On Nov. 1, 1988, state police found the body of 31-year-old Debra Wiggins, who had been missing for two months, along the side of Route 309 in Montgomery County, north of Philadelphia. District Attorney David Lozier told "48 Hours" an announcement will be made when they believe they can win a case beyond reasonable doubt. PITTSBURGH, Dec. 17In the past 20 months, there have been at least 27 unsolved murdersperhaps as many as 41 in suburbs and rural areas near here. Even with two confirmed killers, Southwestern Pennsylvania continues to grieve the loss of the dozens of people who died during the 1970s at the hands of multiple killers who remain unknown. These gruesome murders epitomize the brutality of the killer. A few muted gasps could be heard, according to a story published on PennLive, when the jury foreman announced the verdict just before 5 p.m. Its been decades, but Im hoping it can still be solved. These crimes didnt just occur in Allegheny County. A judge on Oct. 10, 2002, declared her dead, and her death is classified as a homicide. The police closed in to apprehend him, but he managed to escape. Their argument on appeal was the police investigation of the cause of the fire was flawed because it relied on scientific methods that have since been discredited. Thats why we keep trying. In December 2000, David Kennedy, Cecil Township, was arrested for the murder of Deborah Capiola when DNA samples from him matched the evidence on Capiolas jeans. Apparently he bought the knife in NJ from a guy off Facebook marketplace. November 2018 account published on PennLive. A few years later, someone shot him to death on a street corner. He had been in prison since his arrest after the state attorney generals office revisited the nearly 36-year-old cold case. There are many missing people and murders here in PA. The North East Police Department continue searching for 61-year-old Timothy Green of 57 West Main Street, in North East. They told me the body had already been transported to the hospital on campus, Simmers said. The morning after Rachael DelTondo was killed, investigators searched Sheldon Jeter's home. Sunday marks 52 years and her killer has never been caught. This story earned national accolades in the Associated Press Sports Editors judging, held in February in Florida. Jackson said he heard a gunshot, then handed his money and drugs to the gunman who came around the corner, literally with a smoking gun, Vendels story said. Authorities say they established a suspect through fingerprint identification in late 2018. The new year of 1978 saw more murders. On Nov. 1, 2017, investigators distributed the information through a press conference and the community was asked to contact police with any information they had. Prior to Barbara Millers disappearance she received threatening letters accusing her of planning to go to police, a search warrant affidavit states. They both had cocaine to sell, according to court records. It was largely agreed that their targets were in a younger age bracket, relatively innocent, and naveallowing them to be easily persuaded by the perpetrator. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. I went to McDonalds drive-thru for lunch but left with bags of cash instead, Carole Baskins dead husband found alive but no one noticed last year, Ex-'SNL' star talks MLK Jr. 'penis' statue in 'Daily Show' debut: 'Can't unsee it', Conor Kennedy gifts pal Andrew Warren rare Dior purse at Miami bash, The pained life of Riley Keough, Lisa Marie Presleys actress daughter, Penelope Disick rates brother Masons epic sneaker collection: Going to steal, Kitten born with same 'Zorro' mask as her father, The View Derailed by Audience Member Calling Whoopi Goldberg An Old Broad, Lisa Marie Presley's grave prepped at Graceland across from Elvis'. Rabihan Seiders was reported missing in April 2012 by her daughter, Valeria Kulbova, who told police she suspected that Rabihans husband, Hap Seiders, may have done something to her mother.. / CBS NEWS. PITTSBURGH, Dec. 17In the past 20 months, there have been at least 27 unsolved murdersperhaps as many as 41 in suburbs and rural areas near here. That same year, a witness came forward in the killing of Adel Malek in . Oct 8, 2018. iStock / iStock. Simmers said that state police brought in an expert to use an ultraviolet black light to detect bodily fluids in the area Betsy had been found. They couldve easily made some snide comments when approached by him. Brenda Ritter, 18, of North Strabane Township was raped and strangled on May 18, 1977. December 9, 2021 / 1:18 PM Raymond Rowe pleaded guilty Tuesday to the brutal 1992 murder and rape of school teacher Christy Mirack. Her murder is still unsolved today, but Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier says the investigation is active. However, the majority remain unsolved. One of the state's most infamous crimes occurred in 2017 when four young men were murdered on a farm just outside of New Hope in Bucks County. Kohberger has been charged with murdering Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, who were found stabbed to death in their beds in their off-campus home on Nov. 13. Lisa DelTondo, Rachael's mother, believes Sheldon Jeter was involved in her daughter's murder. Investigators say her former boyfriend, Charles Maitland, was responsible. DNA forensics makes it very difficult to get away with stabbing crimes. Source: Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Case Status: Want more true crime? At the same time, Ted Bundy, Son of Sam David Berkowitz, and the Hillside Strangler were active criminals, which may explain why youve never heard of these less publicized crimes or names like Edward Surratt before. It also weaves in the history of the civil rights and anti-war movements at the university, including the 1970 student riots. The chief is not related to the woman. It was evident that Surratt was not done with his crimes, as he has a lengthy history with sexual assault and murder. The key to the arrest, Stedman said, was technology from Parabon NanoLabs. On the night Rachael DelTondo was murdered, she was out for ice cream with friends, who were also close with Sheldon Jeter. