On 22 March 1979, Helen E. Horn, a widow, returned home from an evening meeting of the Gratz Historical Society. Within minutes of entering her house, she was on her dining room floor – naked and dead in a pool of blood. Although someone was charged with her murder, at trial, he was acquitted. The crime was never solved.
This post is one of 19 chronicling the discovery of the body, the arrest and trial of the suspect, and his acquittal. The story is told through articles that appeared in a Pottsville newspaper.
From the Pottsville Republican, March 24, 1979:
Widow’s death suspicious
GRATZ – The death of an elderly widow is being investigated and termed as “suspicious” by state police at Harrisburg and Lykens.
Police said Helen E. Horn, 68, formerly of Minersville, was found dead in her Market Street home about 7:30 a.m. Friday by a cleaning woman.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene by Dauphin County Deputy Coroner Edward A. Lentz, police said.
Although police would release no further details at this time.
According to state police at Harrisburg, an autopsy was to be performed at the Harrisburg Hospital.
____________________________________
For all other parts of this story, see: Who Killed Helen Horn?
News clipping/article from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.