Four young women have been slain near the Washington County border, south of Pittsburgh. Days later it was anonymously leaked to the public. They do not appear in any particular order. Just prior to that NYTs article, on December 3rd of that year, a particularly gruesome double murder occurred. 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. There are so many people who worked this case, doing everything they can do, Simmers said. On that short walk, she was kidnapped, raped and strangled to death, according to an account last week on timesleader.com. Writing from a 2021 perspective, it is easy to feel a bit disheartened knowing that we now have the advancements in technology that may have assisted in bringing justice to the victims. In each of the three recent cases, a man died of shotgun wounds and a woman was abducted; one of the women was later found beaten to death and the other two are still missing.. To this day, these cases remain unsolved, and the mysteries of Pittsburghs decade filled with death permeates oral histories across nearly every county nearby. 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. Authorities said in press release that Nelson placed the girl in his vehicle and then drove to a remote area of West Virginia where he assaulted her. The rash of murders drew national attention to the tri-state area. 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. On the weekend of Nov. 20 William E. Adams, a 31-year-old paraplegic, was found dead, of a shotgun blast in his mobile home in adjoining Beaver County; his wife, Nancy, 29, is missing. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. They couldve easily made some snide comments when approached by him. We have many Eventually, the case would be closed and sit idle for years. The pattern revealed by police after revealing the identities of the 18 victims was that they were predominantly young women that had been sexually assaulted as well as strangled. Gregor was reported missing. According to those records, the last contact she had with another person was made on March 27, 2012, Jenkins said, adding that it was a 14-second call to her husband. However, no one was ever charged for her murder. The rash of murders drew national attention to the tri-state area. The chief is not related to the woman. Her murder is still unsolved today, but Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier says the investigation is active. COLD CASE - DAVID "SLEDGE" LEGGE - 1982 HOMICIDE - INDEPENDENCE TOWNSHIP - BEAVER COUNTY - DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING? The company were first contacted in 2016, according to court documents, when it requested the DNA phenotyping of the suspect profile. From left, leaving the Clinton County Courthouse in Lock Haven on Nov. 29, 2018: Senior Deputy Attorney General Daniel Dye, who is prosecuting Loyd Groves; FBI Agent Kyle Moore, one of the investigators; and retired state Trooper Michael Hutson, another investigator. when police arrested 50-year-old Timothy David Nelson of Cumberland, Maryland. 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. Sunbury Police Chief Timothy S. Miller, left, speaks in May 2018 with a Milton officer outside the duplex in the 700 block of North Front Street of that borough where investigators were searching for the body of Barbara E. Miller. Given the difference in age, social status, etc. Many true crime and horror enthusiasts are familiar with the major names in serial killer history. In some cases, a suspect has been identified and charged. I also want to get Early Bird Books newsletter featuring book deals, recommendations, and giveaways. The building after the fatal 1972 fire. According to his attorney, he and Rachael DelTondo had a romantic relationship. At the time, Kohberger likely was a student at nearby DeSales University, where he graduated in 2022. It wasnt until 1978 that he was officially arrested for attacking a family of three and failing to flee the premises before the police arrived. And she didnt entertain the boys who had crushes on her.. I dont think he is a serial killer. Hap Seiders charges include criminal homicide, tampering with or fabricating evidence and abuse of a corpse. At the time, it was speculated that there may have been 41 murders in total, but that number has yet to be confirmed or denied. (Aliquippa,Pa.) Sign up for The Lineup's newsletter and get our most chilling recommendations delivered straight to your inbox. He added that the stacks were a place where porn magazines were stashed and people would meet up for secret rendezvous. The Hyde murders were the 26th and 27th in the area since March 1976. True. Occasionally the digitization process introduces transcription errors or other problems; we are continuing to work to improve these archived versions. According to search warrants, he showed little emotion when told about Rachael's death. This story has a bit of a different twist to it than those preceding it. A recent criminology graduate has been held in connection with the mysterious murders of four university students in the state of Idaho. More than a year after Rachael DelTondo and Sheldon Jeter Jr. were discovered by police, Frank Catroppa was given a copy of a police report about the incident. Sheriff Coon was responsible for solving 82 of 83 murders within the city. A month later, on May 10, Smallwood was deemed officially free, with even her supervised probation removed. I personally dont see him as intelligent. plans and enthusiasm I would but I'm not sure how to. The Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate. Surratt had been in Ohio and Western Pennsylvania during the murder spree. The Pennsylvania State Police, Troop M, Criminal Investigation Assessment Unit continue their investigation into the homicide of Richard Stewart Wimbish. 