Bizarre murder

The unsolved murder of Janette Dulma is one of the most bizarre and controversial cases in criminal history, particularly in New Jersey. Despite its relative obscurity outside the state, the case has been shrouded in mystery, sparking various theories and rumors, with some speculating that Janette was the victim of a ritualistic occult murder. Others argue it was an early instance of the "Satanic Panic" that took hold in the U.S. during the 1980s and 1990s.

Janette was born on August 3, 1956, in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Florence and Salvador Dulma, the seventh of eight children in a traditional Italian Catholic family. The family settled in Springfield, New Jersey, purchasing a home for $65,000, a significant sum at the time. Though considered wealthy in the community, they were known for their odd behavior—frequent arguments and rumors about Salvador’s ties to the Mafia.

Janette’s adolescence only added to her reputation. Described as a "wild child," she was often seen with boys, smoking, and possibly experimenting with drugs. Though these behaviors were typical of rebellious teenagers, they made Janette a mysterious figure in Springfield.

Local gossip painted her as promiscuous, but some, like her best friend, strongly denied these claims. Officer Kish, involved in the investigation, described Janette as a "party girl," but this claim was refuted by others, including Officer Donald Schwar, who had never heard of her before her murder. Her friends painted a different picture: a teenager who smoked, partied, and rebelled but was neither reckless nor involved in hard drugs.

Despite these rumors, Janette expressed a desire to return to her Christian faith, feeling she had lost her way. Unfortunately, this was the period when she disappeared on August 7, 1972. The day started as usual, with Janette's cousin, Lisa Guick, recounting that Janette was upset after learning Lisa had been missing for a month.

After a brief argument, Janette called her friend Gail to say she couldn’t meet, claiming she had cleaning duties at home. After some persuasion, she agreed to hitchhike over, and that was the last time Gail heard from her.

Janette's sister, Cindy, recalled Janette asking her to join her, but Cindy declined, later regretting it. Gail’s version of events differed slightly, mentioning Janette talking about a boyfriend named "Tommy," someone no one knew. Janette had told her parents she worked at Brooks department store, but this was a fabrication—she didn’t work there, and her friends later confirmed it.

The Damas family waited anxiously, calling the Springfield Police Department, but were told they couldn’t start a search until Janette had been missing for 24 hours. The police initially assumed Janette had run away, and rumors swirled that she had simply left. However, the family maintained that she had not come home from work. Days passed, and Janette was still missing.

On September 19, 1972, Officer Donald Schwar, returning from vacation, would discover the shocking truth. While on patrol near Huddle Quarry, Schwar saw a dog carrying something—what appeared to be a human arm. Upon investigation, it was confirmed to be Janette's.

The search for the rest of her body led officers to the "Devil’s Teeth," a steep bluff where Janette’s body was found, face down at the top of the hill. Her body was badly damaged by animals, and she was wearing the same clothes she had disappeared in—blue T-shirt and pants—but no shoes or socks. Nearby, flip-flops and a pocketbook were found. Above her head was a wooden cross surrounded by a semicircle of stones, an arrangement that some officers speculated resembled witchcraft.

The circumstances surrounding the discovery raised several questions. The steep terrain had required an 85-foot ladder to retrieve her body. At the coroner’s office, Janette was identified by her family dentist, but Dr Edinburg, the coroner, could not determine the cause of death.

There were no signs of trauma—no gunshots, stabbings, or blunt force injuries—leaving the cause of death unclear. Some speculated strangulation, but this was never confirmed. Officer Edinburg's reputation for botched autopsies, including other high-profile cases, cast further doubt on the investigation’s accuracy.

Further mishandling of the case ensued as Janette’s clothes were hung outside for four days, contaminating any potential evidence. Rumors began circulating that the scene suggested a ritualistic or satanic killing. The press sensationalized these claims, with some suggesting that Janette had been sacrificed in a ritualistic cult act. Despite all the theories and the disturbing details surrounding the case, the true circumstances of Janette Dulma's death remain unsolved to this day.