Harrowing story of the unsolved murders of Elizabeth Perry and Susan Davis. College friends, the two women were brutally knifed to death and their bodies left off the parkway.
In “The Garden State Parkway Murders,” true crime writer and attorney Christian Barth dives into the harrowing story of the unsolved murders of Elizabeth Perry and Susan Davis. College friends, the two women were brutally knifed to death and their bodies left off the parkway in the early hours of May 30, 1969.
Among the numerous suspects Barth identifies are infamous
serial killers Ted Bundy and Gerald Eugene Stano, who were living within an
hour’s drive from where the murder scene at the time they occurred. The killers
also resided next to one another on Florida’s Death Row, and indirectly
confessed to the double homicide.
A culmination of more than nine years of research, Barth’s
book is compiled from multiple sources, including interviews with retired New
Jersey State Police detectives, law enforcement officials from other
jurisdictions, federal agents, possible witnesses, victim family members, as
well as information gathered from FBI case files, letters, journals, libraries,
newspaper articles, and university archives.
In scintillating detail, Barth presents the case, including previously undisclosed information surrounding these brutal murders, as well as an examination of recent technological advancements in crime scene analysis and FBI serial killer profiling that could help identify the killer. When all is said and done, the reader is asked to consider: Why hasn’t this cold case been solved?
“I know that the way the bodies were left, the person who killed those girls had an excellent knowledge of chemistry, knowing that the three things you need are heat, moisture, darkness, and the proper point of acidity to eliminate evidence. All of that was accomplished. It was remarkable.” John Divel, Ocean City Police Department
From The Book:
The horizon glowed faintly behind the wooded swamplands to the east as Susan and Elizabeth crossed the moonlit causeway over the Great Egg Harbor Bay. The giant electric arrow of Tony Mart’s nightclub and the street sign for Bay Shores Café, both dimmed at 2 a.m., stood darkly silhouetted against the indigo sky. Dock lights glimmered atop the low tide mark along the seawall as fishing boats passed under the drawbridge towers on their way out to sea. At the Somers Point roundabout, looming ahead as the women descended the Ship Channel Bridge, the perception of night hadn’t yet faded, as if captured in time within the grayness of dawn shading its edges. Carloads of youthful revelers who’d returned from seeing Gary Puckett & The Union Gap perform at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, and then made last call at the late-night bars in Longport and Mays Landing, looped toward the Point Diner. Their headlight carouseled through the dusky tidal mist, tinted orange at the turn beneath the Gulf station sign. Lonesome stragglers and tightly knit groupings of college kids who’d been up all night partying along Bay Avenue quickened toward the diner from opposite directions. They paused along the curb until the cars passed by, then trod through the grass in the middle of the circle, aiming toward the only place to eat that was still open, or, as they knew it, never closed.
After finding a spot in the bustling diner parking lot, Susan and Elizabeth went inside. Following a short wait, they were seated at a booth near a window facing the bay just as the sun brimmed the eastern sky. The diner was filling quickly, and a waitress hurried to take their orders. At the counter stools near the pastry display patrons browsed the front pages of the Atlantic City Press, griping about the record-breaking heat. The temperature had reached ninety-nine degrees yesterday, and the forecast called for more of the same this afternoon. The aisles behind them clamored with overlapping conversations and young patrons shouting out names, jangling silverware, and Top 40 hits crackling from the table jukeboxes. Outside, the line to get in grew longer.
After being seated for a time, Susan and Elizabeth agreed to share their booth with three clean-cut college men who’d been standing by the hostess stand, waiting for a table to open. By all accounts, the girls were in good spirits as they got up to leave their table after finishing breakfast, walking unaccompanied through the front entrance of the diner at approximately 6:15 a.m. Locals seated at the counter didn’t notice any drifters who in retrospect seemed out of sorts among the regulars who ate there every morning. No suspicious-looking hippies were seen following the girls outside. No employees saw them go down the front steps, walk across the parking lot, or open their car doors and drive away.
