In March, Gloria Beach is found at a quarry “two hours south of Shirley Falls” (101). Her body floated out of a submerged car that was rented under Ashley Munroe’s name. There is no video from the car rental place, and Matt continues to be a person of interest in the investigation.

Only a few facts are known about Gloria’s life. Gloria was born and raised in a small northern Maine town and gave birth to a baby boy at 16. Although the father is officially unknown, Gloria’s journal indicates that it may have been her uncle. The journal also speaks of her mother’s alcohol use disorder and her father’s “deep embarrassment” of her. By 17, Gloria was living in a motel with her child, cleaning in exchange for a room and “pleasing” the owner.

Walter Beach, an accountant, met Gloria at the motel. They married a month later, and she and Thomas moved to Shirley Falls with him. Gloria dreaded sex and ate to appease her anxiety. She had two more children, Diana and Matthew, and went to work at the school cafeteria. She knew the children called her Beach Ball, which evolved into Bitch Ball. She couldn’t help being mean and hated herself for it.