DARIEN - On Nov. 25, 1977 two men were hunting deer off Alley Road, the most southwest corner of Darien, when they made a grisly discovery.
An older woman, fully clothes, was found dead in a section of woods.
An autopsy later revealed that the woman, identified as Jessica Rose Lane, 66, of Cheektowaga has been bludgeoned and stabbed, suffering three fractured ribs, a broken left elbow and a fractured skull most likely caused by a knife thrust into her head.
New York State Police investigated the case and on Tuesday made it part of Troop A’s “Cold Case Tuesday,” an occasional series of press releases on various cold cases in the area.
Lane was last seen on Nov. 11, 1977 at Williamstown Apartments in Cheektowaga. She lived alone, mostly kept to herself and rarely had visitors.
Police at the time were unable to pinpoint the location where Lane was murdered. Investigators, however, did interview neighbors, including residents who lived in an apartment below Lane. They said they heard two “thumps” between 4 and 4:30 a.m. on Nov. 12.
A few leads were developed but no arrests have ever been made linking anyone to the murder.
Alley Lane is a small, lightly traveled road. The area borders both Erie and Wyoming counties and is about 20 miles from the apartment complex where lane lived.
Anyone who may have information on the case can cotact Investigator Ron Wilson of Troop A Bureau of Criminal Investigation, 716-361-1585. Refer to SJS #3029541.
