Detectives ‘a step away’ from solving decades-old murder of 15-year-old girl in Bethel Park

BETHEL PARK, Pa. — The family of a 15-year-old murder victim is still searching for answers more than 30 years after the tragic crime.

Jessica Freeman’s body was found near train tracks on Willis Road in Bethel Park on July 26, 1992. No one has ever been charged or arrested. This summer marks 34 years since the killing.

“Even though it’s 30 years, to me it happened yesterday,” said Carlina Freeman, Jessica’s younger sister. “It’s very hard, and it’s still very hard.”

Carlina was 12-years-old when her sister was killed.

“I’ve been fighting so hard, and I don’t want to die knowing that she’s not, you know, nobody found her killer,” Carlina Freeman said.

Investigators said Jessica was beaten to death and her body was dumped. An anonymous call in the early morning hours tipped off police.

Allegheny County Police Sergeant Kevin McCool grew up down the street from the crime scene.

“People still remember it. I still remember it,” he said.

McCool would eventually become the lead investigator on the case.

“Do you believe that the person who killed her knew her?” asked Channel 11 Investigative Reporter Jatara McGee.

“Definitely, yes,” McCool said.

“Do you think that you know who it is?” McGee asked.

McCool sighed and paused for a moment before saying, “I have a strong opinion.”

Police said witnesses placed Jessica in restaurants and bars in downtown Pittsburgh the night she was killed.

By all accounts, Jessica had a tough childhood. She and her siblings were placed in the foster care system young, she had a baby just months before she died, and police believe she was a victim of human trafficking.

“She would always call me and say ‘if anything ever happens to me, just don’t give up on me,’” Carlina Freeman said. “She said ‘if you ever see me on TV, just don’t give up.’ I’m like ‘shut up. You’re not going nowhere.’ And probably a week later, that’s when it happened.”

With the help of modern technology and grant funding, county police have developed a DNA profile they believe could belong to the killer.

“There have been people who’ve cooperated, provided DNA as recently as last year to rule themselves out,” McCool said.

Police have interviewed and re-interviewed Jessica’s friends and acquaintances several times.

“She also dealt with a lot of people that you probably don’t want to deal with and we’ve talked to them,” McCool said.

11 Investigates last highlighted the case in 2021, which McCool said led to new tips and information. He is hoping that happens again, acknowledging a lot changes in 30+ years.

“Maybe that friendship is no longer a friendship. Maybe that fear that you may have had of that person, maybe that fear is gone,” McCool said.

He believes his team is “one step away” from solving this case, perhaps by getting a match to the DNA profile or by someone coming forward, admitting a long-held secret.

Carlina Freeman and her nephew, Jessica’s son, decide to pass out flyers at the NFL Draft to raise awareness about the case. They handed out hundreds of flyers, hoping to catch the right person’s attention.

“Excuse me. Can you spread the message for my mother’s murder?” Jessica’s son Joey is heard saying in cell phone video at the event.

The family is pleading for anyone with information to come forward to help get justice for Jessica.

“I don’t want to go any more years because somebody knows,” Carlina Freeman said. “I can’t let it go. I’m never gonna let it go.”

“It would mean a lot to be able to tell her that this is over,” McCool said.

If you want to talk to police or submit a tip, you can call 1-833-ALL-TIPS or submit a tip online. Detectives prefer to have contact information, but you can remain anonymous.

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