Brenda Lee Ritter & The Washington Strangler

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On May 18th 1977. South Strabane Township, Washington Co. Pennsylvania. 18-year-old Brenda Lee Ritter left the home of her boyfriend and planned to drive straight to her home, a few miles away. A severe thunderstorm was approaching and Brenda hoped she could beat the weather. Crime and violence had been on the rise in Washington County, Pennsylvania so both Brenda's boy friend as well as his mother made certain that Brenda locked the doors to her 1973 Ford Pinto before leaving.

Brenda did not make it home that night. The following morning her parents contacted the North Strabane Police Police Department to report their daughter as missing. Around 11am on May 11th Brenda's car was found parked along Rankin Rd. near the intersection of Zediker Station Rd. The driver's door was unlocked and its window half rolled down. Her purse and keys were also found inside.

About 3 hours later a Penn. State Police helicopter spotted Brenda on a hillside off Roupe Rd. about 1 mile to the East.

Thus, the case of Brenda Ritter was opened...the 4th or 5th such case to be opened in Washington County in 6 months. The County was nearly paralyzed with fear...and it would only get worse before it got better.

In May of 1977, the Washington Observer-Reporter coined the phrase "Washington Strangler"...and the moniker stuck.

This feature includes period newsfilm from WTRF Channel 7 in Wheeling, West Virginia. To the best of my knowledge this footage has not been seen since it originally aired in 1977. The West Virginia State Archives has, once again, graciously made this amazing footage available for use in this feature.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 12/15/1977: https://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...

LAW ENFORCEMENT: Pennsylvania State Police Troop G
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