Photo by author
The Ocean City Memorial Day parade began along the boardwalk at 9:30 that morning while soldiers from the local VFW Color Guard gathered for ceremonies at Veterans Memorial Park. Reverently poised, they raised their rifles to their shoulders, firing a three-volley salute in solemn gratitude of patriots slain on faraway battlefields. As the smiling Girl Scouts of Troop 37 strutted proudly along the Asbury Avenue parade route, waving the American flag toward a deepening blue sky, a brigade of station wagons tied down with bicycles and beach rafts lurched forward along the glutted inbound lanes of the Route 52 causeway.
Ninety miles distant from the pageantry and excitement marking the start of summer, far removed from the holiday crowds plunging merrily into the frigid Atlantic Ocean, a similarly buoyant mood had tensed into an unsettling quiet inside the Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, ranch house belonging to Wesley Davis Sr. and his wife Marjorie. Their daughter and her guest were two hours late, expected home long before now. They had heard nothing from either of them and were beginning to worry.
I live in South Jersey and am embarrassed to admit that I don’t know anything about this; considering I watch and read A LOT of true crime. I’m very much looking forward to reading this book. Thank you for all the time and energy you’ve put into this.
Ive lived in Ocean City and the surrounding area since the mid 60s. The murder of these girls was and is well known to the people I grew up with. As soon as The book was released I bought it and was Transfixed, I couldnt put it down. There is so much information along with Names of Families in the area that Im familiar with. I didnt even realise how close Linwood is to the crime seen!
This book is Well written , and delves deeply into aspects of the crime That didnt cross my mind. I found it fascinating. Victor
Thanks Victor!
I greatly appreciate you taking the time to reach out to me. Yes, the murders in fact happened near Linwood, and I spent a lot to time researching the surrounding areas to make the time/place as accurate as I could, specifically regarding what businesses were in existence back then. The OC Library was a great source. So glad you enjoyed, and if you purchased on Amazon, please consider leaving a review, they help a lot.
Regards,
Christian
Thanks for your comments Rachael! The GARDEN STATE PARKWAY MURDERS will be available January 21st on Amazon. Please write back and let me know what you think. Yes, it was a long time in the making and extensively researched.
Regards,
Christian
So looking forward to this release! As are many of my South Jersey friends. So bone chilling to know this happened in our own backyard, and the notorious ties it may have.
Thank you so much Lindsay. Yes, as you will learn once my book becomes available for purchase, there were many serial killers and predators lurking in the Philadelphia/South Jersey region in the 1960s and 1970s. Ted Bundy was the most well-known of them. In the book I delve into previously unknown facts about him, and his possible connection to the Memorial Day slayings on the Garden State Parkway, near milemarker 31.9.
Genuinely excited about this book. Serial killers are never boring — least of which — Ted Bundy and Gerald Eugene Stano, about whom this author found NEW information.
Dana:
Extremely grateful that you are looking forward to the publication of THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY MURDERS: A COLD CASE MYSTERY. So am I. You should know that Gerald Stano and Ted Bundy are but two of the several persons of interest in the Garden State Parkway Murders, each of whom I’ve investigated and discuss in great detail. Please feel free to drop me a line here once the book is released, if you have any questions or comments!
Thanks again,
Christian
Have to get the book I was 10 but I remember how on edge my parents were!
Hi Pamela:
Thanks for your comments!. Yes, I’ve heard that more than once. A sense of fear permeated Somers Point and Ocean City, for a few years. Who can blame parents, especially when the person who did those awful things was never caught?
Big fan of true crime. Born and raised in NJ, but don’t remember these murders. Were they overshadowed by the Manson murders an the Moon landing?
Would like to read your book, but do not have Kindle. Any chance this will be released as an ebook?
Thanks Carl!
You can order the hard copy (trade paper) on Amazon, same with Kindle. I don’t know about e-book.
Hope this helps and I look forward to hearing some comments/questiosn from you once you’ve begin the book.Check out my website as well ar http://www.christianbarthauthor.com for periodic updates and links to podcasts on which I’ve been a guest
Regards,
Christian Barth
I remember this crime well being a freshman in high school. Knowing that two women were murdered not far from my home was extremely scary.
