In the summer of 1972, a typical afternoon turned into a haunting mystery for 16-year-old Jeannette DePalma.

She left her Springfield Township home in Union County, New Jersey, telling her mother she was off to visit a friend via train.

However, Jeannette never arrived at her friend’s house, and as evening fell, her worried parents reported her missing to the Springfield Police Department.

Weeks later, on September 19, a grim discovery deepened the enigma.

A neighborhood dog chillingly returned Jeannette’s decomposing right forearm and hand, found perched on a cliff in Springfield’s Houdaille Quarry.

Surrounding her skeletal remains were eerie and disputed objects, including improvised wooden crosses and tales of pentagrams, adding layers of intrigue to a puzzling case.

Who was Jeannette DePalma?

Jeannette DePalma, a young woman born on August 3, 1956, met a tragic end in Springfield Township, Union County, New Jersey.

Her brutal murder is still unresolved. It has captured attention through discussions in Weird NJ magazine and the 2015 book Death on the Devil’s Teeth.

This has turned it into a controversial and puzzling case.

Despite nearly 50 years passing since the incident, organizers persistently seek answers. They showcase the enduring impact of Jeannette’s unresolved story.

This has on those dedicated to finding justice for her tragic fate.

The Investigation

After an autopsy failed to determine DePalma’s cause of Death, the Springfield Police Department opened an investigation. 

No signs of fractures, bullet holes, or knife wounds could be found on her clothing or bones. There was no evidence of drug use on or near the body. 

The Union County Prosecutor’s Office is treating the Death as suspicious since the coroner suspected strangling as the cause of Death for unknown reasons. 

The coroner also identified a high lead concentration in the body, which was also puzzling.

A homeless man living in the woods near the quarry was the subject of an early alert to Springfield police.

The villagers called him “Red,” and they say he left his campground in the woods soon after DePalma disappeared. 

This clue initially showed promise, but the Uninitially Office eventually concluded that “Red” was innocent of involvement in DePalma’s Death. 

A lack of tips from the public and contradictory statements made to police by her family, friends, and peers led investigators to give up on the case.

No drug paraphernalia was discovered on, near, or around DePalma’s body.

She was not known to have used any recreational or prescription drugs other than smoking marijuana socially.

Despite rumors and innuendo offered by Springfield police regarding her death possibly being the result of a drug overdose.

Bernard Ehrenberg, the medical examiner, publicly suspected strangulation after performing an autopsy on DePalma’s remains and ruling out accidental death and drug overdose.

Case Report & Results

After receiving multiple anonymous messages about DePalma’s Death in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Weird NJ magazine started reporting on the decades-old cold case.

Rumors circulated that the Springfield police had lost or destroyed the case file.

Editor and co-founder Mark Moran made inquiries and reported various allegedly dubious elements.

After Hurricane Floyd flooded its headquarters in 1999, the Springfield Police Department claims that it destroyed the file.

A novel: Death on the Devil’s Teeth: The Strange Murder

“Death on the Devil’s Teeth: The Strange Murder That Shocked Suburban New Jersey” is a book co-authored by Weird NJ journalist Jesse P. Pollack and Moran.

Together, they unearthed potential evidence of a cover-up, interconnected unsolved homicides, and new suspects, delving deeper into the case.

Edward Salzano took legal action against the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, demanding a DNA analysis of Jeannette DePalma’s clothing.

John Bancey, Jeannette DePalma’s nephew, entrusted Edward Salzano with crucial documents, including the FBI crime lab report.

Despite stained clothing, the crime lab couldn’t perform conclusive tests in 1972. In a 2021 article, “Justice for Jeannette DePalma” expressed their dedication to her memory.

Even after nearly 50 years, the organizers actively continue their quest for answers.

In 2022, a reexamination of DePalma’s case shed new light.

The term “A Long Walk Home” hints at Jeannette DePalma’s aspiration for her death to be classified as homicide, not suicide.

The book extensively explores the crimes of Jeannette DePalma, Joan Kramer, and Carol Ann Farino, drawing comparisons among the three women.

Serial killer Richard Cottingham is a Suspect

In the spring of 2021, Richard Cottingham, a convicted serial killer from New Jersey, engaged in a series of written exchanges with journalist Jesse P. Pollack.

These correspondences hinted at his potential involvement in the abduction and murder of DePalma, who was hitchhiking at the time.

After Cottingham expressed willingness to cooperate with investigators, Pollack forwarded the correspondence to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office.

The updated and revised 2022 edition of Death on the Devil’s Teeth includes the details of Jeannette’s murder, as revealed by Cottingham.

As of December 2022, law enforcement authorities have not provided any further updates on the case.

Update on Jeannette DePalma case 2023

Recently, there have been updates in the Jeannette DePalma case.

On October 3rd, the Interview Room podcast hosted a discussion with Chris McDonough, Dr. Gary Brucato, and Dr. Ann Burgess about the Delphi case.