When I decided to write a piece about the Stefanie Watson cold case back in 2012 to mark the 30th anniversary of this incredibly brutal, yet remarkably obscure crime, I didn’t expect much to come of it. I certainly didn’t expect P.G. County Homicide detectives to solve the case the following year; I didn’t expect the killer to still be alive to answer for the crime; I didn’t expect to meet and become friends with Stefanie’s family and other key participants in those events from 1982, and sit with them at the killer’s sentencing; and I definitely didn’t expect to play a part in bringing about an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn, focusing on this tragic, but fascinating story.
But all of those things have indeed happened, and I’m excited to see the episode premiere Sunday night, 9/25 at 10p.m. on Investigation Discovery.
I’m getting chills from the preview alone.
Lost Laurel 
Now if only you could get the powers that be to admit that something did land in the woods near Kecksburg, PA on December 9, 1965 — I would appreciate it!
Since the sentencing has the man convicted
said anything about how he encountered Stefanie, or what/where/why? The location of the rest of her remains? Has where he lived at the time been thoroughly searched?
I lived in Larchdale Woods at That time in a ground floor apartment facing the woods . I passed that dumpster every day with my children. I never felt safe after the murder. We now live in FL. I was so happy when her killer was found. Thank you for telling the story.
Congrats on your excellent work at making much of this happen!
I remember this vividly..we were all scared. Went to high school at Pallotti with (then) young man who found her head in a bag. What a tragedy for all…
I was 12 years old playing football in the field in front of our apts in Larchdale. We watched the green LTD Ford fly down the end of the road by our pool and throw out a black trash bag (as a decoy) to what he threw by our pool. This case has stayed with me for years and I never knew it was solved. We actually moved to Bowie right after this happened. I was blessed to have her sit with me both times I had to get stitches. I just remember her being so beautiful and kind to me. I’m glad they finally solved this case. Condolences to her family .