REOPENED: Bump In The Night

Summary

Cold Case Files – "REOPENED: Bump In The Night"

A&E / PodcastOne – November 13, 2025
Host: Paula Barros

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Overview/Theme

This gripping episode of Cold Case Files revisits the soul-shattering 1996 murder of 22-year-old college athlete Amy Willard in Pennsylvania. The narrative explores how investigators, along with Willard's law enforcement family, hunt for answers in a case that goes cold—until a terrifyingly similar near-miss more than a year later cracks it open. The episode spotlights the dedication of detectives and family alike, the haunting nature of unsolved violence, and how dogged investigation and forensic breakthroughs can bring elusive justice—culminating in the conviction and death sentence of serial offender Arthur Bomar.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Amy Willard’s Disappearance and the Crime Scene ([01:39]–[05:52])

• Amy, an active college student and athlete, was last seen leaving Smokey’s Bar in Wayne, PA.
• Her car is found abandoned around 2:00am on the Blue Route (I-476) off-ramp. The passenger door is open, and blood is present.
• Lt. Lenny Bandy and Corporal Alan Stewart of the Pennsylvania State Police describe their first impressions:
  • Lt. Bandy: "The tires were all normally inflated, so the presence of the tire iron struck me as unusual and its close proximity to the blood that heightened my sense of concern." ([02:44])
• Rain threatens to wash away crucial evidence, but investigators act quickly.
• Amy’s family is notified, and her mother, Gail Willard, senses immediate dread:
  • Gail Willard: "I knew instantly when I got the phone call that there was something drastically wrong." ([03:43])
• Searchers soon find Amy’s personal items and, heartbreakingly, her body with severe trauma and a unique ankle tattoo confirming her identity.
• The scene suggests Amy was killed elsewhere and dumped in a vacant lot.

2. Forensic Evidence & The Investigation Goes Cold ([05:52]–[08:14])

• No murder scene is found; Amy’s body becomes the focal point for evidence.
• Autopsy reveals massive head trauma, bruising, and unusual square-pattern burn marks—later discovered to match the undercarriage of a car.
• Biological evidence includes semen; a DNA profile is built, but there are no database matches.
• Investigators believe Amy exited her car willingly, under the impression she was helping someone or obeying authority.
  • Detective Charles List: "One of the reasons that came up as a possibility would be that, you know, someone pulled her over." ([07:41])
• The investigation stalls for nearly a year despite numerous leads and profiles.

3. The Key Break: A Near-Miss and a Pattern Emerges ([10:48]–[13:20])

• Nearly a year later, 19-year-old Patty Jordan narrowly escapes a staged highway accident:
  • She recounts a frightening highway encounter: "I'm looking at him, and I'm like—oh my God, this guy's gonna hit my car." ([11:32])
• Patty’s father, Philadelphia police sergeant Jack Jordan, discovers the harasser’s car belongs to paroled killer Arthur Bomar.
• Jack Jordan: "Here's a paroled murderer. Following my daughter... the insistence that she pull over, I just knew there was something." ([12:07])
• Detectives see parallels with Amy’s case and revisit the "bump and lure" scenario; they feel renewed hope.

4. Arthur Bomar: Investigation, Arrest, and Forensic Breakthrough ([13:20]–[16:19])

• Bomar is conveniently in custody for burglary. The car he drove is reported stolen from Maria Cabanos (who is missing).
  • Detective Seltzer: "This is our guy. I mean, there's just too many things now that are popping up..." ([13:40])
• Bomar refuses to cooperate and shows awareness of the death penalty:
  • Detective Seltzer: "As soon as I said [Amy Willard], he very carefully closed up the sandwich, put it away, and said, 'I want no parts of that case. That's a death penalty case.'" ([13:59])
• Investigators inspect Bomar’s Ford Escort and discover the cross-hatched marks on the oil pan that match Amy’s burns ([15:24]).
• Forensics find Amy’s blood inside the passenger side door panel.
  • Corporal Stewart: "That door panel, they recovered blood. It matched Amy's DNA, so that's pretty good evidence." ([15:49])
• Bomar’s DNA profile matches the semen from Amy’s body; case is now airtight.
• The theory: Bomar "bumped" Amy’s car, she pulled over, a brief struggle ensued, and he abducted her ([16:19]).

