In January 1978, Mrs. Mildred Wilson, an elderly widow, was found dead in her home in Millersburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The cause of death was strangulation and she was badly beaten. Investigators ruled the death a homicide. This murder was one of four that occurred in the Lykens Valley area in a less than three year period – all of elderly widows. No one was ever charged and brought to trial, and to this day the crime remains unsolved.
The story of the discovery of the body through the revelation of the autopsy results is told through brief stories that appeared in a Sunbury newspaper.
From the Sunbury Daily Item, 24 January 1978
Police release few details in suspicious death
MILLERSBURG – The suspicious death of an elderly Millersburg woman remained steeped in mystery today as state police continued their probe along the lines of a homicide.
The body of Mrs. Mildred Wilson, 80, was found Friday in her home at 874 Union St. Wilson did not die of natural causes.
Sgt. Joseph VanNort, state police at Harrisburg, who heads the investigation said he would not release details of the probe to date.
Mrs. Wilson died under suspicious circumstances, and we are investigating her death as a possible homicide,” he said today.
He said Mrs. Wilson’s body was discovered Friday by a neighbor, but there was no sign of any break-in at her home. He said it has not been determined if the victim was robbed.
VanNort would not release the cause of death. He said a team of investigators interviewed several neighbors on Monday and returned to the scene today, working with Millersburg police.
The Wilson home was processed Saturday, “but nothing outstanding was found,” according to the investigator.
“We will check out Mrs. Wilson’s habits and travels as the investigation expands,” VanNort said.
Mrs. Wilson was a retired Muskin Shoe Company employee and lived alone.
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For all other parts of this story, see: Who Killed Mildred Wilson?
News clipping/article from Newspapers.com.
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