The Tragic Story of Lisa and Devon Manderach

Lisa Manderach was found dead along with her 18-month old Devon on September 10th 1995, after a visit to the Your Kidz & Mine clothing store in Collegeville, PA.

Born in Norristown, Pennsylvania on Sepmber 30 1965, Lisa worked Fleming Cos. in King of Prussia as a liner worker after graudating from college. She later married her husband James in 1992, and gave birth to their only child — who shared her mother's middle name Devon.

Before the time of Lisa's and Devon's death, Lisa told her husband around 3:30pm that she was going out shopping with Devon to a new clothing store, Your Kidz & Mine, nearby their home.

After driving to the clothing store, Lisa and Devon were the only shoppers inside, along with 21-year old store clerk Caleb Fairley.

Fairley, the store owners’ 21-year-old son, was known for harassing and inappropriately grabbing women. Two women had filed reports of harassment in 1992, but Fairley was never charged.

Overweight and withdrawn, he often spent his time playing video games and keeping to himself. He had reportedly drilled peepholes into the children's dressing rooms at the store and was said to have an obsession with vampire fantasies and pornography.

Lisa’s appearance—with her pale skin, dark black hair, and thin frame—seemed to fit the type that Fairley was drawn to.

When Fairley realized he was alone with Lisa and Devon, he locked the store doors and attempted to assault Lisa. When Lisa resisted and scratched his face, Fairley became enraged, strangled her to death, and continued to sexually assault her corpse. Afterward, he choked and killed Devon.

Fairley placed both bodies in his car to dispose of them in remote areas on his way to attend a concert that night. Meanwhile, Lisa’s husband, James, called the police when Lisa and Devon did not return home at the expected time.

Officers went to the clothing store and noticed Lisa’s car was still parked outside, but there was no sign of Lisa or Devon. The investigation intensified after a hiker discovered Devon’s body at Valley Forge State Park.

Police brought Fairley in for questioning after noticing scratches on his face. He claimed he had received the scratches during a "mosh pit" at a local club. However, a doctor’s examination determined that the scratches were consistent with injuries caused by fingernails.

Fairley was arrested and brought to trial in April 1996. His defense attorney negotiated a plea deal to avoid the death penalty by agreeing to reveal the location of Lisa’s body, which he had left behind an abandoned industrial building in a wooded area of King of Prussia.

The autopsy later revealed Fairley’s DNA under Lisa’s fingernails, further confirming her struggle during the attack. Fairley was sentenced to two life terms and convicted on two counts of first-degree murder.

The former location of Your Kidz & Mine is now an H&R Block.

To honor Lisa and Devon’s memory, the Manderach Memorial Playground at Limerick Community Park was built in 1998 as a tribute to their lives and to ensure they are never forgotten. The playground was funded through $500,000 in cash and in-kind donations, with hundreds of residents contributing to the project by volunteering their time, tools, and shovels.