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. On Friday near Scranton, Mr. Kohberger was apprehended by Pennsylvania state police and FBI officers. Afterward, some of Carl Rodgers relatives hugged. Apparently the family of this woman is looking into him as it was close by in PA. Residents frequently peek through front windows before greeting callers. That claim, Silver Spring Township police Sgt. If we have enough information, we can call people back in, Carter said. Id definitely see this a possibly plausible theory. Everyone either wanted to be her friend or wanted to date her, Simmers said. His date, Renee Gregor, 16, is still missing. The case in 2018 went to a grand jury, who identified a suspect to charge with first-degree murder and robbery; however, the DA is still reviewing the case. Dean CHRISTENSON, Carlos That also accounted for the lack of blood on aisle 51, the doctor had told Simmers, which was also confirmed by the autopsy a few days later. EDIT: The reason I say I dont think he is a serial killer is because based on what his friends are saying about him, he is driven by rage, anger, rejection & he directs those at people he approaches or has interactions with. A wooden cutting board was lying next to Miracks head. Superior Court panel ruled that Guido had been wrong to grant the new trial. The criminal charges arose from an alleged incident involving Haefner and a 12-year-old juvenile, according to the Commonwealth V. Haefner case summary. The state attorney generals office has promised a careful review into her disappearance and death. And District Judge Kathryn H. Silcox ruled in a preliminary hearing March 13 that enough evidence exists to send the charges filed against Seiders, 65, to county court. In fact, these killings were essentially an amalgamation of multiple killers going on separate sprees that local authorities could not pinpoint. It was all very strange. There are many missing people and murders here in PA. To keep creating Told to call the police if anything suspicious oc curred, some did so only to learn that. There is still hope for justice. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Steven Johnson, 26, and Paula Wagner, 23, died as a result of that blaze. In the Netherlands we say The drop that made the bucket overflow. Who know though. In one instance, Seruneck recalled he called an employee a bitch when she declined to answer his questions. I think he killed the others to muddy intent because he knew he could be connected to 1-2 of the victims. The last update on these cases was in October of 2003, which surmised that local authorities were still plagued with the question of who committed such atrocities. according to a story written by PennLives John Beauge, Groves was sentenced to 10 to 20 years in state priso, according to an account last week on timesleader.com. The former Patriot-News reporter decided to write a book about the case which focuses on Betsy and the investigation of the murder. It must be noted that I, the author, am from Washington, Pennsylvania, where several murders took place. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The jury took a very hard look at this and made the right decision, Senior Deputy Attorney General Daniel Dye said. This guy may be smarter than average but the undoing of intelligence is narcissism and anger. We reviewed interviews that were recorded and documented in writing, as well as reports, photographs, and other evidence associated with the lengthy investigation. While white picket fences, finely pruned lawns, and bright blue skies paint a lovely picture of a perfect neighborhood, nefarious characters live in the shadows. All of them had very helpful and interesting information as it related to this case. Surratt traveled to Florida where he was successfully detained on July 1st, 1978, after breaking into a home and brutalizing a family of three. 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. COLD CASE - BARBARA ANN MANGUS - HOMICIDE 1974 - MIDDLE TAYLOR TOWNSHIP - CAMBRIA COUNTY - $5000 CASH REWARD! On October 26, 1978, The Evening Standardnow known as the Herald Standardprinted a story that listed the ages and deaths of numerous victims. I also want to get the Early Bird Books newsletter featuring great deals on ebooks. Mary Gency, 16, of North Charleroi, disappeared on February 13, 1977. To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, The Times does not alter, edit or update them. Last I heard she was still missing, I don't see how this would be considered related. 