|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:13:04 GMT -5
11/16/89 Robert Wunderle Mr. Robert Wunderle was last seen alive on 11/15/89 at approximately 8:45 p.m. by a co-worker when he left his employment at Supermarkets General located in Woodbridge, NJ. Mr. Wunderle was a Vice President in charge of labor relations.
On 11/16/89 at approximately 9:10 a.m., an employee of the Rockaway Borough Department of Public Works discovered the body of Robert Wunderle who had been shot to death lying in a drainage ditch near Firemen's Field on Beech Street in Rockaway Borough, NJ.
On 1/22/90, Mr. Wunderle's company vehicle was discovered in a parking garage in New York City. This car was found to have arrived at the parking garage in the early morning hours of 11/16/89.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:13:19 GMT -5
9/18/86 Lester Mickens Lester Mickens was last seen alive on Wednesday, 9/17/86, and was discovered by a neighbor murdered inside his residence on Thursday, 9/18/86. Mr. Mickens had been stabbed and bludgeoned. Mr. Mickens lived for several years in a two-room residence located at 1671 Route 23, Kinnelon, NJ. He was well known in his community and was a veteran of World War I. Mr. Mickins was not known to have very much money or valuables, but robbery has not been ruled out as a motive for the crime.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:13:38 GMT -5
1/15/85 Josephine Dawda On Tuesday, 1/15/85, at approximately 4:35 p.m., Josephine Dawda was discovered lying on the kitchen floor of her residence located at 12 Olyphant Drive, Morristown, NJ, by her live-in companion. Ms. Dawda had been stabbed in the chest and was pronounced dead at the scene.
A suspect in the homicide was seen near the residence. This suspect was described in January 1985 as a black male in his late 20's, approximately 6' tall, slender build, slender legs, light skin, thin curly sideburns, small jaw line and chin, and dark eyes. At the time of the murder, this person was wearing a medium blue waist-length quilted ski jacket, maroon or burgundy shirt and a knitted white and black ski cap.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:13:57 GMT -5
12/24/84 Baby Jane Doe On 12/24/84, a deceased newborn female was found in a stream located off of Mt. Pleasant Road, Mendham Township, NJ. The baby was found wrapped in towels inside a few garbage bags. The baby, a white female, was found to have its umbilical cord attached and was no more than one-day old.
An autopsy determined that the baby was alive at birth and died as a result of exposure to the elements or asphyxia as a result of being placed in the plastic bag.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:14:12 GMT -5
1/5/83 Judy Brown On Wednesday, 1/5/83, Judy Brown, white female, 28 years old, 5'4", 160 lbs., brown hair, blue eyes was found shot to death in her vehicle, a 1973 ford Maverick, NJ registration 614-MJX. Investigation revealed that the victim was shot with a firearm. The victim was found lying across the front bench seat of the vehicle. The vehicle was found locked and parked behind Beefsteak Charlie's Restaurant, Route 46, Parsippany, NJ. The cause of death was determined to be gunshot wounds and the Manner of Death - Homicide.
The victim's wallet containing her driver's license, SS card, and credit cards in the name of her husband, Peter Brown. Also missing were the keys to the vehicle with a wooden key chain (boy and girl image holding hands, small flowers and the words "Love Always".)
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:14:29 GMT -5
10/1/82 Christopher Harris Thomas On Friday, 10/1/82, at about 9:16 p.m., the Rockaway Township Police Department received a report of a shooting at the Rockaway Townsquare Mall.
Responding units found one victim, Christopher Harris Thomas, a 16 year-old high school athlete lying mortally wounded just inside the doors of the mall near the inner theaters.
According to witnesses, the victim and his 14 year-old female companion had just been dropped off at this location. They walked toward the entrance when they were approached by the suspect. The suspect pushed the female aside, pointed the gun at the victim's chest and fired once. No words were exchanged between suspect and victim. The victim stumbled forward through the doors of the Mall and fell to the floor. The victim was transported to Dover General Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:26 p.m.