Thanks for your reply Lela
Yes, certainly the Jersey Shore was a frightening time for all area residents after the 1969 Garden State Parkway Murders, and it’s troubling that the case hasn’t been solved. I hope readers like you can help, with your support, to get the New Jersey State Police and Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office to take anther look at it
Regards,
Christian
I remember seeing the sign outside the Pt. Diner asking for information about the murders.
Hi Polly
Many people remember the sign! Was there for two weekends. As I’m certain you read in my book, THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY MURDERS: A COLD CASE MYSTERY, the New Jersey State Police keep the trailer there for two weekends in 1969, then parked it at the Somers Point traffic on Memorial Day 19670 as well. If you enjoyed the book, please consider leaving a review on Amazon! Good to hear from you
Christian
First, I must say that I can’t wait to read this book! But, when I read the excerpt from the book, I was disappointed that someone who interviewed so many locals for this book got several names/places wrong already. In South Jersey, we NEVER used “roundabount” for a circle. Why would you do that?? And, my recollection was that EHT (Egg Harbor Township) had the only after hours (2AM) bars: NOT Longport and Mays Landing. I suspect you were referring to the Sandpiper near Longport and the Boatyard on the way to Mays Landing. Just had to say…
I was 12 years old when this happened. My uncle who was a detective at the time worked the case. They knew who it was but couldn’t prove it at the time. I am so looking forward to reading this book.
Just finished your book. Being from the area this crime has always been one you want to see solved. One detective mentioned is my 1ST cousin. He thinks Stano is the guy, but the book says something suprisingly different.
Best guess, 6 witnesses saw both cars empty at 6:30 am. Not any place to go from there but into the woods.
Christian:
I just finished reading your book and thoroughly enjoyed it. You really captured the atmosphere at the Jersey shore during the late 60s /early 70s. I worked as a summer policeman for OCPD during the summers of 70,71 and 72 while my wife was a young coed working at the Seaway Diner on 9th Street during the summer of 1970. Tony Marts, Bay Shores , Dunes till Dawn, The Attic and others were jumping spots all week during the summer. months. Alcohol was the drug of choice while marijuana and pills were becoming popular. The 9th St. Pavillion in OC was a big drug hangout and the “longhairs” would yell “Pig” at us summer officers patrolling the boardwalk. On the other hand, AIDS was unknown and the use of the pill definitely had an impact on sex lives of the college age crowd. Regarding theories, it does seem logical that the girls were confronted by an authority figure whom they would not have challenged. The Somers Point Special Officers did wear official looking uniforms while directing traffic and checking the bars and unless you were from the area you might not have noticed the difference in uniforms from those of the regular Somers Point Officers. Since the spot chosen was made by someone who knew that area of the parkway, I am sure that the troopers checked the backgrounds of the parkways maintenance crews. I knew Divel and the other detectives and they were a pretty conscientious group as I recall. Interestingly enough, my colleagues and friends at the shore never really gave much thought to the murders and none of us were particularly wary during the summers we spent in OC. I am passing the book on to several friends.