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Sunbury officer in charge, Cpl. Simmers told Dateline that through the investigation, witnesses were eventually questioned, but most could only recollect hearing books falling. Especially because just because he stabbed them in this murder doesn't mean he would haven't used a different type of weapon. Our Homicide Unit is dedicated to serving the families of victims of unsolved homicides. The mystery of who murdered fourteen year old Sarah Boehm remains unsolved more than twenty years after her disappearance in 1994. DeKok, who was six years younger than Betsy, grew up in Betsys hometown of Holland, Michigan, and attended the same high school that she did. The next day, on the afternoon of November 28, 1969, Betsy and her roommate Sharon walked from their dorm to the library. However, there were several killings that threw a wrench in their theory. Simmers immediately called the state police barracks located about eight miles away from campus and they went back to the library. As chief of the Pittsburgh homicide squad. Bluestines organization represented Smallwood in her appeals. These girls seemed pretty smart and witty to me and far from shy. I went up to him and I said, Hey Bryan, welcome back. Then Danner, a star for Harrisburg Highs basketball and football teams, was included in a PennLive story by John Luciew called The Greatest Game Never Played. That story captured the intense rivalry that grew between two exceptional basketball programs, Carlisle and Harrisburg, and the events that led to the those two teams not playing, as expected, in the 1987 state playoffs. In fact, some of the incidents took place in Washington County, 23 miles south of the city, and Beaver County, approximately 30 miles north. The morning after Rachael DelTondo was killed, investigators searched Sheldon Jeter's home. Height. A judge on Oct. 10, 2002, declared her dead, and her death is classified as a homicide. Especially as an intelligent analytical social outcast. On the climbing murder count, a December 17, 1977 issue of The New York Times read: In the past 20 months, there have been at least 27 unsolved murdersperhaps as many as 41in suburbs and rural areas near here. It also weaves in the history of the civil rights and anti-war movements at the university, including the 1970 student riots. All site content on the CRIMEWATCH portal is the specific and unquestionable property of the appropriate law enforcement agency that maintains, manages and administers content. Kohberger was arrested at his parents home in Albrightsville in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, early Friday more than 2,500 miles from where the students were found stabbed to death in Moscow, Idaho. 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. The case remained unsolved for years, until a blockbuster announcement on June 25, 2018, by Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman. Was his reaction in the heat of the moment or was it later calculated with a cool head? On Oct. 22 John Feeny, a 17-year-old high school dropout, was found dead of a shotgun wound in a van on a lover's lane near the Greater Pittsburgh Airport, a few miles from Moon Township. 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. The stories about purchasing firearms, buddy systems, and trusting no onenot even the policewere passed down to me and were deeply important in penning this piece of true crime history. Which would make him an actual Scranton Strangler. Surveillance cameras captured Sheldon Jeter Jr. leaving home with Tyric Pugh, seen here at 11:10 p.m. Later, cameras captured Sheldon returning alone. He always wanted to fight somebody, he was bullying people. 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. In the book, DeKok contends that Betsys case is unsolved due to mistakes made at the scene, which wasnt secured as it should have been. A Pennsylvania statewide grand jury has heard evidence in the Rachael DelTondo case, and it's been reported that Sheldon Jeter is a subject. He was tried in Florida and is serving several life sentences. Smallwood was arrested after police received a report she had threatened Wagners boyfriend the afternoon before the fire. William She was 23. When the news hit, there were 15 other unsolved murders that were piling up at various police departments beginning in 1973. It, and the account by Vendel on the death of Danner, prompted Harrisburg police a few weeks after the stories were published to announce that they were reopening the investigation into who killed Danner. DATE FOUND: December 26, 2011 LOCATION: Area off of SR 191, approximately 6/10 mile south of Sylvan Cascade Road in Paradise Township, Monroe County. Raymond Charles Rowe, 45, also known as DJ Freez, was taken into custody and charged with the homicide. The family dog was killed as well. December 9, 2021 / 1:18 PM As time goes by, you run into nothing or a dead end. 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. These crimes didnt just occur in Allegheny County. He added that between 30 and 40 state troopers worked the case, interviewing hundreds of students and following leads around the country, including Pennsylvania and Betsys home state of Michigan. You totally have me confused.. She had been sexually assaulted and had died from multiple skull fractures. 