They say the eyes are the mirror of the soul, but those who knew Kendra Webdale say the true looking glass was her smile - as big and beautiful as her dreams.
She loved the phrase "remember me in smiles and laughter." No one imagined how soon they'd have to do that.
Andrew Goldstein's life, in many ways, was the mirror opposite of hers: one of crushing loneliness, of dreams cut short by the nightmares that tormented him, and of cries for help that went unanswered.
The story of Andrew Goldstein and Kendra Webdale began on a gloomy January day. On a darkened subway platform their paths collided — one terrible moment that left two lives destroyed, a family shattered, and a community struggling to understand.
Kendra Webdale grew up in Fredonia, N.Y., a tiny village nestled near Lake Erie's eastern shore. Her parents, Ralph and Patricia Webdale, were hospital administrators who managed to raise six lively kids under one small roof.
On a rainy Sunday in January 1999, Kendra left her Manhattan home and descended the stairs to a New York City subway. Newspapers would later report that as she waited for the train, a man approached and asked her for the time. His name was Andrew Goldstein.
Kendra was standing at the end of the platform, according to eyewitnesses — about 5 feet from the tracks. She was leaning against a pole, reading a magazine, and waiting for the train. Andrew, witnesses said, was pacing up and down the platform, mumbling to himself and irritating the crowd. He peered up at one blond woman — and she shooed him away. Then, he approached Kendra, asked her for the time, and then he backed up.
Andrew would later tell police that as the subway approached he felt a sensation, like a ghost or a spirit entering him and he got the urge to push, kick or punch the woman with blonde hair.
What happened next haunts those who saw it to this day. Many later testified that as the 400 ton train roared in, Goldstein suddenly shot out —and with what some would call impeccable timing — brutally shoved Kendra forward toward the tracks. She died instantly as the train moved in.
It was later discovered Andrew Goldstein was schizophrenic.
She loved the phrase "remember me in smiles and laughter." No one imagined how soon they'd have to do that.
Andrew Goldstein's life, in many ways, was the mirror opposite of hers: one of crushing loneliness, of dreams cut short by the nightmares that tormented him, and of cries for help that went unanswered.
The story of Andrew Goldstein and Kendra Webdale began on a gloomy January day. On a darkened subway platform their paths collided — one terrible moment that left two lives destroyed, a family shattered, and a community struggling to understand.
Kendra Webdale grew up in Fredonia, N.Y., a tiny village nestled near Lake Erie's eastern shore. Her parents, Ralph and Patricia Webdale, were hospital administrators who managed to raise six lively kids under one small roof.
On a rainy Sunday in January 1999, Kendra left her Manhattan home and descended the stairs to a New York City subway. Newspapers would later report that as she waited for the train, a man approached and asked her for the time. His name was Andrew Goldstein.
Kendra was standing at the end of the platform, according to eyewitnesses — about 5 feet from the tracks. She was leaning against a pole, reading a magazine, and waiting for the train. Andrew, witnesses said, was pacing up and down the platform, mumbling to himself and irritating the crowd. He peered up at one blond woman — and she shooed him away. Then, he approached Kendra, asked her for the time, and then he backed up.
Andrew would later tell police that as the subway approached he felt a sensation, like a ghost or a spirit entering him and he got the urge to push, kick or punch the woman with blonde hair.
What happened next haunts those who saw it to this day. Many later testified that as the 400 ton train roared in, Goldstein suddenly shot out —and with what some would call impeccable timing — brutally shoved Kendra forward toward the tracks. She died instantly as the train moved in.
It was later discovered Andrew Goldstein was schizophrenic.
They say the eyes are the mirror of the soul, but those who knew Kendra Webdale say the true looking glass was her smile - as big and beautiful as her dreams.
She loved the phrase "remember me in smiles and laughter." No one imagined how soon they'd have to do that.
Andrew Goldstein's life, in many ways, was the mirror opposite of hers: one of crushing loneliness, of dreams cut short by the nightmares that tormented him, and of cries for help that went unanswered.
The story of Andrew Goldstein and Kendra Webdale began on a gloomy January day. On a darkened subway platform their paths collided — one terrible moment that left two lives destroyed, a family shattered, and a community struggling to understand.
Kendra Webdale grew up in Fredonia, N.Y., a tiny village nestled near Lake Erie's eastern shore. Her parents, Ralph and Patricia Webdale, were hospital administrators who managed to raise six lively kids under one small roof.
On a rainy Sunday in January 1999, Kendra left her Manhattan home and descended the stairs to a New York City subway. Newspapers would later report that as she waited for the train, a man approached and asked her for the time. His name was Andrew Goldstein.
Kendra was standing at the end of the platform, according to eyewitnesses — about 5 feet from the tracks. She was leaning against a pole, reading a magazine, and waiting for the train. Andrew, witnesses said, was pacing up and down the platform, mumbling to himself and irritating the crowd. He peered up at one blond woman — and she shooed him away. Then, he approached Kendra, asked her for the time, and then he backed up.
Andrew would later tell police that as the subway approached he felt a sensation, like a ghost or a spirit entering him and he got the urge to push, kick or punch the woman with blonde hair.
What happened next haunts those who saw it to this day. Many later testified that as the 400 ton train roared in, Goldstein suddenly shot out —and with what some would call impeccable timing — brutally shoved Kendra forward toward the tracks. She died instantly as the train moved in.
It was later discovered Andrew Goldstein was schizophrenic.
She loved the phrase "remember me in smiles and laughter." No one imagined how soon they'd have to do that.
Andrew Goldstein's life, in many ways, was the mirror opposite of hers: one of crushing loneliness, of dreams cut short by the nightmares that tormented him, and of cries for help that went unanswered.
The story of Andrew Goldstein and Kendra Webdale began on a gloomy January day. On a darkened subway platform their paths collided — one terrible moment that left two lives destroyed, a family shattered, and a community struggling to understand.
Kendra Webdale grew up in Fredonia, N.Y., a tiny village nestled near Lake Erie's eastern shore. Her parents, Ralph and Patricia Webdale, were hospital administrators who managed to raise six lively kids under one small roof.
On a rainy Sunday in January 1999, Kendra left her Manhattan home and descended the stairs to a New York City subway. Newspapers would later report that as she waited for the train, a man approached and asked her for the time. His name was Andrew Goldstein.
Kendra was standing at the end of the platform, according to eyewitnesses — about 5 feet from the tracks. She was leaning against a pole, reading a magazine, and waiting for the train. Andrew, witnesses said, was pacing up and down the platform, mumbling to himself and irritating the crowd. He peered up at one blond woman — and she shooed him away. Then, he approached Kendra, asked her for the time, and then he backed up.
Andrew would later tell police that as the subway approached he felt a sensation, like a ghost or a spirit entering him and he got the urge to push, kick or punch the woman with blonde hair.
What happened next haunts those who saw it to this day. Many later testified that as the 400 ton train roared in, Goldstein suddenly shot out —and with what some would call impeccable timing — brutally shoved Kendra forward toward the tracks. She died instantly as the train moved in.
It was later discovered Andrew Goldstein was schizophrenic.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
