NJ Andrew & Patricia Puskas, both 35, Middlesex, February 25th 1982

[Nocturnal 911]

My UNSOLVED hometown murder is being revisited!! This was devastating to our community and haunts me to this day. I can still see their poor sons' little burnt scalps . I'd LOVE to see this sleuthed- specifically any leads on the blue glass pipe bomb fragments found with the raised letters "KINGS". Please note: all close friends and family called him "Dick" not Andrew as the bomb/box was addressed. Thank you!!

Middlesex cold case: Who sent the explosive device that killed Andrew and Patricia Puskas in 1982?

Puskas

 

[ghoulnextdoor]

Some information about the bomb and how it was discovered. It's sad that they contacted the police about the package but they didn't take it seriously
Middlesex cold case: Who sent the explosive device that killed Andrew and Patricia Puskas in 1982?

As the family was getting the three children ready for school, the package was noticed by the front door, according to Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office Detective Kevin Schroeck.
They brought the package, addressed to Andrew Puskas, into the home to take a look at it.

Schroeck said the family also contacted police because they thought the package was suspicious, and possibly contained an explosive device. They brought it inside because they weren't sure what it was until it was opened.

"They sent the kids outside," Schroeck said.

A 1982 Home News newspaper story of the incident indicated Andrew Puskas told police he considered the package a poor joke and did not seem to be alarmed.
"As the first arriving officer arrived on scene, the explosion occurred. The first arriving officer was immediately taken aback by the explosion, moved his car and began rendering assistance to the kids nearby," Schroeck said.

The Home News newspaper stories indicate the bomb was attached to two bottles containing a flammable liquid and a time set at 45 seconds that exploded in an archway between the living room and kitchen, collapsing the floor where the couple was standing, looking into the package, and setting the entire home on fire. Andrew and Patricia Puskas, both 35, were killed instantly, according to news reports.

 

[ghoulnextdoor]

Here are some original articles from the NY Times about the case
BOMB LEFT ON DOORSTEP KILLS JERSEY COUPLE AND INJURES 2
BOMB THAT KILLED COUPLE IN JERSEY WAS ADDRESSED TO VICTIM

 

[Nocturnal 911]

Murdered in Jersey

book excerpt

Murdered in Jersey

 

[Nocturnal 911]

My parents, as well as MOST families at our church, were interviewed by the ATF or FBI? I was only 12 at the time. This was my FIRST experience with death/murder/crime and I can recall being enthralled and devastated at the same time. I rode by their house often on my bike afterwards and also remember sneaking into my mother's address book for their home phone number and calling the house repeatedly just PRAYING it was a dream and Pat would answer. The two older boys sat in front of me in church in the weeks? months? following before they moved in with family outside of our county. I can remember looking at the back of their sweet baby angel heads, skin burned and hair singed and feeling like SOMETHING had to be done for them to help catch the SOB. I also seem to recall that my mother, who was 7 mos pregnant with my sister on this date, had some loose plans for her baby shower being hosted at Dick & Patricia's house? Or someone mentioned to or in front of me "She was going to have Mickey's baby shower!!" and thinking OMG-- My mother and sister could have been lost as well.
I have been googling this case for YEARS. I have secretly searched for the boys on social media. Scotty, Drew & Brian if you ever see this please KNOW that I still hold your little hearts in my mind XoXo..........................

 

[Nocturnal 911]

pics

 

[Skyblueday32]

I grew up in Middlesex, but moved to Piscataway by 2nd grade in 1979, so I did not know the family, or hear about the case until a year ago. Pipe bombs were big with mafia hits, did the father perhaps not give a deal to someone while he was selling? We're his clients investigated? I saw pix of the glass bottle fragments, some of it's definitely from a Wheaton glass Kings balsam of life blue bottle. A Pin for you. Not sure if the bottles used had a message or meaning, or if they were just available.

Another thing I found odd, if my child found something on the porch, and I wasn't sure what it was, I don't think I would call police as one of my first actions after bringing it in tbe home, if I wasn't concerned about nothing.

