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Defrosting Cold Cases

Unsolved cases and book reviews

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You are here: Home / Archives for Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

Boy in the Box by Silvia Pettem

March 8, 2021 By Alice

Boy in the Box/Grid AdS

If ever there was a child crying out to be identified, the “Boy in the Box” is the one. Also called “America’s Unknown Child,” the little boy was found deceased in a cardboard box in a debris-filled empty lot in northeast Philadelphia on February 25, 1957. Ever since, police and others periodically have assembled at […]

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Filed Under: Guest Writers, Unidentified Tagged With: Boy in the Box, Joseph Augustus Zarelli, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Silvia Pettem, Unidentified

John David Watson Jr (1959 – 1974)

February 12, 2021 By Alice

John David Watson Jr.

John David Watson Jr (Oct 18, 1959 – May 2, 1974) was fourteen years old when he left his home in Wheeler, Pennsylvania, around 9pm on May 2, 1974. He never came back home. He was found murdered on May 3, 1974. His murder was never solved. While reading up on his case, I found […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: gun powder residu, gunshots, John David Watson, M-Vac Systems, Pennsylvania, touch DNA

1991 East Allentown John Doe 

September 1, 2020 By Alice

Artist rendering of the 1991 unidentified East Allentown John Doe

NamUs profile #UP16506 is about the unidentified 1991 East Allentown case that was uploaded on April 7, 2017. This case remains unsolved so I made it the Case of the Month for September, 2020.  The Case On Sunday, April 28, 1991 around 6pm, two hikers on a hillside near Albert Street, Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, found scattered […]

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Filed Under: Case of the Month, Unidentified Tagged With: 1991 East Allentown John Doe, Allentown, Case of the Month, Pennsylvania, Unidentified

Missing: Wendy Eaton 

August 22, 2019 By Alice

Wendy Eaton/NamUs

Wendy “Whizzie” Eaton (May 26, 1959 – missing May 17, 1975) was last seen on May 17, 1975. She is from Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Wendy was a sophomore (10 grade) at Penncrest High School. She got good grades, loved scouting, camping, and church activities. She plays piano, guitar, and is a skilled singer. Her case […]

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Filed Under: Missing Persons Tagged With: missing child, Pennsylvania, Wendy Eaton

Moira “Holly” Branagan murdered 40 years ago

March 28, 2019 By Alice

Moira "Holly" Branagan

Moira “Holly” Branagan (Dec 8, 1962 – March 28, 1979) was murdered 40 years ago today. In 2014, it looked like the 1979 case was breaking open. However, Det. Thomas Galloway, in charge of the investigation, did not release any information except for this: “I have developed a suspect, but we’re not ready to move […]

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Filed Under: Cold Case News Tagged With: Bethlehem, DNA, Knife Attack, Moira "Holly" Branagan, Pennsylvania

Daniel Dougherty: third trial

March 27, 2019 By Alice

Photograph AdS

On March 27, 2019, the third trial started for Daniel Dougherty. In 2000, Daniel Dougherty was found guilty of the 1985 arson that killed his two sons, Danny (4) and Johnny (3). Police arrested Dougherty in 1999 after his estranged wife and mother of the two children claimed he had confessed. A jury found him guilty […]

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Filed Under: Forensics Tagged With: Daniel Dougherty, Forensic arson detection, Pennsylvania, Wrongful Convictions

The 1953 Murders of Gail and Paul Schultz

August 1, 2018 By Alice

Gail and Paul Schultz grid 500

Gail Lee Schultz and Paul G. Schultz Jr., two siblings, were murdered on March 7, 1953. They were bludgeoned to death with a blunt instrument. Their cases are officially labelled cold by the authorities. The chance that we will ever find out who killed Gail and Paul Schultz and why they had to die, are very […]

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Filed Under: Case of the Month Tagged With: Bardole DNA Collection Method, Blunt force trauma, Case of the Month, cranial injuries, Gail Lee Schultz, Nazareth, Paul and Gail Schultz, Paul G. Schultz Jr., Pennsylvania

New trial for Daniel Dougherty

November 2, 2017 By Alice

Photograph AdS

On October 31, the Pennsylvania Superior Court gave Daniel Dougherty what he has coveted: a new trial. For the third time. The defense and appellate courts agreed: Daniel Dougherty had two unfair trials. The three-judge panel of the Pennsylvania Superior Court ruled that Dougherty should get a new trial. They cited three crucial errors the […]

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Filed Under: Forensics, Miscarriages of Justice Tagged With: Daniel Dougherty, Forensic arson detection, Pennsylvania, Wrongful Convictions

Three Wrongful Convictions in the news

June 22, 2017 By Alice

Photography AdS

Three wrongful convictions in the news. These men served between 13 and 36 years in prisons for crimes they did not commit. I hope that we will continue to investigate these murders. Someone else was responsible in all these cases. These victims should not become forgotten files in an archive. Kaj Linna, Sweden (single person […]

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Filed Under: Miscarriages of Justice Tagged With: Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Sweden, Wrongful Convictions

Moira “Holly” Branagan (1962-1979)

March 28, 2016 By Alice

Moira "Holly" Branagan

Moira “Holly” Branagan (1962 – 1979) was murdered 37 years ago today. Holly was found stabbed 18 times in the back with a 10-inch kitchen knife. The autopsy showed she had 15 serious knife wounds, three less serious wounds, and two defensive wounds on her hands. The crime The attack was so violent that the […]

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Filed Under: Unsolved Tagged With: DNA, Knife Attack, Moira "Holly" Branagan, Pennsylvania

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Author Notes

Since 2009, I write about unsolved cases that need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave active investigations to the authorities.

My posts cover homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to unsolved cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme, tone, and research. It is my prerogative to not review a book. Please check the FAQ page for more.

My databases are free to the public. Cases are sorted by the victim’s last name.

If you have any questions about my website please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the About page, and the tabs in both menu bars. If you cannot find the answers there, please contact me.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler
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