PA PA - Cpl. Robert Corriveau, 20, Downington, 18 Nov 1968

[J. J. in Phila]

Exactly, so we could assume, no peacoat. I think it unlikely he would buy one at the px at Willow Grove. Which BTW didn't get mentioned. Coatsville also had a VA hospital, but I don't think it would have been an option for an active marine.

It would be an option for your brother, but he have visited someone he served with who was there.

 

[jacksonbrown]

It would be an option for your brother, but he have visited someone he served with who was there.

Do you mean Willow Grove or Coatsville?Either way he would have had to hitched a ride (which I feel unlikely) or was driven by someone most likely from PNH.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Do you mean Willow Grove or Coatsville?Either way he would have had to hitched a ride (which I feel unlikely) or was driven by someone most likely from PNH.

Coatsville, and even today, you can get their by train from Phila. It would been the old Penn Central at the time. I'm not even sure that, in 68, there was public transportation between WG and Phila.

 

[Richard]

Another unsolved murder with several factors similar to this case was that of US Army Private Roger Alan Gaddis, age 20, whose body (with no identification) was found 26 January 1968 on or near US highway 40 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

He was married, but separated from his wife. Their infant son had died shortly before he enlisted in the Army during the VietNam War.

Roger had recently undergone surgery in a military hospital and had been granted a 12 day leave of convalescence to visit his family in St. Paris, Ohio. It was theorized by investigators that he may have been hitchhiking and picked up by his killer(s).

Pennsylvania State Police had jurisdiction in Roger's case. They were successful in identifying him through fingerprints, news releases, and family assistance. His killer was never apprehended.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Another unsolved murder with several factors similar to this case was that of US Army Private Roger Alan Gaddis, age 20, whose body (with no identification) was found 26 January 1968 on or near US highway 40 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

He was married, but separated from his wife. Their infant son had died shortly before he enlisted in the Army during the VietNam War.

Roger had recently undergone surgery in a military hospital and had been granted a 12 day leave of convalescence to visit his family in St. Paris, Ohio. It was theorized by investigators that he may have been hitchhiking and picked up by his killer(s).

Pennsylvania State Police had jurisdiction in Roger's case. They were successful in identifying him through fingerprints, news releases, and family assistance. His killer was never apprehended.

The MO was different. The cause of death was beating and strangulation, correct?

 

[Richard]

The MO was different. The cause of death was beating and strangulation, correct?

I wouldn't say that the MO was different. There are at least 15 to 20 known similarities between the two cases. Of course, there are some unknown factors as well.

I have not seen the autopsy report on Roger Gaddis, so I can't say for certain what the official cause of death was. Some news accounts do mention strangulation and beating, an indication that the perpetrator(s) exerted physical violence close to the victim.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

I wouldn't say that the MO was different. There are at least 15 to 20 known similarities between the two cases. Of course, there are some unknown factors as well.

I have not seen the autopsy report on Roger Gaddis, so I can't say for certain what the official cause of death was. Some news accounts do mention strangulation and beating, an indication that the perpetrator(s) exerted physical violence close to the victim.

What do you see as the similarities.

I would note that Route 40 in that area is exceptionally rural, not well traveled, and that it is not a direct route to Philadelphia.

Also, was Gaddis found nude?

 

[Richard]

What do you see as the similarities...

Without seeing both case files, it would be difficult to draw solid conclusions regarding whether or not these two unsolved murders are connected. Just looking at the limited information available I noticed the following similarities:

Both victims white.
Both male.
Both age 20.
Both military active duty.
Both enlisted and served during Vietnam War.
Both patients treated at and assigned to military hospitals.
Both on authorized leave/liberty from military hospital.
Both believed to have been hitchhiking.
Both violently murdered in close contact with attacker.
Both killed in Pennsylvania.
Both killed in 1968.
Both killed at cold time of year.
Both bodies left in the open on/near a US highway where quickly found.
Both were left with no identification.
Both victims were married, but separated.
Both had families in states away from Pennsylvania.
Both murder investigations were in the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania State Police.
Both victims were eventually identified - primarily by family members.
Both murders remain unsolved.
Both buried with military honors.
Both graves marked with bronze Veteran headstones.

A close comparison of these two murders might find even more similarities. Perhaps only coincidence, but maybe a connection?

US Route 40 in Pennsylvania might not be well traveled today (due to the newer turnpike) but it is a well maintained section of the historic National Road which stretches from Baltimore to Indianapolis.

 

[J. J. in Phila]

Without seeing both case files, it would be difficult to draw solid conclusions regarding whether or not these two unsolved murders are connected. Just looking at the limited information available I noticed the following similarities:

Both victims white.
Both male.
Both age 20.
Both military active duty.
Both enlisted and served during Vietnam War.
Both patients treated at and assigned to military hospitals.
Both on authorized leave/liberty from military hospital.
Both believed to have been hitchhiking.
Both violently murdered in close contact with attacker.
Both killed in Pennsylvania.
Both killed in 1968.
Both killed at cold time of year.
Both bodies left in the open on/near a US highway where quickly found.
Both were left with no identification.
Both victims were married, but separated.
Both had families in states away from Pennsylvania.
Both murder investigations were in the jurisdiction of Pennsylvania State Police.
Both victims were eventually identified - primarily by family members.
Both murders remain unsolved.
Both buried with military honors.
Both graves marked with bronze Veteran headstones.

A close comparison of these two murders might find even more similarities. Perhaps only coincidence, but maybe a connection?

US Route 40 in Pennsylvania might not be well traveled today (due to the newer turnpike) but it is a well maintained section of the historic National Road which stretches from Baltimore to Indianapolis.

A sizable portion of the US population was white male in 1968. Neither could be known to have come from a hospital. PA is a big place.

Route 40 is much less traveled that the PATP. They were not positioned similarly. Route 40 would not necessarily be under the PSP jurisdiction (though they would be called in, likely).

Burial is ex post factor