Woman who cops thought died is found alive after 42 years
Police found the decaying remains of a dead woman in a secluded area in 1973. This is a reconstruction of how she may have looked. (The Reading Eagle)
JONESTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania police say a woman they recently linked to decomposing remains found in 1973 is actually alive.
State police recently had an expert craft a forensic bust of the victim, in hopes her appearance might spur leads into the killing.
At a news conference last week, police suggested the body could be a woman named Betsy Langjahr. At the time the body was found, Langjahr was a runaway from a home for troubled youth. As of last week, police weren't sure where she was.
Now, police have determined she's still living.
A game warden found the remains on Oct. 9, 1973, under a tarp and branches in Union Township, Lebanon County, near Jonestown. That's about 90 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
Evidence suggests the victim was 16 to 20 years old.
Anyone with information can contact Trate at 717-865-3647 or ntrate@pa.gov