At the end of March 1977, Mrs. Jennie E. Barr, an elderly widow, was found dead in her den in her home in Tremont, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. The cause of death was strangulation and she was also sexually assaulted. Investigators ruled the death a homicide.
This murder was the first of four that occurred in the Lykens Valley area in a less than three-year period between 1977 and 1979 – all of elderly widows.
The story of the discovery of the body through the revelation of the autopsy results, investigation and settlement of her estate is told through 12 brief stories that appeared in area newspapers.
Although a suspect was charged and brought to trial in 1981, he was quickly acquitted. As with the other three murders, this homicide remains unsolved.
Note: The 1981 trial will be featured in another series of posts.
From the Pine Grove Press Herald, 14 April 1977:
Citizen Street Patrol Underway In Tremont
Concerned for the safety of its citizens, in the wake of the maniacal murder of Mrs. Guy L. Barr in her home two weeks ago, Tremont now has an organized civilian night patrol.
The plan, begun by the Tremont Lions Club, is already in operation.
Teams of two men each are patrolling the borough streets every night, starting at 9 o’clock.
The movement got underway Tuesday evening when a group of interested citizens met with members of the Lions Club and Tremont Chief of Police Cutler.
Other male adults are invited to register as volunteers in this project. Registration forms are available at all major business establishments, service stations, etc. throughout the town.
Investigation of Mrs. Barr’s murder is still underway by State Police, County Detectives and the District Attorney’s office.
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For all other parts of this story, see: Who Killed Jennie E. Barr?
News clipping/article from Newspapers.com.
Corrections and additional information should be added as comments to this post.