The last comment, I believe a middlesex man was caught with pipe bomb materials in his home, was he living in Middlesex at the same time? Did they know each other? Middlesex Borough man charged with detonating pipe bomb

 

[Nocturnal 911]

Good catch on the bottles! I can't find the images that were released earlier anywhere--- The bottles that you PINd look familiar but I can't remember if it's because of the pics released or because I stumbled across something similar. I just tried to browse this and walked away thinking they were probably pretty common? Also-- I recall the kids saying that Dick told them to get out of the house, like now. Once he saw the contents. He seems calm in the call transcripts, but he def sent them out! -- Off to google Joseph Colucci to death now-- I hadn't heard about that 2019 arrest THANKS!
Medicinal Bottles

 

[Nocturnal 911]

This new write up is pretty comprehensive too btw-- Deadly Explosion Killed God-Fearing Couple in 1982 ~ True Crime Diva

 

[Skyblueday32]

I'm wondering if anything new has been discovered in this case? I'm wondering if they had problems with any neighbors? If they had problems with anyone the oldest son may recall that, i recall the disagreements my family had with neighbors back in the day when i was a child. The man who got caught detonating pipe bombs, Calucci, lived on 2nd street in middlesex, one street over from the Puskas. Wonder if he grew up there? He was 59 yrs old in 2017, so he would have been 25/26? Wonder if he was investigated? If his family lived on 2nd street in 1984 he may be worth an investigation...

 

[rob525]

One article states that he couple were "anti-catholic". I wonder why? My first thought was whether their anti-catholic message had anything to do with the situation in Ireland at the time. Could they have been targeted due to their message and/or used as a test run for later violence in Ireland? Another thought. It seems that 45 seconds is or should have been a lot of time to set the timer provided the timer started when the box was opened. ( if the folks had opened the box, seeing the contents had immediately elected to leave the house.)

 

[Skyblueday32]

Middlesex Man Had Bombmaking Materials In Home, Prosecutor Says

A 59-year-old borough man who lives on West 2nd Street had pipe bombs and homemade bomb-making materials in his home, police say.

patch.com

 

[Skyblueday32]

Middlesex Man Had Bombmaking Materials In Home, Prosecutor Says

A 59-year-old borough man who lives on West 2nd Street had pipe bombs and homemade bomb-making materials in his home, police say.

patch.com

Also this article sort of supports the theory! A psychic was interviewed! Deadly Explosion Killed God-Fearing Couple in 1982 - True Crime Diva

If the family were jehova witness, they would walk around the neighborhoods witnessing, if Andrew was not passive and a much more passionate JW, maybe he really angered a serious catholic?

 

[Skyblueday32]

Maybe the simplest theory...old fashion jealousy? My uncle grew up in the area and knew the pipe bomb maker in the story above, and his family a bit back then. He said the mother was a very sexy lady and flirted quite a bit, young guys talking etc. and that the Calluci parents eventually divorced. Living in the same area, maybe Andrew became involved somehow with Callucis wife, and maybe the ex husband became angry, good old fashion revenge? The obituary above shows the fathers picture, I do see a resemblance in the drawing provided by a witness. Not sure what kind of car calluci owned back then. Maybe he assisted his father which is where he learned how to make pipe bombs? Maybe it was he and his father that dropped the package off? I'd see if the police would consider this theory?

 

[poehwin]

It is 44 years since that tragic day and I finally published my story, "In the Shadow of Violent Crime." If anyone reading this grew up affected by this tragedy like myself and would like to reach out me, please feel free to contact me through my website.

 

[poehwin]

My parents, as well as MOST families at our church, were interviewed by the ATF or FBI? I was only 12 at the time. This was my FIRST experience with death/murder/crime and I can recall being enthralled and devastated at the same time. I rode by their house often on my bike afterwards and also remember sneaking into my mother's address book for their home phone number and calling the house repeatedly just PRAYING it was a dream and Pat would answer. The two older boys sat in front of me in church in the weeks? months? following before they moved in with family outside of our county. I can remember looking at the back of their sweet baby angel heads, skin burned and hair singed and feeling like SOMETHING had to be done for them to help catch the SOB. I also seem to recall that my mother, who was 7 mos pregnant with my sister on this date, had some loose plans for her baby shower being hosted at Dick & Patricia's house? Or someone mentioned to or in front of me "She was going to have Mickey's baby shower!!" and thinking OMG-- My mother and sister could have been lost as well.
I have been googling this case for YEARS. I have secretly searched for the boys on social media. Scotty, Drew & Brian if you ever see this please KNOW that I still hold your little hearts in my mind XoXo..........................

