On August 7, 1972, 16-year-old Jeannette DePalma left her home in Springfield, New Jersey, to go to work, but she never made it back home. Six weeks later, Jeannette's body was found atop Devil's Teeth, a cliff in Houdaille Quarry. With very little evidence, no clear suspects, and rumors of her being the victim of a Satanic Cult, her case has gone cold with no answers to be had for any of the countless questions left in the wake of her death. 53 years later, the mystery of what really happened to Jeannette DePalma has continued to baffle those who still remember her. Today, I am joined by Brian Santana to break down the case file and walk you through one of my home state's most baffling crimes. 
 
If you have any information about the death of Jeannette DePalma, please contact the Springfield Police Department at (973) 376-0400.

Visit the Justice for Jeannette website and sign the petition 

Get A Murder On Campus: The Professor, The Cop, and North Carolina's Most Notorious Cold Case here

Check out Chapter 91 with Brian and Cameron Santana here

Check out Chapter 105: Summer's Almost Gone with Brian Santana and J.T. Townsend here

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Associated Press. (1972a, September 30). Witchcraft seen possible in teen-age girl’s death. The Central New Jersey Home News, 3.Associated Press. (1972b, October 3). Say witch is murder probe aid. The Daily Register, 1.Associated Press. (1972c, October 31). Satanism seen gaining followers. Asbury Park Press, 26.Associated Press. (1973, January 19). Drifter sought in girl’s death. Press of Atlantic City, 37.Burke, E. C. (1971, July 6). ‘Satan Cult’ Death, Drugs Jolt Peaceful Vineland, N. J. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/07/06/archives/-satan-cult-death-drugs-jolt-peaceful-vineland-nj-satan-cult-death-.html#:~:text=There%20are%20also%20other%2C%20new,Body%20is%20FoundDeak, M. (2019, September 10). Judge denies DNA test of Jeannette DePalma’s clothes. The Central New Jersey Home News, 1A-9A.DePalma, Jeannette. (1972, September 21). The Star-Ledger, 60.Entry | Timelines | US Religion. (n.d.). The Association of Religion Data Archives (the ARDA). https://www.thearda.com/us-religion/history/timelines/entry?etype=3&eid=47#:~:text=Description,the%20modern%20Christian%20music%20industry.Everett, R. (2021, February 7). A tragic mystery, but likely no satanic rite. The Star-Ledger, A17–A18.FACTS | Justice for Jeannette DePalma. (n.d.). https://justiceforjeannette.com/facts/Harland, P. (2006, March 23). Satanic Conspiracies of the 1970s and 1980s (Satan 12). Ethnic Relations and Migration in the Ethnic World. https://www.philipharland.com/Blog/2006/03/satanic-conspiracies-of-1970s-and-1980s-satan/Jeannette Christine DePalma  (1956-1972) - Find a. . . (1956, August 3). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/245014849/jeannette_christine-depalmaMuscavage, N. (2019, August 25). What happened to teen found dead in 1972: Jeannette DePalma’s arm, then body was discovered 47 years ago. The Central New Jersey Home News, 1A-11A.Schwartz, A. (2015, January 5). Conspiracy or serial killer? Two theories offered on unsolved 1974 murder of NB teens. The Hudson Reporter. https://web.archive.org/web/20150610051820/http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/26402295/article-Conspiracy--or-serial-killer----Two-theories-offered-on-unsolved-1974-murder-of-NB-teens-?instance=north_bergenUPDATED: Who killed Jeannette DePalma? (n.d.). https://weirdnj.com/weird-news/jeannette-depalma/


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