East Pittsburgh's teen prostitute's beating death remains mystery

Nearly 15 years ago, the beaten body of 14-year-old prostitute was found in Bethel Park and police are still hoping to solve her murder.

Jessica Freeman of East Pittsburgh was a frequent runaway who was in the custody of Allegheny County Children, Youth and Families, Allegheny County police said. Freeman was living in a foster home in July 1992 but had run away.

An anonymous caller to 911 reported finding her body at 4:16 a.m. July 26. She had been beaten and was lying near a set of railroad tracks along Willis Road in Bethel Park, county police homicide Detective Ken Ruckel said.

Detectives don't believe Freeman's body had been there long before it was discovered. A police officer told investigators he had driven through the area shortly before the 911 call came in and didn't see the body, and a group of workers at a nearby golf course told police they were on Willis Road shortly before 4 a.m. and saw nothing unusual.

The county Medical Examiner's office determined Freeman died of blunt force trauma to the head and found evidence of strangulation, Ruckel said.

Freeman was last seen about midnight July 26 near the Greyhound bus station at Ninth and Penn avenues, Downtown, Ruckel said.

Freeman, who had a young child, was known to work as a prostitute in the area, Ruckel said. Investigators interviewed dozens of people -- including several pimps Freeman worked for -- but were never able to determine a motive for her death or identify a suspect.

Additional Information:

Cold Case Files

Every Monday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and local police publish details of unsolved homicides. Anyone with information on today's case can call Allegheny County Police communications dispatch at 412-473-3000 or county homicide Lt. Bill Palmer at 412-473-1253 or Sgt. Andrew Schurman at 412-473-1301. Callers can remain anonymous. People with information can also visit the county police headquarters at 400 North Lexington Ave. in North Point Breeze.