5. Conviction, Parental Responses, and Aftermath ([17:07]–[17:49])

• Bomar is convicted and sentenced to death in September 1998.
  • Sergeant Paul Willard: "If I can be the guy that pushes the plunger, I'll do it and have no compulsion about it." ([17:32])
  • Gail Willard: "Amy's not coming back. That's the only thing I really want—will be for her to come back to life. And I can't get that." ([17:49])
• The episode briefly introduces "Amy’s Law": a federal act supporting states’ costs after convicting offenders with serious prior convictions.

6. Further Fallout and Legacy ([19:46]–End)

• In 1999, Maria Cabanos’s remains are found, and while Bomar is believed responsible, no charges are brought.
• Bomar remains on death row in Pennsylvania, but a moratorium is later declared.
• The tragic case indirectly shapes victim protection legislation and continues to haunt investigators and the Willard family.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lt. Lenny Bandy: "The tires were all normally inflated, so the presence of the tire iron struck me as unusual..." ([02:44])
• Gail Willard: "I knew instantly when I got the phone call that there was something drastically wrong." ([03:43])
• Corporal Alan Stewart: "On her right side there was a burn pattern... a series of X's that were encased in squares. It just struck me as very unusual." ([06:17])
• Detective Seltzer: "This is our guy. I mean, there's just too many things now that are popping up..." ([13:40])
• Detective Seltzer: "As soon as I said [Amy Willard], he very carefully closed up the sandwich... 'I want no parts of that case. That's a death penalty case.'" ([13:59])
• Corporal Stewart: "That door panel, they recovered blood. It matched Amy's DNA, so that's pretty good evidence." ([15:49])
• Sergeant Paul Willard: "If I can be the guy that pushes the plunger, I'll do it and have no compulsion about it." ([17:32])
• Gail Willard: "Amy's not coming back. That's the only thing I really want... and I can't get that. So whatever else happens..." ([17:49])

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Key Timestamps

• [01:39] – Introduction of Amy Willard, her background, and disappearance.
• [02:44] – Lt. Bandy’s first impressions at the crime scene.
• [05:17] – Discovery and identification of Amy’s body.
• [06:17] – Description of unique burn marks.
• [07:41] – Early theories about the killer’s approach.
• [10:48] – Patty Jordan’s highway encounter.
• [12:07]–[12:19] – Linking Arthur Bomar to the case.
• [13:59] – Bomar’s reaction during questioning.
• [15:49] – Discovery of blood in Bomar’s car and DNA match.
• [17:32] – Paul Willard’s raw reaction to Bomar’s conviction.
• [19:46] – Discovery of Maria Cabanos’s body; legislative impact (Amy’s Law).

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Tone and Language

The episode is unsparing and emotional, blending meticulous police procedural details with the heartbreak and anger of a grieving family. Testimony from both law enforcement and the victim’s family captures the agony of waiting for answers—and the sense of purpose that keeps investigators pressing on.

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Conclusion

"REOPENED: Bump In The Night" exemplifies the persistence and inter-agency cooperation behind rare cold case solutions. The intertwining narratives of Amy Willard’s close-knit family and the relentless detectives bring the cost of violent crime—as well as the relief of justice—sharply into focus. The episode also demonstrates how diligent investigation, fortuitous breaks, and evolving forensic science can finally give voice to the silenced.

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Transcript

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A& E Original Podcast this episode contains.

[B]

Descriptions of violence and sexual assault. Use your best judgment. Amy Willard was 22 in June of 1996. She lived in northern Philadelphia and was home for the summer. She would soon be starting her senior year of college at George Mason University, where she played lacrosse. Amy was an active person and decided that over her break she would take a course at the local community college and join a summer lacrosse league, all while looking for a job. On Thursday, June 20, she visited Smokey's Bar in Wayne, Pennsylvania and was seen leaving around 1:00am A little after 2:00am her car was found on an off ramp on a section of Interstate 476, frequently referred to as the Blue Route. The passenger door was open and there was blood on the pavement around the car. Lt. Lenny Bandy from the Pennsylvania State Police was the first investigator at the scene.

[C]

The tires were all normally inflated, so the presence of the tire iron struck me as unusual and its close proximity to the blood that heightened my sense of concern.

