Susan Rush:1976, Washington, Pennsylvania

   

  Susan Elizabeth Rush was born on October 10th, 1955. She had two brothers, Gary and Terry, and a sister named Judy. 


  Susan graduated from Washington High School in 1974 and went on to the Pennsylvania Community Beauty Academy. She received her beautician’s license just weeks before her murder. 


  Susan was working at Murphy Mart at the Washington Mall. She was hoping to get a job as a beautician in the near future. Thanksgiving was the next day and she was probably looking forward to the big day with family and friends. 


  Susan did not make it home from work that day after 5 p.m. Her family likely began calling friends and family at first. Her brothers, Gary and Terry called the police at midnight when there was still no sign of her. 

North Ave. roughly where Susan was found.



  Susan was found by her brother on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25th, 1976. She had been strangled and placed in the trunk of her mother’s car. 


   Some of her clothes were put back on her body inside-out. Her pants had been torn. She had been sexually assaulted. Police believed that she had been strangled with a shoelace or a thin piece of leather. 



   The car was found on North Avenue only about a ¼ mile from Murphy Mart at Washington Mall. 


   That close proximity makes me think that the killer didn’t want to walk far back to his car or his home. He probably drove to an isolated location to commit the rape and murder but drove back and parked close to the Mall but not too close. 


  Susan's murder happened just a few days after another similar murder northeast of Pittsburgh in Penn Hills. Barbara Jean Lewis was kidnapped in the early morning hours while waiting for the bus on November 19th, 1976. She was found later that morning.

Investigators thought the two murders might be connected in 1976.


  Both Susan and Barbara Jean Lewis were sexually assaulted and strangled. Susan was placed in the trunk of her own car.  Barbara was left in a dumpster. Both women were left where they would be found. 


  Who killed Susan? Is there any DNA still left on her clothing or under her nails?  Did they clip those nails and save them?  Are her belongings still in an evidence room?  Can anything be tested?  We have the technology now.  


  Was the same killer to blame in both murders?  Was this man home on leave from the military or from college?  Perhaps this man was just in town visiting his family or his wife's family. He did not take these two victims very far away.  He seems to have had to get back.


  Susan Rush had so much living left to do. She was just embarking on a career after beauty school. Susan had hopes and dreams for her life that went unrealized. 


   Rest In Peace, Susan


  If you have a tip about Susan Rush's murder please contact the Washington, Pennsylvania Police at (724) 223-4226.


   


  


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