Barbara Jean Lewis:1976, Penn Hills, Pennsylvania


   Barbara Jean Lewis was born on November 15th, 1946. She graduated from Penn Hills High School in 1964. In 1976, she worked as a secretary at Rockwell International in Pittsburgh. 


  On November 19th, 1976, 30 year old Barbara left for work early in the morning. She and her sister, Mary Louise, left for work at about the same time each day. Barbara worked in downtown Pittsburgh but lived in Penn Hills. She normally waited for her 6:35 am bus at the corner of Long Road and Paris Road. Her sister caught an earlier bus at 6:15. That was the last moment that Mary Louise would see Barbara alive.

That same bus stop today.
Corner of Long Road and Paris Road.
Barbara's home was very close to the bus stop.

No one reported hearing a scream or a commotion that morning. Was Barbara abducted by someone that she knew or by someone in a position of authority? It could have even been a police officer. If so, Barbara Jean Lewis would not be the only woman sexually assaulted and murdered by a police officer in this way. 


 Barbara’s coworkers were immediately alarmed when she did not show up for work. She was a very conscientious and dependable worker. She did not miss work without calling in.


  Later that same morning, Barbara Jean Lewis was found in a trash dumpster at the rear of the Blackridge Civic Association on Beulah Road about a mile from Barbara’s home. Barbara had been strangled. Her hands were tied behind her back with her hosiery and the belt of her winter coat. According to the coroner, she had not been sexually assaulted. (Coroners then were not always medically trained.)  She was bound and gagged. Her nostrils and mouth had been stuffed with “paper gauze” which I assume means tissue paper. 


 A portion of an old towel had been draped across her upper body by the killer. Is that towel still in an evidence locker? Are any of the other clothes in an evidence locker? Did they clip and save her fingernails? 


 This second location would have been isolated and empty. The civic association was not busy that early in the morning. Barbara was found around 9 a.m. by a couple who were cleaning the building. 



  Barbara’s blouse, coat and handbag were not found at the scene. On November 26th, 1976, a group of children playing in a wooded area off Princeton Boulevard (near the Churchill Cemetery) found those missing items. I would imagine that her killer accessed that wooded area from the cemetery and not from Princeton Boulevard. It would be less likely that he would be observed. 


  Barbara Jean Lewis is buried at Good Shepherd Catholic Cemetery in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.  


  Rest In Peace, Barbara. 


  Barbara Jean Lewis’ case is still unsolved. If you have any information please contact the Penn Hills Police Department non-emergency number at (412) 473-3056.


  Share the YouTube video: https://youtu.be/mQt8D12A1qw?is=T_rPhvtjeSHY5H56



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