[B]

Lt. Bandy called for Backup and was joined at the scene by Corporal Alan Stewart.

[C]

My main objective at that point was to try to get this everything photographed as quickly as I could to be able to collect that evidence before it got wet.

[B]

Just as he finished collecting the last of the blood evidence, it began to rain. The car was then towed to the state barracks garage for more testing.

[C]

We didn't know what was going on at this point in time. We just knew that the operator of the vehicle wasn't there. And it became common upon us to find out what happened to the operator.

[B]

At 5:45am Amy's mother, Gail Willard, received a call at her vacation home notifying her that a car registered in her name had been found abandoned.

[A]

I knew instantly when I got the phone call that there was something drastically wrong.

[B]

Gail was right. Something was drastically wrong. Amy was missing and presumed injured or dead. From A and E. This is Cold Case Files. Amy's father, Paul Willard, was a sergeant in the nearby town of Chester, and he was struggling with how he could best help with the investigation.

[C]

You're always a father, but then again, you're always a cop. It was hard to divide the two because I wanted to solve it, but yet I was so concerned about her.

[B]

As soon as it was light outside, a search party consisting of state troopers and volunteers combed the area along the ramp and the blue route, looking for any clues that could help them determine what had happened. About half a mile from where the car was abandoned, a trooper found a pair of underwear and some sneakers. Gail identified them as belonging to her daughter, Amy.

[A]

You just kept going, you just kept answering their questions and you just kept hoping for the best. And all the while, in my heart.

[B]

I knew the worst was going to show up. Around 4pm, four children were playing tag in an abandoned lot when they found the naked body of a woman. The police were called and Detective Jeff Piri responded.

[C]

I observed a white female with severe facial and head trauma injuries to her body. Naked, partially on her side, and she had a naked swoosh tattoo on her ankle.

[B]

The body was quickly identified as Amy's because of the tattoos and other pictures provided to the detective. The lot was searched for any evidence that would help with the case, but nothing was found.

[C]

It was obvious that to us, through the investigation at the scene, she was considered a dumped body. She'd probably been killed, more than likely killed elsewhere and emplaced there.

[B]

The lack of a murder scene made Amy's body the investigator's best source of evidence. Her body was transported to the morgue to be processed by the medical investigator. The autopsy revealed that Amy had died from massive trauma to the head. And her neck and shoulders also showed trauma and bruising. They also discovered some unusual burn marks on her side. Here are Corporal Stewart and Lieutenant Bandy again.

[C]

On her right side there was a burn pattern. It was a series of X's that were encased in squares. It just struck me as very unusual. And my hope was that because of its uniqueness that when we identified its source, it would leave no question in our mind that this is what caused that injury.

[B]

The burns were photographed and included in the case file. Amy's body was swabbed for biological evidence. The swabs indicated the presence of semen. A DNA profile was extracted from the evidence. But when compared to the database of known offenders, no matches were found. The autopsy was then complete and Amy's body was released to her family. The investigation continued with the car Amy was driving on the night that she was killed. A thorough examination resulted in no unknown fingerprints and no blood. Here's Lieutenant Bandy again.

[C]

It was consistent with our belief that she exited the car and then encountered her sailing outside of the car and that he had no direct contact with the car.

[B]

Detectives Charles List and Greg Seltzer, experienced homicide investigators for the Delaware County DA's office, wondered why Amy Willard got out of her car in the first place, especially in the middle of the night. This is Detective List.

[C]

One of the reasons that came up as a possibility would be that, you know, someone pulled her over.

[B]

List and Seltzer suspected Amy's killer might have pretended to be a driver in distress or a police officer tricking her into pulling over and then waiting for his chance. The two detectives investigated their theory looking for similar styles of attack or anyone who might have had a history of using a phony police badge. A year later, they had a lot of names but no suspects. Here's Detective Seltzer.

[C]

We were frustrated. I guess that's the easiest way. I never to the point where we wanted to give up. No, just frustrated.

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[B]

Almost a year after Amy was murdered, a 19 year old woman named Patty Jordan said goodbye to her friends and then got into her car and headed for Interstate 95. As she exited the ramp, a large car appeared behind her and quickly caught up. The light shined in Patty's mirror. Here's Patty and I just thought, wow, you know, guy's going pretty fast. And then at the time it was one o' clock in the morning, 95 was pretty dead and I noticed he.

