Pennsylvania Cold Case: $5K Reward Offered in 1981 Debra Ray Witmer Homicide
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Chambersburg, PA – Pennsylvania State Police are renewing efforts to solve the 1981 homicide of Debra Ray Witmer. Authorities are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the decades-old case.
According to Pennsylvania State Police, Witmer, 20, disappeared from her St. Thomas home on May 27, 1981. She left behind her belongings, including cigarettes and a locked trailer door. Her brother, the last family member to see her, recalled she was asleep when he left for school that morning.
Almost a year later, on April 13, 1982, police found skeletal remains at the bottom of an abandoned quarry in Williamson. Forensic pathologists identified the remains as Witmer’s using dental records. A coroner’s inquest in 1983 officially ruled her death a homicide, though the exact cause of death remains unknown.
State police have continued investigating, but no arrests have been made. Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information that might help bring closure to Witmer’s family. Investigators believe someone may hold key details that could help solve the case.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact PSP Chambersburg at 717-264-5161 or PSP Tips at 1-800-4PA-TIPS (8477). Anonymous tips can also be submitted online at www.p3tips.com.
Officials emphasize that even small details could help detectives move closer to solving the case. Tipsters providing useful information may be eligible for the $5,000 reward if their leads result in an arrest.
Witmer was a young mother at the time of her disappearance, and her family has spent over four decades waiting for answers. Law enforcement remains committed to solving the case and ensuring justice for Witmer and her loved ones.
As cold cases gain renewed attention due to advances in forensic technology and public involvement, police hope new leads will emerge. Cases like Witmer’s highlight the importance of community support in solving long-standing crimes.
Authorities urge anyone with information to come forward, even if they believe it to be insignificant. The smallest detail could provide the breakthrough needed to close this case.
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