New York State, a place of vibrant history and bustling cities, also holds a darker side with numerous unsolved mysteries. From perplexing disappearances to baffling murders, these cold cases remain open, leaving families and investigators searching for answers.
Isidor Fink
On March 9, 1929, Isidor Fink, a Polish immigrant, returned to his New York apartment after his laundry deliveries. Fifteen minutes later, neighbors heard screams but no gunshots. When police arrived, they found the doors locked from the inside and the windows nailed shut. A child was lifted through the transom to unlock the door.
Fink was found dead with three gunshot wounds. No weapon was found, and only Fink’s fingerprints were present. His money was untouched, and there was no way for an intruder to lock the doors from the inside. Suicide seemed unlikely given the wrist and chest wounds and the missing weapon. Despite searches for secret passages, none were found, leaving the case an enduring mystery.
Anthony Urciuoli
In January 2001, Anthony Urciuoli left his Poughkeepsie home, telling his parents he was going to play pool with a friend. He said he’d be back in two hours, but he never returned. Anthony usually played at Shark’s pool hall, but no one saw him that night. His car was found in a nearby parking lot with his wallet inside, and there were no signs of a struggle.
Investigators couldn’t trace the page Anthony received before leaving. Despite his parents’ efforts, including rewards and talk show appearances, no new evidence surfaced. Police aren’t sure if he was murdered or disappeared voluntarily, leaving his fate unknown.
Richard Colvin Cox
Richard Colvin Cox, a West Point cadet, vanished on January 14, 1950. He told roommates he had dinner plans with a friend named George. Dressed in full uniform, he signed out of his barracks and was never seen again. The army and FBI launched a massive search without success.
Theories ranged from Soviet kidnapping to CIA recruitment. The mysterious “George,” who knew Cox from Germany, became a focal point. Some speculated Cox knew about shady dealings or a murder in Germany. Another theory suggested a homosexual relationship between Cox and George led to their disappearance. Hobbyist researcher Marshall Jacobs believes Cox bought a new identity and started a new life. Neither man has ever been found.
Rashawn Brazell
On February 14, 2005, 19-year-old Rashawn Brazell left home to sort out his taxes before lunch with his mom. He headed to the Gates Avenue train station and never returned. Three days later, his dismembered torso, legs, and an arm were found in trash bags in a subway tunnel. His other arm was found at a recycling plant. His head remains missing.
A decade later, the murder remains unsolved. The killer had extensive subway system knowledge. A tool bag used by New York Transit Authority workers, containing Brazell’s blood, was found nearby, though it was also sold to the public. Cryptic messages, possibly from the killer, have been sent to people connected to Rashawn around his birthday. The investigation continues, driven by determination to find answers.
Shane Anthony Walker
Just three months after Christopher Dansby’s disappearance, Rosa Glover took her 19-month-old son, Shane Walker, to the same playground in August 1989. A 10-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother approached Rosa and asked if Shane could play with them. Rosa agreed, watching them play on the slide.
A man sat next to Rosa, ranting about the city’s high crime rate and mentioning kidnapping. He showed her scars from alleged fights. When Rosa looked back, Shane and the two children were gone. The children claimed they left him in the park. Christopher Dansby was also seen playing with these children before his disappearance. Both toddlers lived in the same building and disappeared at roughly the same time. Neither Christopher nor Shane has ever been found.
Quin-Rong Wu
In May 1997, 11-year-old Quin-Rong Wu left her family’s apartment for school but never arrived. Two weeks later, her body was found in the East River, strangled. Quin-Rong had moved to America with her family 18 months earlier. She loved the city and having breakfast with friends at school. Living in New York was the first time she lived with her family, having lived with a cousin in China due to population control policies.
The investigation suggested Quin-Rong was sexually assaulted before being killed. Her school bag and one shoe remain missing. A witness saw a bearded man with a young Asian girl on a subway, becoming a focal point. Conflicting stories from Quin-Rong’s parents about a prior child’s death in China also drew attention. Almost two decades later, her murder remains unsolved, but the investigation continues.
Henryk Siwiak
On September 11, 2001, as the world focused on the Twin Towers, Henryk Siwiak, a 46-year-old Polish immigrant, was murdered in New York. He had just been hired to mop floors at a Brooklyn supermarket, scheduled to start that night. Siwiak asked his landlady for directions to Albany Avenue but mistakenly went to 1 Albany Avenue, miles from the supermarket at 1525 Albany Avenue.
The area was known for drug deals. Siwiak was shot just before midnight. He managed to reach a building and ring the doorbell, but the resident was too scared to open the door. Siwiak died moments later. The Crime Scene Unit couldn’t reach the scene due to the day’s events, so a burglary team swept the area. Siwiak’s money was still in his pockets, ruling out robbery. His camouflage pants and military-style jacket might have been misconstrued, but the motive remains unknown. His murder remains unsolved.
Patrick Alford
Patrick Alford, seven, had a difficult childhood. Removed from his mother, Jennifer Rodriguez, due to shoplifting and drug dependency, he was placed with foster mother Librada Moran in Brooklyn’s Starrett City. Three weeks later, while helping Moran with trash bags, she left him briefly to answer a call. Upon returning, she found he had vanished.
Authorities arrested Jennifer Rodriguez, believing she had abducted him, but released her after a polygraph test. Police followed leads and searched apartments in Starrett City, a nearby creek, and interviewed teachers and bus drivers, all without success. Jennifer Rodriguez sued Moran and Children’s Services for failing to protect Patrick. A renewed search began in January 2015, but no answers have been found.
Kathleen Kolodziej
On November 2, 1974, 17-year-old Kathleen Kolodziej left a Cobleskill bar to return to SUNY Cobleskill. She declined a ride from her roommate, saying she’d catch a ride with someone else. Her mother reported her missing the next day. Police found Kathleen’s half-naked body in Richmondville nearly a month later, stabbed multiple times. A report of a girl resembling Kathleen entering a yellow Volkswagen was never confirmed.
Over four decades later, her murderer remains unidentified. Despite thousands of interviews and leads, police have been unable to identify a suspect. Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond hopes the aging murderer will confess before death.
Lorraine Snell
In September 1980, 19-year-old Lorraine Snell was planning her engagement party when she arrived at the Midwood Terrace restaurant. As she left, the barmaid saw her with James Burrus, the estranged husband of her cousin Barbara. It was raining, and Burrus held an umbrella for Snell. That was the last time Lorraine was seen alive. She was found strangled in the backseat of a station wagon, a cable around her neck. The car was parked behind a supermarket where Burrus had worked.
Detectives couldn’t conclusively link Burrus to the murder, though he served time for robbing a cab driver that night. He became a pastor and denies involvement. District attorney investigator Wayne Tennent assured Lorraine’s mother, Pearl, he was doing everything possible, calling her frequently. However, Tennent wasn’t assigned to the case, and an important file was missing. Tennent allegedly tried to access the files even after retiring, insisting Barbara Burrus was cleared, using similar language to Barbara herself. Tennent insists he did nothing wrong, knowing Lorraine before her death. The case remains unsolved.
These haunting cold cases from New York State highlight the enduring mysteries that continue to challenge investigators and devastate families. Each story serves as a reminder of the unresolved questions and the ongoing pursuit of justice.
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