Saturday, September 18, 2010

Body Found At Refuse Dump

Body Found At Dump
Susan Roush enjoyed freedom not usually afforded to sixteen year old girls. She often stayed away from home for several days without checking in. She quit school. Some say she ran the streets of Wheeling, W.Va. and associated with an unsavory crowd. She had become an ideal target for any predator seeking an easy mark.
On April 1, 1979, a scavenger sifting through an illegal garbage dump on Sand Hill Road in Marshall County, near Wheeling Creek Road, found Susan's fully clothed body under some debris.
The killer had bound her wrists with rawhide cords and left a clothesline-type rope around her neck - and he broke her jaw.
Crime scene investigators theorized that Susan's body had been at the dump for two days.
West Virginia State Police Trooper Jack Ice said the girl had not been reported as missing.
Her parents failed to do so because she had broad freedom to come and go as she pleased. It was not unusual for her to stay with friends for five days each week.
No flag came from school attendance records because Susan had quit school and Wheeling Park High School officials had no way of tracking her. Prior to high school, the youth attended Triadelphia Middle School.
Sifting Through Dump Site
An anonymous caller to a Wheeling newspaper strengthened a theory the body had been brought to the dump from a separate kill zone.
The caller told the paper "a murder was committed somewhere near Wheeling Park and you better check it out."
The caller failed to specify if the murder happened at Wheeling Park High School or at Wheeling (recreation) Park. A Wheeling News Register story noted "the caller was interrupted and the call was cut off, presumably by someone who did not want the caller to complete the statement."
Dr. Manual Villaverde, medical examiner at Reynolds Memorial Hospital in Glen Dale, said Dr. Robert Salsbury, who performed the autopsy, told him the cause of death was strangulation. The body was battered and bruised and showed signs of violence about the face. There appeared to be no evidence of sexual assault.
We encourage anyone who may have information about this case to contact us at tips@ovcoldcases.com.

7 comments:

  1. To think that someone had called with some information about this case and has lived with this for all of these years is hard to believe. We can only hope that they call back and give any other information that they may have to give the family of this girl some closure.

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  2. Excellent Web site, Mr. Connors. Somebody has needed to do something like this for a long time.

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  3. I love this idea! I can't imagine losing a loved one, let alone knowing their killer was never brought to justice. May your work bring peace to families who have suffered too long.

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  4. Hi,

    Susan Rae Roush is my Aunt, I'm her oldest niece. I have followed your work, Mr . Conners and were very grateful for ackowledgement of her story. I want to speak directly to those who know what happened that night. You can't have many years left on this planet, please come forward and be an angel. There are no atheists in our final hours, you have the ability to give answers to the living. Please do so. Tell her story, no judgements, only gratitude will come to you no matter what your situation. Give love, show love now while you still can.

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  5. It takes a real man to kill a 15 1/2 year old girl. Maybe you cowards think your playing God... Impress me and bring one back to life... Tough guys.

    Signed,

    Lori McElwain (Roush)

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  6. Susie,

    We know when your near, you are not alone and never forgotten, matter of fact I think of nearly every day. We are still here, though we may temporarily be apart they couldn't take our hearts. I love you and please say hello to mom for me. Greet me in my dreams if possible,I would love that.
    Your long grieving sister,
    (you give show love until die that is the measure of a man.) signed with love, your sister Sondra Roush McElwain.

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  7. Susie was my friend and I hope the person who called steps up and even if anonymously tells what they know. She was so young and this was so unfair.

    Patty Fisher

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