Dear Mr. Barth
My name is Jack Myers and have been working in Florida the past 5 years. Not until today did I realize you authored a book about the Garden State Parkway murders. I was very young at the time but remember it quite well. I lived my younger life in Stratford NJ and had a summer house at 105 Wesley Avenue in Ocean City. I will never forget that Memorial Day Weekend, because not only of the murders, but what happened at 105 Wesley Avenue……..our summer residence. My father, anticipating rentals for the summer of 69, would travel to Ocean City from Stratford every weekend. He would paint, clean and do whatever maintenance required, to ensure the units were fit for occupancy. My brother and I would usually accompany our dad and assist anyway we could. This particular weekend we did not travel with him early as we had in the past. We played little league in Stratford and Memorial Day was the start of the season. My mother, sisters remained in Stratford until my brother and I were finished playing baseball and would travel to Ocean City later in the day. When we finally arrived, we raced up the stairs to greet our father but our excitement for the beach turned to fright when we arrived. My father, sitting in a chair was out of sorts. With scratches on his face and noticeably stressed, he began to tell us what happened. When he arrived in the morning to ready a unit for a rental, he opened the door and came upon a man laying in the bedroom eating potato chips. He was startled, as was the person on the floor. My dad, 6’5” was intimidating. A tussle ensued and my father basically beat the crap out of the guy but felt bad afterwards. He did not call the police and let the person go. He said the man was clean cut, good looking enough to be in Hollywood and did not resemble a drifter. With the murders happening that same weekend, we never realized there was a connection because the person did not fit the MO. It wasn’t until the seventies when Ted Bundy’s face became familiar to the public. I remember when my father first layed eyes on his picture, he turned sheet white and said OMG……..that was the man in our house. That was definitely the man I wrestled with and would bet my life on it. We researched and realized Bundy was attending Temple University at the time. I couldn’t believe it. It made me sick. Forensics then isn’t what it is today and for that reason, my father never shared this with law enforcement because of the time elapsed. Today, my brother and sisters still talk about it. A double murder so close to home where crime was nonexistent. I would love to read your book. I know Ted Bundy killed those girls. Too coincidental for him being in Ocean City at the same time. 105 Wesley Avenue still exists like it did in 1969. Second floor, first bedroom on the left is where Bundy was found by my father. I assume it has had many face lifts since 1969, but I always had an interest of asking the current occupants if any forensics may still exist? I guess we will never know but it is something my family and I will never forget. My father has been deceased many years but up until his death, he knew it was Ted Bundy. There were many blunders in the investigation and it is a shame it remains unsolved. Hopefully there will be closure but it remains a story I share quite a bit.
The NJSP did conduct an exhaustive investigation that was not filled with so-called blunders. The victim’s father even wrote an article defending the NJSP investigation. The only so-called blunder was towing the car from the Parkway soon after the murders. The Trooper stated he did look around the area before towing the chevy convertible shortly after the murders. However, the two victims were Hinden along Woodline hundreds of feet from the parkway. If the victims’ vehicle was connected to the homicides at the time it was towed, I really believe these homicides would have been solved. I was told state police connected a drifter from the south with the murders. His name I cannot recall but he died in jail. He was arrested for other similar murders. Ted Bundy was a good suspect for sure-but apparently was discounted by NJSP.
Those girls were classmates of mine at Monticello College. We were both heading home in our cars They stopped in New Jersey and we continued on to Ct. we always believed that they picked up a hitch hiker . It was shocking to see their pictures on the news a couple of days later. Glad I found this.
Greetings, my name is Radim Kožušník and I am from the Czech Republic.
Your books are perfect, thank you very much for a good read.
I have questions for you: 1. Do you know or do you know the exact GPS coordinates of the location of the murder and where the bodies were found?
I know you were there and I saw a photo of that tree, I also saw a map of the area at the 31.9 milestone,
but the maps and description are not very detailed. I would like to know the exact coordinates. (I won’t go there, I’m from Europe)
but I’m interested in looking at the maps.
2. new houses have been built in that area, practically right next to the forest. The people who live there don’t mind,
that a few meters from their house there was a murder and a tragedy? I wouldn’t live next door to a murder scene.
They have to have it in front of their eyes every day and night and they wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully. It must be a terrible feeling. He didn’t live
I wouldn’t even go there for free. That is why I am interested in the exact GPS coordinates of the location where Susan and Elisabeth were found.
And are there more photos of the place?
Thank you, and I wish you many more good books and good research and reading.Radim Kožušník
Hi , so I watched your podcast and just ordered the book. I have a theory . So the hitchhiker pickup up was what I always thought was relevant but when you mentioned the keys were found like 4 miles away from crime scene doesn’t make sense. If I’m a hitchhiker and I just murdered 2 girls not going to walk 4 miles before getting rid of keys. I’m thinking someone in a vehicle . But why would the girls stop on the rode for any vehicle ??? The only reason to stop is by getting pulled over by a trooper . When leaving the scene it would only take like 3 minutes to go 4 miles and through out the keys . Of course it depends on where keys were found . If not found along parkway my theory is wrong . If found on back roads then I’m thinking local person that was walking home. Mustang had 3 guys so one of them would have flipped after all this time . Ted Bundy had a car , girls wouldn’t have pulled off the road for him. Maybe check the trooper that had the car toad !!!!