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. I think they need to look at burglary or peeping toms. We appreciate you coming back. A Perry County jury last week acquitted Carl Rodgers, of Shermans Dale, who was accused of murder for the 1983 death of his wife. As part of this analysis, three age-enhanced pictures of the man were created at ages 25, 40 and 60. The body of Nancy Adams was discovered at Bradys Run Park eight years later. Her body has yet to be found. We spoke to a number of witnesses in this case, he said at the press conference March 4, 2019. When murders go unsolved, it's a public safety risk because violent offenders are likely to repeat, former Pennsylvania State Trooper Tom McAndrew said in the U.S. Department of Justice article The Crisis of Cold Cases. We went back over to the library, he said. Related: 6 Mysterious People at the Heart of Unsolved Cases. On Monday, September 18, 1972, Morgan Walters Peters Jr. was found lying in a small gully; face down approximately 55 feet north of the north edge of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, in the area of. But his academic career took a downhill turn in 1975 after he was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and corruption of minors. On the afternoon of December 12, 1987, the victim's nude, decomposed body was found in a cornfield off Green Pond Road (1/4 mile south of Hecktown. Guidos ruling let Smallwood out of prison to live with family in Carlisle while prosecutors decided on their next move. In the briefing from the doctor, Simmers found out that Betsy had been stabbed once in her left breast. Beautiful young girls have walls up and rightfully, even necessarily so. I think you're right that many people are making a false assumption about this. But there was no body to be found. The new year of 1978 saw more murders. Thats why we keep trying. When I got the call that day it was for a medical emergency, Simmers told Dateline. When Surratt passed out after getting drunk and high, the mother escaped and called the police. I wonder if he has a scar on his leg, https://6abc.com/news/video-jogger-assaulted-in-tredyffrin-township/56336/. Serial killer is speculation unless and until additional victims are linked to him. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. I think he is a mass killer. To date, Surratt has only confessed to 6 of the unsolved murders that plagued the Pittsburgh area, leaving dozens unsolved. The cold case was referred to the AGs office by Northumberland County President Judge Charles H. Saylor after the former lead investigator resigned. The last straw as yall would say. For Betsy.. It didnt much matter who you were. But Bryan was bullied a lot, and I never got a chance to say something to defend him, because he would always run away, she added. Would think they are interviewing classmates from every one of his years in school, profs, etc. This story has been shared 100,523 times. Kohberger would ask women staff or customers who they were at the brewery with, and where they lived, Serulneck said. Neither do we. Hidden in every town and city in America lies a dark secret. She was transported to the student hospital on campus, where she was declared dead at 5:19 p.m. At the time, Mike Simmers was a young trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police working undercover on the Penn State campus while attending college classes. Another friend said that Kohberger suddenly changed in his senior year of high school when he lost a significant amount of weight. . Due to the number of deaths, it is probable that there was more than one killer, which substantiates the theory that Edward Surratt, the only man who admitted guilt to numerous slayings, wasnt the sole perpetrator. Had they existed in the 1970s, perhaps the deaths mentioned in this article could have been avoided. I tried but realized too many students go missing, and murders happen. Sheldon has not been charged in the DelTondo case and his attorney Michael Santicola says he's not involved in her murder. Raised in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Surratt's preying field was a lovers lane in Findlay township. Source: Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers Case Status: Simmers, who was the same age as Betsy was when she died, told Dateline there isnt a day that goes by that he doesnt think about Betsy or her case. Danner stumbled into the tavern, clutching his abdomen. Sunday marks 52 years and her killer has never been caught. 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. He said that analysis showed Marises killer to have tan and fair skin, green or hazel eyes, and medium brown hair. While Rachael DelTondo and Frank Catroppa were a couple, DelTondo was seen by police parked in this abandoned lot. She told "48 Hours," "That night, I knew it was him." In a fourth case this fall, Joseph H., Weinman, 30, was beaten to death Sept. 30 in his suburban home. On the climbing murder count, a December 17, 1977 issue of The New York Times read: "In the past 20 months, there have been at least 27 unsolved murdersperhaps as many as 41in suburbs and rural areas near here. In return, Guido sentenced her to 19 to 40 years in prison on the murder counts, making her eligible for immediate parole. need your help for this. Rodgers himself showed little reaction. The fact that he was a criminology student leading to the easy conclusion he was obsessed with murder. Roberta Elam was hoping to become a nun when she was raped and strangled on June 13, 1977. Barbara E. Miller, 30, was last seen at her Sunbury home on July 1, 1989, after attending a wedding. Upon consideration of the facts, we issued a presentment recommending that the Franklin County District Attorney institute criminal proceedings and charge an identified subject with First Degree Murder and Robbery. 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. Judge Anne E. Lazarus found Smallwood had waited as much as 15 years too long to appeal based on the supposedly newly discovered evidence that the fire probe was faulty.