I read this post many years ago but like many of us directly affected by this tragedy as children, we were trained to stay quiet due to safety concerns and that training continued until college and beyond because the criminal targeting parents and children was never caught. It is now 44 years later and I tell my/ the story here. "In the Shadow of Violent Crime." Please feel free to reach out to me through my website.

 

[TN-Batman]

I am glad I stumbled upon this site - once upon a time I had aspirations about writing a book about the Puskas murder - I had done extensive research and compiled vast amounts of data from the era. I was friends with the middle son Scott, I had spent the night at the Puskas home weeks before the bombing, all three boys spent the night at my house both before, and after the bombing. Our family attended the same church, my dad was either a deacon or elder (I suspect a deacon simply based on his age) alongside Dick Puskas.

As a family we have always believed this crime was in fact a murder-suicide tied directly to the church. About a decade ago, Scott Puskas and I briefly corresponded via email, I asked his permission to write a book - I wasn't given a "yes", but I wasn't given a "no" either. I had told him the working theory centered around this being a murder-suicide.

Even 7-year old me had questions when this happened, "facts" did not add up, and from a critical thinking perspective, there were things known by the boys that they should not have known about the bomb, unless they saw the bomb prior to the main event.

As a child, I remember being in the basement of the Puskas home, Mr Puskas, as I would refer to him as, working alone at a workbench there in the basement, fiddling with electronic looking things, wires protruding from various projects he had going, my adult self now aware that he was in fact building a bomb to kill himself and his wife.

The "why" of this equation revolves around the church, specifically events that occurred in the weeks leading up to the bombing, events that saw a church leadership role being removed from Dick Puskas, and a vague threat made that suggested the church would ultimately be responsible for raising the boys.

I'm going to stop writing right now, I've got much more to say, more hypothesis to lay out, sadly, a lot of those who were there and old enough to remember those events are a lot older, their memories fading with time. Even my own father is much older, laid up in a bed most likely never to walk again, his own mind fading, but I think the truth, or at least a plausible version of the truth is out there, and the murder-suicide theory is one that answers a lot of questions the authorities have never been able to address.

The contributor to the top of my post, poehwin hits on an important point, the secrecy component, she so eloquently referring to it as "stay[ing] quiet."

I'm signing off for now, but would love to continue the discussion....

 

[Skyblueday32]

Wow! Definitely a different theory! Questions pop up...why? Why start your day, start the car, leave the bomb on the porch for your son to bring in? Why not just detonate the bomb in the house when everyone was sleeping the night prior? Save the kids? Insurance for the kids? If he didnt want to harm the kids why not bring them to school, drive home and detonate a bomb then? Why call the police at all? Why put a letter addressed to himself, but in full name? Not that it isn't plausible, just wondering why call the police at all? I always thought that was odd, calling the police. Seems like something someone would do if they felt someone would harm them or their family? Like they knew something like this could happen. If you felt it was a joke or prank, I don't think you'd call the police first thing. Why orphan your kids? I would love to explore all avenues in this case.

 

[TN-Batman]

@Skyblueday32 you raise some great questions, perhaps these answers will help...

Let's run with the assumption that it was a murder-suicide and suppose a few thinks intertwined with facts that are known.

Why call the police. I don't think the original plan was to call the police. My theory is that Dick left the package on the front porch intending to "recover" it when he got back from dropping the boys off at school. The boys saw the box and brought it into the house where it was initially left unopened. Pat opened the box and brought the contents to Dick's attention. At that moment in time, the plan started to crumble, in that, if this was a murder-suicide, Dick had to maintain the "shock" value and not alert Pat to the impending doom. Logically, calling the police would make sense, but in doing so, he sent the older boys back out into the car.

Remember, at this moment in time, the boys had less then 30-seconds to actually see the bomb, so the fact their memories and descriptions were so accurate doesn't gel with a quick peek at the device.