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Accused Idaho killers unsealed search warrants reveal blood-stained mattress cover, Accused Idaho killer sent DNA for genetic testing to explore ancestry: neighbor, Idaho suspect repeatedly slid into victims DMs weeks before murders, Roommate in 92 Buffalo attack defends Idaho students delayed 911 call after murders, brutally murdering four University of Idaho students, Idaho suspect may have left calling card to claim murders, possibly killed before: experts, Idaho suspect Bryan Kohberger sent DNA for genetic testing to explore ancestry: neighbor, Bryan Kohbergers grad program had access to crime lab videos: report, was bullied often and could, in turn, be a bully to others himself. Students were milling about.. I remember one time when I was walking in the hallway, and he stopped me and was like, Do you want to hang out?. For Betsy.. Less than a month later, a gunman entered a Beaver Township home in Mahoning County, Ohio, just over the Pennsylvania border, and gunned down John Davis, 63. In return, Guido sentenced her to 19 to 40 years in prison on the murder counts, making her eligible for immediate parole. It left everyone in the area on edge. September 20, 1977, is the date of yet another brutal murder of a Beaver Township couple. Police Commissioner Thomas Carter told PennLive that one of his detectives is working with a county investigator to dig into the cold case. These are three of the 18 unsolved homicides troubling police agencies in the district since 1973. COLD CASE - BARBARA ANN MANGUS - HOMICIDE 1974 - MIDDLE TAYLOR TOWNSHIP - CAMBRIA COUNTY - $5000 CASH REWARD! Investigators went ahead with this comparison, and on May 14, 2018, Parabon informed them there was a significant match found in the database that appeared to be a relation to the killer. A number of businesses were on the first level and there were apartments on the second and third floors. Almost 36 years later, It took a Perry County jury more than 4 hours to decide that Carl Rodgers, 63, was not responsible for her death. I tried but realized too many students go missing, and murders happen. Some examples of unsolved child murders you can learn about in our fully visualized case files include the 1998 kidnapping and murder of Brittany Locklear, the 1997 murder of Georgia Lee Moses, the 2017 double-murder of Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German, and the 1960 murder of Nancy Eagleson. @PAStatePolice pic.twitter.com/RGOEjdxTWI. Beautiful young girls have walls up and rightfully, even necessarily so. On January 7, 1978, John Shelkons, 56, was shotgunned to death in his Baden home, and his wife, Catherine, 48, was severely beaten, but survived the attack when her assailant fled when he heard their daughter returning home early. KALLINGER. Kohberger has been charged with murdering Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20, who were found stabbed to death in their beds in their off-campus home on. While David Robert Kennedy was placed on trial or the murder of Deborah Capiola, it was uncovered that her death was not connected to two others. According to local news reports, Haefner repeatedly professed his innocence. In order to understand the full scope of these unsolved murders that took place in Pittsburgh, one must delve into several local newspapers from the city, various counties in the surrounding area, and different states. Police pointed to evidence, including blood on carpeting and human bones found in fireplace ash in the couples Silver Spring Township home, where its believed Rabihan Seiders was killed. The case is one of the oldest cold cases ever to be brought to trial in central Pennsylvania. DelTondo's mother says it's not true; she says her daughter never was in a romantic relationship with Sheldon. Many true crime and horror enthusiasts are familiar with the major names in serial killer history. uro Kurepa (86), a Yugoslav mathematician who wrote over 700 academic papers and 1,000 scientific reviews on scientific theory, was beaten to death by thugs in front of his apartment in Belgrade on November 2, 1993. Kohberger had been living in Pullman, Washington, at the time of the murders about a 10-minute drive from Moscow and where he was enrolled in the universitys criminal justice Ph.D. program at Washington State University. The area was being cleaned up. Some believe she was murdered by serial killer Ted Bundy, as it was discovered he was at Temple University around the time of the incident. Simmers told Dateline that through the investigation, witnesses were eventually questioned, but most could only recollect hearing books falling. to keep expanding and making Murderpedia a better site, but we really He said that Haefner is one of many who had a crush on Betsy, knew her well and that they even went on a few dates. But it was a perfect storm - and we just couldnt solve her case.. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. As time goes by, you run into nothing or a dead end. Roberta Elam was hoping to become a nun when she was raped and strangled on June 13, 1977. This was over my head.. 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Clinton County deputy sheriffs Thursday escort Loyd Groves to a cruiser after he was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in state prison for killing Katherine Dolan Heckel in 1991. I think they need to look at burglary or peeping toms. Heres a collection of stories surrounding mostly central Pennsylvania deaths that have played out in the news the past few months,, either through law enforcement press conference or trials. But he believes it was someone who was close to her. All of them had very helpful and interesting information as it related to this case. In fact, these killings were essentially an amalgamation of multiple killers going on separate sprees that local authorities could not pinpoint. He was born May ALIQUIPPA, Pa. A man linked to Rachael DelTondo, . In 2007, he confessed to six of the murders, that of David and Linda Hamilton, John and Mary Davis, and John Feeney and Ranee Gregory. 