The suspect was described as a white male, 20-23 years of age, about 5'9" tall with long, brown hair.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:14:50 GMT -5
10/20/82 James Wescoe On Wednesday, 10/20/98, James Wescoe left his part-time job at the Beechwood Cigar Store across from the train station in Summit, NJ. He boarded the train from Summit to Madison where, upon arrival, he proceeded to the Park Tavern on Park Avenue in Madison. He remained at the tavern until approximately 12:45 a.m. when he purchased a six-pack of beer and left. He walked to the Madison train station by way of Main Street and Waverly Place. He then took the Green Avenue steps to the eastbound platform of the station and sat on a bench.
He was last seen alive at approximately 1:15 a.m. by a conductor. The six-pack of beer was beside him on the bench and he appeared to be sleeping.
At approximately 2:50 a.m., Mr. Wescoe was found lying on the platform in a pool of blood. His eyeglasses were beside him and the six-pack still on the bench. He had suffered multiple stab wounds.
Mr. Wescoe was a white male, approximately 30 years of age, 5'9" tall with light curly hair. That night, he was wearing his eyeglasses, a dungaree jacket, dark-colored shirt and blue jeans.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:15:06 GMT -5
7/8/80 Walter "Whitey" Burd On Tuesday, July 8, 1980 at approximately 7:00 a.m. the victim, Walter "Whitey" Burd, age 57 was discovered deceased inside the Circle Lanes Bowling Alley, Route 46, Ledgewood, NJ. The victim was employed as a maintenance worker at the bowling alley and had been murdered during an apparent robbery of the safe in the bowling alley. The victim was last seen alive at approximately 4:00 a.m. on 7/8/80 at a local restaurant and had been assaulted and stabbed prior to his death. The bowling alley had been closed at the time of the homicide.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:15:24 GMT -5
8/11/80 Richard Sikorsky On Monday, 8/11/1980, Richard Sikorsky, white male, 27 years of age, was found dead on the floor of his basement apartment located at 23 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ where he lived alone. He was last seen alive on Saturday, 8/8/80.
The victim's apartment was a total disarray believed to be from an altercation between the victim and the suspect. Chairs and tables were found turned over, magazines and other miscellaneous items were strewn on the floor, and the mattress was pulled off the bed onto the floor. There were blood smears throughout the apartment. The victim's body was badly beaten. The Cause of Death was determined to be a subdural hematoma from blunt force trauma to the victim's head and the Manner of Death - Homicide.
The victim moved out of his home in Clark, New Jersey in 1979 and lived in several places including Carrier Clinic in Belle Meade, NJ and the Morristown YMCA. The victim then moved to 23 Western Avenue on July 31, 1980. While in the Morristown area the victim worked at Bambergers in Morristown, NJ and Master Works Music and Art Foundation in Morristown, NJ.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:17:41 GMT -5
GARY BUTLER HOMICIDE On February 26, 1996 twenty-five year old Manville resident, Gary Butler was found dead in a retention pond on North Main St in Manville near the border of Bridgewater and the Raritan River. The cause of death as reported by the Regional Medical Examiners Office was multiple blunt force trauma. The investigation revealed that the victim had been at Perhach’s Bar on Main St. in Manville earlier in the evening on February 25th shooting pool with several of the bar’s regular patrons. After leaving the bar sometime after midnight he walked a friend home and then returned to the Chester House where he rented a room on the second floor. Sometime between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. the victim managed to travel to the town of Bound Brook. The investigation reveals that Butler was apparently returning to Manville from Bound Brook when he was assaulted.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:18:12 GMT -5
JOSEPH SASS ROBBERY/HOMICIDE On June 29, 2000 (Thursday) at approximately 9:20 P.M., 32 year-old Joseph Sass, a dedicated, well liked employee at the King George Exxon Gas Station, was working the late shift as he has done so many times in the past ten years. The gas station is located within feet of the entrance ramp to the well-traveled inter-state highway #78 and King George Road, in the upscale community of Bernards Township, Somerset County, New Jersey.
On the night of the robbery/homicide several witnesses reported that a black male subject approached the gas station on foot from the south side entrance (nearest to Route #78) and entered the vending machine area of the station. This suspect was further described as approximately 5’9” to 6’1” tall, thin build, dark complexion and between 20 to 30 years old.
