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norristown pa murders in 1973

by Brielle Tremblay Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

The discovery of Debbie Makel's body on Oct. 7, 1973, horrified much of Pennsylvania, generating widespread alarm and news coverage while a state police task force searched for the brazen killer who sexually assaulted and strangled her less than 500 yards from her back door.Oct 12, 2003

Full Answer

How many murders have there been in Pennsylvania since 1973?

This story concerns 18 deaths, all murders and all occurring in this corner of Pennsylvania since 1973. There are other unsolved murders, some overlapping into Ohio and West Virginia. But these are probably cases which still remain fresh in many district resident’s minds.

What are some of the most famous homicide cases in Pennsylvania?

Below are ten of the most famous and bizarre homicide cases to occur in the state of Pennsylvania. 1. "Harvey-robinson-e1355951865430-203x300" by Source (WP:NFCC#4). Harvey M. Robinson is one of the youngest serial killers in American history and the only serial killer from Allentown, PA.

Could DNA fingerprint solve Thurston County's oldest murder case?

If Cosden is convicted, it will be the oldest open murder case in the state to have been solved by DNA "fingerprinting," authorities said. "This case came about through a lot of hard work by a lot of individuals for a long period of time," said Thurston County Sheriff Gary Edwards. "It has been continually investigated.

What happened in 1978 in McKeesport?

The following story ran in The Evening Standard on Thursday, Oct. 26, 1978. An 8-year-old girl was raped and strangled. A 17-year-old boy was shot three times in the head. A 15-year-old McKeesport boy was burned to death. These are three of the 18 unsolved homicides troubling police agencies in the district since 1973.

Our first wanted poster

We recently acquired this wanted poster from board member Charles Kelly. I can’t be sure because I still haven’t opened every box in our stacks, but so far, it seems this is our first wanted poster.

The Last Execution by Hanging in Montgomery County

Around 1:00AM on September 1, 1909, a group of four robbers assaulted an elderly East Norriton cobbler, George A. Johnson, in his home near the intersection of DeKalb Street and Germantown Pike. After being hit on the head and shot, Johnson crawled about a quarter mile to seek help from his neighbor John Steffin.

The trial of Blasius Pistorius

Since it's the dog days of summer, I thought we could revisit one of our earliest blogs. Ok, I'm super busy and our curator in on vacation, so we're running a repeat.

Warrant for John Mosko

Dr. Ceasare Lombroso in the 19th Century was a noted criminal anthropologist and was known as the father of modern criminology. Although many of his theories have since been discredited, at the turn of the 20th Century his “criminal classifications” were well regarded.

When did the Noakes murders happen?

Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons. The notorious murders of three siblings occurred in 1934, but has yet to be forgotten by the community.

What is the oldest known homicide?

A few days ago, National Geographic reported that evidence of the oldest known homicide has been uncovered– literally. Paleontologists in Spain found a 430,000 year-old skull that bears evidence of traumatic injury. Homicide has been around as long as the human race, yet we understand what drives some to kill as poorly as we ever have.

How old was Thorman when she burned a child?

Thorman was a thirteen-year old servant when she fatally burned a two year old child on the stove. When she was caught by the infant's aunt, she confessed to slaying three other children in the same manner, claiming that, "I did it because I have the devil in me."

How many murders did Cullen commit?

Eventually Cullen was arrested in connection with a patient's overdose. He confessed to 40 murders, but investigators estimate the actual number to be much higher. 8.

Why did Gary Styles look like lobster claws?

Gary Styles was a traveller in a carnival throughout the duration of his life thanks to a genetic deformity that made his hands look like lobster claws. He was notoriously bad-tempered towards his family, a quality that culminated the day he shot his daughter's fiancee in the face with a shotgun.

What happened to Jordan Brown?

The fifth grade boy, an avid reader and football player, allegedly shot the woman before leaving for the school bus. He was tried as an adult and currently is being held in juvenile detention and may be granted a new trial due to spotty evidence.

What is Harrison Graham's case?

Harrison Graham's is a case that begs the question whether an insane person can be responsible for his or her actions, or if the shortcomings of the mental health care system should be held accountable. Friends allegedly repeatedly tried to get help for the 28 year-old mentally disabled drug addict who also had multiple personality disorder and a fervent attachment to his Cookie Monster doll. After Graham was evicted from his Philadelphia apartment, police discovered the bodies of seven women in his apartment, all in various stages of decay.

How many deaths were there in Pennsylvania in 1973?

All the scientific gadgetry in the world could be brought to bear but still no killer could be found and brought to justice. This story concerns 18 deaths, all murders and all occurring in this corner of Pennsylvania since 1973. There are other unsolved murders, some overlapping into Ohio and West Virginia.

Where was Stanley Warzinski's body found?

Two days after his killing, police found the body of Stanley Warzinski in the burned out basement of his home . Warzinski, who had operated a jewelry store in Uniontown for a number of years, had been beaten and then dragged into the basement of his home where his body was set on fire.

What is the tragedy of murder?

There is always trage dy to murder. In these cases, the killers showed no respect for age or occupation, least of all for someone’s right to life. Several of the victims were young women. They were sexually assaulted and then strangled. Police have theorized these may have been committed by the same person.

Where was the man found in Colorado?

On Aug. 12, skeletal remains of a Colorado man were found in a wooded area near Twilight Borough in Washington County. It took authorities a little more than a week to identify the latest murder victim as Wayne M. Allec, 23, of Lakewood, Colo.

Who was the first person to be found in Hawkins Hollow?

The first probe began when a human skull was dragged into the yard of a Hawkins Hollow home by a dog. That was on April 15. Three weeks later, Allegheny County Coroner Cyril Wecht said the skull from the body of Elizabeth Jane Berquist, a 24-year-old nurse from Elizabeth Twp. She had been reported missing Dec. 17.

Was the Warzinski murder connected to Wolfe?

At the time, police indicate d the Warzinski and Wolfe murders were connected. Warzinski’s home was located less than a block away from where Wolfe spotted the suspicious car. A theory is whoever was in that auto was “casing” Warzinski’s home. It was determined his home had been ransacked before it was set afire.

Who was the last person to be found in Perryopolis?

A former Perryopolis man was the last murder victim in this area to be listed among the unsolved homicides. George Louis Whirlow, 60, of Scott Twp., a Pittsburgh suburb, was found early on the morning of Sept. 26 in a remote area of Fayette County.

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