NY NY - Barbara Aleksivich, 24, Village of Bath, 3 Oct 1973

[dotr]

Bath
October 3 1973 Barbara Jean Aleksivich Missing Bath, NY

Barbara Aleksivich lived & disappeared near the 1945 home of Joseph DeAngelo

November 8 1945 Joseph DeAngelo Born in Bath, NY

 

[BT2020]

Update - Bath Police to address 1973 cold case disappearance of Barbara Jean Aleksivich

 

[faithx]

Video of the press conference:

 

[JrzyGirl70]

Wow hopefully progress will be made quickly with this new info.

 

[Debrazgalaxy]

I read from these pages a few years ago- and came back due to today's update. SO- I made an account to comment.
1) The update seems inconsequential, as Barbara was not a child.

2) The murder that was mentioned on the previous page, as almost the same day as Barbara's disappearance was actually in 1972.
Clipping from Star-Gazette - Newspapers.com

 

[faithx]

I read from these pages a few years ago- and came back due to today's update. SO- I made an account to comment.
1) The update seems inconsequential, as Barbara was not a child.

2) The murder that was mentioned on the previous page, as almost the same day as Barbara's disappearance was actually in 1972.
Clipping from Star-Gazette - Newspapers.com

The following news video mentions that Richard Davis had a history of coercing both young girls and women. He was probably a non-preferential offender, similar to serial killer Rodney Alcala.

Additionally, Davis tried coercing a girl into his truck in June 1973. That occurred near Hatfield's Cash & Carry, which is very close to the Bath Elks Lodge where Barbara disappeared. In my opinion, the connection is worth investigating.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Bath Police reopen 1973 cold case disappearance of Barbara Jean Aleksivich; identify deceased suspect

 

[Debrazgalaxy]

The following news video mentions that Richard Davis had a history of coercing both young girls and women. He was probably a non-preferential offender, similar to serial killer Rodney Alcala.

Additionally, Davis tried coercing a girl into his truck in June 1973. That occurred near Hatfield's Cash & Carry, which is very close to the Bath Elks Lodge where Barbara disappeared. In my opinion, the connection is worth investigating.

Yes- Thank you. I figure the police have more information than we do regarding Davis habits and misdeeds.

 

[Al Ka]

Press release by police on their FB page with more details - The Village of Bath Police Department is re-opening the missing persons case of Barbara J. Aleksivich, dating back to October 3rd of 1973.

(click on images to enlarge)

Link to police FB post - Bath Village Police Department

 

[Al Ka]

Just to add, reason why they are looking at this suspect - Richard William Davis, is yesterday identification of him as killer in 1974 murder of 5-year-old Siobhan McGuinness in Montana where he was just passing through there. He lived in Bath, NY when Barbara disappeared in 1973.

You can read more details on that case with many comments and details about suspect in the link - Unidentified And Missing People

 

[faithx]

BARBARA JEAN ALEKSIVICH - BATH, NEW YORK | Federal Bureau of Investigation

Age 24 years old
Hair Brown, Shoulder-Length
Eyes Hazel
Height 5'6"
Weight 140 pounds
Sex Female
Race White

Remarks:
Aleksivich wore glasses. She was last seen wearing a white blouse, a blue/white plaid skirt, a green pullover sweater, and brown loafers.

Details:
On October 3, 1973, Barbara Aleksivich left the Bath Elks Club, located near Gansevoort and William Streets in Bath, New York, at 10:45 p.m. She began the walk to her home,
approximately two blocks away. Her husband reported her missing after she never arrived home. Aleksivich has not been heard from since, and foul play is suspected in her
disappearance.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Details updated 11/2/20:
Barbara Jean Aleksivich – The Charley Project

 

[MadMcGoo]

Interesting update on Charley Project!

Details of Disappearance
Aleksivich was last seen at the local Elks lodge in the vicinity of Gansevoort Street and Williams Street in Bath, New York on October 3, 1973. She left her husband there and began walking the two blocks to their home in the 100 block of east William Street, but she never arrived and has never been heard from again.

A local man, Frederick C. Bush, was convicted of murdering another woman and burning her body after Aleksivich's disappearance. He served a prison sentence, was released and is now living again in the area. For decades, he was considered a possible suspect in Aleksivich's case. However, in 2020, police announced they no longer believed he was involved. Another suspect, Richard W. Davis, was named after he was identified through DNA as the man who kidnapped, sexually assaulted and killed five-year-old Siobhan McGuinness in Missoula County, Montana in 1974.

Davis didn't live in Montana and authorities believe he was just passing through the area when he abducted the child. He is known to have lived on Mail Route Road in Bath, where Aleksivich disappeared, between 1973 and 1976, and possibly for as long as 1968 to 1981. He worked at the Polly-O Dairy and was known to the police; he was arrested multiple times in connection to luring children.

A photo of Davis is posted below this case summary. He died in 2012, without ever being charged in the Montana murder or in Aleksivich's case, but investigators are trying to see if he was involved in other unsolved cases. Aleksivich's disappearance remains unsolved.

