Going West: True Crime

Episode 536: The Pittsburgh Phantom
Release Date: September 9, 2025
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft and Heath Merryman

Main Theme

Daphne and Heath explore a chilling string of unsolved murders and disappearances around suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the late 1970s, focusing on the serial strangler dubbed "The Pittsburgh Phantom" (sometimes also called the Washington Strangler). The episode delves into the overlapping cases, police missteps, recent DNA breakthroughs, and ongoing mysteries surrounding at least six young female victims. The tone balances empathy, curiosity, real-time theorizing, and the hosts’ approachable rapport.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background and Setting [03:52]

• In the late 1970s, suburban Pittsburgh was gripped by fear as over 30 murders occurred in an 18-month span, many unsolved.
• Initial confusion: Police didn’t connect the cases due to varying victim demographics (young girls, adult couples) and the overwhelming volume of regional crime.

Quote:
"Nobody was safe from this random violence that left families of so many victims without answers." — Daphne [05:29]

2. Victim Timeline & Case Details

A. Barbara Lewis [06:41]

• 30 years old; disappeared on Nov 19, 1976, while heading to catch her bus. Her body, partially nude, was found in a dumpster a mile from her home.
• Cause of death withheld (possibly strangulation), but belongings were found scattered days later, enlarging the crime scene.

Quote:
"Charlene actually spotted Barbara's discarded body in the dumpster while she was taking out a box of trash. Which is amazing that she found her, because Barbara's body could have been taken to the dump and never been found... then she would just be perpetually missing." — Daphne [10:14]

B. Susan Rush [11:57]

• 21 years old; a devout, shy cashier. Disappeared after her work shift (Thanksgiving eve, 1976). Her family found her body inside the trunk of her own car, just blocks from her job. She was sexually assaulted and strangled with a shoelace; her clothes were hastily put on inside out.

Quote:
"Her larynx was fractured. Her bra and underwear were discarded on the front seat... it was clear that somebody had sexually assaulted her, redressed her in a hurry, in a rush.” — Heath [13:31]

C. Mary Jancy [15:04]

• 16 years old; vanished on Feb 13, 1977, en route to a diner. Body found 8 days later by hunters: nude, frozen, beaten with a hammer, sexually assaulted—and discovered to be pregnant.

Notable:
The “most brutal” crime the local coroner had seen in 18 years [17:21]

D. Debbie Capiola [19:31]

• 17 years old; vanished March 17, 1977, en route to her school bus. Her belongings were found near the bus stop and in nearby woods.
• Found 10 days later, raped and strangled, her killer having used her own clothing in the murder.
• Neighbor reported a car matching suspect David Kennedy’s; he was questioned but not arrested at the time.

E. Brenda Ritter [27:37]

• 18 years old; disappeared after visiting her boyfriend, amid heightened public fear of a serial killer. Her car was found with belongings scattered and a missing license and wallet. Brenda's body was discovered nude, with her underwear used as a garrote, within a mile of her car.
• Suspicion fell on law enforcement, fueled by the weirdness of her wallet/license missing and the partial car window—possibly suggesting police impersonation.
• Supporting that theory, County Sheriff Hannah Johns died by suicide days later, leaving a note alledgedly “hinting at being at fault for [the murders].” [34:00]

Quote:
"Speculation actually remains that she was killed by a police officer. Because, remember, there was a storm that night, so why would she be driving with [the window] down? Unless she had been pulled over..." — Daphne [32:35]

F. Roberta Elam (“Sister Robin”) [35:34]

• 26 years old; a nun-in-training at a convent, killed in nearby Wheeling, WV, in June 1977. She was praying on a bench, dragged, raped, and strangled with bare hands. No witnesses, but an unidentified man had been lurking with religious stickers on his car.

