GREENSBURG, Pa. — A suspect is incarcerated at the Westmoreland County Prison in connection with the 41-year-old killing of 16-year-old Lottie Jo Gunn, whose body was found along Turner Valley Road in North Huntingdon Township after she was stabbed to death in 1985.
The case had remained unsolved for four decades until investigators notified Gunn’s family of an arrest this week.
James Kruczek, 61, of West Mifflin, was taken into custody after police linked him to the crime with new DNA evidence.
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JoDee Beal was 12 years old when her older sister was killed. She said law enforcement officers called her family with the long-awaited news.
“I was shocked; I was frozen. I was numb,” Beal said. “Honestly, I still think that I’m dreaming.” She added, “Every memory that I have of my sister is good.”
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli praised the detectives who pursued the cold case.
“I cannot speak enough to the professionalism and dedication and the heart that these detectives have to do this kind of work,” Ziccarelli said. “They were relentless.”
Gunn’s cousin, Kimberly Dennis, noted that Gunn’s father died without ever knowing an arrest had been made in his daughter’s case.
“It’s heartbreaking to know that he passed and didn’t have this knowledge that they found the person who was responsible,” Dennis said.
She went on to say the detectives called her family on the day of his birthday.
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