Credit: New Jersey State Police
The New Jersey State Police are seeking the public’s assistance in a 1979 cold case homicide investigation.
On Nov. 21, 1979, the skeletal remains of an unidentified male were discovered in a wooded area off Hall Avenue in Lawrence Township, Cumberland County, New Jersey. Investigators determined that the male had been the victim of a homicide and estimated that his death occurred sometime between 1977 and 1979.
In 2024, the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation and, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), utilized Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) to identify the victim. Through these efforts, the victim was identified as Robert L. Waith Jr. of Baltimore, Maryland.
Robert was 20 years old when he disappeared and was last seen by family members in August 1977 after leaving his residence in Baltimore. His whereabouts remained unknown until his identification in 2025.
Detectives are seeking anyone who knew Robert, had contact with him prior to his disappearance, or possesses information regarding the circumstances surrounding his death.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the New Jersey State Police Cold Case Unit at [email protected] or call 1‑833‑4NJCOLD (1‑833‑465‑2653).
Republished courtesy of New Jersey State Police