PA Who killed Christine Guenther? Peter's Twp., Oct 26, 1981

[ALAD]

I’ve posted before/ my family was very close to the Guenther family- so much so that my father was at the morgue with her father to identify her body. According to my parents the teacher who was married to Dourlain went to police in more than one occasion to say he killed Chris but then would recant her story - not sure if she was afraid of him or if she was not telling the truth.

 

[PGHJW]

This week marks 44 years since Christine's abduction. In the past year I've had many people reach out in an old Reddit thread that I either started or commented in regarding the case. A few absolutely want to defend Dourlain.

 

[pinballwizard1919]

I find it very strange that she went missing after Michele Reidenbach. Just over a month apart (September 22 to October 26), both in fall 1981.

Victims: Teenage girls, white, from stable suburban families, no signs of risk-taking behavior.

Circumstances: Both disappeared in broad daylight during routine activities (quick errand vs. bus ride to an appointment) in semi-rural/suburban spots near major roads (South Main Street in Zelienople; Route 19 in Peters Township).
Broader Context: 1981 saw a cluster of similar abductions/murders in the Pittsburgh area. For instance, Vicki Lynn Sinz (16) vanished from Butler County on July 25, 1981.

I know Peters and Zelienople are about an hour's drive apart. Just wondering if there could be any sort of link.

 

[PGHJW]

I think it's more a sign that there were a lot of creeps running around. Dourlain doesn't strike me as the type to leave his familiar area.

 

[jm_research]

I was not aware that there were other people looking at Robert Dourlain when I started my research on him years ago. But, yes, I believe he is one of the strongest suspects in the murder of Christine Guenther. Why do I believe that?

• At least two law enforcement officials close to the case acknowledged he was a suspect to members of the community.
• He was a violent sex offender living within blocks of Christine's high school as well as the bus stop where she disappeared. He had a history of kidnapping, attempted kidnapping and assault of young women.
• Her body was found on or near property where he grew up and where members of his family had lived for decades.

There is more about Dourlain's life and criminal history, especially when physically mapped, that uncovers a lot. Including other people close to him who had disappeared mysteriously. His own mother. A cousin's daughter.

All of the research that I've done on his life and history of crime is here in this Google Drive (Robert Dourlain files). Previously, I tried to contact LEO who were still living during this case but was unsuccessful and I have not been back to McMurray or Pittsburgh in decades.

I would like to hope that we can solve this mystery and get closure for Christine. I would also like to find out what happened to Margaret Straka Dourlain and his young cousin, Gloria Jean Dourlain, who I've not been able to find (and hope that they lived long and happy lives, and for some reason are just untraceable.)

For his criminal history, you can start here in the files.

#JusticeForChristineGuenther