Murder of Betsy Aardsma

Betsy Aardsma

School yearbook photograph of Betsy Aardsma
Born Betsy Ruth Aardsma
(1947-07-11)July 11, 1947
Holland, Michigan, U.S.
Died November 28, 1969(1969-11-28) (aged 22)
University Park, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Cause of death Stab wound to the chest
Resting place Pilgrim Home Cemetery
Education Holland High School
Alma mater University of Michigan
Pennsylvania State University
Occupation Graduate student
Home town Holland, Michigan

Betsy Ruth Aardsma[1] (July 11, 1947 – November 28, 1969) was a 22-year-old American college student who was murdered in the "Stacks" area of Pattee Library at the Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania in November, 1969. Her murder remains unsolved.

Background

Aardsma was the second of four children[2] born in Holland, Michigan to Esther and Richard Aardsma.[1] She attended Holland High School where she graduated with honors. Aardsma then enrolled at the University of Michigan where she studied art and English. Upon graduation, she enrolled at Pennsylvania State University. At the time of her death, she was "unofficially engaged" to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center student David Wright.[3]

Murder

Aardsma was in the library on November 28, 1969, doing research for a paper. At some point between 4:45 PM and 4:55 PM, she was stabbed a single time through the left breast with a knife, severing her pulmonary artery and piercing the right ventricle of her heart. Police believe Aardsma was most likely attacked from behind,[4] as her hands bore no defensive wounds. Following the stabbing, Aardsma slumped to the ground. Approximately one or two minutes later, one or two men exited the central region of the library, telling a desk clerk that "Somebody better help that girl" as they left. The man or men who spoke to the desk clerk have never been identified. Bystanders rendered first aid, including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, to Aardsma[5] and a call was placed to the campus hospital, the Ritenour Health Center, at 5:01 PM. By 5:19 PM, an ambulance[5] had transported Aardsma to the Health Center, where she was pronounced dead a short time later.[3]

After Aardsma was stabbed, the wound produced only a small amount of visible blood. Also, Aardsma was wearing a red dress at the time. As result of these two facts, the first responders thought that perhaps she had experienced a seizure or some other medical ailment. It was not until Aardsma was examined at the Health Center that anyone realized that she had been stabbed.

The murder of Betsy Aardsma has remained unsolved for 46 years as of January 27, 2016 and the Pennsylvania State Police are still actively seeking information on the case.[6]

In popular culture

In 1990, Pamela West, an author who had researched the case in the 1980s, wrote a science-fiction story based on the details of the case.[7] West stated that she had originally intended to write a true crime story, but was concerned with libel issues related to the fact that so many people involved were still alive at the time.[6]

The 2011 book, Who Killed Betsy?: Uncovering Penn State's Most Notorious Unsolved Murder, by Derek Sherwood purports to reveal the killer's identity, stating it to be geologist Dr. Rick Haefner.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Anthony, Ted (June 23, 1957). "Penn State murder a mystery 20 years later". The Pittsburgh Press. p. A14. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  2. ↑ The Partiot News Dec. 7, 2008
  3. 1 2 "Penn State Girl's Death Probed". The Pittsburgh Press. November 29, 1969. p. 2. Retrieved April 29, 2014.
  4. ↑ CollegeMagazine.com Oct. 31, 2014.
  5. 1 2 "Cries for Help go Unheeded". Daily Collegian. 1969-12-02. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
  6. 1 2 "Decades later, Penn State library slaying unsolved". Chicago Tribune. 2008-08-02. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  7. ↑ West, Pamela (14 July 1990). 20/20 Vision. Del Ray. ISBN 978-0345367365.
  8. ↑ Sherwood, Derek (1 August 2011). Who Killed Betsy?: Uncovering Penn State's Most Notorious Unsolved Murder. PINE GROVE PRESS. ISBN 9780615498119.

External links

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