Pat's suspicion was now on high alert, Dick had to call the police, because logically if he didn't, she would be on alert, and based on the fact that his plan was for the boys to be gone, he needed someone there (the police) to tend to the boys given what he knew was about to occur.

He goes through the motions, yucks it up with dispatch, and then the moment of no return happens when the officer pulls up to the house. It was DO or DIE time, he was either all in, or about to be caught.

Think about this if a bomb had just been delivered to your door, wouldn't the logical thing be to get out of the house? Even if this was a sick prank, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, and yet he didn't, they didn't, he didn't want them out, just the boys - and when the cop showed up, he had to detonate. it was the point of no return.

So he triggered the bomb.

Remember, the boys were supposed to be at school, but he went out knowing at least a cop was there to tend to and care for the boys - it was over for him and Pat.

But that circles back to the "WHY" of this case, and that is the item every has always struggled to answer. Why kill Pat and himself?

I think the answer returns to the church.

The church, Middlesex Bible Chapel (MBC), was part of the Plymouth Brethren denomination, a strict and very legalistic church, that while meaning well, could be viewed very negatively by outsiders.

The boys, were, to put it mildly, boys! That means, they weren't always on their best behavior, and yet, at MBC, children were expected to sit in silence, well behaved, and participate in services. They didn't have kids church, or an outlet that afforded kids the opportunity to learn as kids learned - they were expected to sit, to listen, and if Dick & Pat were anything like my own parents (Remember, we (I) attend MBC as well), they were probably quizzed about the sermon on the drive home or over Sunday lunch.

The elder/deacon board had strict rules for serving/leadership roles, and it is my belief that Dick sought those roles and enjoyed the "prestige" leadership brought - however - he was called out and told he would be stripped of his leadership role if he didn't bring his own house into order.

My own father was at that meeting, and has always maintained that Dick felt it was the churches responsibility to raise the kids, and that he'd see to it that that occurred.

Does that justify a murder-suicide, no, and yet, the fact the no suspect has ever been found, no arrest ever made, no death bed confessions proffered by a guilty soul, nothing, nada, zip.

And the church circled the wagons, Dick and Pat went down as saints, I'd argue the rest of the world none the wiser to the events occurring in the weeks/months before the bombing.

I grew up in that church environment, not just at MBC, but multiple Plymouth Brethren assemblies across the country - they are all very similar in their legalistic approach. I, along with my sister attended Green Brook Christian Academy, the middle boy was in my 2nd grade class, our teachers name was Ellen Barnes ( I remember because 7-year old me had a crush on her!).

After the deaths, the boys spent weekends at our house, my parents along with several other families in the church expressed desire to adopt the boys.

I'm sure I'll post more later, but for now am curious as to your thoughts on my thoughts....

 

[Skyblueday32]

@Skyblueday32 you raise some great questions, perhaps these answers will help...

Let's run with the assumption that it was a murder-suicide and suppose a few thinks intertwined with facts that are known.

Why call the police. I don't think the original plan was to call the police. My theory is that Dick left the package on the front porch intending to "recover" it when he got back from dropping the boys off at school. The boys saw the box and brought it into the house where it was initially left unopened. Pat opened the box and brought the contents to Dick's attention. At that moment in time, the plan started to crumble, in that, if this was a murder-suicide, Dick had to maintain the "shock" value and not alert Pat to the impending doom. Logically, calling the police would make sense, but in doing so, he sent the older boys back out into the car.

Remember, at this moment in time, the boys had less then 30-seconds to actually see the bomb, so the fact their memories and descriptions were so accurate doesn't gel with a quick peek at the device.

Pat's suspicion was now on high alert, Dick had to call the police, because logically if he didn't, she would be on alert, and based on the fact that his plan was for the boys to be gone, he needed someone there (the police) to tend to the boys given what he knew was about to occur.

He goes through the motions, yucks it up with dispatch, and then the moment of no return happens when the officer pulls up to the house. It was DO or DIE time, he was either all in, or about to be caught.

