At a news conference in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania State Police disclosed that cutting‑edge DNA analysis has finally tied the 1970s killings of Brenda Ritter, 18, and Susan Rush, 21, to James Richard Clark Sr., a 66‑year‑old man who died of natural causes in July 2023.
How the case was solved
Investigators originally collected DNA from the two crime scenes in the 1970s, but early testing yielded only an unidentified male profile. The profile was entered into the FBI’s CODIS database and searched weekly without a match. In May 2025, a re‑examination by Cybergenetics laboratory produced a definitive match when the same DNA was found at both sites. Additional testing by Identifinders International helped confirm the link to Clark.
Details of the murders
Susan Rush vanished on November 24, 1976 after leaving a shopping mall in Washington, Pennsylvania. She was expected at church with her family but never arrived. Her brother later spotted her car on Thanksgiving Day, and her body was recovered from the trunk. Brenda Ritter disappeared from her boyfriend’s house in 1977; her body was later found on a hillside, and investigators determined she had been sexually assaulted and strangled.
Police noted that Clark would have been 19 when Rush was killed and 20 at the time of Ritter’s homicide.
Potential for more victims
State Police Corporal James Petrosky said, “I believe that once you’re a serial killer, you’re always a serial killer. I believe there could potentially be more victims out there.” Former LAPD psychologist and FBI behavioral analyst Dr. Kris Mohandie agreed, explaining that it is common for the known victim count to fall short of a serial offender’s true toll. He added that killers often enter a “cooling‑off period” when they sense law‑enforcement pressure or become occupied with family responsibilities.
Community impact
The revelation has revived interest in other unsolved cases from the era, prompting local law‑enforcement agencies to review cold files for possible connections. Residents of Washington County expressed a mixture of relief that the murders have been solved and concern that additional victims may still be unidentified.
What’s next
While Clark can no longer be prosecuted, the case underscores the value of modern forensic techniques for bringing closure to families and communities. Pennsylvania officials say they will continue to invest in DNA technology to address other cold cases across the state.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
