March 25, 1887 Rahway, New Jersey An unidentified woman is found murdered The woman, described as in her early 20s with brown hair and blue eyes, and was dressed in good quality clothing and fur. Her body was found by four brothers who immediately reported the discovery to authorities. The body was frozen to the… Continue reading Unsolved: unknown woman found frozen in 3” puddle of blood
Category: New Jersey
Double hanging — one execution is botched, the other involves a man who was mentally ill or disabled
Double hanging — one execution is botched, the other involves a man who was mentally ill or disabled
January 3, 1884 Newark, New Jersey Two men are executed for murder in a double hanging The execution of Robert Martin, convicted of killing his wife and their infant as she held the baby, was botched. The Harrisburg Independent reported “the poor wretch who was condemned to suffer death at the hands of the law… Continue reading Double hanging — one execution is botched, the other involves a man who was mentally ill or disabled
Teenager killed, believed by some to have been “sacrificed”
August 7, 1972 Springfield Township, New Jersey Jeannette DePalma (16) goes missing; her body is found a month later DePalma left her home, telling her mother she was going to visit a friend. When she did not arrive at the friend’s house or back home, a missing person report was filed. On September 19, a… Continue reading Teenager killed, believed by some to have been “sacrificed”
Megan Kanka, namesake for Megan’s Law, is murdered
July 29, 1994 Hamilton Township, New Jersey 7-year-old Megan Kanka is abducted, raped, and murdered by twice-convicted sex offender Jesse Timmendequas Timmendequas had previously pleaded guilty to the attempted sexual assault of a 5-year-old girl in 1979 and the sexual assault of a 7-year-old girl in 1981; the second victim was choked until she was… Continue reading Megan Kanka, namesake for Megan’s Law, is murdered
“Prom Mom” kills baby, discards body in trash at dance
June 6, 1997 Lacey Township, New Jersey High school senior Melissa Drexler gives birth to a son in a bathroom stall during her prom, kills him, and throws his body in the trash Drexler had concealed her pregnancy from her family, her friends, her teachers, and the father. She complained of stomach cramps in the… Continue reading “Prom Mom” kills baby, discards body in trash at dance