21, was found strangled in the trunk of her car on Nov. 261 1976, near her home in Washington, Pa., about 23 miles south of Pittsburgh. Related: 9 Chilling Books About Unsolved Murders That Will Make You Lose Sleep. 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) Joseph Augustus Zarelli (January 13, 1953 [3] - February 1957), previously known as the " Boy in the Box " and " America's Unknown Child ", was a boy whose naked, extensively beaten body was found on the side of Susquehanna Road, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 25, 1957. Residents frequently peek through front windows before greeting callers. IE 11 is not supported. One of Kohbergers classmates at WSU told The Post Friday that he continued his studies after the murders and was even present during a class discussion on the quadruple homicide. Police said on Saturday they believe he likely acted alone. We had a couple of people who we believed could be the suspect, Simmers said. Debra Rodgers body was found in Tuscarora State Forest on April 24, 1983. Despite always performing well in school, she said he was often rejected and bullied by girls that she believes he may have internalized, leading him to lash out and commit such a heinous, violent crime. But his academic career took a downhill turn in 1975 after he was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors. the Murderpedia project stay alive. However, they did not reach their peak until the late-1970s. I, like many people, don't believe this was his first killing and he only moved to the area in August. CIRCUMSTANCES: On December 20, 1994, workers doing a mine reclamation project discovered a human skull in a wooded area in Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County. Susan Rush, 21, of Washington County, was found strangled in the trunk of her car on November 25, 1976. He may have gone on to become a serial killer if he had not been caught. DATE FOUND: December 20, 1994 LOCATION: Wooded embankment off of Tomhicken Road in Sugarloaf Township, Luzerne County. A person of interest in her murder was convicted in another homicide. An unsolved, undetermined, or unprosecuted crime, such as a homicide or missing person, can have compounding effects on the trauma endured. To keep creating Many people involved in the investigation have either died or retired, and Betsys family no longer speaks about the case, having chosen to move forward with their lives. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. He is currently serving multiple life sentences. And that is in addition to an altercation at a Baltimore hotel room, he said. The inability of Allegheny County police to solve any of the murders prompted county commissioners to call upon Sheriff Eugene L. Coon to return to his specialty of solving homicides. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). In the aftermath, hundreds of people were questioned and nearly a dozen suspects were identified. The Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate. The identity of the victims have not been released by police. Related: 48 Eerie Unsolved Mysteries That Will Keep You Awake at Night. with the party warning that families were losing millions due to unsolved crimes. There was definitely something off about him, like we couldnt tell exactly what it was. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Smallwood was arrested after police received a report she had threatened Wagners boyfriend the afternoon before the fire. Timothy Greens residence burnt down on the morning of December 30, 2016, as a result of a suspicious fire. It was believed she had fainted, or had a seizure. Those that were solved can be traced to Edward Surratt. His return home to Aliquippa in 1977 marked the largest moral panic of the decade, as 27 unsolved murders abruptly occurred. Morgan Peters, 30, was killed in 1972 in Metal Township, Franklin County. In 2015, the Allentown Police Department created a cold case team to help crack 15 unsolved murder and missing persons cases. Anyone who recognizes the image is asked to call the Hazleton barracks at 570-459-3890. One hardware store reported it had run out of locks and other security devices. According to this chart, there were approximately 36,094 homicides in Pennsylvania during that 40-year period. Are you a "motivated dater"? I also want to get the Early Bird Books newsletter featuring great deals on ebooks. The body of Nancy Adams was discovered at Bradys Run Park eight years later. A recent criminology graduate has been held in connection with the mysterious murders of four university students in the state of Idaho. The company were first contacted in 2016, according to court documents, when it requested the DNA phenotyping of the suspect profile. Rachael DelTondo was 33 years old when she was killed in 2018. Steven Johnson, 26, and Paula Wagner, 23, died as a result of that blaze. During the 1970s, Southwestern Pennsylvania transformed from an unsuspecting steel driven area to a horrifying landscape that prompted a rise in firearm sales. Thats when two men approached Jackson, according to the account in a story published in March 2018 by PennLive.com writer Christine Vendel. On March 18, 1964, Marise Ann Chiverella, 9 years old, was raped, strangled & murdered in Hazleton, PA. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. He made his way to the hospital, where he discovered that the student, identified as Betsy Aardsma, had not only died from her injuries, but that her death was a homicide. She had been raped and killed by blows to the head, according to the county coroner. 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