Witnesses reported that the suspect male engaged in a brief conversation with the attendant about the vending machines taking dollar bills. The witnesses then reported that the suspect asked Sass for change at which time the attendant removed a large quantity of bills from his pocket. The suspect then produced a handgun and demanded that Sass give him all the money. After the attendant complied the suspect shot the victim in the head at point blank range. As Joseph Sass lie dying in a pool of blood the suspect walked briskly out of the station in the same direction as he entered moments earlier. Witnesses then observed a late model, dark colored commercial type van fleeing the area and proceeded west bound onto Route #78.
The community of concerned citizens has posted a $37,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the murder of Joseph Sass. (A composite drawing of the suspect is attached) Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Richard A. Myers of the Major Crimes Unit at 908-575-3393 or the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office TIPS Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477). All calls are kept strictly confidential
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:18:34 GMT -5
# SHARON THOR HOMICIDE On a Tuesday afternoon October 26, 1982 at about 5:30 p.m. sixteen year-old Sharon Thor was preparing to leave her Franklin Township home for her twice weekly ballet dance lesson three miles away in Bound Brook when the phone rang. This was not an unusual occurrence at the Thor household where Frank and Sonia Thor lived with their five children who ranged in age from nine to twenty-one. Frank Sr. was relaxing in the living room and Sharon's mother, Sonia, was hustling about in the kitchen. Sharon answered the phone and appeared to be pleasantly surprised to hear from the caller according to her mother. Sharon took the phone and stretched the cord to its limit so that she could nestle herself in the cellar stairway in an attempt to secure some privacy. The conversation was brief and soon after hanging up the phone Sharon hurried out of the house remarking to her mother that she would be right back. It was understood according to Sonia Thor that Sharon knew she was due to leave for her dance lesson within fifteen minutes. At about the same time a neighborhood youth was playing in his front yard and observed Sharon enter the passenger side of a vehicle that had pulled up along side of her house. The vehicle was described as old and dirty looking with a loud muffler with something possibly covering the inside of the rear window. Witnesses stated that the vehicle backed up as if not familiar with the area and drove in front of the Thor residence. According to the witness the vehicle was driven by a white male with dark colored hair. This was the last time that Sharon Thor was seen alive. When Sharon failed to return home in time for her dance lesson the Franklin Township Police were notified and an investigation into Sharon’s disappearance was initiated.
Three days later on October 29, 1982 a search team discovered Sharon’s lifeless body in a wooded area less than a quarter mile from her home. This area was maintained by the local utility company as a right of way and a dirt access road passed within fifty feet of where Sharon was found. This area was also popular to local teenagers who would hunt, ride dirt bikes, party and just meet friends to socialize on a regular basis. Although the area was posted as off limit to private vehicles neighbors often reported a continuous flow of unauthorized vehicles in the area. An attempt was made to conceal the victim by covering her body. An autopsy was conducted and determined that the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:18:53 GMT -5
TAMARA TIGNOR HOMICIDE At approximately 5:00 p.m. on November 4, 1997 the body of an unidentified white female was discovered lying on a dirt cul-de-sac off of Gilbride Rd. in the Township of Bridgewater, New Jersey. The victim was subsequently identified as twenty-three year-old Tamara Tignor a known drug user and prostitute who had recently been living in Newark, New Jersey. Tammy, as many people knew her, was also known to frequent the areas of Somerville, South Bound Brook, Plainfield, and Union Beach.
Due to the remoteness of where Tammy was found it is possible that the person(s) responsible for her death may have close ties to the area due to their familiarity with this location. There is also a strong possibility that Tamara was murdered at some other location and subsequently transported to the Gilbride Rd. area and disposed of from a vehicle.
