Salmon, the identity of the girl’s killer was never uncovered. He was never brought to justice for his crimes.
This Norristown case provided key inspiration for the plot of Susie’s murder and her family’s fruitless search for closure. By drawing from the emotional essence of this real unsolved crime, Sebold gave Susie’s story added dimension. The lack of justice in the Norristown case translated powerfully to the fictional Salmon family through Sebold’s writing.
The Heartbreaking Reality for Many Victims’ Families
At their core, both of these real-life inspirations spotlight a common injustice: a killer remaining free and families left without answers. Neither Sebold’s attacker nor the murderer of the Norristown girl were ever identified. This devastating lack of closure fueled the raw emotion in The Lovely Bones.
Sadly, this outcome is tragically common for the families of missing persons and murder victims. In the 1970s, many cases went unsolved and evidence was lost. Even today, cold cases where victims’ bodies are never found haunt communities across the country. By mirroring this reality in Susie’s unresolved case, Sebold injected a painful realism into her writing.
Is The Lovely Bones Based on Ted Bundy or Other Serial Killers?
Some speculate that George Harvey was based on notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy active during that era. But while the character shares traits with infamous killers, he does not directly represent any specific criminal.
However, Harvey’s hidden predatory nature in plain sight does parallel how many serial killers like Bundy were able to blend in and evade capture. Sebold seemed to draw more from the emotional impact on victims’ families rather than the crimes themselves. Nonetheless, her fictional antagonist bears similarity to some of the most infamous killers of that time period.
Why The True Inspirations Matter
In the end, knowing the real inspirations behind The Lovely Bones enriches appreciation of the novel’s emotional power. By infusing her writing with the devastating realities experienced by so many, Alice Sebold created an indelible story.
Susie Salmon’s murder, while fictional, echoes the tragic murders of far too many young girls. Her family’s pain mirrors that of thousands of families who never get closure. And her underserved fate resonates with victims of horrific violence everywhere. While no real killer inspired George Harvey, he represents the faceless evils that have stolen far too many lives. By uniting truth and fiction, Sebold penned a haunting tale that still grips readers years later.
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FAQ
What is Susie Salmon’s real name?
Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon, the main character and narrator. She is a 14-year-old girl who is killed by a male neighbor. Ronan was 14 years old at the time of her casting and filming.
How accurate are The Lovely Bones?
Is The Lovely Bones based on a true story? The Lovely Bones is not strictly based on a true story, but it was inspired by author Alice Sebold’s own experience being raped while she was a university student.
How is Mr. Salmon dealing with Susie’s death?
It seems as if he goes into a state of panic, and that quickly turns to anger (as referenced by the 5 stages of grief). He processes these feelings through projection. He begins to obsess about finding the man who killed Susie in efforts to release his anger.
What happened to the dad in Lovely Bones?
No, the father doesn’t die in The Lovely Bones. However, he did have several close encounters with death. The father, Jack, gets in danger from the outset as he attempts to find the evidence necessary to link Harvey, his neighbor, to the death of his daughter, Susie.