DE DE - Jane Prichard, 28, New Castle County, 20 Sept 1986

Arriving about 7 a.m., she parked along an access road just south of Blackbird State Forest Road, and set up equipment that stretched from behind the truck about 30 yards into the woods.

She was interested in the phenomenon of how the plant leaves turn toward the sun. She was gathering the last data she needed for her thesis, with the degree expected to follow within months.

Her minute-by-minute recording of data ended abruptly shortly before 10 a.m.

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In August 1987, charges were dropped against the one and only suspect.

Police, who by then had conducted more than 300 interviews in the case, appealed for tips and explored any new ones that trickled in, but ultimately got nowhere.

Over months that followed, all leads dried up or dead-ended, so police working the case had to move on to other crimes and the killing of Jean Marie Prichard moved to the cold case files.

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As Orzechowski and Davis continue their work, both acknowledge hoping DNA can provide the break that solves Prichard's murder.

That could come soon, Orzechowski said:

"We're expecting results any day."

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JusticeWillBeServed said:

Information taken from New Castle County Cold Case File:

Jane Prichard was a student at the University of Maryland and was obtaining her Master's degree. She was conducting botany experiments in Blackbird Forest State Park where she was later found by two campers on the evening of September 20, 1986.

Detectives learned Jane was shot with an unknown weapon which caused her death. She was last seen alive by a hunter shortly after 10 am. The hunter provided detectives with specific descriptions of Jane's clothing, vehicle, and scientific equipment.


Cold case unit tackles 1986 killing of student in Delaware forest











Slaying In Forest Not Accidental, Police Say - September 23rd, 1986

Informant Arrested In Slaying Of Student In Del. Forest - October 3rd, 1986

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New Castle County police are trying to change that with the help of the Cold Case Homicide Squad's new website and the involvement of the community. The department has launched a webpage dedicated to the nearly 40 ongoing cold case investigations with the hopes of getting names and faces back in front of Delawareans.

"It's great that whoever did it still has to look over their shoulder because they might get caught," said Prichard's brother Kevin. "It's not over yet. It's not over 'til it's over."

His sister's death has haunted the family for nearly 30 years, with few answers surrounding why Jane Prichard was shot and killed in the woods of Blackbird State Forest in Smyrna. She was out studying leaf movement patterns in the state park when she was killed. Campers found her the following morning.

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STANDREID said:

The one link says she was shot with a shotgun. Is that incorrect otherwise why would they call in an unknown weapon?

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PrivateInspector007 said:

The articles in this case are a little confusing. Were there two hunters or just the one? It is curious that the police did not get information from the hunter who was able to describe the scene.

Jane Prichard | New Castle County, DE - Official Website

https://jaymicraik.wixsite.com/truecrimeunsolved/post/jane-marie-prichard

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