Carol Ann Dougherty was a 9-year-old girl who was raped and murdered in Bristol, Pennsylvania, United States, on October 22, 1962. Her body was found in St. Mark's Roman Catholic Church, where she had stopped to pray on her way to return library books. The case remains unsolved.
Carol Ann Dougherty | |
|---|---|
| Died | October 22, 1962 Bristol Borough, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Known for | Unsolved murder case |
Crime
editOn the afternoon of October 22, 1962, Carol Ann Dougherty left her home in Bristol Township to return books to the Bristol Free Library.[1] She rode her bicycle to the library, but stopped at St. Mark's Church along the way, as was her habit to say a prayer when passing.[1] When she did not return home by 4:30 PM, her parents became worried and went looking for her.[2] Carol's father, Frank Dougherty, found her body on a landing leading to the choir loft of the church around 6:00 PM.[2] She had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death.[2] Police determined she was likely attacked around 3:35 PM.[3]
Investigation
editThe initial investigation was conducted jointly by Bristol police, led by Chief Vincent Faragalli, and Pennsylvania State Police.[4] Evidence collected included pubic hairs found in Carol's hand.[4] Several suspects were investigated over the years, including:
- Frank Zuchero, a drunk handyman seen near the church, who initially confessed but was later deemed not credible;[4]
- Wayne Roach, a 19-year-old whose parents reported finding Carol's name written in his notebook;[4]
- Joseph Sabadish, a priest at St. Mark's whose alibi was found to be false;[4]
- William Schrader, who was seen outside the church shortly after the estimated time of the murder.[4]
Despite extensive investigation, including polygraph tests and grand jury testimony, no one was ever charged with the crime.[4]
Later developments
editThe case was re-examined several times over the decades, including:
- In 1992, when the Bucks County Courier Times published a series on the unsolved case;[4]
- In 1994, when a grand jury heard testimony from suspects and witnesses;[4]
- In 2016, when the Pennsylvania Attorney General's office interviewed an accuser of Joseph Sabadish as part of a broader investigation into clergy abuse.[5]
As of 2024, the murder remains unsolved. Carol Ann Dougherty would have been 71 years old.
In popular culture
edit- In 2022, the Murder of Marise Chiverella being solved sparked further conversations about the two Pennsylvania cases. [6]
- In 2024, the true crime podcast "The Coldest Murder" helped to bring the case back into the public consciousness.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ a b "Carol Would Stop To Pray At Church". Levittown Times. October 23, 1962.
- ^ a b c "Girl, 10, Raped, Slain in Bristol Church". Levittown Times. October 23, 1962.
- ^ "Levittown Sex Psycho, Youth Are Sought in Church Killing". Levittown Times. October 24, 1962.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Mullane, J.D. (October 21, 2012). "50 years later, a murder unsolved in Bristol". Burlington County Times.
- ^ Mullane, J.D. (August 26, 2018). "Priest suspect in '62 child murder not in AG's report". PhillyBurbs.com.
- ^ Staff (2022), Two towns, two murders, retrieved 27 October 2024
- ^ Staff (2024), Unsolved 1962 Murder Of Carol Ann Dougherty Explored In New Podcast By Bristol Native, retrieved 19 October 2024
- ^ The Coldest Murder, 2024, retrieved 19 October 2024