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:20:54 GMT -5
The Joyce Coleman Murder It is almost the 34th anniversary of Long Valley’s most notorious murder, the murder of Joyce Coleman. Joyce Coleman , 28-years-old, six months pregnant with her second son, was savagely murdered the night of Feb. 27, 1970 in her Bartley Road home. The police investigation involved the interview of hundreds of people and extensive searches were made of the surrounding area. Police set up roadblocks to interview motorists to determine if they had seen anything unusual in the area of the Coleman's Bartley Road home. The lengthy investigation did not produce a suspect they could charge with the murder. It appeared that the scene of the murder was a burglary gone bad. Investigators compiled the following time line for incidents leading up to the discovery of the murder. Wayne Coleman told investigators that he tried to call his wife before he left work in Newark , but could not get through because the line was busy. He said that he left work around 12:30 AM, and arrived about an hour later. When he entered thought the garage door, he heard his year old son crying. He then found his wife's bludgeoned body on the recreation room floor. Coleman then related that he ran over a neighbors' for help and pounded on their door, but couldn’t arouse anyone and returned home and called police. The killer had taken a hunting knife from a gun rack, and stabbed Joyce Coleman. Investigators reported that Wayne Coleman reported items missing from the house. Coleman, reported $200 in pennies, a hair dryer, a Polaroid camera, a movie projector, a few pieces of jewelry and guns were missing from the scene. There were no signs of forced entry to the residence. Investigators determined the killer took hunting knife from a gun rack, and stabbed Joyce Coleman. The murderer then washed off the hunting knife in the kitchen sink and then placed it in a kitchen drawer with the other knives and forks. Investigators reported the neighbors heard nothing the night of the murder. Since that time, the murder has never been truly off the minds of the police department. The murder weapons, clothing and other evidence has been carefully maintained. Many things have changed in the last thirty years and one of the most intriguing aspects of the case is the advances in Forensic Science. There have been amazing advances in the analysis of evidence in the last three decades. Currently, all the evidence in the Coleman murder is being re-examined to determine which pieces have the most potential to reveal information. Those pieces will be re-analyzed using twenty first century forensic science. Forensic re-examination is only one aspect of the new focus on this crime. Time is generally not on the side of investigators, but in this case detectives hope that the passing of time may make it easier for anyone who has information about what happened on the night of Feb. 27, 1970 on Bartley Road. In 1990, during a periodic examination of the case, the Morris County Sheriff's Office Crime Stoppers offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of Joyce Coleman's murderer. The reward still stands. Anyone with information should call Detective Sergeant Michael Pellegrino of the Washington Township Police Department at 908.876.3232 or via e-mail, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, or the Morris County Sheriff's Office Crime Stoppers at (973) COP-CALL cont..next post
|
|
|
Post by Sher on Dec 20, 2005 1:21:22 GMT -5
cont from above....
Reprint of the Daily Record Article Originally Published in 1990
Death remains a mystery by Robin Cutler
20 years later, woman's murder file is still open
WASHINGTON TWP. - It was nearly 25 years ago that Joyce and Wayne Coleman decided to trade the hectic pace of city life for a peaceful country existence in this community. Back then. people went to bed here without locking their doors. Neighbors chit-chatted over back yard fences. Horses roamed freely. Cornfields were everywhere. Crime. at least violent crime. didn't happen in their neighborhood. Or so everyone thought, until police made a grizzly discovery at 245 Bartley Road on the night of Feb. 27, 1970:
Joyce Coleman had been bludgeoned to death. The 28-year-old pregnant mother, carrying the little boy she expected to deliver in three months, was brutally murdered while waiting for her husband to come home from work. Her killer was never found. Today, 20 years later, authorities are interviewing the same people they talked to years ago in hopes of finding clues that will lead them to Coleman's attacker. "Some people might remember something that they didn't want to come forth with then. or were reluctant to give at the time," said George Kluetz. Washington Township police chief.
The Morris County Sheriff's Office said it has received numerous anonymous phone tips since the case was reopened and featured in this month's Crime Stoppers program. And the county prosecutor's office has continued to track down various leads as they've trickled in over the years. "During the past several months, we have redirected our efforts in this investigation with the hopes of uncovering leads," said Charles Coe, chief of investigations for the Morris County Prosecutor's Office. In August. authorities called in retired county investigator Thomas Sacco, who spent several days helping them review the details of the murder. "The person was clever and covered his tracks," said Sacco, calling the Coleman murder one, of the most frustrating in his law enforcement career.