Think about this if a bomb had just been delivered to your door, wouldn't the logical thing be to get out of the house? Even if this was a sick prank, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, and yet he didn't, they didn't, he didn't want them out, just the boys - and when the cop showed up, he had to detonate. it was the point of no return.

So he triggered the bomb.

Remember, the boys were supposed to be at school, but he went out knowing at least a cop was there to tend to and care for the boys - it was over for him and Pat.

But that circles back to the "WHY" of this case, and that is the item every has always struggled to answer. Why kill Pat and himself?

I think the answer returns to the church.

The church, Middlesex Bible Chapel (MBC), was part of the Plymouth Brethren denomination, a strict and very legalistic church, that while meaning well, could be viewed very negatively by outsiders.

The boys, were, to put it mildly, boys! That means, they weren't always on their best behavior, and yet, at MBC, children were expected to sit in silence, well behaved, and participate in services. They didn't have kids church, or an outlet that afforded kids the opportunity to learn as kids learned - they were expected to sit, to listen, and if Dick & Pat were anything like my own parents (Remember, we (I) attend MBC as well), they were probably quizzed about the sermon on the drive home or over Sunday lunch.

The elder/deacon board had strict rules for serving/leadership roles, and it is my belief that Dick sought those roles and enjoyed the "prestige" leadership brought - however - he was called out and told he would be stripped of his leadership role if he didn't bring his own house into order.

My own father was at that meeting, and has always maintained that Dick felt it was the churches responsibility to raise the kids, and that he'd see to it that that occurred.

Does that justify a murder-suicide, no, and yet, the fact the no suspect has ever been found, no arrest ever made, no death bed confessions proffered by a guilty soul, nothing, nada, zip.

And the church circled the wagons, Dick and Pat went down as saints, I'd argue the rest of the world none the wiser to the events occurring in the weeks/months before the bombing.

I grew up in that church environment, not just at MBC, but multiple Plymouth Brethren assemblies across the country - they are all very similar in their legalistic approach. I, along with my sister attended Green Brook Christian Academy, the middle boy was in my 2nd grade class, our teachers name was Ellen Barnes ( I remember because 7-year old me had a crush on her!).

After the deaths, the boys spent weekends at our house, my parents along with several other families in the church expressed desire to adopt the boys.

I'm sure I'll post more later, but for now am curious as to your thoughts on my thoughts....

It's definitely a plausible theory! I still have some why's though. Why kill Pat and leave his children parentless? Why kill Pat with him? Was there a history of depression or mental illness with Andy? Was there a history of domestic abuse? Some very disturbed and bad people live behind religion or turn to religion to try and change or solve the problems in their life. Everything I've read about Andy seemed to indicate he was a passive calm man. Did Pat not know he tinkered in the basement with electronic things, as you saw him with these electronic odd creations while visiting? She lived there, wouldnt she recognize and think it could be something he made? There were some pieces of glass bottles recovered from the bomb, later identified as the kings balsam of life antique bottles, I always wondered if there was a special message behind the bottles used, or if they just fit well for the bomb.
I've read this article on the tragedy. BOMB LEFT ON DOORSTEP KILLS JERSEY COUPLE AND INJURES 2 (Published 1982)
and the follow up article
BOMB THAT KILLED COUPLE IN JERSEY WAS ADDRESSED TO VICTIM (Published 1982)
After reading what Andy did for a living and what he sold, I've also wondered if he angered someone in the construction business, someone connected to mafia. Pipe bombs were a known device the mob would use to send a "message".
I lived off Louis Ave until 2nd grade and went to Hazelwood school, although we moved a town over before this tragedy occurred, it was definitely big news my parents didn't talk about with us, but I always felt badly this happened not far from my early childhood home. Would be great to see the case file, read interviews again etc. The neighbor said she and Pat were friends and talked about everything, she said nothing seemed wrong, maybe Pat had no idea what could be happening with Andy at work? Maybe the eldest of the boys would recall anything about Andy talking about people or troubles at his job? Did they seem to have access to money easily, more than he made in his salary?

Not debunking the murder suicide, just exploring more avenues/ theories.
So IMO anything is possible, affair gone wrong/jealous husband, bad things happening at work/angering the wrong people, or murder suicide. So much time has passed it may never be solved.