[C]

Stopped behind my car. So I kind of thought that was a little unusual.

[B]

Patty Switched lanes, but the car stayed on her tail. With the light still shining in her mirror, Patty pulled off the highway, but was stopped by a red light at the bottom of the ramp. The mystery car pulled up behind her. I saw him watch him in my mirror. I'm looking at him, and I'm like.

[C]

Oh, my God, this guy's gonna hit my car.

[B]

The car tapped Patty's bumper, and the man who was driving motioned for her to pull over. She stayed locked inside her car, and the man drove away, leaving a terrified Patty behind. I was so scared, and I was like, there's just. This is not right.

[C]

So I got his plate, and I.

[B]

Thought to myself, like, you know, my dad. My dad will take care of that. Patty's dad was a Philadelphia police sergeant named Jack Jordan. He ran the license plate number, and it was registered to a paroled killer named Arthur Bomar.

[C]

Here's a paroled murderer. Following my daughter the way he did for as long as he did, the insistence that she pull over, I just knew there was something.

[B]

Jack Jordan's police instincts told him to look for a connection, and he found one. The case of Amy Willard, another cop's daughter. The sort of person who might be trained to do the right thing and stop for an accident, regardless of the circumstances. Sergeant Jordan shared his theory with Delaware County Detectives Greg Seltzer and Charles List.

[C]

Myself and Detective List were talking. Is this what happened to Amy? Is it possible she was bumped and got out of the car thinking she was in an accident? I mean, this hit a possible scenario of what could have happened. Somebody bumped Amy. It seemed to fit. So we were very excited.

[B]

The detectives decided to talk to Arthur Bomar, who wasn't hard to find as he was in the county jail. Here's Detective Seltzer.

[C]

He was arrested in Lower Marion for an attempted burglary. He apparently was halfway in the house when the female saw him and she called police. He was placed under arrest for the burglary.

[B]

The officers who arrested Bomar told Seltzer and List they ran the plates on their suspect's car and discovered the tags were Bomar's. The vehicle itself, however, had been stolen out of Philadelphia and belonged to a woman named Maria Cabanos. She'd been reported missing months earlier and now had been linked to the convicted killer.

[C]

This is our guy. I mean, there's just too many things now that are popping up, you know, he's in another woman's car that's missing. Believe murdered. It was huge. It was very big.

[B]

List and Seltzer Wait their turn and are eventually allowed to question Bomar.

[C]

He was just getting ready to eat when Detective List told him that we're here to talk about Amy Willard. As soon as I said that, he very carefully closed up the sandwich, put it away, and said, I want no parts of that case. That's a death penalty case.

[B]

Unfortunately, the detectives had no physical evidence linking Arthur Bomar to Amy Willard's murder. The best chance seemed to be the car Bomar was driving on the night Amy was murdered.

[C]

We wanted that car for evidentiary purposes, figuring if there's blood on the guardrail, there has to be blood in the car. We now want this car.

[B]

According to state records, Arthur Bomar drove a 1993 Ford Escort at the time Amy Willard was killed. Here's Detective List.

[C]

We went through the insurance company and found out that his car had been in an accident in August of 1996, which would have been two months after the incident with Amy. We immediately went up to that garage. We found that the vehicle was still there.

[B]

Seltzer and List had the car towed to the Pennsylvania police crime lab. State troopers Alan Stewart and Harry Nelson watched as the car arrived at the yard. This is Corporal Stewart.

[C]

The sun now is lighting up the bottom of the car. Harry looks at me and says, al, you gotta see the bottom of this car.

[B]

On the bottom of Bomar's car was an oil pan with distinctive cross hatch markings. Stewart and Nelson recognized them as identical to the burn marks noted on Amy Willard's side at the time of her autopsy a year and a half earlier. The link motivated the investigators to tear out the car's interior. Inside a door panel. They found their smoking gun on the passenger side.

[C]

That door panel, they recovered blood. It matched Amy's DNA, so that's pretty good evidence.

[B]

The blood found inside Bomar's car was the first piece of science that tied the suspect to the murder. A second link soon followed. Forensics compared Bomar's DNA profile to semen taken from the victim's body. The result was a full genetic match.

