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Defrosting Cold Cases

Research website by Alice de Sturler

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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 […]

Filed Under: Guest Bloggers, Unidentified Tagged With: Boy in the Box, 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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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

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Dina Fort

Author Notes

On this website, I write about old, unsolved cases. Most are from the pre-DNA era and are in need of renewed media attention. I only do research and leave the active investigation of these cases to the professionals.

My posts are about homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to these 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 and research. It remains my prerogative to not review a book.

My database has over 325 cases listed by the victim’s last name. You will find a brief description there as well. The database will always be free to the public to use. You cannot buy ad space on my website, ever.

All writing suggestions that come in by email are added to my to-do list in the order in which they were received. Please be patient. My to-do list is very long but no case gets dropped and I will get back in touch.

Defrosting Cold Cases is NOT an organization. It is my brainchild.

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 still cannot find the answer there, please contact me.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler

Copyright

If you use my work, please add a link back. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. Thank you!

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William Thomas Zeigler

Category: ALL POSTS

On March 31, 2016, an evidentiary hearing was held to request touch DNA testing. On July 18, 2016, Judge Whitehead denied that request.

On November 23, 2016, an appeal was filed with the Florida Supreme Court. On April 21, 2017, the Florida Supreme Court denied the request for touch DNA analysis.

On May 8, 2017 a motion for a rehearing with the US Supreme Court was filed. It was denied November 13, 2017.

In the summer of 2019, the appeal for DNA testing to the Florida Conviction Integrity Unit was denied.

Richard Lapointe

Category: ALL POSTS

In March 2015, the Connecticut State Supreme Court ordered a new trial for Richard lapointe. On Oct 2, 2015, International Wrongful Conviction Day, Richard was set free. The judge ruled that he cannot be retried for the 1987 rape-murder of Mrs. Bernice Martin. Richard Lapointe died on Aug 4, 2020 of Covid19 complications.

In 1987, someone killed Bernice Martin. I hope that she will not become a forgotten file.
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Copyright: Please add a link back if you use my work. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. If you need help with this, just contact me. Thank you, Alice de Sturler

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