The true story that this novel is based on that you mentioned, is that of Paula Jean Welden of Bennington College (Jackson lived in Bennington, VT). Interestingly, Donna Tartt’s novel, “The Secret History” is also based on the Paula Jean Welden disappearance and she went to college at Bennington. Both Tarrt and Jackson’s novels based on this true story are fantastic. Although I found Jackson’s much more chilling.