 

[dotr]

We have a good idea now why LE are looking for info. on this guy...imo.

Richard W Davis - Sex Offender in Sheffield, MA 01257 - MAaJESFbWwET8BUgy5ZntOkZ73TDEWDTbu

Richard W Davis - Registered Sex Offender

Sep 23, 2020 rbbm.
Bath Police seeking information on a former Bath resident
''BATH, N.Y. (WETM) – The Village of Bath Police Department is seeking information on a Richard W. Davis, who lived in the Town of Bath in the early-mid 1970’s and possibly into the early 80’s.''

''The department could not provide any further information as to why there were seeking information regarding Davis.

Anyone with information on Davis is asked to call the Bath Police Department at 607-776-2175 and leave your name and number.''

Oct 27 2020 rbbm.
Bath Police Give An Update On A 1973 Crime – AM 1480 WLEA News
From Bath Police Chief Chad Mullen:

The Village of Bath Police Department is re-opening the missing persons case of Barbara J. Aleksivich, dating back to October 3rd of 1973. At the time of her disappearance, Ms. Aleksivich was 24 years old and was described as a white female with hazel eyes, brown hair, 5 foot 6 inches, and 140 pounds. Ms. Aleksivich was last seen on October 3rd of 1973, leaving the Bath Elks Club at approx. 10:45 pm. She was reported as wearing a white blouse, blue and white plaid skirt, a green pullover sweater, and brown loafers.

The reopening of this case is pre-dominantly stemming from a cold case homicide investigation in Missoula County, Montana. Inv. Taft of the Bath Village Police Department was recently contacted by Susan Lane of the Missoula County cold case unit. Inv. Taft was notified of a DNA match from a male that lived in Bath, NY at the time of the homicide their department is investigating. The homicide occurred in February of 1974 involving the kidnapping of 5 year old Siobhan McGuinness, that led to her physical and sexual assault and then eventual murder.


The male is identified as Richard W. Davis, born November 7th of 1941. Mr. Davis lived on Mail Route Road in the Town of Bath, where he started building his house in 1966. It is reported that he left the area, eventually returning for the years of 1971-1977. Mr. Davis worked at the old Polly-O Dairy in Campbell, NY and was a part-time security guard for Burns Detective Agency assigned to Taylor Winery on the night shift. Mr. Davis then moved to Arkansas where he lived his life and died approx. 8 years ago.
In June, 1973 Richard Davis tried coercing an 8 year old girl into his truck. At the time, the young girl was walking from Hatfield’s store on Gansevoort St. to East Steuben St. in the Village of Bath. This was investigated by the Bath Police Department and Mr. Davis admitted to the incident but would not admit to having any ill intent.


In March of 1976, Mr. Davis was arrested in the Town of Bath for Endangering the Welfare of a Child, for which he pled guilty and was fined $25. Due to the age of the incidences and the purging of records over the years, it is believed that Mr. Davis was involved with picking up several young teenage runaways, whom he would then take back to his house.

Without the assistance of the FBI’s Forensic Genetic Genealogy Team in Los Angeles, California diligently working with new technology and familial DNA, Mr. Davis would never have been tied to the Montana
homicide and in turn named as a suspect in the Barbara Aleksivich case here in Bath. The FBI and Missoula County Detectives traveled to Arkansas to conduct detailed interviews with the Davis family and built a timeline of Davis’ travels and whereabouts in the 1974 timeframe.

The FBI’s Violent Crime Apprehension Program (ViCAP) has issued releases on Richard Davis to law enforcement with his timeline and further relevant information to assist other jurisdictions with cold cases that may be attributable to Davis. ViCAP will also release information to all law enforcement on the missing person of Barbara Aleksivich tomorrow in hopes that other agencies may have information that will help in the case. All ViCAP information is law enforcement sensitive and will not be released to the media.

Barbara Aleksivich’s familial DNA has been uploaded to ViCAP as of 2012 and any unidentified bodies or body parts can be cross referenced to it. Barbara’s dental records are also available in ViCAP. A photograph of Barbara has been included in this press release.

It is the intent of the Village of Bath Police Department to move forward with any and all new leads in the missing person case of Barbara Aleksivich, which is presumed a homicide. It is of the utmost priority of our department to help provide closure to the family by finding the truth behind Barbara’s disappearance.''

 

[Earth]

Do you think that he could be responsible for these disappearances? Because I can find very little information on exactly where and when he lived, I had very little to go on. However, I think that some of these might fit his suspected modus operandi.

Bodies identified through DNA as that of two Phila. girls missing since 1968.

Tragedy in a Small Town: After 46 Years, Can the Murder of 8-year-old Debbie Makel Finally Be Solved? - The Philosophy of Crime

Robin Lynn Farnsworth (1979-1995) - Find A Grave...

