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The Disappearance of Aimee (1976)
Passable fictionalized entertaining movie of Aimee Semple McPherson's kidnapping and "press-icution"
Where fiction leaves off, truth is stranger still. See this movie, then find a good biography, whichever you choose I recommend "The Verdict is In" by Raymond L.Cox as a companion volume.
The REAL mystery is why Asa Keyes the prosecutor and Assistant District Attorney, Joseph Ryan were so intent on going after Aimee and her mother. They are supposed to uphold the law and not use the newspapers to abuse their position.
The Mayor of Douglas AZ, and almost all citizens there confirmed Aimee's initial condition as being consistent with the ordeal she claimed to have suffered.
Five Carmel California witnesses were obtained by Ryan. He wanted to prove Kenneth Ormiston and Aimee Semple McPherson were shacked up together in a seaside cottage there. First Ryan searched for people who at least got a brief glimpse of the couple living in the said cottage particularly the "woman with Ormiston," the assumed Aimee Semple McPherson. Ryan had a stack of varying Aimee photos as provided by the newspapers and then showed them to the prospective witnesses one photograph at a time. Once the witness finally agreed that a photo resembled the "woman with Ormiston," Ryan would have his "identification" that Aimee was seen in Carmel, with Ormiston.
At least three other witnesses, the landlord for one, the town sheriff for another, who were less than 30-100 feet away, more like 8-10 feet; who saw the "woman with Ormiston," without her driving goggles and hat i.e. they actually got a good look, testified she was NOT Aimee.
As for the grocery slips, the police had photo-stats, their hand writing expert said it was Aimee's; the defense testified and demonstrated with a hand writing expert of their own, the slips were "doctored." The slips also were in the cottage yard two months surviving dew, fog and lawn maintenance before they were "found."