[C]

We believe that she left Smokey Joe's, traveled the way she did to go home. We think as she came to the end of the ramp, they probably bumped her from behind, got her to pull down the ramp slightly and pull over to see what had happened.

[B]

The investigators suspected the two struggled on the road briefly. Amy was bleeding and perhaps knocked to the ground, leading to the strange burn marks on her body.

[C]

I believe she was trying to get away from him and may have crawled underneath the vehicle to get away from him and somehow burned herself. He captured her and he put her in his car and took her to some location that we've never found. He brutally beat her, he raped her, and then he dumped her body like a piece of trash.

[B]

On September 30, 1998, the case went to the jury. The panel deliberated only a few hours before delivering its verdict. Arthur Bomar was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murder of Amy Willard. Her parents were in the courtroom when the verdict was read and accepted the outcome with mixed emotions. This is Amy's father, Sergeant Paul Willard.

[C]

If I can be the guy that pushes the plunger, I'll do it and have no compulsion about it. If it happens in my lifetime, I will be sitting there in the front row.

[B]

And this is Amy's mother, Gail Willard. Amy's not coming back.

[A]

No matter what happens, Amy's not coming back. That's the only thing I really want will be for her to come back to life. And I can't get that. So whatever else happens, I'm sure a lot of you have heard of Happy Mammoth, the brand that's all about making women's lives easier with supplements that blend science and nature beautifully. One of their best sellers is the prebiotic collagen protein and it's designed to support gut health and overall well being. Now, most collagen powders out there only focus on things like skin, hair and nails, but Happy Mammoth's formula does that and more. It combines grass fed collagen peptides with prebiotic fibers to nourish your gut bacteria, helping support digestion, energy, cravings and mood, all tailored to women's needs. I'll be honest, I've had my share of digestive discomfort and since adding this to my daily routine, I've noticed a real lift in my energy and and overall balance. It's amazing how much better you feel when your gut is happy. Happy Mammoth never cuts corners on quality and it shows. If you've been looking for a collagen that actually supports your whole body, not just your beauty routine, check out Happy Mammoth's prebiotic collagen protein. Your gut and the rest of you will thank you. Right now you can try prebiotic collagen protein risk free and get 15% off your entire first order with Code Cold Case at checkout. That's happy mammoth.com, use code cold case for 15% off today. Hi, I'm Juliet Cowley, a retired FBI profiler and host of the True Crime podcast, the Real FBI Profilers. If you're fascinated with true crime and criminal profiling, then join us as we discuss real cases and examine the behavior exhibited before, during and after the commission of the crime. You can listen to the consult wherever you get your podcasts. It's as close as it gets to being in the room with with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit.

[B]

In January of 1999, three months after Arthur Bomar was convicted for Amy Willard's murder, the bones of Maria Cabanos were discovered in a field just outside Philadelphia. Blood found in the car Bomar was driving was matched by type to Gabanos, and cold case detectives are convinced he's also responsible for her death. But Arthur Bomar is already facing a death sentence. No charges in the Cabanos case have ever been filed against him. In 2014, Bomar exhausted his state appeals when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the death sentence. There are currently 150 people on death row in Pennsylvania, including Arthur Bomar. In 2015, Governor Tom Wolf declared a moratorium on the death penalty. In the year 2000, Congress passed the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection act and it was signed into law by President Bill Clinton. Under the terms of the law, whenever a state convicts someone of murder, rape or a dangerous sexual offense and that person has a prior conviction for any of those offenses in a different state, it can apply to the attorney general for $10,000 to be allocated for for the cost of apprehension and prosecution of the offender. It can also request $22,500 per year for up to five years for costs related to incarceration. This law is commonly referred to as Amy's Law. Cold Case Files. The podcast is hosted by Brooke giddings, produced by McKamey Lin and Steve Delamater. Our executive producers are Jesse Katz and Ted Butler. Our music was created by Blake Maples. This podcast is distributed by Podcast one. The Cold Case Files TV series was produced by Curtis Productions and is hosted by Bill Curtis. You can find me brookegiddings on Twitter and Brooke the Podcaster on Instagram. I'm also active in the Facebook group Podcast for Justice. Check out more Cold case [e-mail] or learn more about cases like this one by visiting the AE RealCrime [e-mail] RealCrime.

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