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Peggy Lynn Alt – The Charley Project

Marlena Danyele Childress – The Charley Project

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

The Disappearance of Mitch Weiser and Bonnie Bickwit

Elizabeth Ann Lande – The Charley Project (her disappearance included an Oldsmobile, a car that he drove about that time)

Kathleen Ann Shea – The Charley Project

 

[dotr]

Do you think that he could be responsible for these disappearances? Because I can find very little information on exactly where and when he lived, I had very little to go on. However, I think that some of these might fit his suspected modus operandi.

Bodies identified through DNA as that of two Phila. girls missing since 1968.

Tragedy in a Small Town: After 46 Years, Can the Murder of 8-year-old Debbie Makel Finally Be Solved? - The Philosophy of Crime

Robin Lynn Farnsworth (1979-1995) - Find A Grave...

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Peggy Lynn Alt – The Charley Project

Marlena Danyele Childress – The Charley Project

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

The Disappearance of Mitch Weiser and Bonnie Bickwit

Elizabeth Ann Lande – The Charley Project (her disappearance included an Oldsmobile, a car that he drove about that time)

Kathleen Ann Shea – The Charley Project

Thanks for the intriguing list, going to post your suggestion about Mitch W and Bonnie B on their thread..
NY - NY - Mitchel Weiser, 16, & Bonita Bickwit, 15, Narrowsburg, 27 July 1973

 

[faithx]

The Murder Squad podcast published an episode about Richard Davis:

Are There More Richard Davis Victims? - The Murder Squad

This week Billy and Paul look into the murder of 5-year-old Siobhan McGuinness from Missoula, Montana. Her case was recently solved with genetic genealogy, but identifying her killer only brought on more questions. Could Richard Davis be responsible for other murders--including the Alphabet Murders?

The guys are joined by Special Deputy Susan Lane from the Missoula County Sheriff's Office and Investigator Colin Taft from Bath Police Department.

 

[Two for the road]

The Murder Squad podcast published an episode about Richard Davis:

Are There More Richard Davis Victims? - The Murder Squad

This week Billy and Paul look into the murder of 5-year-old Siobhan McGuinness from Missoula, Montana. Her case was recently solved with genetic genealogy, but identifying her killer only brought on more questions. Could Richard Davis be responsible for other murders--including the Alphabet Murders?

The guys are joined by Special Deputy Susan Lane from the Missoula County Sheriff's Office and Investigator Colin Taft from Bath Police Department.

It says in the podcast that he worked on a Sioux reservation...Bonnie Bickwits parents received a mailer asking for donations from an Indian reservation. maybe he does have something to do with their disappearance.

But I'm not sold that he is related to Barbara's disappearance. It's very unusual for offenders to rape and kill children and adult women. Sex offenders usually have a type. And considering someone else confessed to Barbara's abduction and murder, I think it's even less likely.

 

[faithx]

It says in the podcast that he worked on a Sioux reservation...Bonnie Bickwits parents received a mailer asking for donations from an Indian reservation. maybe he does have something to do with their disappearance.

But I'm not sold that he is related to Barbara's disappearance. It's very unusual for offenders to rape and kill children and adult women. Sex offenders usually have a type. And considering someone else confessed to Barbara's abduction and murder, I think it's even less likely.

Based on the cases I've researched, it seems to me that sex offenders are mostly opportunistic. If it is too risky to target a child, they might take an opportunity to target a vulnerable woman, and vice versa.

The FBI states "Serial sex offenders frequently assault both strangers and acquaintances and often exhibit intraserial variations in victim relationship, age, and even gender."

From the BJA: "Sexual predators are more opportunistic than we thought, based on the crossover we discovered. By that we mean that they often mix their victims – the same predator who assaults a teenaged girl may also assault someone elderly, or across racial or even gender lines. Exploiting victims' vulnerabilities became more of a common thread than other variables."

Richard Davis attempted to abduct an 8-year-old approximately 4 months before Barbara disappeared. He was questioned by the police and it probably scared him. It is possible that this event made him believe it was too risky to abduct a child in broad daylight. In contrast, it was much less risky to abduct Barbara, who was a woman walking home alone at night. It's also interesting to note that the abduction attempt and the disappearance of Barbara occurred at the same intersection.

In regards to the confession by Frederick Bush, he subsequently denied it and never confessed to the police. He merely made a passing comment to one of his co-conspirators, which I think was an attempt to sound tough and scare them. It's not clear what his motive to abduct and kill Barbara would be, as his other murder was vastly different.

I'm not completely sold on either suspect. However, I wouldn't rule Richard Davis out considering it was stated he had a history of coercing both girls and women, he lived in Bath at the time, the abduction attempt was at the same intersection where Barbara disappeared, etc. MOO.

 

[mlhenn]

Barbara Jean Aleksivich – The Charley Project

Last updated February 4, 2021; distinguishing characteristics updated.

• Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Aleksivich's maiden name is Jones and she may use the last name Flanigan. She wears eyeglasses. Her hair was shoulder-length at the time of her disappearance.