Two murders linked to serial killer, police say

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (KDKA) - After nearly five decades, Pennsylvania State Police said they have identified the man responsible for the murders of two young women.

Investigators said DNA evidence has linked two cold cases in the Pittsburgh area.

Susan Rush, 21, disappeared in 1976 on her way to a Thanksgiving Eve dinner. She was later found dead in the trunk of her car.

Brenda Ritter, 18, disappeared in 1977 after leaving her boyfriend’s house. Her body was found on a hillside in South Strabane.

Police said both women had been sexually assaulted and strangled.

“The testing identified the same offender murdered both Susan Rush and Brenda Ritter. This testing confirmed there was a serial killer in Washington County during this time frame,” said Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. James Petrosky.

Investigators have now identified James Richard Clark Sr. as the killer.

Clark died of natural causes in 2023.

State police said Clark had never previously been a suspect in either case.