Elva Statler Davidson
Toronto Daily Star, March 4 1935
Elva Statler Davidson was an adopted daughter of Ellsworth Milton Statler, the founder of the Statler Hotels chain. The cause of her death was never conclusively proven. Some believed that her husband had killed her for her money - she had left her inherited fortune to him in her will - while others believed that it was a suicide or an accident.
In 2010, author Steve Bouser published a book on Ms. Davidson's untimely passing, Death of a Pinehurst Princess. He believed that she had committed suicide but was not able to determine this with certainty. One thing that is for sure is that Ms. Davidson had already experienced more than her share of loss by the time she passed away at the age of 22 - her adoptive parents and two of her three siblings had predeceased her.
Created September 18, 2025.