3. Theories, Suspects, and Law Enforcement Missteps

• Many initially believed a single serial killer was responsible for all six “Phantom” cases, but victimology and later DNA evidence complicated the narrative.
• Two Cases Solved by DNA:
  • Mary Jancy: DNA revealed attacks by two acquaintances, David Devoli and Bobby Irwin Jr. [38:20]
  • Debbie Capiola: Neighbor-suspect David Kennedy arrested and convicted decades later. [42:02]
  • Neither was responsible for any of the other murders.

Quote:
"Because of the DNA matches especially, they're saying 'yeah, I didn't sleep with her ever,' David saying, and Bobby saying 'it's been over a month.' Well, then we know you're lying because your DNA, both of your DNA, is found in her underwear." — Daphne [40:41]

• Other Noteworthy Suspects:
  • “Jack” bracelet found near Brenda’s body—possible clue or a red herring.
  • County Sheriff Hannah Johns’ suicide and cryptic note added to suspicions of law enforcement involvement, but no hard evidence.
  • Serial killer Edward Surratt (targeted couples via home invasions) was operating in the area but is not thought to be linked to the Phantom cases due to differing MO. [44:22]

4. Recent Developments and Unsolved Mysteries

• DNA Links:
  • DNA from the Susan Rush and Roberta Elam (Sister Robin) crime scenes matched, tying their murders together, though the perpetrator remains unidentified.
  • Both were strangled (one sexually assaulted) and described as “devoutly religious,” adding to the speculation their killer targeted women of faith.
  • Wheeling, WV, is close enough to Pittsburgh to suggest a roaming killer.

Quote:
"The strangulations of four of the six possible victims of the Pittsburgh Phantom...remain unsolved to this day. But we're hoping with the DNA found at Susan and Roberta's crime scenes, at least that there will be justice soon." — Daphne [47:11]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the brutality of the crimes:
  "The most brutal I've seen in my 18 years as a coroner." — Quoted from county coroner, via Daphne [17:21]

• On the fear plaguing Pittsburgh:
  "Some real shit was going on in Pittsburgh in the 70s." — Heath [44:23]

• On unsolved mysteries:
  "While the other four strangulations remain a mystery, suburban Pittsburgh was still struggling under the shadow of dozens of other unsolved murders and disappearances as well." — Heath [43:28]

• On the religious link:
  "I do think it's interesting that specifically, Susan and Roberta, i.e., Sister Robin, are described as devoutly religious. And that DNA found at their crime scenes was the same..." — Daphne [45:35]

Timeline/Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:52] – Overview of the string of murders and atmosphere of panic in '70s Pittsburgh.
• [06:41] – Barbara Lewis's disappearance and discovery.
• [11:57] – Susan Rush: disappearance, details of her murder.
• [15:04] – Mary Jancy: tragic details, discovery, and aftermath.
• [19:31] – Debbie Capiola: disappearance en route to bus, investigation, eventual conviction.
• [27:37] – Brenda Ritter: steps taken for her safety, her murder's disturbing clues, and law enforcement suspicions.
• [32:35] – Speculation regarding police involvement, including Sheriff Hannah Johns’ suicide.
• [35:34] – Roberta Elam (“Sister Robin”): circumstances of her murder and religious overtones.
• [38:20] – Resolution of Mary Jancy’s case through DNA, 33 years later.
• [42:02] – Debbie Capiola’s case solved, details about David Kennedy.
• [44:22] – Serial killer Edward Surratt’s unrelated streak.
• [45:31] – DNA ties between Susan Rush and Roberta Elam, ongoing investigation.
• [47:11] – Case summary, plea for information.

Conclusion

The episode highlights the ongoing terror that haunted Pittsburgh in the late 1970s—with entire communities on edge and almost no one feeling safe. Despite major breakthroughs in two cases, four chilling murders remain unsolved, their killer believed to possibly still be unidentified. Advances in DNA evidence have helped untangle which crimes are truly linked, but the chilling mystery of the Pittsburgh Phantom lingers.

For tips: Contact Pittsburgh PD at 412-323-7800.

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