The tragic story of Guinstina Macari, a three-year-old girl found dead with pieces of paper in her stomach, continues to haunt Swansea even after more than 80 years have passed. In May 1941, on a sunny day in the city still recovering from the aftermath of the Second World War, little Guinstina, affectionately known as Christina, disappeared without a trace. Born on November 22, 1937, the friendly and sociable child lived with her family in Dillwyn Street, where her father ran a fish and chip shop.
That fateful Saturday, Christina set out to play with her friends, dressed in a blue dress, green jumper, and white pinafore, a scene that quickly turned into a nightmare for her family. Witnesses reported seeing her with an unidentified man near Mount Pleasant, moments before she vanished. Her father’s frantic search and the subsequent involvement of the police yielded no results until a 13-year-old boy discovered her lifeless body in a nearby flower plantation the following day.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Christina had died from suffocation, with potential signs of prior sexual abuse. Shockingly, her stomach was found to contain paper scraps and traces of chocolate and ice-cream, indicating events leading up to her tragic end. Eyewitnesses came forward, describing a man seen with Christina on the day of her disappearance, leading to a widespread search and intense public scrutiny.
The intricate investigation led to the arrest of a suspect, a 47-year-old man with a history of convictions, including past cases of indecent assault. However, despite compelling evidence including fibres from Christina’s dress found on his belongings and witness identifications, the man’s defence of providing an alibi resulted in his acquittal.
The unsolved mystery of Christina’s murder continues to linger over Swansea, leaving a community haunted by the unresolved tragedy and the elusive search for justice. Despite numerous leads and extensive investigations, the man responsible for the heinous crime has never been identified or held accountable, casting a long shadow over the memory of the innocent little girl whose life was cut short in a harrowing tale of loss and unanswered questions. The case remains a chilling reminder of a dark chapter in Swansea’s history, a stark contrast to the optimism of a city rebuilding after wartime devastation.