"Lots of people were checked, searches were made of the area, hundreds of people were interviewed, and trash cans were searched two miles in each direction," Sacco said. Police even set up roadblocks and asked motorists if they had seen anything unusual in the area of the Coleman's Bartley Road home, but they couldn't come up with a suspect.
The scene had the appearance of 'a burglary gone sour. Wayne Coleman told police things were missing from his house - $200 in pennies, a hair dryer, a Polaroid camera, a movie projector, a few pieces of jewelry and some guns. In the early morning hours of Feb. 28, after returning home from the 4 p.m. to midnight shift he worked at a Newark trucking company, Wayne Coleman gave police the following account: He said he decided to call his wife before quitting time to let her know he was on his way home. But he couldn't get through because the line was busy. At about 12:30 a.m., he left work and headed home, arriving about an hour later. He entered the house through a garage door and heard his 14-month-old son crying. Then, he found his wife's bludgeoned body on the recreation room floor.
He told police he ran to the neighbors' house for help and pounded on the door. But he couldn't wake them and returned to his ranch house and called police. According to authorities, neighbors heard nothing that night. There were no signs of a forced entry, items of little monetary value were reported missing and the intruder used tools in the couple's home to commit the murder. The killer had taken a hunting knife from a gun rack, stabbed Coleman in the upper body, then washed it off in the kitchen sink and put it in a cutlery drawer. The fireplace poker used in the beating was found beside her. An autopsy showed that Joyce Coleman died between 11:30 PM. and 1 AM. from multiple face, head and neck injuries.
John Douglas, who heads the Federal Bureau of Investigation's criminal investigative analysis and profiling unit, said the manner in which Coleman died suggests her killer was angry and familiar with the household. "It sounds like overkill. The subject was doing far more than necessary to kill the victim," Douglas said": His office has not been asked to look into the Coleman case. Residents still talk about the murder and wonder if her killer ever will be found.
Financial problems
Gloria Smith, who lived next door to the couple, described the Colemans as a couple that were somewhat mismatched. Wayne Coleman was work-oriented, "very overbearing," not too friendly, and had a bit of a temper, Smith said. "I never saw him angry with the family. He would be upset with the animals if they didn't do exactly what he wanted. He would lash out by yelling at them and hitting them, mostly the horses. He hit them with his fist," she recalled.
Smith said Joyce Coleman was the opposite, "very upbeat, full of fun, full of life. She enjoyed her horses, enjoyed her home, and seemed to be looking forward to having (another) baby." One afternoon, Joyce Coleman told Smith that the couple had decided to put their $45,000 ranch house up for sale because they were having financial problems', "She said they were short on paying the bills. She didn't pay a premium on the insurance policy because she wanted to pay other bills. And I believe Wayne didn't know that," Smith said.
Authorities could not say whether Wayne Coleman ever collected on his wife's policy. Six months after his wife's death, he remarried and moved out of state. Coleman's family still is reluctant to discuss the murder. "It's very, very upsetting. It's not easily talked about. . ." said James Minchin, Coleman's only brother, who lives in Morris Township with his wife, Jean. Minchin's voice trailed off, leaving him unable to speak. His wife took the telephone and explained that Coleman's death was very difficult for Minchin and his parents. She said he never talked about his sister, or her violent death, And when Jean Minchin joined the family, her husband handed her a newspaper clipping of the murder and told her to read it.
Another tragedy
Not only did the Minchins lose their daughter, but they lost their 3-year-old grandson, Wayne Coleman Jr. The toddler died of cyanide poisoning in 1972 at his home in Virginia, just two years after his mother's death. An insurance company brought the poisoning to the attention of authorities after the boy's father requested payment on a $25,000 policy taken out on the child 14 months earlier.
Officials concluded the death was accidental based on an autopsy and statements from his father that the poison was used to kill rodents. They determined the boy accidentally ingested the cyanide. At that time, Wayne Coleman Sr. had married his third wife and divorced her. His whereabouts since are known only to authorities. "We keep praying something will happen, that whoever did it will finally be brought to justice. They took two lives at one time," Smith said. The Morris County Sheriff's Office Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of Coleman's murderer. Anyone with information can call (201) COP-CALL.
cont next post....
|
|